[brause]

Hi all
why did I become a nurse??

This question I asked more than 30 years ago.....
And today I don`t know the right answer.
Fact, since all these years(...and that were a lot) I couldn`t beleave to have another job.
I like it to work as a nurse even day....

[sleeplessonthelake]

In high school I was an orderlie, got to know some doctors, became an EMT. Then a Paramedic and eventually an RN. I retired at age 50. Now, I'm back in college studying law. Oh, the reason I became a nurse, my interest in biochemistry, early marriage, kids and the need for increased income ASAP.

[GrumpyRN63]

My freshman year in college,my roomate got pretty sick and was hospitalized. I went to visit her and it was really my first experience of seeing bedside nursing in action. I knew at that moment I wanted to be a nurse and felt at "home" in the hospital. I know it sounds weird, I guess I felt I belonged there, I finished the semester, transfered to another school w/a nursing program, didn't have a problem as I was already a Bio Major, still feel hospitals are my second home

[JessieRN]

My granddaddy. He has COPD, DM, CHF, Renal Failure, three MI's, ect. He was placed on hospice in 2003 while I was in college. My mom and my cousin are both LPN's, and the three of us stayed with him around the clock. At the same time my grandmother, his wife of 61 years developed pnuemonia. She almost died, and in the process we discovered she had a rare form of leukemia. Her wbc's where below 1 when she admitted to an oncology floor. I stayed with her, while my mom and cousin worked with the hospice nurses to keep granddaddy alive to see her one last time.

My grandmother and I came home the day after Christmas that year, even though she was not even vaguely stable to come home. He died 30 minutes later, holding her hand. The doctors and nurses with the hospice agency were amazed he was able to hold on so long, and believed my mother was a big part of that due to her 10 years of ICU nursing experience. And it meant everything to my grandmother to be with him at that time.

I just started thinking, one day that could be my mother, father, husband, or child that needed that experienced care and I wanted to know how to give it. My granddaddy told me before he died this is what he wanted me to do, because he was sick and needed three nurses now. I know he is proud

[BethT]

well, i am not a nurse YET...but I am on my way to be... and here's my story

I don't remember ever NOT wanting to be a nurse, if that makes any sense. No sudden changes in my life that made me think of this occupation that I can remember. BUT I will tell you the reason I am pursuing it now.

I am terrified of needles and vomit, so no one thinks i can, which is why i am going to. I am not going to NOT live my dream because of a fear. I am going to confront my fears and overcome my fears...and be a wonderful nurse.

[Rina10]

[quote=brian;1165895]Everyone has his or her own story about how or why they became a nurse. What's your story?

I have great interests in Human Anatomy and Physiology..Eventhough I was pushed by significant people in my life to be a nurse,I started loving my course as I proceed to more complicated nursing topics and oppotunities.Sometimes, I doubt my skills because I dont find myself skillful in clinical ares but talking about Curriculum and studying I am at the top of the list..It was my father who challenged me to be be a good nurse not just in theory but also in practice.When my father passed away,I was the one who did his post mortem care in ICU,and said to myself,"I am gonna be a Good Nurse".Fortunately,it's a heaven's grace that I passed the Local Board of Nursing in our country and became a Nurse.But I don't want to stop being a Good Nurse, I want to be a Proficient,Skillful and Knowledgeable Nurse.

[sharona97]

[quote=Rina10;2574782]

Originally Posted by brian

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

I have great interests in Human Anatomy and Physiology..Eventhough I was pushed by significant people in my life to be a nurse,I started loving my course as I proceed to more complicated nursing topics and oppotunities.Sometimes, I doubt my skills because I dont find myself skillful in clinical ares but talking about Curriculum and studying I am at the top of the list..It was my father who challenged me to be be a good nurse not just in theory but also in practice.When my father passed away,I was the one who did his post mortem care in ICU,and said to myself,"I am gonna be a Good Nurse".Fortunately,it's a heaven's grace that I passed the Local Board of Nursing in our country and became a Nurse.But I don't want to stop being a Good Nurse, I want to be a Proficient,Skillful and Knowledgeable Nurse.

Sounds like you are on your way with a good attitude. It takes perserverance and lots of determination, but the gratification of a job well done is so worth it.

Good Luck!

[husker_rn]

I had been a CNA and needed a break; was working at a grocery store for a manager who treated me like a brainless twit. Went home and grumbled that I was tired of being treated as such. Wise man that he is my husband told me that I had 2 choices in life...take what I had and learn to like it OR get off my butt and make the changes. So...off to nursing school I went. No glorified girlhood dreams of nursing; just the oldest of 8 kids so it was just seemed the natural progression of things. Started out thinking I could fix the world. Quickly I learned the world has to fix itself; I can just help it at times. No regrets.

[Tait]

Where to begin.

I would say nursing was like...walking past someone and catching a whiff of their perfume, realize it is familiar, but when you turn to see who it was they are lost in the crowd behind you.

I remember being around 18 or 19 and needing to work on a paper for my heredity class (I always have been a big science geek). I was wandering into the hospital my mom was working at at the time, (as a program coordinator for health programs) looking for the medical library and I remembered feeling this odd sense of elation. I didn't really know what it was, but something about being in that hospital just made me feel...right.

As college progressed and a long term relationship appeared I was pretty much spinning my wheels. I had looked into teaching (too repetitive for me), marine biology (I don't like jelly fish lol) and just settling down and being a mom (which trust me, from that relationship would have garnered me nothing but drama and no respect from either my bf at the time or his family). This bf had mentioned once me becoming a nurse, however I only knew of 4 year programs and I just didn't feel that I could handle that. (I have never been a slouch in the intelligence department, however after years of spinning my wheels on college I was just burnt out)

So after dumping the loser I moved to a new big city. I had never moved anywhere without family so this was a big step. I got a job waitressing and after about 6 months I was bored out of my gourd. I knew this couldn't go on much longer.

So one warm spring day I trucked it over to the area technical college to check out their massage therapy program. Here a sunny, friendly counselor said "well, what else do you think you would like to do?"

"Well I have been told maybe I should be a nurse, but I don't know if I am cut out for the schooling."

Well after a little chatting and a lot of optimism I applied for the program. I was wait-listed as everyone else was, however I saw this as an opportunity to work and take prereqs at my own pace. That semester I garnered my first 99% in a class in years in chemistry. I was so stoked I just kept on going until graduation day!

I have been nursing for just over a year now, and even though there are a lot of days I am scared out of my mind at the lives I hold, I go in every work day and come home feeling accomplished. Every. Single. Day.

Nothing better for me.

Soon I will start my ADN-MSN program and become a health educator which, I believe, is the epitome of what nursing can offer to me.

Tait

[JaeDream]

How difficult was it to be a mother and to finish Nursing school? I am young and just got married, but I am trying hard to hold off on having kids until I complete my degree. I hear lots of people on here that have done it just fine. I love to see people following their dreams!