Few careers provide the same benefits as the nursing profession: professional nurses earn good salaries, work with top doctors, and possibly have the most effect on people’s lives, regularly even saving their lives. With the professional nurse workforce projected to develop by 15% over the subsequent decade, the nursing field additionally should grapple with an intensifying work shortage as baby boomers retire.
Nursing graduates normally do not battle to discover jobs as soon as they graduate. Yet nursing can work as the best profession for a plethora of different reasons as well. At around 3 million nurses are the backbone of the U.S. healthcare industry, as nicely as its biggest profession. Consistently ranked the most trusted occupation in America year after year, nurses play an increasingly large position no longer just in providing care however in the administrative side of healthcare.
Here are the Pros of Being a Nurse
Helping Others
Whether they’re taking care of the patient or fighting for the patient’s rights, nurses are in the healthcare industry are enhancing and saving lives. In fact, nurses play a special and large role in shaping the health and well-being of the individuals, families, and communities they serve.
High Demand
Professional nurses, particularly those with a BSN, are and will proceed to be in high demand throughout the country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects professional nurse employment in the healthcare industry to develop 15% between the years 2016 and 2026, a plenty faster price than the common for all occupations. Furthermore, the Bureau lists the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights metro area as having one of the best employment stages for professional nurses in the country.
Earning Potential
According to a current Yahoo article, a nurse in the United States earns an annual income of $63,000, which is greater than double the global common of $26,698. The RN salaries are normally greater in metropolitan areas than they are in rural areas. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the annual imply wage for the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights metro area as $76,640.
Diverse Opportunities
While hospitals have long been the biggest employers of RNs, today’s nurses can select to practice their specialties from a wide variety of options, from airplanes and cruise ships to campsites and navy bases. There are also greater than 100 specialty areas to select from, which include forensic nursing, holistic nursing, informatics nursing, and travel nursing.
Flexible Schedules
Depending on the employer, RNs can select to work on a full-time, part-time or on-call basis. Many healthcare employers have their nurses work three 12-hour shifts a week, which is amazing for those who don’t like long workdays to have 4 consecutive days off.
Here are Some of the Cons of Being a Nurse
Physical Demands
Foot problems and back accidents are frequent in the nursing profession, specifically for those who work in hospitals. These nurses spend a lot of time on their feet and have to move patients on a normal basis. Keep in mind that an accurate pair of shoes can stop and/or decrease these foot problems, whilst appropriate stretching and exercise can reduce down the threat of back injuries.
Long Hours
Hospital nurses generally work 12-hour shifts. However, if there are many patients reporting to do earlier than a shift change, these nurses may locate themselves inserting in a 15-hour day, which can take a toll on the mental and physical health. It’s additionally worth citing that nurses with much less job seniority have to work a lot of nights, weekends, and holidays.
Virus Exposure
While there are precautions nurses can take to protect them against germs and viruses, there’s a constant fear of catching something from any patient. Extreme varieties of exposure include being by chance caught by a needle from a patient with a blood-borne illness or getting a splash of bodily fluid in the eyes. Bear in mind that most healthcare facilities have cleaning and trying out strategies in place for dealing with such situations.
Stress and Pressure
The nurses don’t get a great deal of downtime on the job, they’re still required to suppose seriously in life or death situations as nicely as preserve their composure when working with sufferers and their families. Despite the excessive pressure nurses face, they’re additionally the ones who nevertheless have to take the time to reply to all the questions sufferers have about the TV in their rooms.
Emotional Burnout
Nursing profession witness all sorts of human suffering, which can wreak havoc on their emotions. Consider the nurse who has to deal with an accident sufferer in intense ache or the nurse caring for a young mother who is fighting cancer. And greater instances than not, hospital nurses see extra patient deaths than they can count, with every state of affairs affecting them in special ways. Therefore, it’s vital that nurses are seeking the proper counseling and guide to stop emotional burnout.