Being a nurse can be similar to unwrapping a birthday present; there's no way to tell what waits inside, but it's likely to be rewarding. The responsibilities of a nurse often require spur of the moment decisions as patients conditions rapidly change. In addition to the technical aspects of a nursing career, workers in this field are often asked to comfort individuals, families and communities in times of distress.

Heather Sharp, a registered in the Emergency Center at memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital told the Texas Tribune that she has always enjoyed the dynamics of the ER and been sensitive to the rewards of nursing.
The Good Samaritan Foundation of Texas recently awarded Sharp the 2009 Excellence in Nursing Award in the small hospital category after selecting her from a group of 100 eligible nurses from the Houston area.

Sharp told reporters, that her favorite part of the job is knowing she made a difference. "I may not get a thank-you from a patient, no matter how hard I work, but I can leave feeling confident that I did my best to care for my patients."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the employment of registered nurses will grow about 23% until 2016, which is a much faster growth rate than the average for all jobs.