It is not easy to get a clear picture of what to except out of a career without experiencing it for yourself. Most of the information people have in regards to a nursing career is based off of shows like Grey’s Anatomy and House, but there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that Hollywood chooses to omit for the sake of entertainment. We rounded up some nursing superstars to share their first-hand experience and to provide advice to hopefuls looking to make nursing a career.
- Nursing requires A LOT of critical thinking: this skill is so important that the Department of Labor lists both inductive and deductive reasoning in the top abilities RNs need for the job. You will probably feel unprepared at first, but you will realize that you actually know more than you think you do. Sarah Pruitt, RN and manager of clinical operations at Advocate Christ Medical Center says, “a lot of people mistakenly believe that nurses are there to follow whatever orders the doctors give us. While we also do that, nurses must also thoroughly assess a patient or situation, critically think and then implement the plan of care.”
- You CAN find day shifts – even as a new nurse: the common misconception is that everyone has to put in time on the night shift before they can work days. This is simply not true. Though specific hiring situations will vary per location, there is no rule against new nurses finding a shift that works with their life.
- Working in a hospital may not be a realistic start: while it is not impossible to find a job at a hospital straight out of college, it could prove to be difficult. Go into your career search with an open mind and expand your horizons to also include other healthcare facilities. “I didn’t know it would be so hard to find a job as a new grad, says Ciji West, RN. With a lot of buzz around the current nursing shortage in this country, West thought it would be simple finding a job. “There certainly is a nursing shortage, but most hospitals have residency programs that only accept a certain number of new graduates.” Keep an open mind, and interview for anything and everything you can. You may even find that a nursing position outside the hospital setting pays more!
- Witnessing patient suffering is not easy, especially when it is so easy to get attached to your patients: first and foremost, consider your specialty with care as some nurses deal with more severe and extreme health issues than others. Contemplate how you will react when your patients are hurting and dealing with grief. “Before I became an RN, I didn’t know how attached you actually become to your patients and their families,” Pruitt says. “Day in and day out you care for so many different patients, but there will be special ones that leave an impression on your heart.” Remember that no matter how tough conditions get, you are the smiling face and beacon of hope for a lot of people. Know that you are making a difference no matter how big or small.
- Self-care is so overlooked in this industry but can make all the difference in how you show up for your shift: shifts will becoming impossibly busy to the point where scarfing down a mini bag of pretzels would feel like a luxury. “People don’t understand that nurses sacrifice eating and going to the bathroom to get work done,” West says, adding that nurses can sometimes sacrifice to the point of harming their own health. Burnout is a very real thing that all nurses will experience at one point or another, but it is so important to keep in mind that you can’t show up for others if you can’t show up for yourself. One tip to help you start strong out the gate; compression socks. “Cute shoes are great, but compression socks are what’s going to save your feet and legs. Once I discovered them, my foot, leg and knee pain went away. And no one notices them underneath your pants,” says West.
Not everyone has what it takes to be a nurse, but if you can handle it, you’ll be rewarded by a career that truly makes a difference.
