What Are The Benefits For A Registered Nurse

xx Pros and Cons of Existence a Registered Nurse

Written By: Jennifer Schlette MSN, RN

Anyone considering a career in nursing should be aware of what are the pros and cons of beingness a registered nurse earlier beginning their education. Nursing is an incredibly rewarding occupation, only certain factors may make an individual more than likely to choose it over another career. If you are because becoming a nurse, information technology's essential to be aware of all that it entails so you lot tin decide if information technology is right for you. Below you will discover the top thirteen pros and cons of being a registered nurse. The pros and cons listed below should help you determine if being a registered nurse is a career path you should choose.

What is a Registered Nurse?

Registered nurses (RNs) are the backbone of the healthcare system. They not only provide clinical care to patients, but they also plan and administer it. Much like doctors, RNs must get through extensive schooling in order to become licensed for practice. But what makes them dissimilar from their medico counterparts is that they accept an additional focus on bedside mode and holistic wellness. You volition notice registered nurses working in a variety of settings such every bit hospitals, clinics, schools, and research labs to name a few.

TOP CONS OF Being A REGISTERED NURSE

(The post-obit are the top twenty disadvantages of being a Registered Nurse.)

1. You volition need to have a degree.

In club to become a registered nurse, you will need to complete an associate's or a available's degree, which will take you about two to iv years to consummate afterward high school. When evaluating the pros and cons of being a registered nurse, the commencement footstep would exist deciding which caste is most appropriate for y'all. You demand to be a self-starter and adamant considering there is no mode around this degree requirement. So, if you are non gear up to buckle in and dedicate the required fourth dimension to your instruction, and so this is not the path for you.

two. How will you lot pay for this degree?

So, nosotros accept already established that y'all will have to earn a degree to become a registered nurse. The question is, how much does it toll? Well, the answer is not that simple. The cost of your RN education varies depending on what kind of caste y'all desire to earn. An associate's degree in nursing will cost y'all effectually $xxx,000-$xl,000 to attain. A available's degree in nursing will toll y'all approximately $l,000 to $100,000 to earn. That is a lot of money. One of the top disadvantages of being a registered nurse is that regardless of which degree you cull to pursue, you are looking at a pretty hefty beak. I promise you lot have a substantial savings account. If you do not, I approximate yous volition have to consider student loans that tin land you in a reasonable amount of debt.

3. Your pedagogy may limit your career choices.

Although earning an acquaintance'due south degree in nursing will earn you the title of a registered nurse, non all employers volition hire nurses with an acquaintance'southward caste. Some may refuse to hire yous because you lot exercise non have a bachelor's degree, as it is their minimum educational requirement. Not earning a available's degree may severely limit your job prospects. Even if employers are willing to consider hiring you lot with an associate's degree, some may pay you less than your coworkers who take bachelor's degrees.

4. You will have to pass a state examination.

In order to practice nursing in the United states, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The NCLEX-RN test tests a candidate's cognition and ability to provide prophylactic intendance to patients beyond all practice settings. This exam is the final step in the process of becoming a registered nurse and obtaining your license to exercise. You will exist unable to work as a nurse until yous pass this exam. So, what happens if y'all cannot pass this examination. I approximate you merely wasted a lot of time and money.

5. Your license may not be reciprocated.

There is no national standard for the licensing of nurses, and most states require nurse licensure applicants to meet their individual requirements. And so, although you are licensed in i country, you may not exist able to practise in some other. One of the biggest disadvantages of existence a registered nurse is that not every state has reciprocity of license. Also, what you might non know is that your license and your diploma and transcripts need to be evaluated past the state board of nursing if you are planning to practice as a nurse in another state than your original license. The educational requirements for licensure vary from country to state.

6. There are various pay scales.

As a registered nurse, your bacon can vary dramatically depending on location and institution. Some states, such as California, crave all RNs to be paid the same regardless of their experience. Others, such every bit Florida, let hospitals to set wages for new hires below state minimums. As a effect, you tin expect salary ranges that differ past nigh $20 per hour beyond the country. That amount can actually add upwardly. In addition to these differences in registered nurse'southward salaries at different locations and institutions, you volition find that there is a difference in pay for an associate'southward prepared nurse and a bachelor's prepared nurse and that both volition run across dissimilar salaries based on their experience. The nifty caste of variation in your salary is one of the biggest factors to consider while weighing the pros and cons of being a registered nurse.

