Nurses form the backbone of Australia’s healthcare industry and play a pivotal role in providing safe and supportive healthcare to millions of people each year.
While a nursing career comes with its challenges, it also provides an opportunity for personal growth, professional development and the ability to make a difference in people’s lives. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of nursing along with key factors to help you determine if a career in nursing is the right fit for you.
Are nurses in demand in Australia?
The nursing profession is currently the largest single health profession in Australia with over 391,241 nurses as of 2023. Even though the number of nurses has grown year-on-year, an ageing population and an increased need for healthcare services has resulted in rising demand for nurses.
According to the Nursing Supply and Demand Study conducted by the Department of Health and Aged Care, projections show that demand for nurses will increase 38 per cent by 2035.
While demand is increasing, supply is not growing at the same rate with projections stating that there will be an undersupply of nurses by 2035 with approximately 79,473 nurses needed to fill the gap.
Nursing areas that are projected to have the most demand include acute care, primary care and aged care.
Pros and cons of nursing
Nursing has its pros and cons and understanding both sides can help you assess whether it’s the right career for you.
| Pros | Cons |
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Highly rewarding Although nursing can be a very stressful and fast-paced profession, one of the greatest rewards is the emotional fulfilment that comes from the ability to positively impact patient lives and outcomes. |
Emotionally, mentally and physically demanding Nurses often endure long shifts, spending hours on their feet. The physical demands of constant standing, walking and lifting can lead to fatigue and muscle strain. |
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Personal and professional development Nursing provides extensive opportunities to develop key skills such as communication, leadership, critical thinking and self-awareness. |
Work-life balance challenges While this can vary depending on the department and where they work, nurses can have a rotating roster that consists of day, evening and overnight hours. |
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Competitive benefits The nursing profession offers competitive benefits that can vary depending on the state and territory. |
Potential for burnout Due to the emotional and physical demands of nursing, burnout has unfortunately become common among nurses. |
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Job security With a shortage of nurses in Australia and demand expected to increase, there will likely always be opportunities for nurses available across various sectors including hospitals, aged care facilities and community health services. |
Feeling underappreciated Despite the vital role that nurses play in healthcare, their tireless work, from providing compassionate care to managing complex medical tasks can sometimes go unnoticed. |
How do I know if a career in nursing is for me?
If you are thinking of pursuing nursing as a career, some factors to consider include your personal strengths, ambitions and career goals.
While many will only discover how well their skills and attributes align with nursing after stepping into the role, it is still valuable to determine whether you are open to developing the essential qualities that are critical to thriving in the nursing profession.
To help you further assess whether nursing is the right fit for you, here are a few questions to consider.
- Do you have a passion for nursing?
Nursing is a challenging career that comes with its own highs and lows so it’s important to reflect on your values and motivations before pursuing this profession.
Take some time to understand why you want to enter the field. Is it because of job security or do you find a sense of purpose in helping others?
While factors like job security and competitive benefits can certainly play a part in the consideration process, they should not be the deciding factor.
To truly thrive in this profession, you need to genuinely care and want to make a difference in a patient’s life. - Are you comfortable dealing with bodily fluids?
While the amount of bodily fluids you work with can differ depending on your speciality and department, you will still need to be comfortable handling bodily fluids, including blood, saliva and urine.
If you’re someone that feels squeamish at the thought of bodily fluids, a career in nursing might not be for you. Alternatively, you could consider other careers in healthcare such as becoming a counsellor, psychologist, chiropractor, audiologist or physiotherapist. - Are you able to adapt to shift work?
As a nurse, you will likely be working different shifts ranging from mornings to evenings and nights. Shift work can be taxing on the body and health so it’s important that you are able to adapt to these changes in schedules and ensure that you’re well-rested for the next shift. - Are you empathetic and a good communicator?
Empathy and communication are vital skills to have as a nurse. Empathy will allow you to connect with your patients and their families on a personal level and better understand their emotions and needs. This can help with fostering trust and improving both the patient and family’s overall experience.
Communication is also an important trait as you will not only be conveying vital information to patients and their families but also to your peers and other healthcare professionals. - Do you like learning?
Nursing is a field that requires ongoing education and professional development. With medical advancements and new technologies, you will need to be comfortable with learning all the time.
Whether it’s learning about the latest healthcare practices or pursuing advanced certifications, a love for learning is essential for growth in the nursing profession. - Are you resilient?
