Nursing: Is It A Career For You?
Written: Oct 22 '00 (Updated Jul 31 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Wide variety of choices in specialties and work environments, Interesting and satisfying work
Cons: Pay, Lack of Support, Physically and emotionally hard work
The Bottom Line: Overall, I would still recommend nursing as a profession.
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| bobstein's Full Review: Nursing Profession |
When I was faced with choosing a career I was not clear exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I enjoyed the sciences and helping people, and with high unemployment rates in the mid-1970's I chose to enter the nursing profession. I felt that it would be interesting and satisfying. I knew that there would always be illness, disease, and injury and took that to mean that unemployment would not be a problem.
One of the major attractive aspects of nursing is the wide variety of choices in specialty and work environment. Enjoy kids? Try pediatrics for a while! Get tried of crying children and neurotic parents? Try adult care for a while! Hate working weekends and holidays? Try working in a physician's office!
The basic nursing education is so broad that it can be applied in many different situations. Nurses inclined to try something a bit non-traditional will find their knowledge and services in demand by insurance companies, schools, corporations, and a host of other arenas. In my case, I have done a bit of them all. Currently, I own and operate my own medical legal consulting firm! The choices and opportunities are endless!
The minimal educational preparation is either a 2-year Associates degree, and 3-year nursing diploma, or a 4-year bachelor's degree. Master's degrees in nursing are also available and can prepare the nurse for advanced practice as a Nurse Practitioner. Many nurses complete other Master degree programs in business, health care administration, or even law.
The major downside to nursing as a career is that the pay rates often do not match the level of education, experience, and responsibility that the nurse has. Knowledge of all the sciences, keen observation skills, critical thinking skills, and the ability to act quickly and independently are essential. Since the nurse has far more contact with the ill or injured, it is often up to them to recognize problems and respond appropriately in critical situations.
The internal turmoil of nursing is another downside. After some 30 years of debate, as a professional we can not even decide what the minimal educational requirement ought to be. How many other professions have a choice of three different educational programs?
The final downside that I will mention is the lack of support new nurses entering the profession often encounter. Clearly, there are some experienced nurses that enjoy mentoring to those just entering the nursing field, however, there are an equal number who will put up roadblocks for them to see if they will sink or swim ... hence the saying that "nurses eat their young".
It's true that the work is hard physically and emotionally, but the rewards are many too. The ability to use a nursing background in so many different ways truly makes it a career for life. Regardless of your personal situation, you will always be able to find a way to apply your nursing education in a job that meets your needs and is satisfying.
Robert W. Stein, III, BSN, MSHA, RN, CEN, CHE
bobstein@lenurse.com
http://www.lenurse.com
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bobstein
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Member: Robert Stein
Location: St. Cloud, Florida
Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 10 members
About Me:
Bob is president of LeNurse, Inc. located in Saint Cloud, Florida
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