What are the pros and cons of being an operating room nurse?

Pros:

• Competitive benefits. Operating room nurses make more than the average salary of a career in the United States. Along with that, they also tend to have good benefits such as medical coverage, life insurance, retirement funds, and paid time off.

• Feeling of accomplishment. Operating room nurses have to work quickly to save lives, and that can be an extremely rewarding feeling. The work they do truly matters and they are helping so many with their work.

• Work wardrobe. If deciding what you are going to wear daily is something that is difficult for you, nursing could be a great option. You wear a uniform of scrubs daily, which makes getting dressed easy.

Cons:

• Long shifts. Many hospitals work on a 12-hour schedule, which while extremely beneficial for patient care, can be difficult for the staff. This can also be difficult for staff who have families, as they may go days without seeing them.

• Emotional burnout. Operating room nurses witness a lot of human suffering, which can be extremely traumatic for them. It is not uncommon for nurses to feel burnout emotionally after a few years of witnessing people going through so many difficulties.

• Virus exposure. Nurses and staff try to take all the necessary steps for prevention, but they are still often exposed to various illnesses. If you are already someone who has a lowered immune system, this may be a deciding factor in choosing against nursing.