Have you decided that you want to become a nurse? There is no denying that this is a very fulfilling career choice. However, it is one that is also very challenging as well. Nurses play a hugely important role in society today, providing care for those who require it. There is nothing greater than this. Nevertheless, when making any sort of career choice, it is always critical to know what you are letting yourself in for. To give you some perspective, we are going to reveal everything you need to know about what it is really like to become a nurse.
The job profile for a nurse…
A nurse is someone who will care for patients who are suffering from a number of different health conditions, which can include minor ailments and injuries, as well as long-term and acute illnesses and diseases. They will support a patient’s recovery process by focusing on the needs of the patient, conducting care procedures and assessments, and utilizing care plans.
If you are interested in becoming a nurse, this does not need to be your end goal when it comes to your healthcare career. This is because there are many different areas that you can then go on to specialize in. For example, you may want to train to help cancer patients specifically.
Nurses will work within a multidisciplinary team yet they are the patient’s main point of contact, often delivering the most consistent care. Nurses will also be in contact with the family of the patient, especially in cases of chronic illness whereby the patient may be returning again and again for treatment.
What are some of the responsibilities nurses have?
There are a number of different responsibilities you will have as a nurse, including the following:
- Making ethical decisions relating to confidentiality and consent
- Keep patient records
- Mentor junior and student nurses
- Organize staff
- Educate patients with regard to their health, which can include running education sessions and clinics
- Advocate on the behalf of the patients
- Reassure family members and patients, and communicate with them effectively
- Plan for discharges from hospital and liaise with social workers and GPs
- Respond to emergencies quickly
- Carry out routine investigations
- Assist with evaluations and tests
- Set up drips and blood transfusions
- Check and administer injections and drugs
- Record and observe the condition of patients
- Implement plans for tasks such as monitoring temperature, blood pressure, and pulse, as well as treating wounds and preparing patients for operations
- Write patient care plans
- Gain the confidence and trust of each patient
Hopefully, this will give you a better understanding of the responsibility that nurses have so that you can determine whether or not this is the right job role for you. However, there’s more than the tasks you face when it comes to the reality of being a nurse…
What are some of the things you can expect from becoming a nurse?
Now that we have given a bit of background information on this job profile, let’s take a look at some of the realities of being a nurse so that you can prepare yourself for this:
- Breakfast may be the only meal you get all day – It is a very bad idea to skip breakfast. We are always told that it is the most important meal of the day, and this is even more so the case for nurses. After all, this could be the only meal that you end up getting all day. Being a nurse is a very fast-paced job. You never know when your assistance is going to be needed or who is going to need it. Plus, you can’t exactly tell someone to wait while you finish your sandwich, can you? This is why the number one rule is to make sure you never miss your breakfast.
- Your co-workers will become a second family – One of the greatest things about working in this profession is the people you are going to be working with. After all, in this career, you will see things that most people don’t see, and don’t want to see. You will, therefore, have experiences and feelings that most people do not encounter. This is why your healthcare family is so important. You share a special bond that is hard to explain with words.
- Being a nurse becomes central to your whole life – It can be challenging to maintain a good work/life balance in any sort of career. However, it is even more of a challenge in this job role. You are going to be working hours that are not sociable. You will probably also need to work overtime as well. Plus, even when you are not working, you will have your patients on your mind. So, it is not a stretch to say that this is a career that will end up taking over your life. This is not necessarily a negative but it does mean that you must make a dedicated effort to look after yourself and make sure you do not burn out.
- You will end up becoming the doctor for all of your friends and family – The last thing to anticipate when becoming a nurse is that your friends and family members will call you whenever they are not feeling great. Expect plenty of calls, texts, pictures, and emails whenever someone has a condition. It can be a little bit frustrating, especially if people start asking for help for every single little symptom that they experience.
Final words on what it is really like to become a nurse and how your life will be…
So there you have it: everything you need to know about what it is really like to become a nurse and what your life will be like. From how demanding this job is to what you can expect in terms of the impact being a nurse will have on your home life, we hope that this post has shed some light on what it truly means to work in this field.
Mia Guerra
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