Congratulations! You’ve made it – you’re now a certified nurse. Having aced your NCLEX exam, secured your certification and license, and landed a job, this is indeed a significant achievement. But does that mean you’re done with the tough part? We regret to inform you that no, you’re not!
The nursing profession calls for unparalleled levels of commitment and motivation. Their crucial role places them at the heart of not just today’s healthcare system, but indeed its future.
Being a nurse isn’t like any other job. It’s a vocation that involves caring for patients and their families in their time of need. In fact, your influence begins as soon as you start nursing school. However, it must be mentioned that not everyone is cut out for this job.
In this article, we’ll give you a detailed glimpse of what you can expect from a nursing career. So, for those thinking about stepping into the field, let’s learn more about this rewarding profession.
1. Diverse Areas of Expertise Await You
As a nurse, you’ll have numerous opportunities to specialize in a variety of fields and work in different hospital or clinical settings. From management to emergency room care and pediatrics, the possibilities are endless. Finding a specialty you love will require time, patience, and a bit of experimentation.
You could opt for a traditional or online BSN degree for a hands-on nursing role or transition into educating others by obtaining an Ed.D. in nursing. The list goes on, so don’t narrow down your possibilities assuming that patient care is your only option.
2. Brace Yourself for Potential Burnout
Despite the many perks, burnout is an unfortunate reality of being a nurse. Stress is a part of any job, but nurses can be particularly susceptible to both physical and emotional exhaustion owing to their demanding schedules and the weighty impact their choices have on patients’ lives.
To manage this, self-care is key. Eating healthily and exercising regularly can help you tackle burnout effectively.
3. The Focus of Nursing is Holistic Care
Nursing involves treating the patient as a whole rather than focusing on individual health concerns. A holistic nurse considers the patient’s environment, spirituality, mental health, and physical well-being.
A Swedish study found that patients were happier with the efficacy and availability of treatment provided by holistic care ARPNS. Consequently, more and more US healthcare facilities are gradually incorporating holistic care into their protocols.
4. Satisfaction is a Major Perk of the Job
Nursing is one of the world’s most respected professions. Acting as intermediaries between patients and their doctors, nurses often spend more time interacting with patients.
Seasoned nurses often report a high level of satisfaction in witnessing a patient’s journey from illness to recovery. The act of providing care on a daily basis can indeed be profoundly fulfilling.
5. Stability and Growth in Income
Despite the global economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly on health institutions, nurses have remained steadily employed, and in some instances, even received salary hikes, as the American Nurse Journal reports.
Additionally, many health institutions are attracting nurses with bonuses. A CNN report mentioned that facilities often offer free accommodation and five-figure signing bonuses to new and existing nurses.
6. Prepare for Long Shifts
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the global need for nursing staff, resulting in longer work hours. As a prospective nurse in 2024, be prepared for extended hours and a fair share of night shifts. However, these often result in more opportunities for teamwork and collaboration.
7. Technology Revolutionizing the Nursing Field
In the past, nurses had a localized role, mostly working with the military, municipalities, or religious institutions. Now, thanks to telehealth’s surge in popularity during the pandemic, nurses are uniting on various online platforms to deliver care to patients worldwide.
Through smartphone applications, patients can easily reach out to healthcare providers, receiving prescriptions, advice, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations in mere moments.
8. Staffing Shortages are Real
Shortages have plagued the nursing profession since its inception, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. This understaffing leads to more mistakes, overworked staff, and subpar quality of care. Why is this the case?
According to a Science Daily study, the proportion of nurses over fifty is greater than those under thirty, implying more retirements than new recruits. To address this, encouraging more people to earn an online DNP, MSN, or BSN degree would be beneficial.
Final Thoughts
If you are considering a career in nursing, it promises a rewarding future. Modern nurses enjoy technological advancements, variety in career paths, emerging specializations, and evolving work conditions.
And what about pay? Research shows that a registered nurse can earn over $70,000 annually. So if you’re driven by a service-oriented career and aspire to earn a decent living, nursing may be your calling!
