Ever since you were little, you’ve had an innate desire deep inside you, yearning to help other people. That’s why you became a nurse. Between all the exams you have to pass, long hours, and difficult work, however, it’s easy to forget what made you join in the first place.
Part of helping to solve this dilemma is finding the specific job within the spectrum of nursing careers that’s right for you. But how do you make that choice?
Well, we’re glad you asked. It’s time to take a look at our guide to the pros and cons of popular nurse careers! So, without further ado, let’s head right into things.
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Critical Care Nurses and the Hospital Scene
One of the first things people think of when they hear the word nurse is nurses in hospitals, assisting doctors and providing treatment to patients with life-threatening diseases or critical injuries. One of the benefits of this line of work is that there are a lot of different sub-categories you can branch off into based on your interest.
Critical care helps those facing immediate danger; neonatal nurses help care for weak or ill babies right after birth, and neuroscience nurses help patients suffering from nerve disease. Another perk is that you’ll get the chance to save lives and make a significant impact on the people around you. This particular path is in high demand too.
On the flip side, the stress of these life-or-death stakes can often burn nurses out, leading to struggles with emotional and mental health. These nurses also have to work long hours and put themselves under strenuous physical activity (lifting patients, etc.).
School Nurses
If you’re looking for a nursing gig where you get to interact with children all day without the stakes of a hospital gig, working as a school nurse is the perfect fit. School nurses also get a lot of job satisfaction, as you’ll always have the chance to care for kids and help them grow into the person they want to be.
That said, school nurse gigs don’t pay as much as their hospital counterparts. Any mistakes you make can also leave the school vulnerable to lawsuits (threatening your career).
Nurse Anesthetist
When it comes to nursing jobs that rake in the green, nurse anesthetists are the way to go. In the plus column, you have more independence in this position and there’s a high demand for the position. On the negative side, you’ll have to get more schooling to get the certification (which isn’t cheap).
Travel Nurse
Want the opportunity to travel all across the country (or even the world), helping all sorts of people? Then consider becoming a travel nurse, where you’ll travel to places with nurse shortages to help out. This career brings a new challenge every day and lets you see a wide variety of places and people in your work travels.
On the downside, this can prove difficult for those who like to stay rooted in one place. For more information on the position, take a look at Abstaffing.com
Which of These Popular Nurse Careers Is for You?
So, now that you know about some of the different nurse careers and their pros and cons, it’s time to make the choice about which job is the best fit for you!
Looking for more career advice? Make sure to drop by our website and check out the other articles we’ve got!
