May 12, 2022
If you're asking yourself, "Should I become a nurse?" you're not alone. Ask any nurse, and they will tell you that it's the most fulfilling and rewarding career. They will also tell you that it's not a pathway to be undertaken without some serious thought, and there are things they wish they had known — both good and bad — before entering the field.
Today we'll look at some of the things veteran nurses wish they had known when they first started.
The Growing Need for Nurses
Why choose to nurse? Becoming a nurse is a solid career choice, with demand for nurses at a record high. According to LinkedIn, registered nursing is the fifth most in-demand job in the country. The U.S. has been amid a nursing shortage since roughly 2012, and projections suggest that by 2030 the country will need an additional 1.2 million R.Ns. This means it's a great time to get into nursing — but there are some things you should consider before committing yourself.
20 Things to Know Before Pursuing a Nursing Career
It's rewarding, fulfilling, physically demanding, and emotionally strenuous. Here's what you need to know:
1. A Degree Might Not Be Enough
Depending on the needs of your location, just having your BSN and license in hand might not be enough to land your dream job. Ensuring that you have plenty of clinical experience can decide when you apply for your first job.
2. The Pay May Not Be What You Expect
Although nursing is guaranteed to provide a solid income, salaries vary wildly according to geographical location, facility type, experience level, and specialties.
3. Extra Certifications Can Gear You Towards a Dream Job
Suppose you have your heart set on working with specific patient needs (pediatrics, for example, or geriatrics) or in a clear medical pathway (like psychiatric nursing or neonatological nursing). In that case, you may need to earn additional certifications beyond your nursing degree.
Read More: Best Post-School Nursing Certifications for New Graduates
4. You'll Work Harder Than You Ever Imagined
Although the typical nursing schedule looks good on paper, your day will often run far longer than what the official schedule shows. Paperwork and reporting on patients at shift changes can add on hours, and staffing shortages mean you'll often end up working on your day off.
5. Maintaining Work/Life Balance Might Be a Struggle
Working nights, weekends, and holidays, along with long hours, can put a strain on non-work relationships and make balancing work and everyday life tough. Good time management is crucial.
Read More: Preventing Burnout, Achieving Balance
6. Mistakes Are Inevitable
No matter how much training you have and how careful you are, you're only human. Sooner or later, you will make a mistake, learn from it, live with it, and go on. You'll never repeat it.
7. You'll Need to Keep Practicing Skills Even after Leaving School
You'll use some skills you learn in school more often than others. Practicing them makes you a better nurse.
8. You Need to Be a Time Management Pro
Nursing requires you to be on-call, and real-world schedules can be grueling. Good time management is essential both inside and outside of work.
9. You Need a Good Memory — or at Least a Good System
Nurses need to remember an incredible amount of data, from names and room numbers of multiple patients to their medications, lab results, and more. Be prepared to take notes, make lists, or devise another system that works for you.
10. You Need Physical Stamina
Nursing is physically demanding work. You will be on your feet for long shifts, in addition to physical tasks such as lifting and turning patients. Focusing on good body mechanics can help.
11. You Can't Save Everyone
As a nurse, you'll have to develop a thick skin even as you allow yourself to be compassionate. You can't fix every person or heal every ailment no matter how much you want to, and not bringing work stress home with you is vital to your wellbeing.
12. You Will Have Abusive Patients
While most people appreciate the care and compassion nurses provide, there will be patients who curse, abuse, and occasionally even physically assault you just for doing your job. It happens. Remember that these people are ill or injured, stressed, and are not behaving rationally; try not to take it personally.
13. You'll Spend a Lot of Time on the Phone. A Lot.
If you thought you were on the phone a lot as a teenager, just wait until you become a nurse. You'll spend a shocking amount of time on the phone with other departments — pharmacy, lab, respiratory, etc. — trying to get things done.
14. You Need to Be a Good Communicator
Listening, asking the right questions, and explaining complex information is vital to being a practical nurse.
15. You'll Buy a Lot of Uniforms
While looking professional is a must, being comfortable working long shifts is equally essential. Outlets like Scrubs & Beyond give you options that are comfortable, breathable, and suit your body needs.
16. Friends and Family Will Ask You for Medical Advice, So Be Prepared
Since they see you as the expert, those close to you will often expect you to listen to their stories and dispense advice or opinions. Be patient with them, but be prepared to set boundaries on your time and refer them to their doctor if necessary.
17. Your Coworkers Will Become Your Extended Family
Working long hours in stressful conditions tends to create strong bonds between people. Because your colleagues understand your pressures, you may find yourself feeling closer to your coworkers than to anyone else.
18. Nursing Is More than Medical Care
Nurses wear a lot of hats. While your primary job is medical care, you might be surprised at how often you find yourself acting as a patient advocate, housekeeper, or even mediator between family members. It's all in a day's work, and your input is valuable.
19. A Good Sense of Humor is a Plus
Rewarding though it is, nursing can be a stressful job. A good sense of humor — or at least the absurd — can act as a powerful coping mechanism and help through the toughest times with your sanity intact.
20. It's Incredibly Fulfilling
As a nurse, you're there through some of the most challenging times in patients' and their family's lives. You share heartbreaks and triumphs, joys and sorrows, and just might be someone's lifeline.
Nurses Are The Original Superheroes
So, why become a nurse? Because although it's sometimes a thankless job, nursing is the backbone of medicine. It's not for the faint of heart, but the possibilities are nearly limitless for those who feel a vocation.