7. You may accept to work shifts.

As a registered nurse, you may find yourself working evening, night, or early forenoon shifts. In specific jobs and professions, shift work is a requirement of the job. Some institutions may require that registered nurses in hospitals rotate between 24-hour interval shift and night shift. Shift work can negatively affect your work and personal life. If you are a registered nurse who works in this blazon of environment, you will desire to adopt healthy lifestyle habits that may reduce the adverse effects on your health. Shift piece of work is often problematic for people. Yous will find that these irregular long hours will really impact your sleep schedule. One study found that those who worked the night shift were more likely to sleep during the day and not receive plenty restful sleep. This can lead to chronic fatigue, which can bear upon your mood too equally increase the risk of low and your chance of making an error. Another study plant that weight gain was typical in those who worked the night shift, fifty-fifty if they were trying to swallow right and maintain a good for you weight. This may exist due to the disrupted sleep schedule and eating at odd hours without knowing what time information technology is. A written report too showed that those who work night shifts may gain more abdominal fat than those working the same job during the twenty-four hours.

8. You may have to work weekends or holidays

One of the disadvantages of being a registered nurse is that at times yous volition have to work weekends and holidays. It is a standard function of beingness a nurse, which can often be frustrating, especially when it comes to spending time with family and friends. Your friends and family cannot always program a get-together for the weekend when you lot are complimentary. Unfortunately, it is simply role of the job.

nine. You will spend a lot of fourth dimension on your feet

Every bit a registered nurse, yous may exist on your anxiety more than in whatever other profession. Yous will be standing for long periods of fourth dimension. Being on your feet for extended periods of fourth dimension tin can cause stress and force per unit area on your feet, ankles, and lower dorsum and leg muscles. You may find yourself highly fatigued and sore on your days off.

10. You will have a lot of physical demands

Every bit a registered nurse, you will exist placing a lot of physical demands on your body. You will exist pushing, pulling, and lifting patients on a regular ground. Moderate to heavy pushing and pulling, such as when transferring patients, can put a lot of stress on your shoulders, arms, and lower back. It can also lead to musculoskeletal disorders. Lifting patients can take similar effects, including strains on your cervix, dorsum, and legs. Injuries that can occur from these tasks can slow y'all downwards or stop you from working birthday. So what will y'all do?

eleven. You may not become a pause

Many people become registered nurses because they want to help other people. Unfortunately, sometimes your job volition have y'all working long hours without enough time to consume or go to the bathroom. It happens everywhere, and information technology is not suitable for your personal health or your career. Yous will work many 12 to xiii-hour shifts without a suspension. Not having a lunch break or even time to consume will make you lot exhausted and eventually may brand you regret your career pick.

12. You will be in contact with bodily fluids

As a registered nurse, you volition come in contact with bodily fluids. Coming in contact with another person's bodily fluids is one of the cons of beingness a registered nurse. Depending on the circumstance, these fluids tin can exist harmful to your health. You lot can come up in contact with urine, respiratory sputum, vomitus, feces, sweat, or saliva to name a few. All of these fluids can cause infection if you are non careful. I'chiliad sure you lot did non know you were signing up for that.

thirteen. You may be in contact with contagious diseases.

All registered nurses accept a duty to care for patients. Still, as a registered nurse, you volition come up into contact with contagious diseases. Sometimes you will know that a patient has a contagious affliction, and sometimes yous will not. Suppose you are caring for a patient who has come into contact with someone else who has an communicable diseases. In that case, you may also become infected. You may also run the gamble of passing on the infection to someone else in your family.

14. Y'all may have to work with hazardous substances

As a registered nurse, hazardous substances may come into direct contact with you regularly. Though there are many procedures and precautions in place to keep y'all rubber, it is still possible that yous may exist exposed to some of these materials. Some of these substances can cause yous to go sick, while others are designed to be harmful if they come in contact with your skin. That does not really seem like something I would desire to sign upward for.

