5 Biggest Challenges in The Nursing Field Aspirants Should Know

Published on: 05 August 2021 Last Updated on: 10 January 2025

The healthcare profession is brimming with obstacles and challenges, and the recent pandemic has further added to them. Medical professionals work gruelingly long hours to ensure patient well-being and safety. However, most of these obstacles and challenges are typically seen in a particular sub-division of the healthcare field: the nursing field. Undoubtedly, the nursing profession is not for individuals who are faint of heart.

Moreover, to succeed as a nurse and perform your duties with utmost efficiency, you must have the drive, passion, and knack for helping people in need. Some challenges plaguing the nursing field include difficulty acquiring further education, understaffing issues, and overtime work. Likewise, workplace stress and hazard are also growing concerns for medical workers.

Whatever issues the nursing field faces, nurses remain a vital part of the world’s healthcare workforce. They put other’s needs first and dedicate their entire lives to helping their patients. For instance, the Covid-19 pandemic also made us realize how essential nurses are. However, before you start a career in the nursing field, knowing about all the challenges you’ll face while working is vital.

So, let’s determine some of the biggest challenges in the nursing field that aspirants should know.

1. Difficulty continuing education

The healthcare industry requires individuals to remain up-to-date with the latest medical practices, techniques, and procedures. However, as nurses serve as the first point of physical contact for patients, these medical professionals also need to polish their soft skills.

Therefore, expanding your knowledge base and honing soft skills are critical components of becoming a successful nurse in today’s competitive healthcare setting. And to do such a thing, they must invest time and money in continuing education and obtaining advanced nursing academic credentials.

Unfortunately, acquiring further education while working as a nurse is no cakewalk. As these healthcare professionals work for long, grueling hours, sometimes 24-hour shifts, taking out time for studies can be challenging.

However, if you’re a nurse striving to climb the ladder to success and seeking career advancement, eLearning can benefit you. You can enroll in masters of nursing online programs and study with ease while managing your workload. An online nursing degree will provide you with the flexibility and convenience of learning from home or even work.

2. Overtime issues

Due to high employee turnover and understaffing, aspirants need to be aware of overtime before diving into the nursing profession. Many nurses state that healthcare facilities utilize overtime to counter the after-effects of understaffing. Unfortunately, this usually leads to overworked nurses, resulting in medical errors, treatment inaccuracies, inaccurate diagnoses, driving away aspiring candidates from the nursing field altogether.

That said, medical facility owners and healthcare leaders must focus on overstaffing issues and try to solve them with a different approach. A viable way to do this is by hiring more competent nursing staff. In addition, they must encourage aspiring medical students to give nursing a go over other health-related careers. After all, nurses are frontline warriors, working at the heart and soul of every healthcare organization worldwide.

3. Understaffing issues

Short staffing is amongst the most common issues in the nursing field. An AMN Healthcare survey shows that about seventy-two percent of healthcare leaders say that they are understaffed in the nursing department. Not to mention, this issue is growing with every passing day, especially since the pandemic struck.

Furthermore, the BLS states that there will be a demand for one billion nurses around 2022 due to the rise in diseases and viruses, and most importantly, Covid-19. Staffing issues usually affect patient health and safety and drastically lower the quality of care at healthcare facilities. Moreover, it can also result in increased injury rates, fatigue, and work pressure.

4. Workplace stress

Healthcare professionals such as nurses and doctors face work-related stress and burnout, primarily stemming from the unpredictable nature of their work. It mainly affects nurses dealing with high-volume urban departments, senior care, acute psychiatric services, and more. Not to mention, excessive workload and fatigue are ever-present in every healthcare workplace. And nurses bear their fair share of burnout issues, as discussed above.

That said, such a thing shouldn’t put off aspiring candidates. ANA, OSHA, and other government organizations work tirelessly to control workplace stress through education, guidelines, and regulations. After all, nursing staff shouldn’t have to deal with burnout, whether it is because of their workload or job nature.

5. Workplace hazards

Every workplace in every field has its fair share of hazards. However, the nursing profession, in particular, faces more than usual. Some potential hazards include exposure to pathogens, injuries, contracting viruses, and other germs. Not to mention, these healthcare professionals are at constant risk of hazards from patients carrying the deadliest viruses.

