Nursing: A Career with Challenges and Rewards
Nursing has always been a highly respected and rewarding career, especially for those with a nurturing nature. For my mom, nursing was a great choice. It provided steady work, decent pay, and even brought her into contact with doctors, including my father. However, nursing is not without its challenges.
Challenges of the Nursing Career
Getting into nursing can involve long shifts, particularly during the night. It’s not uncommon for nurses to work through their initial phase of "paying their dues" and then have to do so again when they change jobs. The long hours can be demanding and take a significant toll on one's quality of life outside of work.
The physical demands of nursing are substantial. Patients don't get any lighter as you get older, so a 62-year-old nurse can still be lifting and rolling the same patients they helped as a 22-year-old. Such physical labor can be taxing and may lead to long-term health issues. The impact of the pandemic, particularly the experiences during the early days of the Covid-19 crisis, have further emphasized the stress and challenges faced by nurses.
Pros and Cons of a Nursing Career
Despite these challenges, nursing is a profoundly rewarding career. There are many different specialties and areas to practice in, offering varied paths to career advancement. Advanced certifications and degrees can help expand your professional horizons. However, it's crucial to assess your own suitability for the career. You need to be able to handle people who are very ill, perhaps facing death, and those requiring various levels of care and knowledge. Academic performance is also critical, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 often required for nursing programs.
Recollections and Reflections
From personal experience, I've known several nurses, including my two nieces and a good friend who has retired. Both of my nieces have found the work incredibly fulfilling but also deeply challenging. My niece who works in an ICU often deals with death and the daily trauma that comes with it. She is now considering changing to emergency care for a more exciting and potentially more chaotic environment. My other niece works in a prison, a challenging and underappreciated role. Despite the tension and potential violence, she provides essential medical care to incarcerated individuals, who range in age from young to elderly, including lifers with age-related diseases.
Working in a prison is a job that isn't always recognized, but it is undoubtedly important. Prisoners can experience a wide range of health issues, from acute conditions like heart attacks to chronic problems. My niece is remarkable for her commitment and resilience, and I am proud of her for undertaking such a challenging role. The physical and emotional demands are significant, and she often experiences a rollercoaster of emotions depending on the day and the behavior of the prisoners.
While nursing is a genuinely honorable and necessary profession, it is not one that everyone is cut out for. The emotional and physical toll can be substantial. Personally, I find it difficult to envision myself in such a role, as the concept of dealing with blood and intense trauma is deeply daunting. Yet, the dedication and passion of the nurses I've known inspire me to respect and appreciate them deeply. They are truly the backbone of healthcare, and their work is incredibly important.
Conclusion
Nursing is a career with both significant challenges and profound rewards. It requires a strong heart, a willingness to face difficult situations, and a commitment to help those in need. The experiences of my nieces and friends highlight the diversity and depth of nursing roles, from ICU to prison healthcare. If you are considering nursing or are already a nurse, remember that it is a journey that requires patience, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose.