If you are just finishing high school and are pondering your career path, and if you are strong in the science subjects, and like to care for others a nursing career might be an appropriate path to think about. The same can be said if you are ready to shift careers later in your working life.
Nursing is a profession that comes with the reward of knowing you are doing good for others. However it is also a very demanding occupation both physically and mentally. Nurses work long hours that often extend between eight hour days. As well they work shifts and do not work nine to five hours. Some nurses become so involved with taking care of others that they end up not having nearly as much time to attend to their own needs.
If this is a career path you are looking at then ask yourself what the draw is for you? Never choose a job based on the potential earnings. In order to be the best nurse you can be you must love what you do and be dedicated to it. You need to be a good communicator, a kind and loving individual and someone who can attend to sick people in every way it is called for. How you feel about your job will be communicated to those in your care and that is why loving what you do is so essential.
Applying to become a volunteer at a hospital or clinic in your hometown is one significant way to gain firsthand knowledge of the scope of what nurses do. You may even get to know some nurses well enough that they will take you under their wing and teach you some basics of their job. Some of the duties that nurses perform routinely include checking blood pressure and temperature, as well as checking vital signs and collecting blood and urine samples.
If you do decide to pursue a nursing career then the opportunity to specialize and grow will be open to you. Many nurses change specialties a few times throughout their working lives. Once you have logged the required hours working in the operating room (OR) and the emergency room (ER) you can then move onto other specialties.
Critical care nursing is a very challenging and stressful environment to work in but many nurses enjoy this setting very much. In this case you will be working with patients in intensive care who are struggling to hold onto life.
Other nursing career options for you include neonatal nursing where you will be working with babies and young children. Beyond hospitals you can find a job at a pediatric home health care facility. You could also look for work at an outpatient surgery center. Still another option available to experienced nurses is to go back to nursing school to teach other nurses. You owe it to yourself to gather as much nursing career information as you can, so that you will be able to make an informed decision.
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hi this is kayla i am a student taking up nursing and i was wondering what all do it take to be a midwife rn and registered nurse. I would like a little more information.
Thanks,
Kayla Scott