According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 3 million jobs are available in the United States every year. The average annual salary of a registered nurse is $77,600. This figure is enough to draw a lot of attention from hopefuls pursuing a career in nursing. If you are into healthcare, you might have considered choosing a nursing course as your professional career. For your information, the profession may be rewarding, but it’s also full of challenges and lots of legwork. It’s better to thoroughly understand the pros and cons of nursing before you embark on the professional route.
It’s a profession in which you get to learn, earn, and care for suffering humans. If you are positive to take on this job, remember these advantages of the nursing profession.
As mentioned earlier, BLS reports that the average annual salary for a registered nurse is around $77,600. This makes up to $37.31 per hour. On the plus side, your salary can increase drastically if you are willing to specialize in a particular field and acquire higher education.
An average hospital in the US tends to 3000 to 5000 patients every year. This figures is quite easy to determine how much there is a need of nurses. That’s the reason why there is a high demand for nurses is on the rise in the United States. As people become increasingly prone to illness due to changing lifestyles and environmental factors. This rise in number of patients also arises a need for nurses in healthcare facilities.
It’s not just one of the most rewarding jobs, it’s also one of the respected jobs in the world. People look up to nurses as an essential part of any healthcare system or service they use. As a registered nurse, you will receive respect from fellow professionals, peers, friends, neighbors, family members, patients, and their families. That’s something worth feeling satisfied while doing shifts and taking care of people you don’t even know.
Depending on the type of nurse, there are many options available for scheduling shifts and hours. From day/night shifts to more flexible 8-hour shifts, you can select the schedule that best suits your needs. Many hospitals offer part-time positions and even temporary assignments during peak times. This way, you can easily maintain your current job while providing excellent patient care at an additional facility.
Nursing provides many opportunities for career advancement, such as specializations and supervisory roles. With enough experience and education, nurses can move to managerial positions in the health care system.
Let's crack the other side of the coin as well. Make a note of the cons of a nursing career before you put all of your efforts, especially without being prepared.
Nursing can sometimes be emotionally demanding, as nurses have to deal with critically ill patients daily. Not one or two, you’ll have to check on every patient in your department, maintain their records, and provide the prescribed medication and care to each and every patient. It sometimes become difficult to track status of every patient and may sometimes result in errors.
Nurses may be required to work long or overnight shifts, depending on the workplace's demand. How long your shift goes depends on how long a patient needs care and the doctors or surgeons need you. Such toiling situation can run you down and make you feel exhausted.
Nurses are typically on their feet for much of their shifts, caring for patients who often need help ambulating or transferring from one place to another. It can be physically demanding as nurses must lift, turn, and position patients regularly throughout their shifts. They may also spend most of the day standing and walking, leading to fatigue and soreness. This physical strain also increases with the number of patients under a nurse's care; if multiple patients require assistance within a short period, it can cause even greater physical strain.
Finding positions in highly specialized areas such as critical care or emergency room nursing is often difficult unless you have advanced training and experience. Similarly, advancement through the ranks may be limited due to a lack of openings in higher-level positions. This can lead to stagnation in your career, making it more difficult to move up or gain additional experience and certification.
Many employers these days increasingly rely on technology and automation for medical procedures, decreasing the need for RNs or other healthcare professionals, which further limits potential job opportunities in the field.
Nurses are usually exposed to contagious illnesses due to their close contact with patients, making them prone to infection and other health risks. Let’s not forget the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts of the nurses who risked their lives for patients’s care. Nurses often are on the forefront, no matter how bad a situation is. This would help you understand the risks of exposure in the healthcare sector as a nurse.
Conclusion
There are perks, there is satisfaction, there is stress, and there are risks with a nurse job.
There are perks, there is satisfaction, there is stress, and there are risks with a nurse job. You need to be aware of the pros and cons of nursing to choose your career path widely. Being prepared for the challenges and rewards of a nursing career will help you choose wisely and succeed in your journey. No matter what it takes, nurses have proven themselves as the true heroes with great passion for their profession.
When choosing a career as a nurse, the salary you will receive is a crucial factor to consider. Although other aspects should also be considered, pay is always important to consider before starting a new job.
Nurses in clinical settings often face time pressures that can be stressful. They typically work 12-hour shifts, including overnight shifts, and irregular hours and weekend work can also contribute to their stress levels.
Healthcare workers have to deal with various hazards such as physical strain, back injuries, and infections on the job.
There is a high demand for nurses in various settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, nursing homes, orphanages, sanatoriums, industries, and private and government-run armed forces. Additionally, there are opportunities to work for organizations such as the Indian Red Cross Society, the Indian Nursing Council, state nursing councils, and other nursing organizations.
