Whether you’re considering nursing as a career, looking for your first nursing job, or you’re a parent looking to hire a home health care nurse, you likely already have an idea in your head of what being a nurse means. But, how do you know if everything you think about nurses is actually true? As with everything else, there are tons of myths and misconceptions about nurses out there. So, what’s the truth?
What is a nurse?
Nursing is a profession in the healthcare and medical field. A nurse is someone who obtained a certain level of education and training in the nursing profession. There are different types of nurses depending on the training and certifications achieved — from CNAs to APRNs. Common nursing levels include:
- Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree (BSNs)
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
- Registered nurses (RNs)
- Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)
10 Most Common Nursing Myths & Misconceptions Debunked
1. Only Females Become Nurses
This myth is one of the most commonly believed, but it simply isn’t true. From 1970 to 2011, the percentage of male nurses nearly tripled from 2.7 percent to 9.6 percent. Today, males make up more than 12% of the nursing population. And, this number is only expected to rise.
2. Nurses Must Work With Patients
When you think of nurses, you probably imagine them in a hospital or clinic environment. In these situations, nurses always work directly with patients. But, did you know that even in hospitals, there are nurses that work behind the scenes?
While qualified to administer medications and all the other tasks typically associated with nursing, these nurses instead provide consultation services to other nurses, manage nursing teams, or teach people wanting to become nurses. If you love nursing but aren’t excited about working directly with the public, then a position that doesn’t require working with patients is the best option for you.
3. Nurses Must Deal With Bodily Functions
There are hundreds of thousands of businesses offering nursing positions — from private hospitals to public universities. Being a nurse doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be drawing blood or emptying bedpans. While you’ll likely have done these things in practice at school or through training, you won’t necessarily need to do this in your day-to-day job. In fact, some nursing positions don’t include treating patients at all, including nurse consulting or teaching. So, don’t let bodily functions keep you from pursuing a career you’ll love otherwise.
4. Nurses Work Crazy Hours
Nurses are often associated with working long or inconsistent hours. But, the type of nursing job you pursue can highly impact what your hours will be. A hospital nurse is more likely to work 12-14 hour days, three to four times per week, while school nurses will have a more consistent schedule that is five days per week while school is in session. If you pursue a career in home health care, you’ll be able to pick how often you work and for how long based on the patient’s needs available. This means you have options to choose from to best accommodate your lifestyle.
5. Schooling Is Long & Restrictive
Becoming a nurse can seem like a long path. That’s because there are so many options to get you to your end goal. For some people, they’re fulfilled with working as an LPN — which requires only two years of schooling. But, some want to pursue more education to become an RN or a doctor. The great thing about becoming a nurse when compared to other careers is that you can pursue continued education while working. So, you can determine how much or how little schooling you’ll actually need for your chosen path — to an extent.
6. Getting a Nursing Job Is Easy
It’s no secret that there is a nursing shortage across the nation. But, this doesn’t mean that facilities are any less diligent in their hiring processes. As a nurse, you’ll often be responsible for providing quality care to patients. Sometimes, your expertise can even mean the difference between life and death. That’s why the more experience you have — including unpaid experience like internships — the more appealing you’ll be. And, demonstrating skills such as compassion and the ability to work well with others can put you ahead of your competition.
7. All Nurses Are the Same
Nothing could be further from the truth with this myth. As previously mentioned, there are different types of nurses based on experience, training, and certifications. Each type of nurse has different responsibilities. While some nurses only provide basic levels of care, such as consulting with patients before their appointment, other nurses are responsible for making the same decisions as doctors.
8. Nursing Is a Safe Job
When COVID-19 began, this myth was truly debunked. Nurses often put their lives on the line to care for their patients — especially when caring for patients with contagious diseases. Not only does this impact nurses’ lives, but it can indirectly impact their families as well. However, while there is a risk to nursing, adequate PPE and comprehensive company policies can protect nurses. And, some positions that don’t require working with patients or involve dedicated care to a single patient are relatively risk-free.
9. Nurses Don’t Make Good Money
The salary of a nurse is largely based on their type of certification, location, position, and hours. This means that nurses working in a hospital may not make the same salary as those working in home health. Regardless, nurses make a pretty competitive salary, especially considering the fact that you can become a nurse with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree — requiring as little as two to four years of schooling. According to the Bureau of Labor, the average salary for a registered nurse in Florida is $67,610. Many home health agencies and healthcare facilities are offering sign-on bonuses that can make a nursing career even more enticing.
10. All Nurses Work in Hospitals
You might be surprised to find that many people — whether in the nursing profession or otherwise — believe that nurses only work in hospitals. From schools to private homes, nurses are everywhere. And, just because your first job out of nursing school is for a hospital doesn’t mean that you always have to work for hospitals. Nursing is a flexible field that accommodates people from all walks of life. So, nursing is still for you whether you like working with patients or don’t, need to work days or nights, or want something calm rather than fast-paced.
Contact Care Options for Kids for Pediatric Nursing Jobs in Florida
Are you looking to become a pediatric nurse? Care Options for Kids can help. We are currently looking for compassionate and nurturing Pediatric Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Pediatric Registered Nurses (RNs) in various locations across Florida. Care Options for Kids specializes in one-on-one hourly pediatric care in the home. We offer PTO, medical, dental and vision benefits, flexible schedules, and more.
If you or a loved one are considering a career in Pediatric Nursing in Florida, contact Care Options for Kids. Apply online or call today at (888) 592-5855.
