Nurse.com talks candidly about our nation’s nursing shortage, which is severe. They say, “In 2023, recruiting and retaining good nurses could be the most critical area of focus in determining a hospital’s success.” Healthcare organizations are taking steps to attract more nurses to the profession, making this a highly lucrative, rewarding, and stable profession to consider.
However, becoming a nurse isn’t easy. This blog will help you understand the challenges involved in becoming a nurse and how to overcome them.
What Are the Challenges to Becoming a Nurse in 2023?
Some of the most difficult goals are worth the struggle. We hope that’s how you feel about joining the nursing profession. With that said, there are challenges associated with this career path that you may already be experiencing. For example:
Education and Training
Nurses receive, at minimum, a four-year B.A., while many positions require advanced degrees, such as a Master’s or Doctorate.
Licensing and Certification
At the end of their education, nurses must pass a national licensing exam. You may also need specialized certifications in the area of nursing you choose, such as pediatrics or oncology.
Physical Demands
Nursing is physically demanding, requiring long periods of standing, walking, lifting patients, or moving equipment.
Emotional Demands
Nurses work with very sick patients sometimes, and sometimes those patients pass away. This can be very emotionally taxing and something that every nurse must go through.
High-stress Environments
Sometimes nurses experience highly stressful environments. If you work the late shift in a big city ER, you’ll handle many intense events. You must learn to stay calm under this pressure.
Here’s the irony of these challenges: Ask any nurse, and they’ll tell you how they overcame these difficulties and how much they love the work. Learning how to overcome these challenges will help you become a successful nurse. Here are some tips to help you through the challenges to the good things on the other side.
How to Overcome Nursing’s Challenges
You can overcome these challenges with personal resilience and strategies for self-care. For example:
- Many hospitals pay for nursing school if you agree to work in their facility for a certain timeframe after graduation. Other organizations pay off student loans, making your career path less costly.
- Seek out resources like mentors and study groups to help you prepare for your certification exams. Take the practice tests and study to pass on the first try.
- You can practice good body mechanics to reduce your risk of on-the-job injury. Nursing is a workout, so stay in shape to handle the job well. You should also take breaks and prioritize rest and recovery when off the job.
- Seek support from colleagues and mentors if the job gets you down. Most healthcare organizations offer therapeutic resources to help your mental health.
- Practice stress management and take better care of yourself. This is great advice for any nurse, no matter how long you’ve been on the job.
Are You Looking For A Nursing Position?
Bluebird Staffing has worked with hundreds of nurses over the years to ensure they find the best possible work environment. We’d like to talk with you about finding you the right fit. Check out our hot jobs and give us a call today.
