Nurses reveal the best parts about their job, from the steady pay to helping save lives

"It is a privilege to walk alongside patients and their families through their medical journeys," a nurse from Pennsylvania who wished to remain anonymous said. "We get to be there on the good days and the bad, but the most important thing is that we are there."

Melissa, a nurse from Oklahoma, and Matt, a nurse from New York, agreed that the best parts of their job was forming a bond with patients and their families.

Sean, a nurse in New Mexico, said the best part about being a nurse was the amount of jobs available.

Nearly 3 million registered nurses work in the US right now, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The country will also add half a million new RN jobs by 2026 due to the aging baby boomer population and "increased emphasis on preventative care," BSL predicts.

On the other hand, many nurses say the shortage of nurses forces them to work overtime and have little time for breaks.

"The best part about being a nurse is meeting strangers of different cultures, nationalities, ways of life and caring for them, and making them as comfortable (emotionally and physically) as possible during their most vulnerable time of need," Amy, a nurse in Texas, said.

Some nurses, including Teresa, a nurse in Oregon, pointed to the high salary as the best part of their job.

Business Insider's Andy Kiersz reports that registered nurses make about $75,510 a year, about $20,000 higher than the average US household income.

Read more: From nurses to surgeons, here's how much everyone makes in a hospital

Jess, a nurse in Texas, says the best part of her job is "helping and watching the new nurses grow and learn what being a nurse is all about."

Nursing was one of the country's most popular college majors, according to USA Today, which analyzed 2017 data from the BLS.

There are a variety of ways to become a nurse. Registered nurses and licensed nurse practitioners prepare for their roles by getting an associate or bachelor's degree. Advanced practice nurses or nurse professors may get more education via a graduate degree, according to the American Nurse Association.