15. You can get burned out

Often registered nurses feel every bit though they're alone in their struggles, and the only way out is quitting nursing birthday. At some signal in your career, there is a adept hazard that you will be considered moving on to greener pastures. Nurse exhaustion isn't exactly fun for anyone involved. It's when your trunk but can't take another 12 hours of patient care. It's when you lot wake up with the feeling that today is going to exist a rough one. It's when yous accept an emotional breakdown in the middle of work considering perhaps it wasn't actually ok that you missed out on Valentine's day for your sweetheart.

sixteen. Y'all volition encounter stressful situations

Anytime you are dealing with people'south lives, as a registered nurse does, you can encounter highly stressful situations. Suppose you're not prepared to bargain with these stressful situations, both mentally and physically. In that example, information technology tin be extremely difficult to keep a positive mental attitude and ensure that your patient is given the all-time treatment possible. Life and death situations are among the most common types of stress for registered nurses because their chore requires them to brand decisions that could modify someone's life forever. Stress will negatively bear upon y'all, both personally and professionally. Stressed out RNs may be more than probable to brand mistakes treating patients. Stressed out registered nurses are too less likely to take good care of themselves, which ways they will be at risk for serious health issues, such as cardiovascular disease and obesity.

17. You will encounter emotionally taxing situations

A career every bit a registered nurse may be emotionally taxing and downright traumatic at times. One of the nearly complex parts of working equally a registered nurse is dealing with death and dying. Registered nurses may see these situations in the course of their career: a patient'southward terminate-of-life, a last diagnosis, death or dying family member, attempted suicide, or attempted murder. These kinds of events often leave a profound emotional touch on on people, no matter how tough they are. When you take to manage these situations, information technology's hard not to become emotionally involved.

18. You are open to lawsuits

Many people are under the impression that just physicians tin be sued. Unfortunately, that is not the case. As a registered nurse, you, as well, are open to lawsuits. The thought that you could be sued is ane of the biggest disadvantages of beingness a registered nurse. You lot may think you're too small of a target for this to happen to yous, but it happens all the time. A study from Nursing Law found that registered nurses are sued twice equally often equally physicians. That sounds pretty scary and is definitely i of the acme things to think near while weighing the pros and cons of beingness a registered nurse!

19. You may take to deal with circuitous patients.

Equally a registered nurse, you volition encounter the dreaded difficult patient at some point in your career. Having a problematic patient tin ruin your twenty-four hour period, perchance your shift. It might make it difficult for you lot to piece of work with that patient or other patients like them in the futurity. This blazon of patient could also brand you feel like you aren't doing a good enough chore. You may end up feeling pretty defeated.

twenty. Y'all may find yourself working short-staffed a lot.

Ane of the superlative disadvantages of existence a registered nurse is that at times you volition not exist fully staffed at piece of work. This can atomic number 82 to some bug in the workplace. Yous volition discover that if you lot are not fully staffed, your patient caseload volition exist substantially higher than usual. You will have to spend less fourth dimension with patients because you lot are likewise busy. You lot are also more prone to making mistakes because y'all are spread too thin. You may even put your license at risk when you lot work short-staffed.

TOP PROS OF BEING A REGISTERED NURSE

(The following are the top twenty advantages of being a Registered Nurse.)

1. You may be nicely compensated.

A career every bit a registered nurse volition enable y'all to have a pretty dainty income. The median salary in the United states of america for a registered nurse is $75,330, which is pretty squeamish if you ask me. In states such equally New York, California, and Alaska, RNs make over $100,000 a year. Having such a high income tin afford yous many finer things in life. You tin as well live very comfortably. So, if money and comfortable life are what yous desire, then becoming a registered nurse would exist a adept option.

2. You tin can make overtime pay

One of the top pros of being a registered nurse is that you tin earn overtime pay. Working overtime every bit a registered nurse can exist very lucrative. Whether you are an bureau nurse or working for a infirmary, there are opportunities to make coin from working extra hours. A registered nurse can earn as much as fourth dimension and a one-half in some positions. Overtime pay allows a person to brand a lot of money in a single calendar month, depending on the number of hours worked.

iii. You can work anywhere.

Being a registered nurse means that you can notice a job anywhere in the U.s.a.. Beingness and then versatile is one of the biggest advantages of being a registered nurse. Registered nurses are always needed in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other health care facilities. As a registered nurse, yous can also piece of work as a consultant or instructor for new nurses or even go into administration. There is no limit to the unlike ways that you tin can apply your expertise most effectively.

