Nursing is a field that appeals to many, and nurses often find that it is more a way of life than a career. It is certainly a unique career and one quite unlike a regular office job, and it is important for those thinking of starting a nursing career to know what to expect. There are many professional and personal benefits, but it is also working that can be challenging in more ways than one. Therefore, it is helpful to outline a few things that you need to be aware of to see if this is the right career path for you.
It Is Demanding
One of the main aspects of nursing to be aware of is that it is demanding. Not only will you have to work long shifts and antisocial hours, but the work itself will be physical and emotionally demanding. This means that nursing can take its toll, and it is a career that can often lead to burnout – this has been particularly evident during the pandemic. If you are looking for a medical job that allows you to come in and not give 100% each day, then this is not the right role for you.
It is Rewarding
Although it is demanding, nursing is also one of the most rewarding roles in the world. Each day, you get to help, improve and even save people’s lives and this will give you immense job satisfaction. In addition to assisting with the treatment of patients, you will also be responsible for providing care and support, which means that you play a vital role and improving patient outcomes. Job satisfaction can make the difficult days and the demanding nature of the work much easier to manage and will give you a great sense of purpose in life.
It Is Not For The Faint-Hearted
Nurses see and experience all kinds of things that the regular person does not. Each day, you will be dealing with sickness, injury, blood, vomit, and many other things that make most people feel queasy. In addition to this, you will be working in a high-pressure environment where you will often be shouted at. This all means that nursing is not a career for the faint-hearted, and you need to have a strong stomach and thick skin to survive. This is something that you can develop over time, and many people struggle early on with.
There Are Many Areas To Specialize In
One of the major benefits of a career in nursing is that there are so many different career paths and areas to specialize in. This means that there is always room for progression and the opportunity to earn more money. A few of the major types of nursing include:
- Registered nurse
- Cardiac nurse
- Pediatric nurse
- Family nurse practitioner
- ER nurse
- Neonatal nurse
You Can Take An Accelerated BSN
Many people are interested in a career as a nurse but put off by how long it will take to qualify. Fortunately, you can take an accelerated BSN available for those with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field that will allow you to learn and develop the skills needed to excel with an intensive full-time program. Online BSN programs for non nurses allow people to embark on an exciting new career and receive a qualification that will help them to secure work quickly upon completion. Later on, people can take online courses for additional qualifications too, like ACLS Certification for example. These can be renewed online as well.
There Is Currently A Nursing Shortage
Currently, there is a major nursing shortage which makes it a great time for people to transition into a career in nursing. There are a number of factors that have led to this shortage, including the pandemic, health care reform, and increased life expectancy meaning that more people are needing care. This means that it should not be too hard to find work once you have qualified, you can find work just about anywhere, and you will benefit from job security.
Shift Work Takes Getting Used To
As a nurse, you will find that it can take some time to get used to shifting work. You will often end up working long and antisocial hours, but many nurses would not change this and switch to a regular 9-5 once they get the hang of shift work. Although the hours can be long and antisocial, this also means that you can enjoy longer periods of time off of work and time where most people are at work. The key is to schedule your time off so that you can really make the most out of it and develop a healthy work-life balance.
It Is Hard To Avoid Taking Work Home With You
Due to the nature of the work, this is not a role that you can simply forget about work and put your feet up after a shift. When you are dealing with sickness, death, trauma, and all kinds of emotions on a daily basis, it is inevitable that you end up thinking about work while at home. It becomes easier to manage over time, but you need to be prepared for the fact that there will be difficult days that will impact your personal life.
You Will Become Everyone’s Nurse
You will also find as a nurse that everyone in your personal life will come to you with their various illnesses and ailments. Having medical knowledge and skills can certainly come in useful in your personal life, especially if you are a parent, but it can also be frustrating when everyone is coming to you with health-related issues during your time off.
These are a few of the main things to be aware of if you are considering embarking on a career as a nurse. Nursing is a profession like no other, and there are many benefits to this role, but it does also have its own challenges and drawbacks. Ultimately, nursing is more a way of life than a job, and it can provide you with a tremendous amount of job satisfaction, but you will also be dealing with the kind of things that most people are unable to do regularly.
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