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by Nomadic Chris, 20 January 2010
“Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep, and energy... nurses are rarely short on caring” Sharon Hudacek - A Daybook for Nurses
If you're looking for something to read, check out our Careers, Role Models, Profiles and Interviews Section where you will find many professions featured, learn about what it takes to succeed, and ask yourself, is this job for me?
It's about what you enjoy doing, work can be fulfilling if you choose the right sort of work. Should work just be about the money? Doesn't aptitude and affinity matter?
After all, how much time do we spend at work in our daily lives? Doesn't it seem wise to CHOOSE TO WORK at something you enjoy?
So think about it, WHAT do you enjoy doing, AND WHY?
For the FIFTH in this "IS THIS JOB FOR ME" Series, we focus our attention on the unsung heroes of the health care field, NURSES!
A majority of jobs are defined by certain human characteristics. In nursing, these characteristics include the ability to care, empathy, patience and of course, compassion. Aside from having a ‘good heart’ for those less fortunate, patience is definitely a good virtue in order to deal with day to day pressures.
Television shows such as ER, Scrubs and Grey's Anatomy present a vaguely realistic picture of the lives of doctors and nurses but there is always so much more that is not shown.
A lack of recognition, constant exposure to disease and shift work over major holidays are just some of the less desirable aspects of the job. Nurses unfortunately also deal with sad scenarios on a daily basis. Forging an emotional bond with ill patients both young and old is difficult due to the transient nature of the work. To deal with all of these issues, patience and the ‘human touch’ are necessary characteristics.
An ability to keep emotions in check is also important as well as working efficiently, under levels of stress and quickly!
Then there is the day to day aspect……
Who do you think deals with cranky patients, worried family members, bed pans, medicine prescriptions, sometimes dirty conditions with little to no recognition. Yes, you guessed it…nurses! Some nurses enjoy flexible hours but most work long hours with little rest and are literally on their feet at all times. Burnout (both mental and physical) levels are high amongst nurses!
To become a qualified nurse is also not straight forward! It takes years of hard work and preparation. In the US, a bare minimum of a high school diploma is needed to begin the long journey. Then, a bachelors degree is required, followed by two licensure exams. Background checks are also carried out to ensure that the candidates are of good character standing in order to deal with many one on one scenarios.
Yes, nurses are the unsung heroes of the health care industry; working hard and often behind the scenes to help those most in need. Yes, doctors also do an incredible job but where would they be without nurses? Yes, the next time you are in a doctors clinic or hospital be grateful for all the nurses you see and their work!
It takes a special type of person to be a nurse…..are you up to the challenge?
What are the advantages of becoming a Nurse?
Job Opportunity!
Globally, there is always a constant demand for nurses and their skills. In the United States alone, experts state that nursing will account for the second largest number of new jobs amongst all occupations.
Supply and demand issues means the future for nurses (in the US) will be even brighter! Over the next 20 years, 800,000 nursing positions will open up. By all accounts, the nursing profession is a relatively stable and of course, fulfilling career.
Equal Opportunity!
Nursing has always been seen as the preserve for females but an increasing number of males are now entering the field. Globally, men make up approximately 6 percent of today's nurses and this number is growing.
Age is also no hindrance to caring! A large percentage of nursing schools report that an increasing number of their students are over the age of forty.
Contribution to Society!
It may sound like an old cliché but helping people and turning lives around for the better is a feeling that money can't buy. A simple smile from a caring nurse can brighten up a person's day.
Yes, the advantages of nursing tend to outweigh the disadvantages!
Nursing is a growth occupation and has definitely come a long way since its early days thanks to Florence Nightingale (1820 - 1910) who was the embodiment of compassion and care.
Nightingale was born into an upper class family. Against her family’s wishes she decided to become a nurse. After witnessing the horrific conditions that some wounded troops were being treated in during the Crimean War, she set about to revolutionize the nursing profession. She was known as the “Lady with the lamp” as she regularly visited wounded troops in their wards along with her 38 other volunteer nurses. Thanks to her influence, the nursing profession enjoys the high professional standards it enjoys today.
Love to help people? Have a sense of empathy and compassion? Then why not be a nurse!
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