Did you know that by the year 2020, there will be an estimated shortage of over 800,000 nurses?

With the world’s population living longer than ever before, there is a growing need for qualified health professionals, and the nursing field is one of the best places to land a job.

Want to get the real scoop on what it takes to be a nurse? Check out our Q&A with real nurses and see what they have to say.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Healthcare has changed so much. My patient expired the other night and the administration was on top of me to get the patient to the morgue so they can book the bed. The son of the patient was hysterical at the bedside. What was I to tell him? Get…out, we need this room? Where is the compassion?” [4]

 

 

 

“I have only been a nurse for 8 months. I’m on a Medical/Surgical floor and often have drug addicts and homeless patients that were found down, and very confused elderly patients. Of course there have been great patients who show their appreciation… but there have been patients who have tried to hit and scratch. Patients who… call me names, and throw things at me.” [5]

 

 

 

“I’m always sick because the patients come in coughing and hacking everywhere without covering their mouth!”

 

 

 

 

“No matter what, I get to care for people… and they pay me for it! I get to love and entertain and spread humor and joy and provide comfort… For me, anyways, at those moments, I LOVE being a nurse.”

 

 

 

 

“It’s a job that will never bore you. It’s a job that you’ll laugh about, cry about, make fun of, and most of all, love.”

 

 

 

“I have a patient with late stage Alzheimer’s. One day he randomly became lucid all of the sudden for about 2 hours. I stayed with him the whole time as he questioned me. He asked what happened to him and where he was. He asked about his friends and family.

I basically got him up to date with his life. Then he started to cry…because he had missed out on everything. And I just stayed with him and we talked when he asked me ‘So you just know all about my life and take care of me everyday?’ and I said yes. I’m with him about 70 hrs a week. He just hugged me and was crying and thanked me for being there. Thanked me for caring. It made everything worth it. It was an amazing moment. At that moment I knew then more than ever that nursing was the profession for me.”