Career Aspects Of Nursing : Career Challenges In Nursing

A career trajectory is a formalized plan for a successful transition into a career path that an individual has chosen. Likewise, the goal of nursing is to improve health through the advancement of knowledge therefore, improving the safety, effectiveness, and the access for healthcare. In combining these two definitions, a career trajectory in nursing advancement is to allow for clarity of direction and expected outcomes in a career by meeting the goals to advance in the healthcare field. In order to build a successful career as an advanced practitioner an individual must consider the requirements of the position and make strategic decisions in order to facilitate progression towards this goal (Feetham & Doering, 2015).

“Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon.” There was a girl who had always wanted to become one of importance, education, and also a contributor in her community. She feels that this occupation will assist her in living comfortably, providing for her family, and will be something she will enjoy doing. The career of a Registered Nurse is a challenging and important career, because of the importance one holds within a community. The research will describe the career of a Registered Nurse, what is required to become a successful, and the impact this career has on society.

A nursing theory allows the nursing profession to define and differentiate nursing care practice from other professional disciplines. The work of Patricia Benner has been crucial in setting a stage to standardize education and career progression for the nursing profession. The nursing care practice has been changing exponentially since the development of the theory From Novice to Expert. It has enabled facilities across the nation to achieve a higher level of patient care due to its ability to identify the needs of each of the stages of a professional nurse’s career progression.

Registered Nurses have a lot of responsibilities, including caring for a diversity of patients, performing physical exams, helping the doctor during surgery, preparing rooms and equipment for other patients, being able to handle sudden deaths, suggesting medications, etc. They are known for their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Typical schedules for Registered Nurses are five days a week for a eight hour period, even though you do not have to work five straight days of the week. The day shift is usually from six a.m. to two-thirty pm, the evening shift is from two-thirty pm to eleven pm, and lastly the night shift is from ten-thirty pm to seven a.m. They take a thirty minute lunch break and two fifteen minute breaks in between shifts. Nurses also work twelve-hour

The first topic focused on in an article by Stimpfel et al. (2012) looked at the effect of longer shifts on nurses. Compared to the past, nurses are working twelve-hour shifts, instead of eight-hour shifts. The reason for these changes in shift lengths is for it to allow for nurses to have more flexibility in their schedules and to give them more time at home. This study revealed that the hours actually worked by nurses are unpredictable. Due to the fluctuations of patient needs and unanticipated staffing on the unit, leads to nurses having to work over their scheduled time (Stimpfel et al. 2012). This study also pointed out that there are no national policies for nurses that dictate the maximum number of hours a nurse can work. Nurses often end up working several hours over their shift because they feel forced into working those hours and thereby leading to burnout.

(Senteniel) Additional studies show risk of errors and close calls were related to longer shift length and were associated with decreased attentiveness. Nurses also suffer higher rates of occupational injury when working shifts more than 12 hours. (Joint Commision, 20111) The ANA acknowledges the relationship between working long hours and increased risk for sleep disturbances, injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, gastrointestinal problems, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and adverse reproductive outcomes. (NANN, 2012) In addition to clinical outcomes, there is an association between nurses who worked 13 or more hours in the hospital and lack of communication with patients regarding pain control. Burnout is common among nurses working long shifts and they are more than likely to leave their job within the first year. Shifts scheduled for 12 hours often exceed that timeframe, as many as 40% of the work shifts logged for their study exceeded 12 hours. (Martin, 2012) There are many reasons for fatigue, but shift length is the one that is most obvious and easy to fix. It is no wonder for nurse fatigue when 12 hour shifts are the norm. Twelve hour shifts are standard practice even though the Institute of Medicine recommends limiting them. At a recent nursing management congress Cole Edmonson stated that 12 hour shifts may cause more problems than they solve. While research is aiding us comprehend the dangers nurse fatigue brings to patients and nurses themselves, he called 12 hour shifts “a dead idea whose time has passed”. Eliminating 12 hour shifts is obvious if the fact is acknowledged that nurse fatigue is a serious problem. (Hendren,

During my term in school I have often thought about what department of nursing I would like to go into, but I did not put too much thought into the steps it would take to become a nurse in Illinois. I have been so focused on being a mom of four, going through nursing school and keeping my job (not in medical) of eleven years that I haven’t had a real mental opportunity to consider how I will retain a holistic life balance, which stressors or challenges I may face, how I will continue to learn throughout my life as a nurse, nor what type of contributions I can make as a professional nurse. Through researching these questions, I have learned a lot about, the process and myself.