The Covid-19 pandemic serves as an unfortunate reminder of how working in the healthcare sector can prove fatal. Many nurses and frontline warriors lost their lives battling the virus and serving the ailing. However, it explains why nursing is one of the most prestigious professions of our era. Nurses devote endless hours and put their lives at stake to ensure the well-being of their community and people.

Conclusion

Recognizing the obstacles and the challenges that the nursing field contains is the first step. However, the second, and probably the most important, is overcoming these challenges to ensure you advance in your nursing career. After all, nurses are crucial to every healthcare facility out there. There is no better way to help humankind than to take up the nursing profession.

That said, you might find it challenging to overcome these obstacles initially. But if you remain persistent and focus on your end goal, you’ll reap countless rewards.

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Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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The Challenges Of Being A C-Suite Executive And How To Overcome Them

C-suite leadership is a challenging position. The top executives are responsible for setting an organization's strategic direction and ensuring its long-term success. The prestige of a top leader comes with high salaries and a seat at the table for major business decisions. However, this prestige comes with unexpected stresses. This stress can impact personal and professional life if not managed properly. A PwC 2018 CEO survey found that 83% of new CEOs get internal promotion to their role. However, those hired for CEO jobs from outside the company often receive more attention and support during their transition. Therefore, companies often overlook the challenges associated with their ascension. Similarly, despite the challenges, these individuals differ in character from those brought in from outside. By addressing and overcoming these challenges, C-suite leaders can ensure the success of their organizations. C-Suite Jobs: How To Overcome The Challenges? Given below are some of the stressful challenges faced by most CEOs around the world and how you can overcome them— 1. Fighting Off The Imposter Syndrome Making it to the C-suite is challenging. It comes with the constant pressure to perform and meet targets. Hence, it is stressful, especially during times of crisis or uncertainty. Moreover, being accountable for your team's and the entire organization's actions can sit heavy on your shoulders. Consequently, one common feeling in the C-suite is imposter syndrome. Here, an individual doubts their accomplishments and fears being accused of fraud. This can lead to feelings of not belonging or not qualified for the position. The intense scrutiny of a high-profile position can make it challenging to take risks or try new approaches. This can stifle innovative leaders. It often makes the individual feel like they are not just a team member anymore but are now in charge. Therefore, you must focus on your accomplishments to address imposter syndrome or any form of self-doubt. Remind yourself of your expertise, and seek support from a mentor or coach to cultivate self-compassion. Moreover, as a leader in an organization, you must let go of unrealistic expectations or perfectionism. 2. Dealing With The Lack Of Clarity The upper management often tends to assume that everything is running smoothly. However, they only realize the issues when it is too late. This happens due to a lack of visibility and clarity in the company's day-to-day operations. The C-suite executives rely on information from department heads and middle managers. This can distort or filter reality, leading to an inaccurate view of reality or complex and unclear information. Therefore, it can create significant problems that go unnoticed until too late. To improve data-driven decision-making, organizations should visualize their business and its layers, maintain data reliability and integrity, and promote faster data-driven decision-making. A data strategy tailored to the company's needs helps achieve data clarity. It ensures the integrity of the data used to inform key business decisions. Finally, consolidating business data and promoting the sharing of insights across teams can help leaders ensure data clarity and the accuracy of their decisions. 3. Preventing Ego To Distort Clarity In the business world, success can sometimes lead to complacency within the C-Suite, creating a false sense of security and impeding adaptation to changing market conditions or new technologies. This can result in groupthink. Here, dissenting opinions get suppressed, stifling critical analysis. Thus, it makes the C-Suite blind to potential risks and challenges. Organizations should embrace digital transformation and leverage disruption to ensure long-term success and competitiveness. According to 83% of project managers, digital transformation has moderately or significantly impacted their work over the past five years. Therefore, organizations should adopt an agile approach to project management. They must continuously evaluate shifting market dynamics, new technologies, and innovation to deliver against strategy. 4. Lacking Farsightedness C-suite executives often prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability. This attitude can lead to decisions that harm the company in the long run. Such decisions can result in insufficient investment in critical areas like research and development. However, these are essential for the business's long-term health. Moreover, a CEO solely focused on short-term profits may refrain from investing in new technology. The ever-evolving technology can help companies remain competitive in the long run. Therefore, such organizations prioritize investment in developing strategy over proper execution. However, there appears to be a disconnect between executive leaders and project managers on strategy implementation funding. This suggests organizations may not leverage the optimum focus and investment to deliver against strategy. 5. Fighting Loneliness And Isolation The C-suite often faces unexpected stress due to the isolation it often brings. Top leaders often make difficult decisions that impact many people's lives but with limited support or input from others. This isolation can amplify feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can further exacerbate stress and anxiety. Moreover, maintaining relationships outside of work can become challenging, and the pressure to always be "on" is exhausting. Therefore, leaders should acknowledge their need for support, seek an executive coach, or join a mastermind group with diverse leaders to overcome this isolation. Moreover, prioritizing finding a balance between work and personal life is crucial. You must let your team know they are human. This helps build trust and allows them to feel comfortable sharing with turn. 6. Accepting The Shift From A Peer To The Boss When CEOs are promoted from within the company, they often find themselves leading colleagues who were once their peers or superiors. This is a particularly tricky situation. Consequently, lingering tensions or resentments can complicate the new leader's job. In addition, the CEO must quickly assess all direct reports and stakeholders, building their team and reenlisting people they want to keep through early conversations. This process requires careful consideration and judgment, as the new leader must determine which team members are best suited for their roles and which may need to be replaced. Through this process, new leaders can establish themselves as effective managers and confidently navigate the challenges of their new roles. 7. Organize Yourself For The New Role It is common for CEOs who are promoted from within a company to face challenges when transitioning to their new roles. On the other hand, externally hired CEOs tend to receive more support. However, providing equal opportunities for all CEOs to succeed is essential. The board, senior management team, HR executives, and communications executives are vital in this process. Therefore, a newly promoted CEO should understand their challenges and develop a plan to overcome them with organizational support to lead effectively. Read Also: An Overview Of Adaptive Leadership Top 10 Best Job-Boards In The US In 2023: A Comprehensive Guide Develop Your Organizational Leadership Skills with an Associates of Science Degree

