As the COVID-19 pandemic wages on, turns out more and more people want to join the frontline nurses and healthcare workers.

It really takes a special kind of person, in any field, to see a problem, say "I want to be one of the ones to help" and put in the work to make it happen and nurses are a very special breed of that kind of person.

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We All Know A Nurse, Healthcare Worker, Etc.

Whether you are related to one, friends with one or only see one every now and again for a physical, nurses are everywhere in our lives.

For example, my mom is a labor and delivery nurse and my little sister just graduated nursing school and will be continue on to her residency in the emergency department.

Seeing the sacrifices they make, the work they've put in and continue to put in and just taking on the responsibility of taking care of people in a way I could never even stomach is just one of the many reasons I, personally, hold nurses in such high regard.

COVID And A Rise In Healthcare Workers

When COVID came along, nurses and healthcare workers everywhere stepped up to the challenge, fought alongside each other every day for every patient, even when hospitals were at absolute capacity and performed as everything they had worked for lead up to this moment.

One would think that having this play out right in front of our eyes would deter many people from wanting to get themselves into this career path but that is absolutely not the case as the Dean of MSU's College of Nursing, Randolph Rasch, illustrated to WILX.

"The pandemic has given an exposure for the public to see what nurses are. People go, ‘oh, I have not really stopped to think what nurses do, how they have to think, to provide the care,’” Rasch said to WILX. “It’s been a great opportunity for folks to think ‘that’s something I really want to do.’"

Locally, WILX reports both Michigan State University and Lansing Community College have seen an increase in medical and nursing program applications and are taking steps to prepare for an increased capacity.

How Much Of An Increase

Looking at some numbers here, according to WILX, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing reported a 6% increase in enrollment in 2020 and the Association of American Medical Colleges reported an increase of 18%.

Right here in the Lansing area, Michigan State University's nursing school usually accepts 300 students per school year; however, there's already 517 applicants for the program next year, as reported by WILX.

Similarly, LCC says they are also expecting an increase once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted here in Michigan.

Final Thoughts

If there is a nation-wide increase in those wanting to go into the medical field, I would say our future is in great hands with the help of these people.

Please let this serve as a thank you to all the healthcare workers that have been working so hard, continue to work so hard and are just starting their journey.

The world needs more people like you. The next pandemic (let's hope there isn't one) doesn't stand a chance.

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