The nursing field is probably amongst the most diverse and high-paying subfields of the healthcare sector, with upwards of three million nursing professionals working across the US. These healthcare professionals are the first point of contact for anyone who visits a healthcare facility. What’s more, they are frontline warriors who leave everything behind just for the sake of their patient’s health and wellbeing. They are the heart and soul of the healthcare industry, and nothing can function without them. However, while you might think that nurse wears a comfortable pair of shoes and dawn blue scrubs, there is no shadow of a doubt that a nurse’s daily duties have changed dramatically. That said, nurses have and will still be around for the years to come, but their responsibilities will continue to evolve with time.
While nursing professionals are often seen as secondary to doctors, surgeons, and other medical workers, modern healthcare has recognized them as the backbone of any healthcare facility. Therefore, aspiring candidates looking to become nurses must understand that their duties and roles are different from a few decades ago. Let us look at a few ways the nursing profession has progressed through the ages.
- Today’s Nursing Professionals Are Well-Educated And Well-Trained
In previous years, females who wanted to become nurses could do so without formal clinical experience or training. After all, individuals usually picked up nursing skills and knowledge through their family members. Not to mention, nursing education and courses were only an afterthought before the 1800s came around.
However, nowadays, you must be highly educated to work in nursing. You would have to obtain a bachelor’s degree, followed by further education like a Degree in Master of Science in Nursing Administration to apply for various jobs bedside and administrative roles.
- Today’s Nurses Work According To Varying Work Schedules
During the 1800s, nursing professionals usually followed a strict work schedule, which generally involved reporting to work at 7 am and leaving at 8 pm. Moreover, nurses who had an excellent working relationship with the higher-ups were offered additional leaves now and then.
However, today’s nursing professionals must work according to varying work schedules. For example, nurses typically work anywhere from 8 to 10 hours from Monday to Friday. They also sometimes rotate weekends to take some time off during the weekdays. Furthermore, some nurses also have to work 24-hour night shifts, depending on the patient load and availability of nursing staff.
- The Nursing Work Environment Has Evolved Drastically
Back in the early 1900s, nurses were only allowed to work at two locations; care for soldiers on the battle or people inside their homes. In fact, the military often relied on nurses to treat battle-damaged soldiers and offer care to in-home patients suffering from injuries or diseases. However, nowadays, you can find nurses practicing their craft in various healthcare settings and locations.
From schools to businesses to universities to colleges to the Swiss Alps, nursing professionals are always present at the scene of an emergency. This is because communities everywhere are starting to recognize the importance of these healthcare professionals’ work and efforts.
- Different Patients Are Leading To Various Nursing Specialties
Healthcare has become more accessible and available to populations worldwide due to telehealth. As a result, nursing professionals are being tasked with more healthcare duties and are catering to a widespread, more diverse population day in and day out. Such a thing has led to more and more nursing specializations being created, and nurses can now specialize in the various nursing field that interests them. For example, elderly care and in-home nursing have become highly popular nursing subfields due to an increase in the number of aging patients. As the work progresses further, nursing professionals who have tech-savvy are in high demand these days.
Furthermore, mental health awareness is also getting the attention it deserves. Meaning, nursing candidates can obtain training and certifications related to mental health to help patients tackle mental health issues. In the end, an ever-evolving society is opening up more career opportunities for nursing candidates everywhere.
- Anyone Can Go Into Nursing Nowadays
When the nursing profession came about, it only focused on females, predominantly Caucasian women. Due to this, candidates with varying ethnicities could not try their hand at nursing. However, racial bias was ever-present in most professions, let alone nursing. For example, white nurses didn’t want to work alongside black nursing, no matter what happened. Plus, nobody has ever heard the concept of a male nurse.
However, during the 1900s, the nursing profession evolved, with the first male nurse working in the army during the 1950s. This change forced the general public to change their point of view about nursing, and candidates from varying genders, backgrounds, ethnicities, and races started to look for work in this field. Nowadays, nurses from various countries, genders, and cultures happily collaborate to bring down barriers, taking patient care to the next level.
- Technology Is Taking Nursing To New Heights Of Success
In the early days, nurses typically served a specific purpose as they could only work with church groups, townships, or the military. However, as telehealth has grown in popularity due to the pandemic, nurses can sign up with various online nursing platforms and offer care to a widespread population, regardless of location. As a result, patients only need to download and install mobile apps to communicate with their primary care physician. They can quickly receive online prescriptions, healthcare advice, diagnosis, and care tips with the touch of a screen or a click of a mouse.
Aspiring candidates looking to pursue a nursing career can rest assured they will have a bright future after becoming fully-fledged nurses. Technological advancements, better growth opportunities, new specialties, and always-evolving working environments are a few typical benefits of becoming a nurse today. However, you might be thinking, what about salary potential. So, if you’re someone who wants to dedicate themselves to helping humankind while earning handsome pay, the nursing profession is the right choice for you!