By Leslie Doyle | 04/16/2025
It's no secret that there is a shortage of qualified nurses, and this trend is likely to continue. As the U.S. population ages and our healthcare system becomes more complex, many hospitals and other healthcare employers will need more nurses.
If you're considering a new career path, it's important to weigh the pros and cons of nursing to determine if this profession is right for you.
Pros of Working as a Nurse
Nurses make a considerable difference to patients' lives. Nurses form relationships with their patients at a time when those patients are most vulnerable. Caring for people navigating difficult healthcare situations is an intimate endeavor.
#1: Working Closely with People
Many nurses enter the nursing field because they want to help people. Being by someone's side as they face health challenges can make nursing a rewarding career path for the right person.
Having a high degree of emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness is beneficial for aspiring nurses looking to thrive in this field. Due to the intense interpersonal environment and exchanges, it’s also necessary to manage your emotions while empathizing with the patients around you.
When you consider the cons of nursing, not every patient is kind or easygoing. As patients recover from illness or injury or receive bad news, they may experience frustration or distress.
However, nurses need to remain professional and compassionate while helping patients cope with difficult physical and emotional issues. In addition to your patients, you'll need to collaborate with doctors, fellow nurses, and other people in the healthcare system.
#2: Making a Positive Difference to People’s Lives
As a nurse, you can advocate on behalf of your patients. Whether you’re working in a doctor’s office, a hospital, or other healthcare setting, you are often the person patients interact with the most.
In this role, you can make a major difference in the care patients receive. You may support patients as they welcome a new life, face the end of their lives, and other events in between. The care and compassion you bring to those interactions has a profound impact on patient experiences and health outcomes.
“There are multiple experiences that are incredibly rewarding such as bringing a life into the world, providing comfort to those patients leaving this world, and collaborating with family members to provide a more patient/family-centered care environment,” says Dr. Tonya Breymier, Department Chair and Associate Professor of Nursing at American Public University. Dr. Breymier’s 30-plus years of nursing experience spans obstetrics, post-anesthesia care units, telemetry, home care, community health, and leadership.
#3: Schedule Flexibility
Nurses work long hours, but this type of schedule can be a plus, depending on the way you look at it. Many healthcare facilities invest in flexible scheduling options, allowing nurses the choice to work three 12-hour shifts instead of working five days a week.
For some nurses, this schedule allows for more free time to spend with their family or pursue other responsibilities. Additionally, some nurses choose to work the night shift for added flexibility and potentially a more competitive salary. Many hospitals pay a premium for quality nursing on night shifts.
“The nursing profession provided me with multiple opportunities and flexibility that enabled me to spend time with family and friends. It also provided me with exciting new opportunities as I journeyed through the different phases of life,” says Dr. Breymier.
#4: Opportunities for Professional Development
A nursing career path offers many opportunities for professional development. Registered nurses may go on to become nurse practitioners or move into a leadership role as nurse managers, nurse educators, or administrators.
Other nurses may choose a nursing specialty such as:
- Critical care
- Emergency care
- Oncology
- Mental health
- Pediatric nursing
- Nurse midwife
- Nurse researcher
When you consider the pros and cons of nursing, the opportunity to develop professionally is a primary advantage. Some nurses choose to fast-track their careers by enrolling in an accelerated nursing program, which allows them to earn their degrees in a shorter timeframe and enter the workforce more quickly.
Beyond clinical and leadership roles, nurses can also pursue careers in education or contribute to healthcare policy reforms. To date, 82 countries have a national nursing leadership role that contributes to health policies, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
#5: Development of Soft Skills
“Succeeding as a nurse long term requires a combination of technical skills, personal qualities, and continuous learning,” says Dr. Breymier. “Some important skills and attributes include clinical competence, critical thinking, and good communication skills. Other skills include empathy, compassion, adaptability, good time management, attention to detail, teamwork, collaboration, resilience, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
“It’s important to remember that attributes such as critical thinking and resilience are learned over time. We are not born with those attributes, but we certainly can learn and develop those important skills.”
#6: Empowering Patients
Nurses play a central role in educating patients and their families about their medical conditions, treatment plans, and the ways they can maintain a healthy lifestyle. This knowledge empowers patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Many nurses find the educational aspect of their job especially fulfilling.
In the nursing field, there are many approaches to patient education, depending on the nursing specialties you're interested in. For example, nurses may educate patients at the bedside in hospitals, provide guidance on new medications during treatment, or support families caring for elderly loved ones in nursing homes.
#7: The Chance to Work in Different Settings
Career mobility is important to many nursing professionals. However, you typically need to be licensed in the state where you practice. If you'd like more flexibility in where you live and work in the future, you could consider becoming a travel nurse and potentially working in hospitals, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities.
To become a travel nurse, you'll need to first complete an educational program and become a registered nurse. The next steps involve:
- Applying for licensure
- Gaining clinical experience
- Passing your National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®)
Travel nurses generally work through an agency that places them in different locations. Currently, 39 states participate in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows registered nurses to practice in multiple states without needing additional licenses.
Being a travel nurse can mean traveling on short notice. You may be placed in a role on an as- needed basis or for a longer-term assignment.
Also, nurses don’t just work in hospitals and doctor’s offices. Nurses can also work in other settings, such as:
- Academic research centers
- Birthing centers
- Schools and universities
- Mental health facilities
- Substance abuse centers
- Military bases
With the growth of hospital-at-home and telehealth programs, nurses can provide timely care for patients with travel limitations. These programs may be ideal for nursing professionals looking for a role where they can offer care outside of a traditional hospital environment.
Cons of Nursing
Although there are many positive aspects to nursing, nursing also has its cons. These cons should be carefully considered before you choose to pursue a nursing career.
#1: Nursing Makes Physical Demands on Nurses
Nurses need considerable physical stamina to be on their feet all day, lift patients, and work long shifts (often up to 12 hours a day).
Balancing the care of multiple patients also leaves little downtime for other activities. Being a nurse means committing yourself to stay healthy and fit, so you can help your patients do the same.
Eating right, getting regular sleep, and exercise can help a nursing student to take on the physically demanding role. Regular exercise can also reduce the risk of accidents and even improve your mood and memory.
#2: A Strong Stomach Is Needed
The sights and smells involved with patient care can take some adjustment. Part of the daily work of a nurse requires handling various bodily fluids while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Drawing blood, cleaning up after patients, and emptying bedpans are tasks to which a nursing student will need to become accustomed. Nurses must calmly care for many patients while dealing with blood, wounds, or other unsettling sights.
#3: You Will Lose Patients at Times
The reality of healthcare means most nurses will experience patient loss from time to time. The frequency of these experiences depends on your healthcare setting. Many nurses find that helping patients and families navigate this journey is rewarding, but the emotional stress is tough for everyone.
Before deciding if nursing is the right career path for you, consider whether you have the emotional resilience and a support system in place to face these situations and cope responsibly with a patient’s death.
#4: The Nursing Field Constantly Changes
Nurses need to manage multiple priorities and carefully apply healthcare protocols during each interaction. As nursing students, they’re exposed to these practices during clinical rotations. When they become nurses, they are responsible for maintaining high standards to ensure patient safety.
Protocols may change over time. After all, the healthcare industry is very fluid, so nurses need to be highly adaptable.
Nursing Degrees at American Public University
Ultimately, there are many benefits to choosing nursing as your path. Schedule flexibility, career growth potential, and the ability to directly help people every day are among the top advantages of this career choice.
Be sure to talk with nursing professionals to learn firsthand about both the pros and cons that others have experienced. They can provide invaluable guidance as you decide if a nursing career is right for you. Armed with advice and insights from seasoned nurses, you can make the most informed decision about your future.
To aid adult learners who are interested in gaining the knowledge and skills for a nursing career path, American Public University (APU) offers a range of degrees:
- An online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
- An online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with Nurse Leader and Nurse Educator concentrations
- An online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with Community and Public Health Nursing concentrations
- An online Master of Science in Nursing (RN to MSN) with Nurse Leader and Nurse Educator concentrations
- An online Master of Science in Nursing (RN to MSN) with Community and Public Health Nursing concentrations
These programs have received specialty accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE®). This accreditation ensures that these programs have met high academic standards.
For more information about these degrees, visit APU’s nursing and health sciences degree program page.
Note: These programs have specific admission requirements and may require an in-person activity or practicum. Also, the BSN is not open for admission to residents of Washington, DC or Washington state. The MSN degrees are not open for admission to residents of Washington, DC or Washington state. Please be sure to check your state’s board of nursing licensure requirements prior to enrolling.
NCLEX-RN is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
CCNE is a registered trademark of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