4. You tin travel and piece of work.

If you enjoy traveling and getting paid to practise so, you should consider becoming a registered nurse who is known as a travel nurse. Becoming a travel nurse could be the best thing you ever did. With the boilerplate travel nurse bacon being relatively high and most contracts ranging from 12-36 months long, in that location's certainly room to build up your banking company account. If yous're a registered nurse, the nearly important affair to empathize is that with travel nursing jobs, everything is in your control. You will get to choose the state you want to alive in, with whom you work, and what institutions you want to piece of work in. And you don't have to requite upwardly your nursing career just considering you're traveling. Equally a traveling nurse, your task will let you the opportunity to explore new places, cultures, and people while sharpening your skills as a professional in the medical field. Then, if yous are someone who loves to explore new places, and so while analyzing the pros and cons of being a registered nurse you definitely cannot ignore the fact that this career offers you the opportunity to go a travel nurse.

five. You lot can end up getting a reasonable amount of time off.

An ideal career for someone who wants flexibility in their schedule is that of a registered nurse. As a registered nurse, y'all can take many days off by grouping your workdays together. This is because yous piece of work in shifts. There are typically three or 4 12-hour shifts in a week that you lot will have to work. Grouping these shifts together could actually requite you a lot of time off. This type of schedule is very convenient. Being a registered nurse will allow y'all to experience life in an enjoyable way that other jobs would not let.

6. You will be in high demand.

Nursing is a high-demand career, and that need volition proceed to abound because of the aging population. Co-ordinate to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2020 and 2030, jobs for registered nurses are expected to abound past 9%. A chore growth rate of ix% is right on par with similar occupations. One of the advantages of being a registered nurse is that you will have a job that is high in demand which volition always continue you employed.

7. Y'all tin can work in diverse settings.

There are numerous settings that a registered nurse can work. One of the virtually significant benefits of being a registered nurse is that you can piece of work in many different places and have care of all types of people using your skills to make a departure. Some of the settings that a registered nurse can work in are hospitals, individual clinics, nursing homes, or skilled intendance facilities, to name a few. Registered nurses can also work as public health nurses, visiting people in their homes and making sure they are good for you. Other registered nurses work equally school nurses to take care of children. The more than experience you have the greater your run a risk of landing your dream chore.

8. Y'all volition have pretty good benefits.

In general, equally a registered nurse, you can expect some bully benefits. RNs get total medical coverage from their employers. This is really important because sometimes health care costs can be enormous. RNs get paid vacation days and sick leave, which is helpful when you need to take fourth dimension off but still want to piece of work. Lastly, registered nurses oft receive a pension from their employers after they retire. This is a neat way to ensure that yous volition accept enough money afterwards you lot retire.

9. You lot will be working in i of the virtually trusted professions

Suppose yous cull to pursue the career of a registered nurse, in that case, you will exist inbound the most trusted profession in the United states of america. According to a 2012 Gallup poll, 82% of Americans have a great deal of confidence in registered nurses. This percentage is higher than whatever other profession included in the survey, including doctors. That has got to brand you feel swell that so many people call back and so highly of you.

ten. You will not have to buy work clothes

I of the advantages of being a registered nurse is that you will have the luxury of wearing scrubs to work. Y'all volition not take to become and shop for hours and hours for professional person business attire which tin be expensive. Also, getting set up for piece of work volition be so easy. It will simply have a few minutes of your time. You can but throw on whatever scrubs in your dresser, pop in some white shoes, and you are good to go for the day.

11. You volition not get bored

The best part of working as a registered nurse is you will never go bored. Every 24-hour interval is different. At that place is ever something new to learn and discover or an opportunity to teach others! You will encounter so many different patients, all with various reasons for seeking intendance. The variety goes on and on! Every day is a new adventure when yous are a registered nurse.

12. You volition help save lives

Nurses constantly prove that they are the unsung heroes of the medical community. I of the perks of being a registered nurse is the fact that you go to salvage lives. You will give people a second chance at life. Knowing that you were office of saving somebody's life volition provide you with a sense of pride and achievement. Being a registered nurse is ane of the most fulfilling careers you could always have.

