[Lori75]

Good Luck! I just wrote my Canadian LPN licensing Exam (a 7 hour test here) last Wednesday! I am a mother of a 3 year old, and writing that exam was up there with "one of the biggest things I've ever done" I think I did well...I get my results in 6 - 8 weeks

[princesskarabu]

I always wanted a career in the medical field. Initially I thought that I'd be a doctor. As time went on, I realized how much I did not like school and knew that I would not be able to endure all of the schooling required to become an MD (ha ha). That's when nursing came into play. I figured that I'd still be in the medical field and wouldn't have to do so much time in school.

The funny thing is, you know how they say that your taste buds change every 7 years? Well, I think that's true for one's outlook of life and learning. I love school now, so much so that I just want to keep on going. I DO NOT want to be a doctor anymore because I found that being a nurse, in my opinion, is so much more. Had I not had such a dislike of school before, I would have never known.

Anywho, I finished school about 6 months ago. I recently passed the boards and got my license. No one has hired me yet despite my putting out thousands and thousands of applications... that's what it feels like anyway

I hope that changes soon because I am no where near where I want to be (CRNA) and I need that experience plus I'm just ready to jump in ya know??

To be continued..............

[butlerette.rock]

My great-grandmother was an ICU nurse for almost 30 years (she did other things as well) and that was always an inspiration to me, although I never got to see her "in action," as it were. After she died one of her sons (my "great-uncle" or some such thing) uncovered this memoir piece she wrote after she retired, about all the years she put in and all the people she watched both die and come back to life in her care. It was very moving (and a little depressing, especially when you think about how far medical science has come since those days) but it made me think about giving the medical field a shot.

Plus, I really like "ER", so... (j/k) lol

[tamiasmom]

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 was in the Army for 5 years and I had a son so after he was born my enlistment was up and I decided not to reenlist. I came back to Louisiana and worked as a psychiatric tech for a year then got hired at the local police dept. I met my husband there and got pregnant with my second son after a very rough pregnancy I gave birth to a 1lb baby boy who lived four hours. I also had 5 miscarriages after that.The nursing care I recieved in the hospital was excellent.The nurses who took care of me not only cared for me physically but emotionally as well. After recovering from that my marriage was pretty rocky and I couldn't understand what was the purpose all of this emotional pain I was enduring. I was at work and I was praying and a commercial for the local cc came on T.V. so I decided to check it out. My girlfriend who was an Lpn
was going to register for the lpn to rn program was there also she helped me get everything set up. I graduated two months before Katrina hit I was five months preganant. I now not only have a two year old son. I just had a daughter in October of 2007 I believe that God wanted me to become a nurse because I absolutely love it. I don't think I would have had anymore children if I would've stayed at the police department. I believe everyone has a God appointed purpose and some of us need to be pushed into ours.Oh yeah my daughter was 2 months early and was 3 lbs 4 oz she spent 5 weeks in the nicu.God Bless nicu nurses!!!!

[destiny30]

I became a nurse because I knew I wanted to help the ill. I want to be apart of making a difference in other peoples lives

[nmred]

Good answer!

[cowboysgirl2007]

I have worked as a CNA at a nursing home for the last four years. At first I had no desire to become a nurse, but over the years I became so attached to the Alzheimer's residents. I did so much reserch on my own time and learned as much as I could. It sickened me the way people treated these residents, like they were chilren or nobody's. I even had another CNA tell me that they were just getting ready to die so why bother brushing their teeth? What? I have learned so much from these residents and consider it an honor to be able to take care of them in the last moments of their lives. I decided that I wanted to be able to teach people, and impact these resident's lives more. I am on my way to pursuing my BSN and then my Master's so I can do just that. I want to be an advocate for these residents, and I want other's to learn the right way to help them. I want them to learn how to be these resident's family, because a lot of them do not have any. I want them to understand that they don't act the way that is considered appropriate adult behavior because they are scared, their brains are in a fog and they don't know how to get out of it. This doesn't mean we treat them like invalids, or children. They are adults, and should be treated as so.

I guess that's my speech. The residents are why i am becoming a nurse. To help them live the end of their lives as great, if not greater, than the beginnng of their lives.

[nurse2b2010]

Originally Posted by cowboysgirl2007

I have worked as a CNA at a nursing home for the last four years. At first I had no desire to become a nurse, but over the years I became so attached to the Alzheimer's residents. I did so much reserch on my own time and learned as much as I could. It sickened me the way people treated these residents, like they were chilren or nobody's. I even had another CNA tell me that they were just getting ready to die so why bother brushing their teeth? What? I have learned so much from these residents and consider it an honor to be able to take care of them in the last moments of their lives. I decided that I wanted to be able to teach people, and impact these resident's lives more. I am on my way to pursuing my BSN and then my Master's so I can do just that. I want to be an advocate for these residents, and I want other's to learn the right way to help them. I want them to learn how to be these resident's family, because a lot of them do not have any. I want them to understand that they don't act the way that is considered appropriate adult behavior because they are scared, their brains are in a fog and they don't know how to get out of it. This doesn't mean we treat them like invalids, or children. They are adults, and should be treated as so.

I guess that's my speech. The residents are why i am becoming a nurse. To help them live the end of their lives as great, if not greater, than the beginnng of their lives.

Your residents are lucky to have you! Good luck in your pursuit of your education and your mentorship to your residents. God Bless.

[destiny30]

I think it's important for nurses to reflect on why they entered this practice/profession. Reflecting also helps to define nursing as a profession, a career, and not just a JOB!

[Babs0512]

I always did well in the sciences in HS. Biology was my favorite. I first attended college at age 18, for me, it was a time to socialize and not study.

I realized my marriage probably wasn't going to make it, and I had to think of a career that I would enjoy, but most importantly, would insure employment no matter what the economy, so that I could support my two children. Nursing was the first thing that came to mind. I was 28 years old when I finally grew up enough to take school seriously.

I went down and enrolled - I had a GPA of 1.84 from my early attempts at college, but after nursing school, I ended with a GPA of 3.74. Not to shabby considering my "slow" start.

Over all, I have enjoyed my career. I'd like to say my reason for becoming a nurse was purely philanthropic - but really, is was primarily financial with a leaning toward wanting to help others.