Considering nursing? Experienced caregivers share what to expect
There once was a time when it seemed as if you had to make your career choice early. Entering your late teens or early twenties came hand-in-hand with at least an attempt to pursue the profession you envisioned yourself in for the rest of your life. While that scenario in and of itself is probably best recalled with rose-colored glasses, today’s workers know they can not only switch jobs a few times during the course of their life but they can also switch careers. It is no longer uncommon for sales representatives to become teachers, paralegals to become graphic designers and accountants to become wedding photographers. Careers in nursing — thanks to a variety of specialities, workplace settings and shifts — has always been a strong option for not only high school graduates but also seasoned veterans in other professions.
“I majored in business in college and never imagined I would become a nurse,” says Michelle Orlando, 34. “But I hated my job and decided to attend an open house at a nursing school in Arlington, Texas, where I was living at the time. I talked to a few people, took a look at the requirements and gave my two-week notice the next day.”
Orlando admits it was kind of a brash move but with the semester only three weeks away, she says she felt like it was time to make an immediate change. “I just needed to do something I cared about,” she says. “Nursing gave me that chance.”
On maternity leave after the birth of twin daughters in March, Orlando says she plans on going back to work in September in Arlington, Virginia, where she and her husband moved in January. “There are jobs everywhere out here,” she says. “I love staying home with my babies but I can’t wait to get back to work.”
We asked Orlando and several other nurses if they had any advice for people considering a job in nursing. Here’s what they had to say:
“It’s a people-centric job so you have to like people. Sounds simple but it’s really important. I hated being in a cubicle all day but some people love that isolation. Nurses aren’t isolated. They’re in the middle of it all the time. If you can’t handle that type of proximity to others, nursing’s probably not the job for you.” -Michelle Orlando, RN, Arlington, Virginia
“Nursing is not for everyone. You have to have empathy, be very flexible with your schedule, work holidays and weekends and have thick skin. Surgery is brutal at times because of the stress level but on the flip side, it can be very rewarding. I love it!” -Zoe Smith, surgical nurse, Swedish Covenant, Chicago
“You have got to love what you do. Long shifts, weekend and holiday shifts and you can’t always get requested time off. Today, it’s best to have a four-year degree. Administration tends to think BSN is better than a two-year degree. You will advance your career with a four-year degree.” -Patricia Seeger, retired, Crouse-Irving Hospital School of Nursing, Syracuse, New York
“Being a nurse gives you a lot of job options and flexibility in your career. You can work in a hospital, clinic, teacher, nursing leadership, case management, school nurse, for pharmaceutical companies, as a legal nurse consultant, etc. You can find a job working full- or part-time with flexible hours which can be great for spending time with family and friends. It’s hard work, and in a hospital, we work nights, weekends and holidays. Expect to pay your dues as a new nurse … You can experience a wide range of emotions as you witness new life come into the world or another life pass away. We work hard to help patients and families be healthy, and sometimes our efforts seem futile. Not everyone gets better but hopefully, we can help bring peace and grace to those who die and help the family start the healing process. Although nursing is challenging, it’s a rewarding career that helps me to appreciate and celebrate the numerous gifts of life. In the NICU, it feels like we are caring for God’s most precious angels.” -Vicki Pierson, neonatal ICU, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
“It is a great profession with many different options of specialties. It is very tough and it is not for everyone. You will see patients at some of their best times—delivering babies— and at their worst and most vulnerable times. You need to be a good critical thinker who will be an advocate for your patients. At the end of the day, your feet will hurt but your heart will be full, for you have made a difference in someone else’s life. I’ve never regretted my decision to become a nurse.” -Kathleen Muglia, professor, nurse practitioner, College of Nursing, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
“Get experience. Work the crappy medical-surgical floor, work nights, work all kinds of specialties to get experience. Never forget to be human. Charting, rounding, meds, IV site checks, wound care, pooping and puking. Do it all. Learn it all.” -Jean McDougall, RN, Kimball Health Services, Pine Bluffs, Wyoming
“It’s hard work but so rewarding. You should really realize you’re going to work long hours and become physically and emotionally drained at times.” -Aubrey Bascue, LPN charge nurse, Tutera Senior Living, Overland Park, Kansas
“Do it! It is not for the faint of heart. Talk with other nurses. Go watch nurses in action. Investigate your options. Get a bachelor’s degree, unless you have one already, then do an accelerated BSN or Master’s entry program … I would not do anything else. I am 50 years old and became a nurse when I was 21; a nurse-midwife when I was 26 and I just finished my doctoral degree. This is my life’s work. I’ve never been jobless, or at least not for very long.” -Darryn Dunbar, Director of Online Nursing Programs, Stratford University, Falls Church, Virginia
“If you’re interested, go for it! But only get a bachelor’s degree or higher. And be prepared to work nights, weekends and holidays. And be prepared to buy new sneakers several times a year.” -Kristi Elliott, family nurse practitioner, Diabetes and Endocrinology Specialists, Concord, California