We each have a reason that leads us to go into the nursing profession, but over the years sometimes that reason fades as the shiny image we had of the career tarnishes. So what do we say when someone asks about going into the nursing profession?
The news is often overflowing with articles about nurse burnout, bullying, staff shortages, and questionable compensation. You may have experienced some, or all, of these issues yourself during your nursing career. Maybe enough to make you wonder why you went into nursing in the first place. This may make it difficult to come up with a positive response when someone asks you, "Do you think I should go into nursing?”
The issues of inadequate staffing and the significant number of nurses reaching retirement age are a common concern of the nurses today. A continuing influx of nurses into the profession is required to help reduce these staffing issues. Although with a significant number of nurses leaving the profession, it can be helpful to provide advice that is more practical, rather than personal, for someone considering a career in nursing.
Don't Be a Dream Crusher
Complaining comes as a natural response to most people, some so much that it's become a habit. We might not think twice about unburdening all the unsavory things about being a nurse on a willing listener to feel validated. Even if your complaints are justified, this can paint a negative image of the nursing profession. It may potentially deter future nurses before they determine if nursing is a good career choice.
Even if it feels like the bad aspects of the job are outweighing the good, consider that the positive benefits of nursing are probably what led you to the profession, and made you stay.
Provide Practical Advice
The profession of nursing continues to be an attractive, growing, career option. One that's held in high regard and respect by many who consider it the most honest and ethical profession. With an awareness of the challenges that can accompany a nursing career, explain what you feel might be a few key characteristics of a good nurse. That way they can determine if a nursing career would work well for them based on their career goals, personal strengths, weaknesses and their personal life.
What Are Some Characteristics of a Good Nurse?
Flexibility: Nurses work holidays, weekends and with varying schedules. Sometimes there may be several different shifts in one week or extended hours during one day.
Empathy: Nurses must draw upon empathy when caring for patients at their most vulnerable times, or dealing with the challenges of patients that have different views, beliefs or are just difficult to care for.
Compassion- Providing compassionate care is at the heart of nursing, no matter what the specialty.
Physical endurance- Long shifts spent on your feet providing physical care for patients can take a physical toll, so recommend that they consider their personal tolerance and physical limitations.
Attention to detail- Accurate documentation and having a discerning eye to notice changes in patient conditions is essential to provide quality patient care.
Excellent Communicator- Nurses work with an increasing variety of disciplines, cultures, and in diverse environments. This requires strong verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
Lifelong learner- Healthcare is continuously changing through the use of technology. This increases demands on nurses to continue learning to keep their skills relevant.
Emotional stability- The demands of nursing can be stressful, so positive coping mechanisms, prioritizing self-care, and the ability to recognize and address signs of burnout are important.
Organized- Stellar organization skills are helpful to juggle the varied demands of a nurse's usual day and provide quality patient care.
See for Themselves
These key characteristics are shared by many nurses, although each specialty, and different nursing environments, can come with their own positive and negative attributes. It may be challenging to adequately describe a day in the life of a nurse to ensure a future nurse is entering the profession without blinders. A deeper look into the reality of nursing could be achieved for someone who is uncertain if nursing is the right career choice.
What are Some Ways We Can Encourage a Future Nurse?
Take an online course
Shadow a nurse to observe a usual day
Become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) to experience providing direct patient care
Obtain work in an entry-level job in a healthcare environment
Share Your Wisdom
The nursing profession isn't for everyone, and ultimately the decision is an individual one, but you can help a potential nurse to make the best decision about their career. Instead of chipping away at the fresh face full of idealistic hopes and dreams, allow their enthusiasm. It just might help you remember why you chose nursing in the first place.
Amen Kooky. And sadly as the world becomes more dog eat dog, pulling extra shifts, or going " above and beyond " counts for little. Forgot to document one med/ heaven forbid make an honest to goodness no fault med error per MD that you called per protocol- expect a urine test or write up. I now have had the t shirt for a few months. Still employed in case anyone wonders.
Like being a fire fighter, construction worker, cop, or other role that requires lots of physical action, dealing with people who might not be at their best, and shift work, Nursing is a young person's field.
It depends where you work, too. Non-clinical positions are easier physically than direct care.
I only partially agree with this. While there is a physically demanding component to nursing, it doesn't necessarily decrease solely with age. I'm in far better shape physically than I was when I became a nurse 13 years ago and can easily handle the physical portion. A big part of nursing that is involved in this is self-care. That is something we need to preach to people coming into the field. We deal with tremendous highs and lows and having healthy outlets and habits makes all the difference.
Specializes in Diabetes, Transplant, CCU, Neurology.
What would I tell a new nurse? I'd be honest. 1st--nursing sucks right now. You have Covid-19 to worry about, you have PPE problems, you have staff shortages, and you have hospital systems who seem to only care about money. 2nd--you'll be asked to double chart, triple chart, get you work done with more patients, and told to get out on time. Some might even want you to work off the clock and make you feel guilty because you aren't getting your work done. So why go into nursing?
Well, one, if you don't do it, who will. Patients need you. If you care about people, there is no more satisfying job than nursing. You help people through their worst of times. You become some of your patients' best friend, and they tell you things they'd never even tell a family member. Two, is a pretty good gig money-wise too, over the years. If you're not afraid to work, you can make 6 figures even in the lowest paid areas of the country. Three, you can work any where, from Maine or New York, to California or Hawaii, or about any place in between. Four, nursing needs you. Nursing needs to change. Nursing needs to be more efficient so that nurses can spend more time with patients. Nurses need to be strong enough to stand up to their bosses sometimes, and have their boss explain why something is right vs wrong. If "right" is because we've always done it that way, you have to be willing to say that's not good enough. We need to make it better. If enough nurses don't do this, more and more nurses will leave the field until most of the nurses will be caring for patients for the wrong reasons. I'm old enough to remember when charting changed from paper to computer. We were expected to do both, as some doctors were against changing to computer charting and order entry. I told my manager that I would only chart it once, so she could make the decision where she wanted it. Before long, medical records was taking over the alternate, double charting. I charted only once. Eventually, our entire unit was charting things only once.
Let me say, we had a clinical ladder. I went to a Clin 4 (the highest our hospital's ladder went to). I got written up several times (at least 4), but all were for being a patient advocate. My evals were always very good, even with being written up. One manager told me that I could sure be a bear to work with (as a boss), but that whenever she came into the hospital as a patient, I was going to be her nurse. So, I guess what I'm saying is do the little extra things that make you a better nurse. Do inservices, go to special classes, become competent with IVs, catheters, etc. and share your skills. And do what's right. Do what you would want done if you were the patient. If you know you're right and the patient still wants something else, the patient just needs more education. It doesn't mean the patient is wrong--he/she just doesn't have enough information.
1) Nursing needs good nurses to improve the practice 2) Be a patient advocate 3) Keep your skills up 4) the future needs you
Lane Therrell FNP, MSN, RN, NP
18 Articles; 192 Posts
Thanks for keeping it real, Nancy. This is oh so very true.