Smiling African doctor working with patient in his office
We tend to believe that the ones who cure the sick are doctors. And, although this is largely true, we are overlooking the importance of other health professionals: male and female nurses .
The work of nurses in hospitals is just as important as that of doctors, since they are the ones in charge of caring for patients, always being attentive to their state of health and providing the care they need in any circumstance.
Without them, the recovery of the sick in hospitals would be impossible, which is why they are of the utmost importance. It is a profession that, like medicine, must be born from a natural vocation and that in order to be exercised, a degree in Nursing must be completed.
In today’s article we will present some key points that you should assess if you are doubting whether to study Nursing or not .
What is Nursing?
Nursing is a health science focused on the care and attention of the sick in a hospital . It is a discipline that complements Medicine in the sense that nurses support doctors and offer the patient everything they may need to recover, from life support to medication administration, through rehabilitation therapies and communication with the patient. patient.
Therefore, Nursing is the science that promotes health, disease prevention, collaboration with patients and their families, and care for the sick, from mild to disabled or terminally ill.
What functions does a nurse have?
The essential functions of every nurse are:
- Carry out preliminary examinations of a person to obtain an approximate diagnosis of the disorder that they may suffer.
- Keep detailed records of the patient’s health status to observe their evolution.
- Offer assistance to doctors in surgeries, evaluations and other procedures typical of Medicine.
- Provide care and attention to patients.
- Maintain a safe and pleasant environment for the sick.
- Take samples (urine, blood, saliva…), as well as diagnostic imaging tests.
- Administer oral and intravenous medication, as well as apply bandages and other clothing.
The knowledge to be able to carry out all these tasks is offered in the Nursing degree, a university degree that is the only way to be able to practice as a nurse in a hospital.
What is studied in Nursing?
A nurse must have very extensive knowledge about people’s health , since it will depend on them that the patients evolve correctly and that they receive the appropriate treatments.
For this reason, the Nursing degree provides students with a lot of knowledge, from the nature of the human body to disease prevention, as well as guidance on psychology, public health concepts and even legislation in the world of healthcare.
In the Nursing degree, therefore, the student will receive training on: human anatomy, biochemistry, nutrition, diagnostic imaging, pathophysiology, human physiology, metabolism, pharmacology, sexual health, ethics, clinical legislation… In addition to doing internships in hospitals to come into contact with the clinical world and be prepared for working life.
What should be taken into account before studying Nursing?
If after seeing what Nursing consists of, what are the functions of a nurse in a hospital and what knowledge is acquired with a university degree, you are still clear that you want to study Nursing, it is a good start.
In any case, we offer you some points that you may be interested in knowing or taking into account to finish deciding if you really want to study this career and focus your professional life on nursing.
1. Is it really my vocation?
It is the first thing you should ask yourself. You have to keep in mind that life as a nurse can be hard, since you live with people in very delicate situations , having to deal with both their problems and those of their families.
Precisely for this reason it is not a race for everyone. You must be very clear that what you really want in life is to care for and care for sick people, as well as being a strong person who is capable of controlling their emotions. If so, we encourage you to study this career.
2. Is it difficult to enter the race?
It all depends on the university where you want to study . Those that enjoy a greater reputation both nationally and internationally will ask for a higher minimum grade. For example, one of the best Spanish universities in which to study this degree is the University of Barcelona, which had a cut-off grade of 11’216 in the last year, a fairly high entrance grade.
In any case, there are more affordable options at equally good universities, such as the Autonomous University of Barcelona or the University of Valencia, with cut-off marks of 10’396 and 10’754, respectively.
It is a career in which to accept someone, given the importance of their work in the future, they must be demanding. For this reason, the cut-off marks do not fall below 10 in the best valued universities in the country. In the case of private universities, the admission grade will be lower.
3. How long are the studies?
Nursing courses last 4 years . After these 4 courses, the student is a graduate in Nursing and can go directly to the professional world or can continue training with master’s degrees or postgraduate studies, which are highly recommended. Therefore, the studies can last from 4 years to 5-6 depending on what specialization you want to do.
The prices of the studies vary, costing each course from 1,000 – 2,400 euros in the best valued public universities to 3,000 – 10,000 in the most reputable private centers.
4. Is there a demand for nurses?
You will be happy to know that there is currently a lot of demand for nurses . In fact, chances are you’ll find a job right after graduation. You can even choose the job offer that interests you the most according to your needs.
5. Is the race very difficult?
There is no difficult college course, so nursing is obviously no exception . It is a very demanding career in which students are put under a lot of pressure, but they must do it to ensure that they are trained to work caring for patients in hospitals. If you really like it, you won’t mind that it’s complicated.
6. Where should I study the degree?
There are many universities that offer the Nursing degree . Before we have said that there are some faculties that enjoy more reputation than others, but they all comply with the official programs and will allow you to find a job easily. In any case, if you have a sufficient grade, you should try to enter the most prestigious ones, because your training will be better.
7. Is the charge good?
The salary varies not only depending on the country, but also within the autonomous communities . In Spain, as a general rule, salaries are not too high, but they do allow you to live on it. They are usually around 1,000 – 1,400 euros per month, although this usually increases as the experience progresses. In other countries the salaries are higher, so you may be interested in working abroad.
8. What professional opportunities do you have?
The main professional opportunity is to work in hospitals as a nurse carrying out the tasks that we have seen above , although you can also dedicate yourself to research or teaching, as well as work in companies that offer health services, residences for the elderly, rehabilitation centers, offices…
9. Will I be useful in hospitals?
Nurses are the backbone of hospitals . They complement all the work of doctors and, in addition, they intervene in the human factor, since they are the main connection between the patient and the hospital. You only need to review the functions of the nurses that we have shown previously to realize that you will be essential in hospitals.
10. Will I help people?
Much. You will help not only the sick, but also their families . Beyond the technical tasks you will perform to ensure that patients recover well, you will also offer emotional support to both them and their loved ones. You will help as much as the doctors.
11. Is the nursing job too monotonous?
Despite the fact that those of a nurse may seem like repetitive tasks, the truth is that day-to-day in the hospital is always different . You will continually encounter new challenges and situations that will force you to get the best out of yourself, making you feel fulfilled every day.
12. Will it help me grow as a person?
There is nothing more rewarding than waking up every day to help people . When you enter the world of work, you will see that what you do helps the sick not only to recover, but also to have enthusiasm and hope again. Therefore yes. You will grow a lot as a professional and above all as a person.
