Nurses are entrusted with the most important work—taking care of others and helping them live a better life. Nurses’ work is unique because they heal their patient’s mind, body, and soul. They do the same for themselves by engaging in meaningful work in the process. Patients come to the hospitals in the most vulnerable state, unsure about their health. With their compassion and care, nurses give them a ray of hope and heal them mentally and physically.
Patients may not recall the name of the nurses attending them, but they will surely recall the way nurses made them feel. Their selfless service to humanity makes them the unsung heroes, though the pandemic has brought many changes in the way nurses are treated. Nurses are given more respect, their profession gets more importance, and their work is praised globally. In addition to their compassion, much more makes them the heroes of healthcare.
- Nurses Use Their Knowledge To Provide The Best Treatment
Nursing is one of the grueling degrees, and why should not it be? Nurses are responsible for people’s lives, so they are only expected to have the right skills and qualifications. Nurses are also aware of the need of having up to date information to provide the best care to their patients. Enrollment in bachelor’s programs has increased by 5.6% from 2019 to 2020, whereas master’s degree program enrollments increased by 4.1% in the same period. Higher education degrees like Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master’s degrees prepare nurses to use evidence-based practices for the betterment of patients. Several studies have shown that RNs with a BSN degree decrease patient mortality rates and receive better patient outcomes.
- Spend Most Of Their Time With Patients
Nurses stay closer to the patients; therefore, no one knows more about patient problems than nurses. They go yonder their call of duty to provide care to their patients and respond to their everyday needs. About 50% of the patients with chronic illnesses do not take their medications on time. Nurses make sure that they do and in the right amount. On average, physicians spend 13% of their time with patients.
In contrast, nurses spend three times more time with patients. They stay with them during the thick of their illness which is the most difficult time in their lives. When inquiring about the health of your loved one in the hospital, a nurse is the one you must approach.
- They Are Working In The Current Landscape Of Nursing Shortage
The nursing shortage is not a new issue in healthcare now. For many years, a large number of retiring nurses and an increasing number of baby boomers have been making the issue of nursing shortage more pronounced. Nearly 50% of the on-duty RNs are more than 50 years old. Hence they are fast approaching their retiring age. In no time, they will widen the gap between demand and supply. Unfortunately, healthcare is not even near to solving this issue. A recent study predicts a shortage of 130,000 nurses by 2025.
Nurses working in the face of the current shortage is remarkable. They are doing the work of many nurses at a time. One nurse has to help many patients simultaneously. Regardless of the issues of burnout surfacing due to insane work hours, extreme workload, and mental and physical fatigue, nurses are still fighting for the betterment of others.
- They Handle Even The Gap Worthy Stuff
If you have been to a hospital, you will vouch that nurses can handle the most gruesome and disgusting stuff when treating patients. It is part of their job to not be bothered about getting in contact with fluids like urine, vomit, saliva, and whatnot. One can easily cringe away even from the sight of such things, but it is part of their routine for nurses. Keeping their calm and bringing the situation under control in dealing with such stuff make them the true heroes. You won’t find nurses pushing their patients because they suddenly threw up or when a baby poops on them during handling.
- Not Everyone Can Become A Nurse
Nursing is, without any doubt, one of the lucrative careers that you adopt. Moreover, the nursing shortage provides numerous opportunities for young people to enter this career. But not everyone can be a good nurse. The complicated ingredients that make someone a good nurse and the difficulty meeting the requirements make those who attain these requirements heroes of healthcare.
Apart from the right education, such as a master’s or a bachelor’s degree, one needs empathy, compassion, a caring heart, mental and physical strength, among others, to become a good nurse. You can learn to become a good writer or improve your communication skills; acquiring a caring heart is often impossible. Most often, it is a natural tendency that people are born with. Nurses who work mechanically without empathy and compassion find it very difficult to survive in a hospital often filled with cries of human suffering.
- Work Long Shifts Without Breaks
The job of a nurse is often divided into shifts. They continuously work for 10 to 12 hours without taking any breaks. Their job during this time characterizes a considerable amount of walking, standing on their feet, and running between rooms. The physical exertion of the job takes a toll on them. Therefore, nurses often report backaches, stiffness in the neck, and shoulder pain. Regardless of these widespread issues in nurses, the number of people interested in this profession constantly increases. So one can easily say that this career’s heroic and altruistic nature overpowers the mental and physical difficulties that nurses face.
- They Keep Things Under Control In The Absence Of A Doctor
Doctors are the primary health professionals for diagnosing and treating patients. But nurses are not far behind either. Owing to their extensive medical information, they take care of their patients in the absence of a duty doctor. They can do this because of their time spent with various types of patients in their routine.
Nurses are the heroes of healthcare due to their work for humanity. They are leading healthcare from the frontline and fighting in the face of acute healthcare practitioner shortages. Nurses must be given all the praise and appreciation for the tremendous work they do, often neglecting their health and well-being, family, and kids in the process.