Therapist Or Psychiatrist: Which One Is Right For You?

Therapy may be of interest to you if you're one of the nearly 58 million Americans who suffer from a mental illness on a yearly basis. Or if you simply want to improve your mental health. But you might be wondering if you would benefit more from therapy with a therapist or a psychiatrist. Finding out how psychiatrists differ from other therapists in terms of their training and education, the therapies they offer, and their fees can be useful when making that decision. To help you select the best type between therapist vs psychiatrist, here is what you should know about them. Therapist vs. Psychiatrist Psychiatrists often provide mental, emotional, and behavioral disorder diagnosis, treatment, and prevention services. In order to treat mental health issues, they can also prescribe medication. While most psychiatrists concentrate on writing prescriptions and tracking patients' progress, many also offer brief psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, to assist people in addressing mental health issues. Still, others offer more extensive psychotherapy. Psychotherapy can be shorter in duration and concentrate on problem-solving, or it can be longer and more intensive, with the goal of the individual and the psychiatrist working together to alter thought patterns or behaviors that may be negatively impacting the person's mental health. A wide range of other mental health professionals, such as social workers, licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, pastoral counselors, and psychiatric nurse practitioners, are also qualified to offer psychotherapy. These professionals are certified to provide a wide range of psychotherapy services, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), meditation and relaxation methods, and ongoing emotional support. Therapists cannot prescribe medication, unlike psychiatrists. Gayane Aramyan is a Sherman Oaks, California-based licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in postpartum and couples therapy. To customize treatment plans to each client's unique needs, therapists frequently integrate various psychotherapy modalities. If a patient's therapist wants to discuss medication options, they may recommend that the patient see a psychiatrist. Therapist vs Psychiatrist: The Differences Psychiatrists are different from other types of therapists primarily because they can prescribe medicine and hold a medical degree, such as an M.D. (doctor of medicine) or a D.O. (doctor of osteopathic medicine). A psychiatrist's sessions may be shorter than those of a different kind of therapist, and they may only provide medication management rather than talk therapy. Since they are not medical professionals, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors with licenses are not allowed to give prescription drugs to their patients. They typically concentrate mostly on talk therapy. Anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression are among the mental health issues that therapists and psychiatrists can diagnose. Education Required For Psychiatrists Like a surgeon, pediatrician, or other physician, a person must first complete four years of a bachelor's degree. This is before beginning medical school to become a psychiatrist, according to Lisa Durette, M.D. She is the chair of psychiatry at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Following medical school, candidates must complete a four-year residency program where they learn how to write prescriptions and about the practice of psychiatry. "There are additional subspecialties within psychiatry; for instance, I oversee the training of a two-year fellowship program in child and adolescent psychiatry at UNLV," adds Dr. Durette. Psychiatrists may also choose to specialize in pain management, geriatric psychiatry, substance abuse treatment, or forensic psychiatry. In addition to learning about psychotherapy, trainees in psychiatry may also learn methods like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). It is a less invasive treatment for major depressive disorder in which magnets transmit waves to the brain that help create new neural pathways to regulate mood. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which is electrical brain stimulation, sometimes helps treat treatment-resistant severe depression or bipolar disorder. Dr. Durette continues, "Psychiatrists are qualified to provide these medical treatments due to their specific training, but other therapists are not." Psychiatrists are employed in diverse environments. According to Dr. Durette, they might work in private practices or in clinics with primary care physicians who specialize in internal medicine, family medicine, or pediatrics. In addition, they provide care through outpatient psychiatric treatment programs and work in hospitals. It includes psychiatric facilities, emergency rooms, surgical centers, and cancer treatment centers. They may work in a residential (live-in) alcohol and drug rehabilitation program if they specialize in treating addiction. Education Required For Therapists Graduate degrees are necessary for licensure as licensed professional counselors (LPCs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), and licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs). Counselors must complete a certain number of hours of supervised counseling after earning a master's degree in their chosen field of counseling. It usually takes two or two and a half years. Here is more information about the particular master's degree that some counselors can obtain and the types of therapy that they provide: In addition to having graduate degrees in marriage and family therapy, they will need at least two years of clinical experience. They also need training in family systems and psychotherapy, licensed marriage and family therapists, or LMFTs, are required to practice. Even in sessions with just one client, these therapists treat individuals, couples, or families. They use an approach that takes the family system or the relationships clients are in into account. They are skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of mental health issues. These individuals treat anxiety, depression, and marital and relationship issues. Licensed clinical social workers, or LCSWs, must finish a comparable amount of supervised training hours in addition to holding a master's degree in social work. Individuals, families, and groups suffering from mental illness can be diagnosed and treated by clinical social workers. Social workers, who place a strong focus on reintegrating clients into their communities, can be found working in government organizations as well as in private practices, hospitals, community mental health facilities, and primary care settings. Individuals, families, and groups can receive mental health and substance abuse treatment from licensed professional counselors (LPCs). Licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs) hold master's degrees in counseling. LPCs use therapy utilizing methods that have evidence. Their skills include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and they work in private practices and mental health counseling centers. They are also capable of diagnosing mental health issues. Expert Opinion According to Dr. Durette, the number of hours needed for clinical requirements—basically, supervised, on-the-job training—varies. It is based on the kind of therapist and the state licensing authority. For instance, in Georgia, a license to practice marriage and family therapy requires 2,000 hours of direct clinical experience. Meanwhile, in California, a license to practice requires at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience. The American Counseling Association says licensed professional counselors need to complete 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience before obtaining their license. However, the requirements may vary slightly based on the state licensing board. How To Know Which One Is Correct For You? Psychiatrists are qualified to diagnose psychological disorders like depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and attention-deficit disorder (ADHD), for which drugs may work. Psychiatrists frequently have to order tests in addition to speaking with patients if they require medication. This helps them assess whether the medication is helping. In-depth assessments and occasionally blood tests assist psychiatrists in ensuring that drugs are working and not creating side effects. According to Dr. Durette, many people can gain from seeing both a psychiatrist and a therapist. Especially if they collaborate to make sure they're in agreement regarding the patient's course of treatment. The American Psychological Association reports that there is evidence that medication plus talk therapy may be a more effective treatment. It can be used for eating disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and substance abuse disorders than either treatment alone. Who Is Qualified Enough? To identify a possible therapist vs psychiatrist, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests looking through: The credentials, license, and experience of the mental health professional The area of expertise or concentration of a mental health practitioner's work The general therapy approach or philosophy of the mental health professional Whether the mental health specialist can write a prescription for medicine if you believe you might need it The mental health specialist's recommendations for your personalized treatment regimen. You can look for a therapist in your area or one who is authorized to provide teletherapy in your state. You can use the online directories provided by many organizations that represent licensed therapists. Among these organizations are a few of them: Wrapping Up It can be difficult to choose the best course of treatment for you, but it's crucial to go with the one that will help you the most. A consultation with a therapist can point you in the right direction if you're not sure where to begin. If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask about therapist vs psychiatrist, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you! Learn More About: Dealing with the Psychological Impact of Alopecia Psychedelic Therapy for Mental Health Conditions The Real Benefits Of Therapy And Counseling You Should Know

