[ganursechick]

i have wanted to be a nurse since my second daughter was born...she was really sick and spent a lot of time in the childrens hospital...just to sit there and watch the nurses, respiratory therapists and docs show so much compassion for a child that should have not made it...(she is now 7 years old and gifted) and for the fact that my dad is a severe heart patient, he has had 9 heart attacks, quad bypass, 5 stints, and an internal defribillator later his is still kicking....to have a member of your immediate family so close to death as both of these were at many different times, and to watch and learn how good it must feel to be able to give the gift of hope and recovery to a family member....i wanted to be able to say that i took part in saving someone's family. i want to give that feeling of hope and encouragement to someone like it has been given so many times to me.

[chrisg0705]

Originally Posted by brian

Everyone has his or her own story about how or why they became a nurse. What's your story?

Please be as detailed or as short as you wish. It'll be interesting to hear everyone's stories.

I decided to become a nurse after volunteering in an ER for three years. After seeing the nurses in action, I decided to become one. I want to help people. I also like the three day a week schedule, the only work clothes you need are scrubs, and that you never take work home.

[jalvino1]

I'M A FILIPINO... need i say more? o.k. I will. A lot of Filipinos become nurses because it means a plane ticket to America. However, that's not my story, that's my mom's story. That's right- a filipino family of nurses. It's about as rare as grass. Well, i was predestined to be a nurse whether I liked it or not. I Remember being 5 years old and thinking "I'm gonna be a nurse just like my mommy!" And as the years past I decided I wasn't so sure about nursing, and as more years past and the time to apply for college rolled around, nursing was the only thing I could think of. I had doubts in my head about nursing everyday, and I was surrounded by nursing fanatics. Then one day (you know that day when you haven't slept in days, you've spent hours studying for that exam right after finishing that project and getting dressed to go to clinical and had your morning cry) I thought to myself: "Damn! I love this profession!"

[Jessy_RN]

Originally Posted by jalvino1

I'M A FILIPINO... need i say more? o.k. I will. A lot of Filipinos become nurses because it means a plane ticket to America. However, that's not my story, that's my mom's story. That's right- a filipino family of nurses. It's about as rare as grass. Well, i was predestined to be a nurse whether I liked it or not. I Remember being 5 years old and thinking "I'm gonna be a nurse just like my mommy!" And as the years past I decided I wasn't so sure about nursing, and as more years past and the time to apply for college rolled around, nursing was the only thing I could think of. I had doubts in my head about nursing everyday, and I was surrounded by nursing fanatics. Then one day (you know that day when you haven't slept in days, you've spent hours studying for that exam right after finishing that project and getting dressed to go to clinical and had your morning cry) I thought to myself: "Damn! I love this profession!"

This is great. Best wishes to you.

[susyqrn]

Well, since I was little I wanted to be a nurse...can't tell you how many Trapper John MD reruns I watched (yes, the one where the nurses ran around in high heels). After graduating High school, I was stupid and got married to a man in the Navy and ended up getting a degree in the local college where he was stationed , well, to make a long story short we ended up divorcing and I moved back home and decided to do my lifes dream and enrolled at the University of South Florida and 2 years later, I earned my bachelors in Nursing (that was 1997). Since graduating I've worked the telemetry units, and I just love anything cardiac, and that's where I've stuck now for 8 years. I'm currently the charge nurse of my unit. Even though it has its ups and downs, bottom line, I do love nursing.
I'm now currently re-married with 2 gorgeous boys.

[CEP10492]

I wanted to be a DVM when I grew up. It wasn't until I was working as a CNA at the hospital and a doctor had asked me how a pt was doing and how the pt had done during the night that I decided I was going to be a nurse. When I explained to the doctor that I was the CNA and not the nurse, he demanded to know what I was doing in the pt's room. Explained to the doctor that I was assisting the pt with their breakfast, and he again demanded to know what I was doing in the pt room if I wasn't the nurse. I decided at that time that I would become a nurse. I was offended by that doctor. That same doctor I work with still, and I know now that it really isn't personal he talks to everyone not a doctor in the same way. But it gave me the incentive to apply to and graduate from nursing school.