In the nursing profession, you will face long shifts, difficult patients and emotionally challenging situations that can take a toll. Resilience is a vital quality in helping you navigate and handle adversity in the workplace while providing quality care.
If you’re someone who can handle adversity, recover from setbacks and maintain a positive attitude even in difficult times, you have one of the key traits needed in the nursing profession. - Are you able to be calm in stressful situations?
As a nurse, you will encounter high-pressure environments and situations where decisions must be made quickly. Whether you’re in the emergency room assisting with a procedure or managing a sudden change in a patient’s condition, staying calm under pressure is vital. - Are you observant and able to think critically and quickly?
Nurses are often the first to notice subtle changes in a patient’s condition. Being observant helps you detect these small but important details while critical thinking allows you to assess the situation and decide on the best course of action. - Do you have a desire to grow your career?
Nursing offers many pathways for career advancement from specialising in areas like critical care to moving into leadership or education roles. If you are ambitious and driven to expand your expertise or take on leadership responsibilities, nursing provides plenty of opportunities for professional growth. - Are you adaptable?
Nursing is a dynamic profession where no two days are the same. Whether it’s a change in patient needs or unexpected emergencies, adaptability is an important trait to have in the nursing profession.
As a nurse, you will need to be flexible and adjust to rapidly changing situations while maintaining a high standard of care. If you’re someone who can easily shift gears and embrace change, you have potential to excel in the nursing field.
How to excel in nursing with a degree
If you are looking to become a nurse in Australia, the most common pathway is through completion of an undergraduate nursing degree such as a Bachelor of Nursing. This qualification is essential for gaining registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) which is required to practise as a nurse.
After gaining experience, however, many nurses continue to pursue postgraduate education such as a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or master’s program to not only enhance their expertise but also open doors to advanced roles with improved salary potential.
If you are a healthcare worker with an existing undergraduate degree in another field, you may be eligible for admission to certain postgraduate nursing courses with your previous qualifications and experience.
Here are some of the nursing courses provided by our partner universities:
Bachelor of Nursing - University of Canberra
During the Bachelor of Nursing course, you will develop and apply nursing knowledge and skills, conduct nursing assessments and undertake multiple clinical placement opportunities to gain valuable insight and experience across a broad range of healthcare service providers.
Some of the units that you will study include Health Across the Lifespan: Chronic and Complex Care, Mental Health Care in Practice, Integrating Nursing Concepts and Research and Technology for Healthcare Practice.
Postgraduate mental health nursing - Southern Cross University
Offered as a graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master’s program, the course aims to build your understanding of how to effectively respond to individuals that are experiencing a range of mental health challenges.
You will learn how to develop a holistic mental health treatment plan, gain a contemporary mental health care perspective and develop your evidence-based practice.
Postgraduate nursing - Victoria University
Offered as a graduate certificate or master’s course, the course will prepare you for the diverse and rapidly changing healthcare landscape and consists of core units such as care coordination in practice and leading improvement and innovation.
If you choose to pursue a master’s program you can also choose between three specialisations – chronic disease and ageing, nursing leadership and nursing informatics leadership.
Master of Mental Health Nursing - Victoria University
The Master of Mental Health Nursing will equip you with the expertise required to gain leadership positions and create transformational change across clinical mental health settings.
Over the course of this program, you will study units such as mental health nursing, recovery oriented mental health and effective trauma-informed care.
Postgraduate nursing - James Cook University
Offered as a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or master’s program, this course will provide you with the qualifications and skills to take on more complex roles and deliver better patient care.
Examples of core units include effective clinical governance and persuasive communication. You will also get to choose from one of three specialisations – leadership and management, advanced practice and education.
Postgraduate advanced nursing - University of Technology Sydney
Offered as a graduate certificate and master’s program, this course is designed for nurses who want to drive better outcomes for person-centred care in a range of healthcare settings. You will focus on gaining advanced skills in leadership, clinical practice and implementing evidence in nursing.
You will learn advanced skills applicable to different healthcare settings and can choose to major in acute care, chronic and complex care, quality and safety, critical care or mental health.
Explore nursing as a career
While nursing can be a challenging profession, it can also be incredibly rewarding.
If you’re considering exploring nursing as a career, whether as someone that’s new to the field or someone looking to pivot within the healthcare industry, speak to our Education Consultant to learn more about the nursing courses offered by our university partners.
