by Shana Gross

Created on: January 10, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2007

If you are considering nursing as a career, then for your future patients sake, take the time to weigh the pros and cons. For me, choosing a career in nursing has been the most gratifying experience of my life but I didn't always feel this way. I suppose one advantage to nursing is the pay that we receive which continues to get better as the field continues to grow and expand however, even the great compensation can become a disadvantage if you dislike what you do. There are vast areas in nursing however, there is one commonality that ties all those areas together and that is patient care and satisfaction. The health care industry is built on the foundation of patient care.

Patient care is anything but glamorous. When people are sick and scared, they need nurses who can empathize, support and educate. You must be able to make a connection with your patients while providing good care. After all, doctors treat diseases but nurses treat patients. Doctors spend limited time assessing patients and diagnosing but nurses spend greater time watching for signs and symptoms of change in patient status. They are the liaison between patients and doctors. There are great rewards in being part of a persons recovery however, there can be great heartache as well.
If you are not mentally prepared to give empathic, compassionate service to another strange person who may be your patient, then I urge you to seek another field. On the other hand,if you feel that you can handle the sight and smell of bodily fluids and feces as well as deal with angry, sometimes disrespectful patients, then nursing may be the career for you. You must also be aware that nursing isn't all about cleaning patients. In this evolving field, there are a great deal of expectation from registered nurses. They are expected to not only assess and report changes in patients but also design and implement a care plan as well as educate the patients in preventing disease. No one should ever go into the field of nursing without making an informed decision. As I stated above, the wellbeing of your future patients depends on it.

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