Becoming A Nurse – Starting A New Career

Nursing is a rewarding field and a rewarding career choice. Knowing that you are helping others and giving back to both young and old gives you a warm and comforting feeling that realistically you do not get from a lot of jobs. Nursing is a flexible industry and one that is constantly changing. A degree in nursing is a must to get a job, especially a job within a hospital, but once you have your degree you have the flexibility of working within almost any area of care. From nursing children and new mothers on the maternity ward to looking after the terminally ill in their last few days, the role is hugely varied and diverse. With nursing no two days are the same and this is part of what makes the job enjoyable and interesting.

Why Do You Want To Become A Nurse?

Have you always dreamed of being a nurse but found that life took you down another road? Perhaps you have raised a family and are now looking for a new challenge, or maybe you have had a previous career in another field such as banking or finance and now you are ready for a completely new hands on, and more rewarding challenge. Whatever pushes and drives you is all that matters. Knowing exactly why you want to be a nurse gives you confidence and it gives you stability, which you will need while studying and getting your first job. Remembering why you wanted to get into nursing will help see you through some of the worst and most emotional hardships you may face during your career as a nurse.

Why You Should Become A Nurse

Caring and looking after people is a rewarding occupation. The reality of life and the insights you get into the lives of others is what makes nursing interesting. There will never be any days that are the same within your nursing career. For example, one day could be full of very routine administration, whereas the next could be busy, on the go and high octane. Nursing provides stability to the lives of others and you should become a nurse if you want to help others feel better and get better, no matter what they are recovering from or what situation they find themselves in.

Studying – How To Make It Work For You

Whether you are returning to studying for a degree after a long break or you are studying again after a few years off, it is important to remember that studying takes dedication and effort. Studying when you are slightly older and more mature can be easier as you know what you want to get out of your studying, but it can also be more challenging too, simply because you may have lots of commitments and responsibilities to juggle. To achieve the most from an accelerated BSN nursing program you must be focused, motivated and dedicated, and you must make sure that you set out and dedicate time, even when chaos may be engrossing your home or family. As most studying is done online you need to know that you can separate your home life from your study life, and realistically this is easy to do once you have set up some boundaries. With an accelerated degree you get to achieve the qualification and land your job in no time at all, often in under 2 years.

How To Handle Work, Study And Life

Juggling all your commitments and responsibilities alongside learning can be challenging even for the most seasoned professional. Finding the time in the day to finish everything you want to get done can be stressful, but you can make it work and you can smash any goals or targets you set for yourself. To handle all your commitments, you must realize that you only have so much time to offer every day. When you realize that you cannot fit everything in then you can learn how to prioritize tasks, jobs and chores and ultimately this is an important skill to learn as soon as possible.

Qualities And Attributes Of A Nurse

Being a nurse requires you to have a particular set of qualities and attributes. Nurses are highly meticulous, efficient and organized individuals who can work independently or as part of a team. Nurses can often set aside their emotions when caring for a patient to ensure that the patient gets the best care and treatment possible. Often nurses can find themselves stretched and pulled in different directions, which can leave them exposed to high levels of stress and pressure. A good nurse will be able to split their time and prioritize their workload and responsibilities to ensure that all plates are still turning at the end of their shift, even if they need to ask for help.

The Realities Of Nursing

Long hours within any department are pretty much guaranteed, as is a mixture of working different times and days. Different rotas may mean at first that you find it difficult to get into a good working pattern. Sleeping patterns can be thrown out as you can have a run of shifts at different hours over several days before having a day off. Nursing is not glamorous it is about ensuring patients are well looked after and cared for, and this could include doing everything from emptying bed pans to changing wound dressings and bandages. The satisfaction and good feeling that you get at the end of a shift will make keep you going day in and day out.

Landing Your Dream Job

Getting your foot into the door and securing the nursing position of your dreams is possible if you put in a little bit of hard work and effort beforehand. A good resume will get you noticed and if you have some experience under your belt, it will be beneficial. Work experience whether paid or voluntary will be a welcome addition to your resume and will help you get noticed above the other candidates. Once you have got your foot through the door and landed a job you can then begin working your way up through the ranks which could see you being a head nurse or matron should you wish.

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