There are 28 million nurses currently worldwide, and the demand for new nurses continues to grow as the pandemic remains a threat to people's health everywhere. With the pandemic being one reason nurses are in high demand, there are several challenges those entering the healthcare industry will face.
Below you'll find a list of the top challenges that those who take on a nursing career will take on, from finding scrubs to exposing yourself to COVID-19.
Being Overworked
Working long hours is a given when working as a nurse. With the current state of the world, these hours are becoming longer than they've ever been.
The issue with working long hours is that nurses will face what's known as burnout. As a nurse, you've got to have focus and energy to do your job because working while tired can cause you to make mistakes.
In difficult situations, it could cost someone their lives. The pandemic is forcing many nurses and other healthcare professionals to work longer than they typically would.
Being overworked for extensive periods can lead to stress, which is known to have an adverse reaction to the health of the person experiencing it.
Lack of Work Wear
The typical nursing attire is scrubs and non-slip shoes. With many hospitals requiring nurses to wear a specific color and work longer hours, nurses search for scrubs that they can wear during their workweek.
If you find it challenging to find a supplier that offers the scrubs you need in the quantity you need, there's no need to worry. On top of scrubs being expensive, some suppliers offer discounts and sales for the nurses and healthcare professionals putting their lives on the line every day.
The best part is you won't have to wait for weeks on end for products to be restocked.
Injuries
Overuse of your muscles and joints can lead to injuries, especially when you're not resting enough. A nurse's job is physically demanding, requiring you to be on your feet for a significant amount of time.
Not to mention you're tasked with things like lifting patients, bending over frequently, standing, and sitting throughout the shift. Earlier, we stated that the pandemic is forcing many nurses to work longer hours, which leaves them prone to injuries.
Common injuries that nurses face include:
- Overexertion
- Violence at the hands of aggressive patients
- Slip and fall accidents
- Exposure to harmful chemicals present in the environment
You must take care of your body to reduce the likelihood of facing any of these injuries. This is easier said than done with the current environment that nurses find themselves working in.
Limited Resources
Another challenge that nurses are experiencing during COVID-19 is the lack of resources provided to healthcare facilities. Resources that are in high demand are N95 masks, gloves, goggles, and protective gowns.
This is known as personal protective equipment or PPE. The purpose of PPE is to control the spread of things like COVID from one person to another.
There have been various reporting's about equipment shortages throughout the pandemic. Without proper equipment, nurses continue to put themselves at risk of contracting COVID and passing it on to others.
Mental Health Issues
Nurses aren't machines and often suffer from mental health issues, especially right now. These mental health issues stem from fatigue, working long hours, and seeing countless people die.
It leaves people with a sense that they aren't doing the best they can for their patients. When you enter one of the many nursing careers, you do so to save people's lives or make their lives better in any way possible.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020, many nurses feel as if they aren't doing what they set out to do. Leaving many with traces of trauma, depression, and other mental health issues.
You'll leave at the end of the shift and return the next day feeling as if things haven't changed.
Harassment
Workplace harassment is a challenge that has been around long before any sighting of COVID-19 was made. Many people that faced harassment were afraid to report it because of job security or backlash from superiors or other coworkers for reporting the incident.
As a new nurse, you need to understand that you've got the right to report to work and not face any harassment or bullying from anyone. If you find yourself in a situation where you're uncomfortable, report it immediately.
While many take the route of letting it go, it's important that to put an end to workplace harassment, you take a stand against it. Let people know that you expect the same level of respect that you show to others.
Staff Shortages
The number of nurses working seems like a lot, but there are staffing shortages worldwide. The shortages are the precise reason that many are being overworked.
And that's why we need more new nurses like you to fill these open jobs. When positions are filled, the amount of work can be split evenly between those on staff, reducing the number of people who have to work overtime, exhausting themselves to no return.
New Nurses: The Healthcare Industry Is Counting on You
New nurses are in need now more than ever because of the capacity that healthcare facilities find themselves in due to the pandemic. Staff shortages are just one of the problems that you'll face as a new nurse.
You'll also deal with injuries and not finding scrubs to wear throughout the workweek. If you're in search of uniforms to wear in your new position, contact AP Uniforms.
We supply everything from scrubs to footwear.