Nursing can be a very rewarding career path, especially if your life mission is to help others. A path to becoming a nurse is not easy but it is worth the effort. Getting a job as a nurse gives you the opportunity to improve the lives of others.

Just like with any other profession, however, there are some disadvantages associated with being a nurse. Here we take a look at the most important pros and cons of a nursing career and we investigate whether the pros outweigh the cons. We are committed to helping you make an informed decision about becoming the nurse and we are here to assist you every step of the way.

What are the main advantages of being a nurse?

There are many good things about working as a nurse. Here are some examples:

There is a very high demand for nurses

Hospitals and medical facilities are always looking for new nurses. The UK now is facing an extreme shortage of nurses with 93,806 full-time vacancies in England. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the UK struggled with filing the available nursing positions but now the situation is worse than ever. As the need to address nurse shortages is critical, finding a job if you are qualified to work as a nurse should not be too difficult.

Nursing offers great flexibility

Nursing offers full-time, part-time, permanent, and temporary positions. Depending on your preferences and needs, you can find an opening that matches what you are looking for. As a nurse, you can also work in various locations across the country.

Nursing offers opportunities for growth

As you gain more experience and knowledge, you can get promoted to other positions and get a better salary. As a nurse, you will always keep learning and growing. In addition to that, nursing offers good job security. As nurses are in great demand, hospitals and medical centres will do everything they can to keep you. They will also assist you with getting more training.

There are many specialties to choose from

There are many things you can do with your nursing qualifications. You can pick your specialty and decide whether you want to, for example, work with children or adults, in the ER or in a private medical clinic. If you are qualified as a nurse, there are many options regarding your career path and you do not have to worry about ever being bored.

Nursing gives you recognition

Nursing is a respected career path and many people will show you appreciation for the work you do in helping those in need. If you get a job as a nurse, you can expect to have a good social status.

What are the main disadvantages of being a nurse?

Unfortunately, it would be a lie to say that a career in nursing does not come with some challenges. Here are examples of some disadvantages of being a nurse:

Nurses are undervalued

Nurses help many patients each day and they often work long hours. Sadly, however, their contribution to helping those in need is overlooked. Many give credit only to doctors and forget about nurses, which can lead to frustration and feeling unappreciated.

Nursing salaries should be higher

For many years nurses have been demanding pay rises for the challenging work they do. In recent months the NHS announced a pay rise for nurses in the UK so the situation is improving but many still argue that qualified nurses deserve to be paid more.

Nursing can be a stressful job

As a nurse, each day you will interact with people who are experiencing some health problems. While, of course, many of them recover, some do not. Seeing patients suffering and not being able to help is probably the hardest, most stressful part of working as a nurse.

You will sometimes encounter difficult patients

As a new nurse, you have to be aware of the fact that there will be some patients that will be impolite and difficult to talk to. That is something to be aware of but it is a challenge that can be found in any other profession as well.

Working long hours and holidays

Nurses might be needed every day of the year. While you, of course, have a right to paid leave each year, you have to be prepared for sometimes being on call on holidays. Moreover, nursing shifts can be very long, especially if the place where you work is facing a shortage of staff.

So should I become a nurse?

You probably had a look at the disadvantages of being a nurse and you are wondering whether following this career path is worth it. Despite there being some cons, pros are much more significant and nursing is a great career choice. No matter what profession you choose for yourself, there will be some challenges. When it comes to nursing, however, the advantages outweigh them.

As a nurse, you get to serve others and have a positive impact on their lives. You also help them when they need it the most. While there certainly are other career paths that might be better paid, knowing that we do something that matters is more important. As a nurse, you will be an inspiration to others and every day you will feel proud of yourself for making a difference in the lives of people around you.

In addition to that, being a nurse is a stable career choice with many possibilities for growth. You will have financial stability and access to training that will help you progress in your career as a nurse.

Finally, if you become a nurse, you will work in a dynamic environment where every day is different. Hence, you can spend the rest of your life working as a nurse and you will never be bored.

If you would like to find out more about working as a nurse or you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.