Why did you become nurses?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Experienced nurses:

1) Why did y'all become nurses?

2) Is it what you thought it would be, or what you were told it would be?

I am considering getting out of my current profession and going into nursing or a similar medical field. I have my own reasons, but I'm wondering what some of yours were.

thank you,

-rup

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I started out at a university then dropped out. I moved with my then boyfriend to another city. I was looking into the university & college in that town. I was still lost & didn't know what to go for. So I took the TEAS test for an LVN program & got in. That was 4 years ago & I have come to love nursing.

My best friend went into nursing for the paycheck. She already had a bachelor's degree in a different field but realized the likelihood of finding a job in was slim. She is very brilliant. Do I think she will make a terrible nurse just because it wasn't her "calling"? No. I know she will care for her patients just as well, if not better.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

If you have a "calling" that is wonderful, but it must be balanced with knowledge, education and ability, just don't look down on others because they went into it for more pragmatic reasons. Also I think one of the reasons nurses deal with poor working conditions and pay is because of the caring nurses that are simply too self sacrificing and martyrs and put up with poor treatment while trying to care for the patients. If the hospital can take advantage of you, overwork you, guilt you into coming in on your day off or working double shifts, it will. You have to care enough for yourself to learn to say no and stand up for yourself and your own needs! Unions if effective can be wonderful to ensure safe, fair working conditions. Look at the patient staffing ratio's the National Nurses United of CA have brought about! Shared governance is a mirage, they want you to believe that you have input, but in the end the almighty dollar takes precedence!

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