Many people have various motivations for wanting to join one of the most noble professions on the globe. In this post, I'd like to discuss the profession of nursing. Many would join and afterwards wonder if becoming a nurse was worthwhile. Nursing, like any other job in the healthcare delivery system, appears appealing to some people while being unappealing to others. This is to inform people who are unsure if they are on the right professional track. You must consider the advantages of nursing over the disadvantages.
One of the obvious reasons people would want to become nurses is to be rich. Nursing as a profession could provide you with financial stability while also allowing you to be fantastically wealthy. If you want to be the richest person on the planet, nursing may not be the ideal career option for you. Who doesn't wish to be wealthy? At some time in our lives, we all wish to be wealthy. When people declare they want to be rich, they may need to reframe what kind of richness they want. A brief Google search reveals that nurses in almost every country are dissatisfied with their salary and all demand a raise. Is it reasonable for them to want a raise? Professionals who become Covid-19 pandemic warriors, after all, deserve more remuneration, right? This is to demonstrate that they are dissatisfied with their income. Although being wealthy or having a lot of money may be one of the reasons people seek nursing, a short Internet search revealed that being wealthy is not among the greatest answers to interview questions like “Why do you want to become a nurse?” Applicants are likely to feel that if they list being wealthy or making a lot of money as the primary reason for wanting to become a nurse, their applications will be rejected. It's tempting to get carried away by the salary of these specialists as advertised on the internet, without factoring in taxes, utility costs, and personal expenses. This is not meant to terrify anyone who genuinely cares about saving people's lives.
Your hopes may be dashed if you believe that nursing is glamorous. Social media might lead you to assume that everyone lives in a perfect world where everything is perfect. Is it because you want to be a nurse because nurses dress well? Far from it; when faced with the reality of what their jobs involve on a daily basis, this can be very disheartening. Do you have the fortitude to deal with odour and the sight of blood, mucus, human excreta, and other body discharges? You may believe that all nurses do is give medication until you are confronted with the truth of their responsibilities. To be at the bedside of a sufferer, one must have a big heart. “The best nurses are located in the dirtiest part of the ward,” one of our nursing teachers once said. That is to say, taking care of someone in their most vulnerable state takes more than glitz. If you truly want to pursue this professional path, you must be willing to brave the storms and conquer any obstacles that may arise. No one is born with all of the attributes of a good nurse, but your burning passion to help others can help you become the greatest nurse you can be by being willing to learn and grow into the greatest version of yourself.
Don't be fooled: nursing is a lifelong learning experience. This means that you must be a perpetual learner to be successful in this industry. In a short amount of time, there are a lot of stuff to learn. This is because healthcare is constantly changing, and nurses must continue to study in order to keep up with the rate of change. This is for the benefit of your patients as well as your professional development. Nursing is a mix of most professions, which means you'll almost certainly encounter courses like math and science that you may have despised in high school. However, by managing your time and prioritising your tasks, you may become the best version of yourself in this important job. Continuous education does not only apply to nursing; to succeed in any field, one must continue to learn and develop their talents with self-discipline.
Inability to cope with stressful situations. Stress is a common part of life, but depending on our stress threshold, a certain amount of it can be harmful to our health. Nursing is full of stress, from college level to professional level. It might be hard to spend long hours in lectures, followed by skill demonstrations and clinical placement. Burnout can occur when a large workload is combined with lengthy hours of work. All of this can take a toll on your mental health and physically and emotionally break you down.
You've been pushed to pursue a career in nursing. You may regret your decision if you are obliged to pursue nursing at all costs and lack the intrinsic passion to make the most of the chance. Remember that if your parents, guardians, or friends forced you to study nursing at all costs, you will not be able to handle the stress of school or becoming a professional nurse. Prepare to have difficult conversations with your loved ones about what you want to accomplish with your life, knowing that they want the best for you. It can be challenging to uncover your passion, therefore you may need your parents or mentors to help you choose a career path. Prepare to learn.
You're not the type to mingle with strangers. You'll be working with a diverse group of people from various sociocultural backgrounds. Some individuals would be polite to you, while others would be cruel. The same is true for patients. You must learn to interact with others with respect.
Poor listening or communication skills. In nursing, poor communication with patients and coworkers may make life a living hell. You'll encounter a lot of people on your path to becoming a nurse, and it'll be difficult to engage with them if you don't have solid communication skills.
This is not meant to discourage you from pursuing nursing as a career if it is your passion. It's one of the most gratifying careers, especially when you're helping others. This is to demonstrate that nursing is not for everyone, and that this does not imply that you are a failure.