Are you considering nursing or know someone who is? If you ask most nurses why they entered into this career area, they would likely respond that they want to help others. That makes for very rewarding work. There’s also job security, at least in the US, given nurses are in high demand. So, what’s the challenge for women in nursing? With hundreds of thousands of seasoned registered nurses (RNs) expected to retire over the next few years, that will put more strain on the existing shortage of these professionals.
Some of the top reasons for this shortage include retirement, job dissatisfaction, burnout, and a steadily rising demand for healthcare services. That weighs hard on women and others in nursing who are trying to help others. Being compassionate can be draining if you don’t practice self-care too.
In the US, nursing is the single-largest workforce in the healthcare profession, with around 90% of nurses being women. Being a nurse is commendable, no doubt. However, their role comes with a unique set of challenges. Let’s look at some of them below.
High Levels of Stress
Becoming a registered nurse is in itself a milestone worth celebrating. And there are many positions to attain following that, if you want to advance higher in the medical field or focus on a specialty. This usually happens with the help of accelerated online BSN programs, which can condense the journey up to 16 months.
Getting this qualification or a different nursing-related one can help fill healthcare position shortages in America that are only going to increase over time if something doesn’t change. After completing the required training and on-site residency, professionals can even pursue various specializations through various post-graduate programs.
Nurses put in all of their sweat and toil not just for a promising salary trajectory but also for a fulfilling career. What good will their efforts be if the return is paid in the form of high stress? Women in nursing and others in this field may lose motivation and productivity, feeling a lot of pressure on their shoulders.
Others may find it extremely challenging to resolve the conflict between home and work life. Add to this the problem of a high workload and an uncooperative team and it is natural for stress to turn into burnout and a desire to leave.
Gender Pay Gap
This term refers to the systematic gap between the average earnings of men and women in a given workforce. As per a recent survey, the gender pay gap continues to be a growing issue in America. Despite more women than men being nurses in the US.
The survey found men nurses earn around $6000 more on average every year when compared to their women counterparts. That’s about 36 percent! This statistic holds even though only 10% of the nursing workforce comprises men.
Apart from gender bias, there are additional reasons for the lack of women in leadership roles. These include a lack of proper work-life balance and limited access to growth networks.
What Are Some Possible Solutions?
If these issues are not addressed on time, the US will lose more of its nursing professionals, including the many women who are in this role. Below are some ways hospitals and other medical facilities can help their nurses (women and any other gender):
- Investing more in strategic recruitment and providing competitive wages
- Conducting one-on-one meetings to listen to concerns regularly
- Creating a safe and supportive work environment where female nurses have a realistic workload that facilitates proper work-life balance
- Offering flexible working schedules
- Facilitating ongoing learning opportunities for career advancement
- Ensuring a minimum number of women occupy the senior positions of the organization
- Providing attractive perks like stipends for groceries, housekeeping, or daycare
- Organizing helpful workshops to help female nurses set healthy boundaries
Women continue to inspire across healthcare positions, including nursing. The commendable fact is that this holds despite the challenges discussed above. Now is the time for healthcare institutions to give proper consideration to the concerns of nursing professionals.
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