Why are you REALLY going into nursing? Honest answers please.

Nursing Students General Students

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Ok, I'm a bit frustrated with all of these posts telling us that we shouldn't go into nursing because we need a job and steady income. Sure, I do like to help people, but I need a steady job even more. So, I decided to post a poll to see if we can get some honest answers.

:p

I applied to nursing because I worked in a hospital and saw what nurses do and because I had health problems as a child. I realize in medicine there are highs and lows but at the end of the day you know you have done your best. You know everything you do is worth something because you are trying to help others. What better job is there really? Oh, and the job security and high pays these days definitely makes it an attractive career as well!

:p

Why I decided to go into nursing is quite a long story.

Until I was about eight years I always wanted to become a submarine commander.

Then I started watching medical shows on TV. All of a sudden I changed my mind and decided that I wanted to go to medschool after I finished high school.

I stuck with my decision to go to medschool until I was the 4th grade of high school. In the third grade I had to decide wether to science courses or arts and languages. Of course I chose the scienses because those are required here in the Netherlands if you want to go to medschool.

I followed the science classes for a year only to find out that I had a knack for languages and the arts. I simply didn't understand a lot of what I was being taught.

At the end of the fourth I decided to change to arts and languages instead of continuing with the science courses. All of my teachers had advised this to me and I also realised myself that If were to continue with the science classes, I would get bogged down in the 5th, have to that over again and still not make and than get kicked out off school. I figured medschool wasn't worth and that I had better get a diploma first and than search for other studies that I might also like.

In hindsight it was the right decision to make. I barely made from 4th to 5th grade.

I made it through arts and languages easily and I got my diploma at the end of the sixth grade.

In fifth grade I went to several universities to check what kind of studies that they had to offer I might like but I could not found any studies that I liked.

I had already more or less decided to go to nursing school because it was the education that was closest to what I actually wanted to do but I found that a wrong reason to go into nursing.

Luckily I was allowed by a university hospital in Amsterdam to shadow a nurse for one day on one of their floors. I wanted to see if I was really cut out for nursing and that it was what I really wanted to do.

That single day of working on a ward got me hooked on nursing. After doing that, I didn´t want to do anything else anymore. I shadowed nurses several more times after that single day, just to be sure that nursing was really my thing but those days didn´t change my mind.

After deciding that I would be going to nursing school the only decision I had to make is to which school I would be going.

I decided to go to nursing school in Leiden, about 1,5 hours by train from where my parents live because the nursing schools nears weren´t as good as they were supposed to be. Because of the distance I also went to live on my own.

I must say that I have made the right choice. As time progresses I start loving nursing school and nursing more and more. I can hardly wait for the day that I will be allowed to call myself a nurse.

I started nursing school in september and I am now in my first year.

That was my story on how came to the decision to go into nursing.

Why I love nursing is another story.

I have different reasons for loving nursing, namely that whenever I am in a hospital I feel like a belong there, I simply feel at home in hospitals.

When I´m working with patients I feel completely at ease, like it is what I am meant to do with my life.

I still doubt sometimes wether I shouldn´t have gone to lawschool and earned some big bucks but the decision to become a nurse simply feels right.:wink2:

If just my mother would understand this, she still thinks I should have gone to lawschool.

That´s my story, I hope you like it.

I chose nursing for my career path for several reasons and I dont feel that anyone of those reasons holds more weight than the other.

In no important order:

When my first daughter was born with an encephalocele and her home away from home was the hospital, I got to experience first hand what the "behind the scenes" was like. I seen what the nurses did day to day and was very grateful for the excellent care that they gave my daughter. I seen bad ones, good ones and even the greatest ones at their best, worst and inbetween. When my daughter was passing away the nurse that was with us was my life saver. She knew just what to say, when to say it and when to leave us alone. She was incredible.

Shortly after her passing I realized that I wanted to give back to others what these wonderful nurses gave to my family.

I chose nursing for a career because of the entire package it brings.

Job stability

The ability to care for others

The paycheck

Job stability

The option to work overtime or pick up extra shifts when I need them

The flexibility

Job stability

The vast opportunities that one has as a nurse

The fact that I can go anywhere in the country and have a job

Did I mention Job stability?

You see, my hubby is a journeyman commercial carpenter and we live in the car state. When the economy goes down, the car industry takes a licking and then that trickles down to the skilled trade (my hubby). Healthcare is the one industry that NEVER seems to be affected by a poor economy. So to offset my hubby's lack of job stability, I decided that healthcare was where I needed to be. Add that to the fact that I wanted to give back to others what those nurses gave to my daughter and my family, nursing seemed to be the perfect choice.

I think I have always pretended to be a nurse when I was a little girl. One year for my birthday, my parents bought me a Nurse kit (toy) and I practiced playing nurse all the time. There was a time when I was older that I wanted to be a teacher too.

