“To be or not to be, that is the question.”
-William Shakespeare
Nursing has so many advantages and challenges wrapped up in the same package.
For those of you interested in nursing consider the following-
Pros
Knowledge.
You will learn a wealth of information about the body and disease processes. How to perform skills, use equipment, and administer medications needed to care for patients.
Opportunity.
Becoming a nurse allows you to advance into other areas of the healthcare system: administration, academia, management, outpatient care, inpatient care, and advanced nurse practitioner/anesthetist/educator to name a few.
Flexibility.
Most bedside nurses work 3 days a week(12 hr. shifts) and pick up prn (as needed) positions at other hospitals/organizations. OR travel for bonuses with paid housing/food.
Pay.
Nursing is not just a job, and there is a lot of compassion involved. However, along with the opportunities mentioned above, nurses do make decent money. Overtime pay and additional pay per hour for short staffed shifts in the hospital setting makes some of the cons listed below a little bearable.
Cons
Workload.
Although a typical work week may consist of only 3 days a week, 12 hours is a long time with a high patient to nurse ratio.
Stress.
Nursing consists of long hours of lifting, pulling, bending, walking, continuous critical thinking, and sometimes no lunch. It can be hard on one’s body and mind. Especially when dealing with difficult patients/families/colleagues.
Work holidays.
Illness does not take a break. Nurses must staff the hospital all year round. You may have to rotate major holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving with your colleagues.
Exposure.
You will be exposed to germs. Especially now with COVID19, you may be exposed to other airborne illness like flu or tuberculosis as well.
These are just a few things to think about when considering if nursing is for you.
Feel free to comment and ask questions below.
Sincerely,
Shenell