Last Updated on August 7, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar
Do you want to become a nurse? If yes, this article will be of help to you. I’ve listed down notable pros and cons of being a nurse. Basically, I’ve analyzed this profession and pointed out the main advantages and disadvantages associated with it.
Nursing is a noble profession. This profession enables one to bring about relief and happiness in the lives of patients. Though nursing is a profession dominated by females, male aspirants may also build a decent career in this sector. Nurses are healthcare professionals who usually work under the instructions of qualified Doctors. Depending upon their qualification, nurses are eligible to act independently too. Nursing is a discipline focusing on preventing illness, caring for and bringing back to health the disabled and the sick and maintaining and promoting good health in the society. Nursing forms an integral part of the healthcare sector. Nurses play a key role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the healthcare sector. They assist Doctors in many ways – patient monitoring, surgery, administering medicine, treatment etc. In short, it is a profession that will let you help people directly (by treating them). This profession is also capable of bringing changes at community level! Here’s a list of nursing courses available in India. Nursing is a challenging and satisfying job. But it also comes with loads of responsibilities. Like any other profession, nursing too has its set of advantages and disadvantages.
Also read: B.Sc. Nursing
Let us move to the meat of the matter now – pros and cons of being a nurse. Let us start with the advantages first –
Pros of being a nurse –
- Opportunity to serve others: As I mentioned before, it is one such profession where you may directly help patients. Nursing involves treating the sick, saving lives and educating people! It is possible to serve people not only at individual level, but also at community level. In short, nurses have the opportunity to serve people and communities.
- Job satisfaction: It feels great to help patients. Curing and treating them will give you job satisfaction.
- Decent pay: Nurses who are employed by the government usually get to enjoy a good salary and other additional perks. Most of the reputed private hospitals and clinics too pay their nurses well.
- It is a wide field: Availability of promising specializations: After completing basic nursing program, numerous advanced nursing programs are available in front of nurses. By pursuing such advanced programs, they may specialize in lucrative disciplines within the healthcare sector. This will definitely give one’s career a boost!
- Chance to find work abroad: Skilled and qualified nurses are in huge demand abroad. Particularly the developed nations are keen on recruiting skilled Indian nurses. If you want to work abroad, this profession will help you achieve that dream. The pay and perks available in developed nations is much higher than what it is in India.
- Availability of decent job opportunities: Nurses have ample amounts of job opportunities available in front of them – both government and private sector!
- Opportunity to uplift the community/society: As I mentioned before, nurses are capable of working at community level. They may take up healthcare initiatives at the community level and bring about a positive change in the society.
Let us focus on the disadvantages now –
Cons of being a nurse –
- Long and odd working hours: It is not uncommon to see nurses going through long and tough shifts. An emergency case is more than enough to deny them sleep! In short, depending upon the work-setup, working hours could be odd, uncertain, long and tough!
- Exposure to germs and other hazards: Nurses spend a good amount of time at hospitals. They interact closely with patients while they are at work. This exposes them to a variety of germs, fluids and other harmful substances.
- Increased responsibility: There is no scope for error in this profession. While at work, a nurse should be focused and disciplined. Patients’ lives rests on the shoulders of nurses.
- Physically and mentally demanding job: Long working hours and increased responsibility often leads to mental and physical exhaustion.
- No room for error: Mistakes and carelessness committed by nurses can lead to serious consequences.
- Emotional setbacks: Nurses are trained to treat patients and save lives. Sometimes, things may not go according to the plan. Despite the best efforts, they may lose some patients. This, sometimes, can lead to emotional setbacks in nurses.
- ‘Difficult’ patients: Nurses interact closely with patients. Dealing with people suffering from different problems is not an easy task. While most patients are polite and nice to nurses, there exists patients who are rude and difficult to manage. Dealing with such difficult patients can be frustrating.
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
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