But, years later at 18/19 years old, I found myself taking care of my Mom who was terminal with cancer. She died when she was 4 days away from her 46th birthday and I was 19. For years, I felt as though I SHOULD be a nurse, but financial reasons, I didn't do it. I ended up working in a bank for 8 1/2 years, worked in a factory office for 2, then was a stay at home mom. I got pregnant with my 3rd child and during that time, my aunt (My Mom's sister) got her RN degree after a lot of years as an LPN (She was about 50 years old). I felt inspired to follow in her footsteps, but to go right for the RN instead of LPN.

So, 3 1/2 years later, I am almost finished with school, will graduate ADN in 6 months. I am 36 years old, better late than never, huh?

I really feel my Mom would be very proud of me and I feel her presence often.

And to be totally honest, the money is a definite incentive as well. But, I think I will finally be doing what I was meant to be doing. Ever since I played with that Nurse kit when I was younger!

Sorry so long and sappy. But, you asked for honest answers!!

1. Looking for a steady income.

2. Finally getting paid for what I'm worth (CNA pay just ain't cutting it!)

3. Tired of being the underdog. I do all the work and no one seems to appreciate it.

4. I love healthcare, its the only thing I know. I'm a Cosmetologist also and I just wasn't happy with that type of work.

4. I like having a job that throws me something different everyday.

help people

to not have to work five days a week.

to not have fifteen e-mails from fifteen different people about something you have already taken care of but they can't find where they put your work

to not have files waiting on my desk that five different people want done five different ways

to not sit at a computer all day

to make more money

to get paid based on seniority rather than have a manager that gives raises to her favorites

need I go on?

My mother, father and aunt are all LPNs, but not me noooo, I was not going to be a nurse:selfbonk: . I didn't want to clean poop and vomit :barf01: for the rest of my life (this was obviously my thought before I had children, because that fear went right out the window as soon as I gave birth:lol2: ). I was going to climb the corporate ladder:typing . No, my job didn't pay top notch:twocents: ,but there were great benefits and room to grow. After 5 years, 2 kids and a husband I was laid off . One day while crying my eyes out:bluecry1: my LPN, poop and vomit cleaning, gainfully employed aunt asked me a question,"Do you want a job with security, growth, good benefits and good pay?", of course I said yes, she told me to give nursing a try:nurse: . Now, because these are my reasons does that mean I'm going to neglect my patients NO WAY:nono: , I think it means just the opposite:kiss . Why would I jeopardize my job security, growth, benefits and PAY. I will do my job and do it well.

Specializes in Nephrology.

Although I am just a beginning nursing student, my reasons for choosing this field were: I love to help people, I hate a mundane job and nursing certainly isn't that, I am looking forward to the better pay, and I enjoy the overall attitude of nurses.

Just let me have my dreams :)

I was a CNA for 5 years, a LPN for 3 years, and have been an RN for 3 years. I truely went into nursing because I love taking care of other people. It gives me a great satisfaction at the end of the day to know I have helped another human being. Of course we all have bills to pay and need a job, but if you don't love your job what's the point?:nurse:

RN4840

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

I think I chose to go to nursing school because I hate myself:uhoh3: ...but then again, maybe that is just because we had finals:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Seriously,

it pays well~my time away from my family is certainly worth good money

it offers flexibility...many routes to get the edu. and use the edu.

time...I can have my license in two yrs. vs. a 4 yr accounting degree

financial aid... due to the shortage, my state/hospitals offer assistance for me to get my BSN which I am doing right after this program

hubby is a policeman and will work three or four 12hr days so we can sync our schedules

security...no matter where i go there will always be a hospital to work for, and there will always be sick pt's to create a need for nurses

i have to stay BUSY...think i might have ADD

I love to learn and look for excuses to go back to school, take new classes, subscribe to new nursing journals..."no honey you cant have a new hunting knife because I HAVE to renew my mag subscription...IT'S FOR MY JOB!!!'':rotfl:

Love what I do but if I was going to do it for next to nothing, I would join the peace corps.

Specializes in Transplant, homecare, hospice.
Ok, I'm a bit frustrated with all of these posts telling us that we shouldn't go into nursing because we need a job and steady income. Sure, I do like to help people, but I need a steady job even more. So, I decided to post a poll to see if we can get some honest answers.

:p

I went into nursing school to become a nurse...so that I could take care of people. I decided to work for a hospital because the benefits are awesome...It's hard sometimes...but like you said...I have a steady income and the money isn't too bad. I'll never be rich, but I sure am comfy.

Specializes in LTC.

My biggest reason, turns out, is that it's a very therapeutic way to deal with my co-dependency issues. :rotfl:

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