Advantages and disadvantages exist in every career. Being a nurse or an allied travel healthcare professional is no exception. There are pluses and minuses to being a nurse. While this article will cover 10 pros and 10 cons, we think being a nurse is a very rewarding career. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. However, we want to highlight both the pros and cons. These are our top 20 advantages and disadvantages of being a nurse.
Top 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Being A Nurse
“There are certainly things to consider for anyone thinking about being a nurse,” said Host Healthcare recruiter Justin Terlaga. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of being a nurse carefully to ensure you can physically and emotionally handle whatever is thrown at you.
10 Advantages of Being A Nurse
- Caring for others. This is the #1 thing we hear when talking with travel and perm nurses. Your job caring for others and saving lives. What can be more rewarding than that?
- Learning something new. As a nurse you are constantly working with and meeting new people. When you are caring for others, it’s important you continue to learn new things.
- Traveling the country. As a nurse, you can work all over the country. As a travel nurse, one of your additional benefits is the ability to work in a new place every 13-weeks.
- Make good money. While you aren’t a nurse for the money, the fact is you do make good money as a nurse. If you are motivated by money, head west. According to US News, the state that pays the most for nurses is California.
- OT pay. If money is something that drives you, many registered nurses have opportunities to pick up extra shifts and work overtime.
- Job demand. It’s no shock that society needs nurses. As the population ages, the demand for registered nurses will continue.
- Job growth. It’s great to see that job demand and growth are on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for nurses is projected to grow “much faster” than average.
- Choose your specialty. The nursing industry is vast. You can take a nursing career in several directions. Whether you want to work with adults or children, in the Operating Room or the ER. The choice is yours.
- Plenty of opportunity for advancement. Most registered nurses start in a specific unit. But after a few years, you can become a shift leader and then in floor management. Once a nurse has made the leap to upper management, opportunities are endless. You can become a director, a VP, or as high up as you want.
- Get your license reimbursed. Okay so maybe this is more of a common advantage of being a travel nurse, but if you are interested in pursuing a career in the nursing field, you can get your license reimbursed. How cool is that?
10 Disadvantages of Being A Nurse
- Being undervalued. While most believe nurses and healthcare workers are trusted, some patients believe physicians are needed to help them.
- Difficult patients. There are certainly easy-to-work-with patients, yet the fact is there are also difficult patients. Just something to be aware of.
- Difficult co-workers. Just like working with patients, working with co-workers is no different. You will work with some amazing individuals, but you can also work with some difficult co-workers too.
- Stress. Most careers are stressful. While this isn’t an article to weigh what is the most stressful career, one of the cons of being a nurse is that you will certainly deal with stressful situations.
- Working long days. As previously outlined, nurses can pick up extra shifts. While picking up extra shifts results in getting more money, there is a tradeoff. And that is working long days.
- Difficult conditions. Depending on where you are working and the specialty, you could find yourself working in challenging conditions.
- Physical demands. Most qualified nurses are constantly lifting things or people; all while being on their feet all day. Make sure you get yourself a pair of comfortable shoes.
- Emotional strain. The sad part about being in the nursing profession is that you see people who are not doing well. That means it’s a very real possibility you might lose a patient.
- Exposed to germs. Hospitals, doctor’s offices, and any healthcare facility are full of sick people. As a nurse, you are exposed to a lot of these germs. Make sure you constantly wash your hands during and after your shifts.
- Working holidays. Illness doesn’t take a day off. As a nurse, you might find yourself working on several holidays.
Host Healthcare Travel Nurse
Hopefully you enjoyed reading our top 20 advantages and disadvantages of being a registered nurse. Host Healthcare offers an extensive list of travel nurse jobs. Call one of our friendly recruiters at (844) 812-6757. We are here to help you to get started.
Years of Experience: 10 years
Specialties: Maternal & Child Health, Medical/Surgical, Oncology, Telemetry
Natalie has 10 years of experience as a nurse. She started her career in medical/surgical and oncology before gaining experience in telemetry on a step down cardiac and neuro unit. She ultimately found her passion in maternal and child health care which is where she has spent the past 7 years and counting.
