Nurses Jobs: Why Choose Nursing as a Profession?
For International Nurses Day, we took some time to engage with our Nurseplus nurses to find out why they ultimately chose nursing as a profession. We wanted to know about what it is that inspired them to become a nurse, what they think the qualities of a nurse are and we asked them to answer that age-old question; so, what do nurses do?
Here is what they had to say!
Why did you choose nursing as a career?
If you were wondering why people choose nursing as a profession, our nurses will help clear that up. Some of our nurses chose their career in childhood and others discovered they had a natural need to care. No matter how they became a nurse, we found that everyone we asked felt that by becomming a nurse they could make a real difference in people's lives.
Angela - "I chose nursing as a career because . . .
. . . I looked after my grandparents while they were poorly, and from this, I went to work in a nursing home as a carer for ten years while working there I completed my training with the support of the manager of the home.
Irene - " I chose to become a nurse . . .
. . . when I was 5 years old. I had a uniform and a plastic stethoscope! I am very sociable and friendly and enjoy meeting new people and feel privileged to do a job that I love.
Ellie - “I chose Nursing as a profession because . . .
. . . it can offer a meaningful career, filled with opportunities, challenges, and rewards. I like to offer support to improve the well-being of a person."
Paul - "I chose nursing as a career . . .
. . . whilst still at school some 38 years ago. I had a general interest in science and I have a good sense of humour which helps me get on with people of all ages."
June - “I selected nursing as my career as . . .
. . . I had been working as a nursing assistant for a couple of years and enjoyed supporting people in their recovery from mental health problems."
How did you find training to become a nurse?
Once you have chosen nursing as a career, it's time to begin nurse training and this is the part that takes time and commitment. When we spoke with our nurses, we found that many of them were able to complete their nurse training whilst working in care or within a hospital environment and this really helped them get a real feel for what working as a nurse would be like.
At Nurseplus, we can offer flexible shifts in a variety of healthcare settings that can work around studying and training to be a nurse. This not only helps support nurses in training financially but also gives soon-to-be nurses invaluable experience working in care.
Angela - "I found training to become a nurse . . .
a little stressful at times, I loved my placements and the practical side of my training most. I found I learned a lot from my colleagues, we exchanged knowledge and worked together to pass on ideas for different ways to handle challenges."
Paul - "I found I had a real hunger for nursing training.
I was interested in anatomy and how things worked so, in all departments, whether it was working with children or the elderly, the physical side interested me the most."
June - "When I completed nursing training . . .
. . . it was under the old modular system. You needed plenty of nursing experience to support your theory. I completed my nursing training in the hospital where I was employed as a nursing assistant and luckily found my previous contacts within that hospital to be very supportive."
Mike - "I trained as a nurse in the 1970's . . .
. . . back then most hospitals had a dedicated nursing school on the grounds. This made it very easy to find and access nurse training and it was all very hands-on learning with constant support from clinical nurse teachers."
Tell us all about your first nursing jobs
There are so many different types of nurses and in turn, so many ways in which you can begin your career as a nurse. When you become a Registered Nurse, the world of healthcare becomes your oyster.
At Nurseplus we offer Registered Nurses a wide variety of job opportunities across different healthcare establishments. From hospitals and residential homes to prisons, nurseries, and even nurse jobs in private home care.
June - "When I became a qualified nurse my first role was . . .
. . . as a Staff Nurse in a Mental Health Rehabilitation Ward. I quickly progressed to a leadership role in a community rehabilitation service."
Paul - "I first worked as a student nurse . . .
. . . on an elderly care ward. As a qualified nurse, I went on to work in Paediatric Liver Transplants in Cambridge."
Angela - "The first role in my professional nursing career was . . .
. . . based in Glenfield Hospital on a medical ward."
Mike - "My first nursing role was . . .
. . . very fulfilling. I was able to work with the Cheshire Service Corp which is a charity home for British Soldiers who were injured on the battlefield during WWII."
Who or what has taught you the most during your career as a nurse?
Whether it's people, teachers, those we care for, or our environments we all never stop learning. When it comes to working as a nurse in care, we've found our nurses tend to learn most from their colleagues.
At Nurseplus we always say we are #BetterTogether because we know it often takes a team, sharing advice, support, and experiences to deliver the very best quality of care.
June - "In an academic contest I learned most from a clinical psychologist . . .
. . . they taught me a great deal. On a day-to-day level, I have learned most from the people care for. Their own understanding of their personal needs and coping strategies has helped me massively in my work."
Paul - "I find you learn most from your colleagues . . . .
. . . and those around you working as nurses on your ward or in your units. As things change so regularly within these settings these are the people you'll find have their finger on the pulse."
Mike - "Most of my nursing knowledge has been built from . . .
. . . first-hand information learned directly from the patient. They have helped me understand their feelings and taught me more about noticing signs and symptoms, as well as how to react to these changes."
