Pros and Cons of Being a Nurse: Is a Nursing Career Worth It?

We all seek to find a job that does not feel like a job but rather something we enjoy doing. However, the path towards deciding what that job is, which academic major you should pursue, finding out what you want, and more importantly, what you would be good at, can feel daunting.

If you are interested in leading a professional life that focuses on helping others, you most probably have contemplated pursuing a career in nursing. However, simply being interested in something does not guarantee that you will be successful in it, happy doing that job for the rest of your life, nor does it ensure a comfortable life financially. Grey's Anatomy might portray nurses as simple physician helpers who provide their services only in hospitals. However, there is much more to this profession of independent clinicians - for the better and for the worse. If you are interested in knowing more about this fascinating profession, read on!

Is Nursing the Right Career for Me?

When pondering a decision, one of the quickest and easiest decision-making tools you can utilize is creating a pros and cons list. It is a simple yet efficient method of seeing the bigger picture, reducing uncertainty, and being less subjective when choosing between two possible scenarios — pursuing a career in nursing or not. Darwin did it before us, and even Benjamin Franklin before him. It worked out pretty well for them.

We will help make it even easier for you by presenting you with a ready-made list of the pros and cons of nursing. So, before setting your mind on nursing, consider the following aspects, focusing on all that a profession has to offer without ignoring the possible disadvantages of being a nurse.

The Pros of Being a Nurse

The following arguments aim to convince you that following a path toward nursing is the right choice. It is beneficial for you to be informed of the opportunities and advantages you will have if you decide to pursue this profession.

Helping others

One of the first advantages, and actually what pushes people toward a career in nursing, is the opportunity to help others. Whether it be through providing direct health care to patients or educating people on necessary topics such as vaccination, disorders, mental health, and more, as a nurse, you will be doing your part to help society.

High demand and good job outlook

You do not have to worry about not finding a job as a nurse. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the position of a registered nurse has a promising job outlook with a projected growth of 9% from 2020 to 2030. There will be around 194,500 job openings during this decade as nurses are in high demand and will continue to be so for a while.

Earning potential

Once a job is high in demand, you can safely expect the monetary compensation provided to be satisfactory too. According to recent reports, as a registered nurse in the United States, you can earn around $70,335 per year. The salary can be much higher if you decide to specialize in a particular part of nursing, such as anesthesiology, gerontology, cardiology, or some other area.

Great job security

Another great advantage correlated with the fact that nursing is an in-demand field is the job security it provides. Because nurses are a vital part of any healthcare facility, and there will be plenty of job openings for such roles, you can work soundly knowing that you can enjoy a high level of job security as long as you do your job well.

Great upward mobility

A significant aspect of nursing is the profession's evolving nature, filled with opportunities for advancement as long as you are willing to work for them. You will not begin your career, land a position, and be done with it. On the contrary, you can take your career to the next level with experience, sometimes academic advancement, and a few certifications here and there.

Various work settings

Hospitals are one of the largest and most typical work settings for most healthcare professionals, including nurses. However, if you become a nurse, you will find that there are various work settings where you can practice your profession, including but not limited to military bases, patients' homes, airplanes, and other intriguing places.

Variety in your day-to-day work

They say that monotonous work is the enemy of work happiness. As a nurse, you will not have to worry about being stuck in a loop performing the same duties every day. Instead, you will be engaging with different people almost daily and encountering patient cases that push you to seek solutions and try things you might not have had the opportunity to do before. Nursing is filled with surprises and challenges that will help you grow.

Flexible work schedule

Although it largely depends on the employer, as a nurse, you can have a lot of flexibility when it comes to your schedule. Often, nurses can choose from a standard full-time program, part-time, or on-call shifts. In accordance with your other responsibilities, you can agree on a specific schedule that fits both you and your employer.

Trusted profession

Nursing has been ranked as the number one most trusted profession for 20 years consecutively, so you know it is characterized by high honesty and ethics. Beyond that title, nurses have generally always been regarded as some of the most respectable and trustworthy professionals thanks to their dedication and hard work to provide care to anyone that crosses their paths.

Getting ready for the workday is simple

Lastly, focusing on the simple joys, getting ready for your shift as a nurse is as easy as pie. A pair of comfortable scrubs with clogs or some work shoes will ensure you look and feel good instantly. Instead of worrying about whether you have worn that shirt you like way too many times or about how your pants look with those shoes, you follow the nurse dress code and are ready to go.

The Cons of Being a Nurse

Now, we move on to the other side of things and go through arguments against pursuing nursing. From potential emotional burnouts to duties dealing with some not-so-pleasant matters, it is equally crucial that you acknowledge the cons of nursing and know what you are getting yourself into.

Witnessing loss

Nothing can prepare you to see another human lose their battle against an illness, injury, or time. As a nurse, you have to have a strong grip on your emotions and learn how to deal with witnessing loss. If you cannot deal with death in a healthy manner as a nurse, you will suffer greatly in the long run.

Exposure to germs and viruses

Although you are required to wear proper protective equipment when working as a nurse to protect yourself and others from the possible spread of viruses, exposure to germs, and harmful substances, there is still a risk of catching something from a patient. As minimal as this risk is nowadays, especially when the facilities have frequent cleansing and testing procedures to avoid such incidents, it is still something you should keep in mind when becoming a nurse.

Physical demand

Because you have to spend so much time on your feet, help lift and move patients, as well as carry other things, as a nurse, you will be more prone to suffer from foot and back injuries. In fact, according to a study, the physical demands of nursing jobs are associated with higher rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in registered nurses and other nursing staff than in most other occupational groups.

Stress and pressure

Each job comes with a certain level of stress and pressure. However, that level is heightened in the nursing field, mainly because these professionals are responsible for the well-being of people. When you pursue nursing, even a tiny mistake can be tragic. So, acknowledging the gravity of such a situation can lead to stress and pressure, but you must rise above it.

Potential for 12-hour shifts

We mentioned before that nursing offers flexible schedules. However, that is not always true. At times, in specific work settings, you might be required to put in more work hours than the average worker. Actually, it is not uncommon that, as a nurse, you are asked to work 12-hour shifts or even longer if much reporting needs to be done before changing shifts.

Being underappreciated by some people

Whether you're doing great work with your patients and not getting a simple "thank you" for it or not getting any support from your team, there are many instances when you might feel underappreciated throughout your nursing career. Of course, this can take a toll on you and make you lose the motivation and passion you have for the job, so it is vital to differentiate this lack of appreciation from the thought that you are not doing well enough.

Having to deal with body fluids

Lastly, remember how we mentioned that you would have to wear proper equipment to avoid exposure to germs and viruses? Another reason is that you will have to help deal with the patient's body fluids, such as interstitial fluids, saliva, tears, and gastric juices. Being responsible for this duty is especially true when you first begin your nursing career and probably work as a nursing assistant.

The Bottom Line

Deciding whether you want to be a nurse or not should ultimately be up to you, and you only. Hopefully, the list of pros and cons of being a nurse that we provided can help make the decision an easy one. Of course, what we listed is based on general opinion. According to your preferences, personality, and priorities, you might see some pros of the job as cons, or vice-versa. So, feel free to add your pro and con arguments to the list.

The important thing is that you weigh each argument against one another and use the ultimate winning side as a constant reminder of why you decided to pursue nursing or not.