Challenges of a Career in Nursing Research Paper

Walking into nursing field, there will be some challenges new hired will face. After that taking oath as a nurse, each individual is also accepting a new commitment. This research is conducted to state and discuss some concerns that new hire nurses might face. Nursing world is not a joke. This field will required constant learning for delivering great care. In this professional field nurses experience and face different trials. It may be hard in the beginning but this job will require a tough fighting spirit.

First in the list will be long working hour and inclement weather. With the shortage of staffing most hospital require 12-hour shift duty for at least 3 days a week. This kind of schedule indeed look tempting. Aside from that, employee might think the hours long enough to finish job. With this long hour’s breakfast break, lunch and snack break also imposed in it. Sounds tempting. In reality most of the nurses couldn’t even afford to have bathroom break. The thirty-minutes lunch break sometimes voluntarily cut into fifteen-minutes so the nurse can give the patient medicine on time. In Pearce Journal (2018) in a 2017 RCN survey looking at safe staffing, which attracted more than 30,000 responses, 59% of respondents said they had been unable to take sufficient breaks on their last shift. The study also covered the fact that short staffing will add more workload to the nurses. Having additional one patient or two on the minimum assigned will increase the workload of the nurses. Another great challenges in this field will be the inclement weather. The inclement weather will not stop the nurse for his duty. Most hospital will also give the nurse an option of staying in the vicinity due to inclement weather. To ensure that staffing won’t get affected offering hospital accommodation is the company’s strategy. 

Next on the list workplace hazards. In this field nurses will be in contact for number of workplace hazards such us bloodborne pathogens, injuries, handwashing-related dermatitis and cold and flue germs. Needles stick accident still one of the seen problems in this field. Needlestick accidents account for 80% to 90% of the transmission and infection disease among the health care workers (Davis et al., 1999, p45) Because of this most hospital require monthly or quarterly training to avoid such accident. Competency-based learning is an online training that will enhance the nurse’s knowledge with the designated task. Hospital also implemented sign signage such us “safe pass zone”, and improved proper biohazard waste bin. The use of proper protective gear is a mandatory.