The job market in the 21st century is an ever changing, metamorphosing beast. At once immediate and impenetrable, offering opportunity but lacking security, it’s almost impossible to find your niche. With so much of the money made happening from behind a computer, it feels like face-to-face contact and making a real difference in society have become secondary concerns. Why care about what’s happening out there when you can stay inside all day? Interacting only through your keyboard; safe, warm, and ultimately, alone.
If you’re feeling that creeping sense of emptiness, then you’re not alone. Now is the time to give back; and what better way to do it than through work, enabling you to earn money while you redress the imbalance in your soul. Yes, we’re talking about a career in the healthcare industry – specifically as a nurse.
Nursing is one of those jobs that you truly put your heart into, getting out more than you put in, and while it can be physically and mentally exhausting, it can also be rewarding and life affirming. If you’re considering a switch, then here are 5 IDEAL questions for aspiring nurses to ask. Oh and if you are an aspiring nurse, check out Athona recruitment they have some of the best aspiring nurses on their books.
What Initial Schooling Is Required?
There aren’t many ‘career’ jobs out there that you can walk into and expect to land a position without the proper educational training and certification, and nursing is no exception. You wouldn’t want someone without the requisite qualifications taking care of of a loved one, so be reassured rather than deterred; the process is lengthy. In terms of nursing, the bare minimum you need is an associate’s degree. You will then be able to practice as a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This is the entry-level nursing position.
Is Career Progression Possible?
Now, if you’re looking at ways you can really make nursing a lifelong career, and work your way up not just in the position but also in salary, then you will need to complete a master’s degree. This allows you tackle those more advanced areas of practice.
An excellent example of this more advanced career path is on the nurse practitioner programs, such as the Family Nurse Practitioner. What this program does is teach you the knowledge and skills you’ll need to deliver primary care to adults, adolescents, children, and infants. There is often a strong emphasis on social and biomedical factors that play into the patient’s health; a complete approach to care, then.
How Will I Handle The Physical And Mental Demands Of The Job?
Granted, every job carries with it a certain amount of stress, but nursing tends to stretch and extend this definition to its limits at times. Not only that, but it can be an absolutely exhausting job from a physical standpoint. There is very little, if any, downtime in a day. You will be on your feet pretty much your entire shift, you may be required to do lifting in order to move patients, and you’ll need to be carrying and moving medical equipment around as needed for patients.
A typical shift for a nurse lasts 12 hours and, in general, they tend to do this for three days in a row. It can be very difficult to find the energy to get through those shifts when you first start out and you aren’t yet used to it.
What this means is that as a nurse you need to be sure that you are taking care of your own mental and physical well-being. This includes getting enough sleep each night, eating a healthy well-balanced diet high in nutrients and vitamins, making sure you stay hydrated during your shift, exercising regularly to help combat stress, and getting into the habit of leaving your day at the ‘office’ when you leave and not take the stress home with you. There is also support available for nurses going through a period of struggle.
Can I Cope With Being Underappreciated?
What is most striking to those entering the field of nursing is just how underappreciated they might feel. While there will be plenty of patients who are thankful for your help and assistance, there’ll also be plenty who outwardly offer little appreciation for your skills. Please bear in mind during these times of perceived ungratefulness that patients are going through a tough, emotional time and should be forgiven for being inward looking.
On these days it can be helpful to focus on the job at hand and try to keep emotions out of the mix. You can also look to your co-workers for support, as they will understand better than anyone about the frustrations you are feeling.
Do I Want To Make A Difference?
With all the talk of stress, physical and mental strain, and the impression of being undervalued, we wouldn’t blame you for not getting to the end of this article. If the answer is yes to this final question however, there is no better job to consider. Nursing has many exciting strands, and needn’t be confined simply to hospital shifts. You’ll learn and hone a variety of skills extending way beyond simply taking care of people, but most of all, you’ll do just that; care for people. And though people may not initially show it, you have the opportunity to positively impact so many lives and be in one of the most cherished careers around.