Tell us what you love most about working as a nurse
It's sometimes hard for people to understand why someone would choose nursing as a profession. The long hours, the pressure, and most recently the turmoil surrounding strike action. But, at Nurseplus, we know there's more to nurses' jobs than meets the eye.
Davina - "I love working as a nurse because . . .
. . . I feel privileged to care for someone and enjoy being there at vulnerable times. I enjoy seeing the people I care for happy"
June - "I am happy to have chosen a career as a nurse because . . .
. . . I love seeing individuals attain autonomy and I'm pleased to be able to empower others to voice their opinions, thoughts, and feelings."
Paul - "The most satisfying part of working as a nurse is . . .
. . . knowing you have made a difference in someone's life. Helping someone by relieving their pain, or talking to a loved one or relative about their pain and supporting them really is all the reward you need."
Anglea - "I love being a nurse because . . .
. . . I enjoy helping people and treating them as I would expect to be treated myself. I find it very rewarding when someone I care for, or their relatives appreciate the work I do."
Mike - "The best feeling you can have as a nurse is . . .
. . . making someone better. Getting someone back on their feet, breathing correctly, and living their best life is a relief unlike any other."
What would you say to someone who wants to become a nurse?
Choosing to embark on a career as a nurse can be quite daunting but, at Nurseplus, we can offer a wealth of support and knowledge from a pool of Registered Nurses working all over our branch network.
Once you have chosen nursing as a profession, you'll no doubt already know that you are going to be doing something worthwhile, something you enjoy, and something people need. Find nursing jobs with Nurseplus here.
Davina - "Be open-minded . . .
. . . take all the advice you are given, and always listen"
June - "I would advise anyone starting a career as a nurse too . . .
. . . watch and listen. Hear what the people you care for are saying and never make assumptions."
Paul - "To anyone starting their career in nursing I would say . . .
. . . respect everyone. Take every opportunity to listen, learn more, read, and ask a lot of questions. The real learning starts with you so, knowing your own limits and setting personal goals is essential. Never take anything for granted and always repeat what you have heard to be sure you understand."
Angela - "Enjoy the job but stay focused."
Don't be afraid to ask for help and always ask questions if you are unsure about what is going on or you don't know how to do something. Get as much experience from your first placements as possible as any experience you can get will help you more when you are qualified."
Explain the qualities of a nurse you think are most important
What really makes a good nurse? What do nurses do? We wanted to know, from our nurse's perspective what the qualities of a nurse are and how important they are to delivering an excellent standard of care.
Davina - "The qualities of a nurse are simply . . .
. . . being able to listen and understand all individuals and adapting your skills to suit their unique situation. Building trusting relationships with the people you care for and work with."
June - "A good nurse has . . .
. . . integrity, they show everyone respect, they must care for the wellbeing of others without judgement and have excellent communication and leadership skills.
Paul - "The qualities of a nurse include . . .
. . . being observant, having empathy showing compassion for others, and possessing excellent communication skills."
Angela - "A good nurse is always . . .
. . . caring and passionate about their work. They must be a good team player who works well with others in challenging environments and finds it easy to communicate with others."
Mike - " I believe the top qualities of a nurse are . . .
. . . strong observation skills, ability to use clear judgement, and use of clear communications. Also, it is essential that nurses always act honestly and persevere."
Finally, can you tell us why you joined Nurseplus?
As a leading healthcare recruitment agency, we are proud to know that so many nurses choose to work with us. We believe our unique approach to providing local branch contact for our agency nurses is what makes us stand out from other recruitment agencies.
By offering our nurses constant support and access to resources, plus the ability to choose when and where they work, we know we are making the healthcare industry a better place for nurses to work. Not only that, but we know our Nurseplus nurses feel happy to deliver excellent standards of care when they are treated with the respect and appreciation they deserve.
June - "I joined Nurseplus because . . .
. . . I had retired from nursing but decided I still needed a challenge in life."
Paul - "I work with Nurseplus because . . .
. . . I find they are a rewarding nursing agency to work for. Their staff are incredibly supportive and always listen. They care about all their staff and have always gone out of their way to put the right client with the right care member. Nurseplus has been my anchor and I look forward to many more years working with them."
Angela - "I joined Nurseplus so I could . . .
. . . have flexibility at work. I met the team at a local job fair and spoke with the branch manager who were all very friendly and pleasant towards me.
Mike - "I joined Nurseplus because . . .
. . . they are a local friendly agency and the team are friendly and understanding. They are always willing to listen and I had already heard great things from other care staff members and people I cared for. Also, the access to free training and further learning is excellent. They made me feel very welcome when I joined.
We are very pleased to have been able to speak with so many of our nurses. It has really given us a great view of what makes a great nurse and also why so many people continue to choose nursing as a profession.
If you are a nurse looking for a change in your career, if you want to take control of your hours, or if you'd like to work in a different care setting, take a look at all the available nurse roles with Nurseplus.
Posted on May 10, 2023 by Nurseplus