Enrolled nurses are the beating heart of the health system. They work incredibly long hours and deal with people at their worst, all in a bid to help improve their health and happiness.
There are plenty of rewards for working in this field, but there are also several things you should prepare yourself for, including:
You will clean more than you ever have in your life
One of the things that no nurse can ever be truly prepared for is the sheer volume of cleaning involved. And this usually means a whole lot of human bodily fluids – nothing can prepare you for the amount of, erm, poo that you will need to clean up in the line of duty.
Invest in the best quality shoes and socks that you can
Nurses will walk 6km on average every single shift and spend most of their time on their feet. This is just the average. There could be shifts where you walk significantly greater distances, especially if you are working overtime or a double shift.
While it is possible to press through the pain, remember you will be expected to do the same thing the very next day.
This is why it’s essential to look after your feet with durable, comfortable shoes that provide the right support. Also, invest in a good-quality pair of socks that prevent sores or scratches from rubbing up against the shoe.
You will need exceptional organisational skills
A busy health setting will have doctors and nurses buzzing everywhere – from patients requesting assistance always, through to phones ringing and new admissions coming in the door all the time.
A strong organisational system is essential to manage everything that is happening around you and to prevent errors that can have strong ramifications.
There is no single approach that will work with all patients
You will be dealing with a wide range of people from different backgrounds and circumstances. Some will be in pain, some will be depressed, some will be angry and some will be outright hostile. Some are also a pleasure to work with and can light up your day – every personality is different.
Every single approach needs to be managed independently with different solutions required.
Shelve your expectations, at least in the short term
In a perfect world, enrolled nurses would be able to work in the city of their choosing in the field they are most interested in. But in the early days, you do need to tackle some hurdles to get to where you want to be in the future.
Nurses entering the workforce for the first time should expect to take the first job available to them, which is unlikely to be in the field that you want to specialise in permanently. That’s okay – you will get there.
Perseverance pays off, though. Like most things, remaining passionate, patient and persistent will reward you with advancements later down the track. Just stay focused on your goal!
If you’re ready to kickstart your career in nursing, view your study pathways here.