Five Things to Do Before You Finally Make a Career Switch

Making the decision to switch careers is a big one! It’s not a decision you should take lightly, which means you have probably spent a lot of time thinking it through and deciding where you want to work. But, once you have decided you want to make the switch, what comes next? Here are some tips that will ensure your switch is as successful as possible once you’ve committed to a new career. Work on Your Leadership Skills No matter what career you have decided to take on, it’s a good idea to improve your business and leadership skills. It’s a great way to build more confidence before you take on a brand-new role, and it shows prospective employers that you’re serious about making the switch and sticking with it. A few ways you can work on your business and leadership skills include: Sign up to see an expert speak on a topic you’re passionate about Take a class online or in-person Get a new certification or endorsement Take on a new project at your existing job Work on your communication skills Practice your leadership skills outside of work Volunteer Just because you think you know what new field you want to get into doesn’t mean you’ll actually like it when you get there. As you’re working on your leadership skills, you should also look for ways to put your new skills into practice in your chosen field. The best way to do that is to volunteer. Volunteering may not pay you any money, but it’s a great way for you to experience a new field. Not only can you learn more about the specific position you’re interested in, but you may also discover other positions within the same field that you never considered. Not to mention, it’s a great way to meet people who work in the field you’re interested in. They make great references, and you never know—one of them may be able to refer you to your dream job! Create a Timeline Just because you have decided you want to make a career change and you know what career you want doesn’t mean you know how to make it happen. It’s especially important to get realistic about exactly how much time it’s going to take to meet your goals. It can take a long time to find a job, and it can take even longer if you’re switching careers. Create a timeline so you can break down the switch into manageable steps. You’ll want to include any classes, degrees, or endorsements you need to get first, set aside time to create a new resume, consider how many job applications you want to fill out every week, and more. Although you may want to make the switch sooner rather than later, it is much better to create a timeline and go slowly. Make sure you save plenty of money throughout the process so you have funds to fall back on if things don’t go according to plan. Focus on Your Boundaries Making the switch to a new career isn’t something you can do overnight. While you wait it out at your existing job, it’s a good idea to focus on your professional boundaries. Just because you think you will like your new career better doesn’t mean it’s better for your overall quality of life. Think about the kinds of boundaries you want to set to ensure the transition is successful, and give them a try at your existing job. Don’t reply to emails after a certain time every night, insist on taking all of your vacations, and work on communicating your needs more clearly, just to name a few. Manage Professional Relationships Just because you have one foot out the door at your current job doesn’t mean you should burn bridges there before you leave. You should work on maintaining your existing professional relationships while you build new relationships with people in your new field. For example, you’ll want to tell your boss in person when you resign rather than doing it over email. Give your job 100 percent through your very last day, and make sure those you worked with know you’re thankful for the opportunity you had to learn and grow. You never know when those old connections could come in handy! There’s a lot more work to be done when you decide you’re ready for a new career. Follow these tips and the switch will be as painless as possible. Read Also: 8 Useful Tips for Personal Career Development B.Sc. Agriculture- An emerging career option in India Seeking a Healthy Career: 10 Tempting Medical Careers to Check Out

5 Biggest Challenges in The Nursing Field Aspirants Should Know

1. Difficulty continuing education

2. Overtime issues

3. Understaffing issues

4. Workplace stress

5. Workplace hazards

Conclusion

Dos And Donts For Nurses Who Aspire To Succeed

Welding As A Career Choice

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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The Challenges Of Being A C-Suite Executive And How To Overcome Them

Therapist Or Psychiatrist: Which One Is Right For You?

Five Things to Do Before You Finally Make a Career Switch

5 Biggest Challenges in The Nursing Field Aspirants Should Know

1. Difficulty continuing education

2. Overtime issues

3. Understaffing issues

4. Workplace stress

5. Workplace hazards

Conclusion

Share this Article

Dos And Donts For Nurses Who Aspire To Succeed

Welding As A Career Choice

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related