What we do know about nursing is that it’s a noble profession requiring a lot of dedication and sacrifice. As patients, we know that the nurses are always there for major as well as minor needs, questions, counsel, and comfort. If you happen to be working in this particular industry, you may be familiar with more facts, like a nurse’s salary, career options, and the indisputable fact that nurses are in high demand especially in the USA.

However, there are certain things about the nursing profession you may not be familiar with yet, so we’ve compiled a list of interesting things that will most probably astonish you, as well as make you appreciate nursing a whole lot more than you ever did.

1. Nursing is ancient

Let’s begin with some history. The first recorded nurse practitioners were first operating in the Roman Empire, as far back as 300 A.D. Most cities then had some version of a hospital that employed caregivers like these. However, it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that this profession saw its first visible expansion. 

2. The first nursing school

The first nursing school ever to open its doors was the Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing, in 1873, New York City. This institution offered a one-year program and based its teaching on the practices of Florence Nightingale. The Bellevue paved the way for others, like the New England Hospital for Women as well as Massachusetts General Hospital that were inspired to open nursing schools of their own. 

3. Speaking of Florence Nightingale…

This well-renowned lady has helped shape the nursing profession and healthcare in general. 

Florence was a British nurse who helped save many lives during the Crimean War. In her efforts to give it the best she could, she managed to increase the standards of hospital sanitization, food preparation, and patient treatment, all in aid of preventing the spread of infection. It is safe to say that many of her practices are still used in nursing today. 

4. Nurses work outside hospitals too

Hospitals do remain the largest employers of nurses at the rate of 60%, there is work for these medical practitioners outside this institution.  They are in demand in ambulatory health services, residential care facilities as well as government and educational services.

5. You could travel the world while still doing your job

Travel nursing is becoming more and more of a trend among nursing practitioners. Those who don’t want to be anchored to one place, i.e. city or hospital, can find jobs elsewhere. Since nurses are in high demand, there are a lot of opportunities. You can search for a job yourself or find one through an agency. Either way, you’ll ve working on a contract and once it’s done, you can take as much time in between jobs as you like and need. 

The great thing about it is you can always spruce up your education on the go. Online classes in PALS training, for instance, will get you a great education and a certification accepted across the US. This will enable you better positions and a higher salary as well.

6. Nurses walk 5k in one shift

As a reference, an average person walks 2.5 miles a day, while nurses double this in only one shift. This is largely due to the physical design of hospitals – there’s a distance between a patient’s room and the medical room, supplies, cleaning facilities. The size of the unit also plays a part in this, but whatever the reason, it amounts to at least four miles a day. Investment in comfortable shoes is a priority for every dedicated nurse. 

7. Nursing is listed as a top job

In 2021, three of the top 40 jobs are registered in nursing. On the popularity scale, nurse practitioners are ranked third, registered nurses 37th and anesthetists 39th. Private and public facilities (not only hospitals) are always searching for skilled healthcare professionals to add to their existing staff. Considering the recent and still ongoing pandemic, the demand is very likely to increase.

8. Nurses have their own dedicated week

The National Nurses Week is from 6th May to 12th May and has been celebrated fr over 40 years. It has been managed so that it ends on the day Florence Nightingale was born. It is meant to acknowledge all the hard work and effort every nurse puts into their daily tasks and show appreciation for all the risks dedication they show.

A rewarding profession, yet a very challenging one. It takes a special kind of commitment to become a successful nurse, but the hard work pays off abundantly. The feeling of fulfillment a nurse gets after a hard day’s work compensates for all those miles walked to provide the best possible care to their patients.