As nurses we are supposed to take care of our patients and their families, but that is a difficult task to perform when the nurses themselves are not cared for. Townsend & Anderson (2013), found that nurses that worked long shifts were more likely to be burned out and dissatisfied with their job, and were intending on leaving the profession within a year.

My first Nursing Career goal is to complete my education here at St. Francis College to obtain my Bachelors of Science in Nursing and to pass my NCLEX exam. After passing the NCLEX I would like to work as a Registered Nurse in a hospital in or around New York City. While working as a Registered Nurse I would like to gain experience in the field to finally decide what aspect of Nursing I would like to specialize in. My overall goal right now, is to work as an RN and to go back to school to become a Nurse Anesthetist. Within my career my goals are to do my job to the best of my ability. I want to help as many patients as I possibly can and make their experience in the hospital the best it can be.

There was a study by Stone and colleagues in 2006 that showed nurses who were on the 12-hour shifts tended to be more “satisfied” with their position and shift. It went on to say the nurses felt less emotionally exhausted and the units in the hospital with the 12-hour shifts usually had less positions available (Rollins, 2015). The burnout rate for nurses working 12-hour shifts was listed at 2 ½ times that of those working standard 8-hour shift; this maybe a long-term issue as the country is facing critical nurse shortages as it is, even prior to adding a “burnout crisis”. Even though there are positive attributes of the longer shift, the focus is still on patient care and

Limited attention has been paid to the hours worked by nurses, or the effects of these hours on patient safety (Rogers, 2008). Even though most nurses favor 12- hour shifts and overtime, it is associated with difficulties staying awake during times of duty, reduced sleep times, and triple the risk of making an error (Rogers, 2008). The most significant risk of making an error occurred when nurses were scheduled to work 12.5 hours or more.

I was always undecided regarding the career that I wanted to pursue. As I got older and looked at many choices in careers I realized that I wanted to have a career in the medical field. Being a nurse interests me because it requires the study of the human body along with other great opportunities that nurses have in this career. I want to become a nurse because I like being able to help those who are in need.

173). For many workers the schedule was an outlet for discontent; this is because many were forced to work six days a week, some weeks without a day off (Lynaugh, 2000). Nowadays, “60% of U.S. nurses surveyed work at least one type of overtime […] 54% work less than 12 hours a week overtime and 46% work 12 hours or more per week” (Wheatley, 2017, p.213). In addition, traditionally nurse’s shifts were eight hours long; however, in 1980’s -1990’s when structural changes in healthcare occurred and cost containment was put in, nurses started working 12-hour shifts. Because it was less expensive to work 12-hours shifts, instead of 8-hours, this became prevalent in most hospitals in the United States (Weathley, 2017).

This paper explores the pros and cons of nurses working long shifts in regards to the nurses and patients alike. Some of the positives for the nurses include: having more days off per week, a more flexible schedule, and fewer commutes to work. In regards to the patient, there are fewer patient handoffs, which is thought to allow for better continuity of care. Some of the negative aspects of nurses working long shifts include: feeling burnt out, intending to leave their job, increased chance of making errors, impaired driving ability, health-related issues, and potential breakdowns. In regards to the negative aspects for patients, patient satisfaction suffers as the length of the shift the nurse is working increases. Furthermore, patients of nurses working long shifts also give the hospital a poorer rating overall, stating that they generally would not recommend it to family and friends. While there is no clear solution to this dilemma, it is certainly an issue that should be addressed by nurse leaders as the safety of nurses and patients is of paramount importance.

Nursing is a very complex career that at many times requires one to be a leader. Nurses can be leaders in formal roles and also on the unit during any given shift. Nursing is a career that truly tests the character and attributes of those who choose to enter this career. Leadership in nursing is vital in creating a successful environment for patients. According to Stichler (2006), “effective leadership is essential to transforming organizations into environments that are safe for both patients and staff” (p. 422). Therefore, it is vital that as new nurses start out his or her careers that they learn from great leaders who are already in the profession. There are several great leaders working in the field who have a plethora of