[ace587]

People need to be taken care of. Its in my heart to take care of people

[bigjim]

Got very tired of dealing with constant layoffs and turbulent job market in the IT industry.

Originally wanted to be a PA. Took EMT to start getting the required patient care experience and decided I really liked EMS and would become a Paramedic then decide when to go PA.

Found out what Paramedics make.

Decided to finish medic and then go right to RN so I can pay my bills.

Will decide on PA/CRNA from there.

In short, I really like patient care, but I also like the absence of layoffs, home ownership, vacations, 401k, and not having to work until I am 75, so I will stay in this field but go as high (license/earnings) as I can go and still keep a job that I like.

A lot of the guys who answer these threads give all/part of their reason for taking up nursing as economic, but sometimes fail to account for retirement savings as more and more jobs do not offer pensions. PA/NPs often get better benefits than staff nurses, including in some cases a very generous retirement contribution. CRNA benefits are often "executive" benefits, not even in the same league as other non-physician employees. This can make a huge difference when the day comes that you cannot/will not/do not want to work full time anymore.

[cccnurse]

I wanted to be like Hef...

I mean; come on... What other job allows/requires you to come to work wearing pajama's

[jelorde37]

alll for the ladies... for the ladies.... lol nah just kiddin. i became a nurse because thats all i knew how to do. my moms been a nurse every since i can remember so i guess its in my blood. plus i like to help people and fix things, so i guess i doing both at the same time.

[MurseHopeful]

I am not a nuse...Yet, as alluded by my screen name. But I think what really got me interested in nursing was my last deployment to Iraq. I volunteered much of my off duty time at the hospital. I saw a lot of very grusome things, but I was absoulutley amazed by the care and dedication of all the medical professionals, especially the nurses. My mom is also a nurse, so i have been around it my whole life. Also, being a firefighter, I see my fair share of medical situations and I just want something more. Also, I hate to see people in pain and I want to be able to do something to ease that pain. So I guess it is kind of a combo of all of these things that make me want to be a murse... I mean nurse.

MH

[Dave11]

Before I became a nurse, I had a series of dead-end and low paying jobs, a couple of which I was laid off from. I got tired of living paycheck to paycheck in crappy little apartments. I decided to go to nursing school because my sister and best friend at the time were both nurses. I figured I was at least as smart as them and if they could do it, so could I. The other reason was I figured the hours would be flexible so I could go on in school once I figured out what I wanted to do.
I made this decision 15 years ago. It took me a few years before I realized I was doing what I should be doing. I'm still a nurse and damn proud to be one too.

[RNDave]

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

[rogramjet]

What other job allows/requires you to come to work wearing pajama's


My thoughts exactly......

Was diagnosed with diabetes, decided to become an RN to do diabetes education, and that's what I do. And I love it!

[flames9]

Me Canadian--Wife American! So one of us had to move! I was in the Air Force- Worked various electronics gear on the P3C airplane--best job in the world!! But she has piles of education, would would not relate to any jobs where I was posted. So I moved! Came here on a marriage based visa (CR-1) with no clue what I was going to do job wise! Took my EMT-B,really enjoyed it! During one of our hospital rotations, ran into a RN and told me about the 2 yr RN program at NVCC. Didn't really think much of it, even though both of my younger sisters are RN's back in Canada. With my wifes job, we can do a bit of traveling throughout the USA and the world. So that got me thinking, how portable is a paramedic? Probably not all that much. So RN came back into the picture! And went from there!! Currently in my second semester, and all is going well. Should graduate May 2009. have no clue on what area I want to work in! Thinking of starting out on a med-surg floor. Like to get some good hands on time to build a solid foundation. My sisters did something similar. They have worked in cardiology, now one works in ICU and another is a diabetes coordinator. Cheers, Scott

[The_Wonderkid]

Why did I get into nursing?

By accident really... I was working for a supermarket and hated it. I didn't feel that my talents were being best used stacking shelves (not knocking people that stack shelves, we need them!) I then had an issue with a manager that just wasn't resolving itself. So i looked in the paper, saw a ad for a care assistant position in the NHS local Mental Health Unit and applied. There was one reason which got me that post (I think)...

Growing up my mother was diagnosed with a Personality Disorder. Having grown up practically in Mental Health Units (visiting!) I had first hand (family) experience on Mental Illness and I was passionate about it! (and still am)

I saw both amazing and not so amazing things (nothing terrible just little things I wanted to change) and decided 'HELL I CAN DO THIS JOB!'. It took about 6 months. I was one of those late starters in terms of getting comfortable with the job but one day it clicked.
Two years ago I was getting told that I really needed to do my training. I put it off and put it off thinking that I would wait til the 'time is right' but I don't think the time will ever be 'right' for most people. I applied, got my position, am in my second year of my training and still love the job like I did 3 years ago!!!!