What inspired you to become a nurse?

[NurseNinaFla]

At 18 I was caring for my great grandmother,by 19 I was working in the local nursing home (in housekeeping)

The nurses noticed that the residents were very fond of me and that I had a very good bond with them and encouraged me to become a nurses aide,which in time I decided to try it and I loved it! a few years later I enrolled in nursing school and 30 yrs later I am still working with the elderly and I still love it! (and them! :redpinkhe

[colta]

Growing up, I never wanted to be a nurse, never wanted to have anything to do with the health care field at all. I spent so much time in and out of hospitals and doctor's offices, that I couldn't imagine why anyone would voluntarily want to go there everyday.

After being told I needed to have immediate heart surgery to repair a hole the size of a silver dollar in my heart, I was rushed off to the hospital again. All I remember is being in the Pediatric ICU afterwards, and the amazing nurse who was there for me when I woke up. My most vivid memory of her, was her bringing me a television cart with a tv and vcr and putting on some Looney Toons for me to watch. It was so kind, because it was a complete surprise. I had an oxygen mask on my face and I wasn't able to talk, so she held out the tapes and helped me pick which one I wanted.

After that though, my distaste for the health field continued until shortly after me and my husband got married (this past summer). I had recently left school as the program I was in just wasn't fullfilling me. I was looking through the schools book that listed it's courses and programs and I happened upon the LPN course description. Suddenly it just clicked. This is what I wanted to do, this is who I wanted to be. I enrolled right after that and will be starting my first year of Nursing school this coming fall.

I hope to eventually work in Pediatric ICU, I want to be that nurse that gives a lonely child something to be happy and excited about.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble.... it's just something I'm passionate about

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Other nurses are what inspired me to be a nurse. Through many medical ailments I had some wonderful nurses and some horrible nurses, together they made me want to become a nurse.

[hearts895, RN BSN]

I'm just a starting nursing school but there are many, many things that inspired me:

Among them:

- Realizing, thanks to all day summer computer classes as a teen, that I would go insane if I had to work in a office job and just sit and stare at a computer all day.

- Realizing that I had a religious calling to do something where I actively took care of people in need. I feel nursing is truly my calling.

- Doing all the home care (even wet to dry debridement ) for my Dad when his hand was smashed (he lost fingers, had serious reconstructive surgery etc). My Dad told me about how his nurses had helped him in the hospital. He told me about how the Dr.'s worked hard to save his right hand so that he could still write and do things. I wanted to be a part of a team that saved people (or parts of them) when all hope seems lost. My Dad said I did good helping him (a rare compliment from him back then) and said I should be a nurse too.

- The fact that nursing is about caring and compassionate service - this is a guiding principle in my life. My general values are based around this thought.

- The fact that once I actually got into biology classes, I loved them. It was like a wonderful, fascinating world being shown to me. They are so cool. I just love Biology - even when its hard. And I did very well in them :)

- The fact that I get to wear cute scrubs lol, the pinning ceremony, taking a portrait with a nursing cap and dress whites to show my future children. Having Bachelors degree in something that matters, that I worked hard for. I will be able to say I truly earned my degree.

- The fact that nurses in my state are union - I grew up in a union family and I always wanted to join a union if I could

- Yes, the fact that nurses are paid well and have good benefits - I want to be able to afford to give my future children the things I never had

- The fact that nurses actually work - instead of siting around - I was raised to have a good work ethic and that if you are sitting still all day, your basically lazy (wrong I know, but its the way I was taught) and that nurses use precise, scientific, procedures to do things (not like wishy washy liberal arts majors lol jk)

- Watching medical shows like the old ER epi's - saying to myself, thats where I want to be

- I was a weird kid who didn't mind having to go to the ER for strep throat cause I loved being in the hospital. I thought it was so cool. I still do. :)

- Taking care of my Mom who was unwell when I was growing up

- I'm not easily grossed out by things and I think all things medical are fascinating

- I grew up w/ sisters and I alway helped my Mom - I'm used to working with girls as a team

- My job won't be outsourced, and it won't die off

- Remembering how nice it felt when the nurse held my hand right after my horrible oral surgery

Wow, I guess I had more reasons than I realize lol, I just hope nursing is everything I'm hoping it will be :)