13. You can always acquire something new

As a registered nurse, every mean solar day is an opportunity to learn something new. 1 of the pros of being a registered nurse is that this career allows you to continuously learn and explore a wide variety of opportunities to learn from working in the emergency department, labor and delivery units, psychiatric units, hospice care centers, special patient units, medical-surgical units, and many more. It is essential to always be willing to roll up your sleeves and dive right into this profession and have advantage of what it has to offering. Existence a registered nurse, you will be exposed to many great opportunities and experiences that ultimately shape your time to come.

14. You accept the opportunity for advancement

Equally a registered nurse, yous volition always have the opportunity for career advancement. Yous could advance your career through continuing educational activity or through earning a higher degree. For case, some registered nurses choose to render to school and earn a master'south degree or a doctorate. You could also accelerate your career by studying in an area that you are passionate about. This may be through research, quality improvement, or administration.

fifteen. You tin can pursue your college pedagogy online

Every bit a registered nurse, you have the power to earn your graduate degree online. Online RN to MSN programs volition allow yous the flexibility of balancing your decorated piece of work and family unit life with your education. Many students find that their busy schedules make it difficult to nourish face-to-face classes several times a week. The fact that online graduate nursing programs are available to students nationwide has made them popular among registered nurses seeking to continue their education. Online graduate nursing programs also tend to be more than affordable than traditional RN programs, which makes them even more bonny.

16. You can earn certification in your field

As a registered nurse, yous will have the option to become certified in your field of specialty. For example, you can earn your critical intendance nurse certification (CCRN) or your emergency room nurse certification. Certification is a sign of excellence in your field. Information technology also increases your pay and makes you lot more than competitive for jobs. Nurse certification also brings a sense of prestige and pride.

17. You do non take to work full time if you practise not want

Registered nurses volition besides have the luxury of non working a full-time schedule if they do non desire or demand to. You can choose to piece of work only per diem, just picking up the shifts that y'all want. This is perfect for those nurses who cannot find full-fourth dimension employment or do not want to commit to a full-time schedule. The pay scale tends to exist college with per diem employees also. Non only practice you lot take this choice available, simply you could also piece of work part-time if it suits your needs meliorate. Having options such as per diem or function-time is one of the biggest advantages of being a registered nurse.

18. Y'all are an essential role of the healthcare squad

Equally a registered nurse, you lot will be valued equally an essential role of the healthcare squad past those around you such equally your peers. You will gain satisfaction from knowing that you lot're assisting in improving people's lives. A registered nurse is a major irreplaceable part of the healthcare squad. You volition exist viewed every bit a vital component in the communities that you serve.

nineteen. Y'all will stay physically fit

A registered nurse is one of those careers that you will be physically agile in. You lot volition not be sitting behind a desk all day. Yous will spend a great deal of fourth dimension during your day walking from room to room and patient to patient. Your task will entail a lot of pulling, pushing and lifting. I mean, with a job like this, you could save money on your gym membership.

xx. You can get a lot of discounts

One of the heady pros of being a registered nurse is that you will be entitled to diverse discounts. Some of these discounts include car insurance, apparel, to numerous amusement venues. There are so many more discounts out there that y'all could get merely based on your called career.

The Bottom Line

Then, what are the pros and cons of beingness a registered nurse? At that place are many benefits, simply some significant disadvantages that need to exist considered before making the commitment of venturing downwards this career path. The determination to go a registered nurse is not like shooting fish in a barrel, and it should exist fabricated with conscientious consideration. As you only accept seen, I have outlined the peak thirteen pros and cons of being a registered nurse and what yous can look from various aspects of this career choice and then that you will know whether or not it'south right for you! Hopefully, after reading almost all the pros and cons of beingness an RN, your mind will have been put at ease considering now you lot can brand a solid decision about this career path. It's essential to know all aspects of whatever decision before making it. Keep in mind that everyone around you will have their ain stance of if you lot should become a registered nurse, just ultimately information technology is your decision lonely.

Jennifer Schlette MSN, RN
Jennifer Schlette is a registered nurse in pediatric disquisitional intendance in New York City. She is the old Director of Undergraduate Nursing at a higher located in New York. Afterwards obtaining her BSN from the College of Mountain Saint Vincent, she went on to consummate her MSN.