[akcarmean]

When my first child (boy) was born I delivered at 28 weeks. He was 3# 3/4oz. He was in a Neonatal Unit for 70 days. We were there 69. The best nurse we had was one that had been though the same experience. She was a great help. It was then and there that I decided one day I would be a nurse. I started as a CNA, then have been an LPN since 2000. I am currently working on my RN. I have two required classes. Humanities and COM.II (research paper) then I will be able to hit my second year RN; and will be completed in two semesters. It has taken me awhile but I will reach my goal.


Angie

[TreetopAngel_RN]

Originally Posted by CEP10492

I wanted to be a DVM when I grew up. It wasn't until I was working as a CNA at the hospital and a doctor had asked me how a pt was doing and how the pt had done during the night that I decided I was going to be a nurse. When I explained to the doctor that I was the CNA and not the nurse, he demanded to know what I was doing in the pt's room. Explained to the doctor that I was assisting the pt with their breakfast, and he again demanded to know what I was doing in the pt room if I wasn't the nurse. I decided at that time that I would become a nurse. I was offended by that doctor. That same doctor I work with still, and I know now that it really isn't personal he talks to everyone not a doctor in the same way. But it gave me the incentive to apply to and graduate from nursing school.

Your story reminded me of one incident with a doctor during nursing school: I picked an elderly patient who had just had abdominal surgery. All the floor nurses told me I would regret the choice as his doctor "ate student nurses for breakfast." I could not get the siderails in the patients bed down on either side and had been calling maintenance for help or a new bed for about an hour. Meanwhile, I had gotten the patient shaved, cleaned up, and fed while waiting. I didn't see how I could be expected to get an elderly man with an 8" abdominal incision out of a bed over the rails of foot of the bed. Basically, I refused to even try.

I got the heads up from the charge nurse the the doctor had just come on the floor and he was going to be very angry his patient was still in bed. I met the doctor as he came to the room and asked him if he could help and explained about the bed, I asked him if HE would call maintenance to get "our" patient a bed that worked. He walked to the phone and placed the call. A different bed arrived within five minutes.

The doctor helped me lift the patient over the siderails and into the new bed and then he did his assessment. I asked a few pertinent questions and he answered, I was also included in the assessment, as he asked my opinion on several points.

As we were leaving the room the doctor asked to speak to me privately in the waiting room. I thought, "Okay here it comes, I'm going to get my first reaming by a doctor." Then he asked me, "Why aren't you scared of me?" I must have looked stunned, and then I said, "I didn't know I was supposed to be scared of you." He smiled and thanked me for taking care of his patient and left the floor.

The floor nurses were standing around waiting for us to get finished, wanting to know what he had said to me. They said they only asked because usually they could hear what that doctor said to any student nurse as he said it at the top of his lungs.

[Bwick]

When I was 15 I had surgery on my hand. I was scared and didn't have a clue. No one explained anything to me, no one comforted me, I felt totally alone. I figured it didn't have to be like that and maybe I could help. I keep that thought in the back of my mind whenever dealing with patients and families.
Sue

[Mona Mona]

My family is Romanian, my parents immigrated here with me when I was almost 2. My mom always had a dream of going into the medical field, just didn't know what. It didn't help that my dad was a jerk, and never supported anything any of us wanted to do. Fast forward, I'm 18, and they finally got divorced. My two younger brothers and I couldn't have been happier. Watched mom finish her Bachelors in Occupational Therapy and graduate with honors at 45 years old.

Now me, happily married, but not happily working in accounting/administrative assistant/human resourses jobs. Mom (and dang if she doesn't know best!) suggested I volunteer at a local hospital, because she knows I would be an awesome nurse. (I helped her with ALL of her school work, and she was amazed at how easily I picked everything up...). Volunteered in the Geriatric wing of the hospital. LOVED IT. Signed up for nursing school last November.

I'm currently taking my pre-req's, and hope to start the 2.5 year ADN program in winter of 2007.

I don't think it was a 'calling' more than a group of experiences that led up to my decision. Job security and decent pay doesn't hurt either.