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

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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

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Ok. Honest, candid answers.

I am going into nursing because:

1. Security.

As much as I love my husband and I anticipate no end to our marriage, the truth is I have children and I can not depend on a man to take care of me and my children. God forbid he can no longer support us (death, illness, divorce, etc.) I still have to provide for my brood by having a secure career.

2. Family Tradition/Inherited?

My mother, two aunts, two cousins, and a sister are all LPNs. My love for healthcare evolved totally seperate from their influence, however, it just seems right and natural.

3. Money and Career Advancement.

Nursing is a diversified and ever-changing field. Get tired or burnt out in one area, move to another. Plus, with so many different programs now available online, it is easy to continue your education while working... and nursing is unique as almost all employers will pay you to better yourself and further your education.

4. Excitement.

That adrenaline rush I've heard so much about. Every day you get up and go to work you will encounter something new. While your daily activities may be repetitive you will always meet a new person, deal with a never-before-seen ailment, learn more about yourself.

5. Planning for the future.

I don't plan on remaining in NY forever. When I relocate (hopefully to AZ) I want to be able to get a job. Nursing is an expendible (sp?) skill that can be practiced and is needed EVERYWHERE!

6. Love for people.

I love to care for people, especially sick people. My dream is to deliver babies (midwifery) but in the meantime I do not mind working in LTC or anywhere else. If one person I treat leaves feeling better not only physically but also emotionally because of me, then I have served my purpose for being born.

I hope no one thinks I'm shallow, I am just being practical. (NO pun intended).

I felt highly compelled to post to this thread. Nursing is not my calling. I hadn't blinked an eye at it until my "significant other" told me how much his sister made last year. I am definitely a disgruntled IT drone, and the rate at which those and other jobs are flowing overseas is enough to make me nervous, enough for me to seek out a career, a profession, that will allow me to provide for my family while realizing a significant degree of pride in what I do. Both are equally important to me as a mother raising a daughter whom I want to have every possibility available to her and every bit of pride in mom's accomplishments, to foster a similar sense of accomplishment in her, no matter what she chooses.

Enter Nursing. And for me, I don't think I will be stopping until CRNA status. The idea of being independently wealthy appeals to me strongly. Right now, I also like the idea of the degree of interaction with other human beings that Nursing offers. One might realize that doesn't really happen in Cubicle Land where I'm from. :stone :stone :stone I do also highly value the idea that I would be able to affect someone's life in a positive way by what I say or do.

But uh, yeah. It's mostly about the money. :p

ummmmm..the number 1 reason is for the moola...:D

second would be cause i'm a nurse to my 4 kiddos and my big baby husband, so why not get paid for it? :uhoh21:

third is satisfaction of helping others (well...hopefully) :imbar

Amen to ALL the folks but especially mothers out there with their minds on providing ... mentally, physically, emotionally and FINANCIALLY ... to us its all the same and if we can find a way to contribute to the lives of our families and possibly better the lives of the people that we provide care to ... its a NATURAL calling! Someone else already said above, and I agree: Why not get paid for it?

Why feel bad about about the money? There aren't too many people out there who would get up and go to work everyday if they knew beforehand that they won't be paid for it? But I dont think most nurses stick with the profession just because of the money. Despite the high stress and hospital politics, I think we love what we're doing.

I'm going into nursing for two reasons: 1) So that I, as a single mom, can provide a decent life for my little boy. I currently make $12.20/hour with 3 years of experience working as an Insurance Underwriter. I will make more than that as a new nurse. 2) Because there are endless opportunities available for furthering education and trying different specialties. There's lots of variety in nursing. Right now I think I want to work L&D or Mother/Baby, but that could change once I get out of school. :)

I went into nursing because I also wanted a steady, secure, well paying job that wouldn't bore me to death. Previously I had thought of, and even applied to law school, but paying for it was impossible.

I worked for a while as an admin assistant and hated it; I knew that in many ways I was smarter, more motivated and deep down inside a better person than those I was filing, copying and getting coffee for. I don't mean this to be a smart-aleck but I always felt that if someone had to walk past the fax machine to ask me to fax something for him/her...I just didn't get the whole concept.

I love the aspects of nursing that force you to use your intellect to problem-solve and to learn continuously. I do not feel it is a 'calling' as that word has religious connotations for me, but I do feel that I am doing all right in this job, even with the stupid questions, mistakes, and goof-ups that I make. I love working in the ED because there is always something going on that forces me to use my brains, and that to me is a welcome change.

The money isn't bad, the flexibility can't be beat and I am not forced to 5 days a week, full time work if I don't want to. As others have said, you have the option to go elsewhere if you're bored/burned out. I love my schedule; I work 2 10-hour shifts per week (or 4 per pay period) so I can have time off to travel or do something else if I want to. Right now I'm in school for my BSN and plan to go on to NP; I'd like to work in Primary Care with a physician's group at some point.

I'm becoming a nurse because I want to help people. It's just that simple. And that's the whole truth. :)

I totally agree!:)

Why feel bad about about the money?

Because there are nurses on this board who tell us every day that we're supposed to feel bad about the money. We're supposed to answer to a higher "calling" instead, and be Mother Teresa or something, I dunno.

I actually don't feel bad about it. I just question this constant lecturing on how wanting to make a decent living is supposedly going to make me a bad nurse.

:smokin:

Ok, so if you weren't paid for that, would you still do it? Seriously.

I would - and I'm deadly serious. The pay will be a bonus for sure...but if they would let me stooge around a hospital ward without pay, I would definately do it!

I'm a man and I love nursing. Always wanted to get into healthcare and I have the grades to go to med school, but after working in a hospital I decided nursing is for me. Nurses treat patients and supposively doctors cure patients but the last cure I can remember was penicillin, and that doesn't even cure that well anymore. I'm just not that way, we may not get rich and we may be underpaid, but at least at the end of the day we will always have a job that makes lives better. How many people can say that!

You can't take it with you. :chuckle

Specializes in ER, ICU, Cardiac, Med-Surg.

I've enjoyed reading all the many reasons for choosing a nursing career. We are diverse and our answers reflect this. After all, life is not like a test with only one right answer.

For me, becoming a nurse is part of my personal evolution. I returned to college a few years back and majored in criminal justice/psychology. I was planning to be a parole officer or state trooper. After completing an internship in a prison, I started to rethink this plan. :coollook: I have worked in a large range of jobs and know quite a bit about myself and about others because of my experiences. My mom is an RN and I always avoided even considering the field due to wanting to be different from her. (As if I could fight the inevitable!) Each day I become more like her anyway, so why not copy her career choice. LOL

Seriously, though, my dad had bypass surgery last year. I found myself asking questions and wanting to learn more about all the medical procedures, the disease process, etc. My natural curiosity just kicked in, I guess.

I have the brains and the gumption. Not to mention the people skills. I currently work in a human services setting. I already know that I can't save everybody, but it feels great when you help someone.

I love the idea of the challenge and of the flexibility. I love that there is always something new to learn. The money will certainly help feed the kids too.

I am in awe of this profession and consider myself fortunate to be entering the ranks. I couldn't believe that I was accepted right away into the program. (Only 60 were chosen out of 270 applicants this year.) I am very excited but nervous too.

:)

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