Why did you choose Nursing as your career? Tell me your story. Here is my story

S.G. · Aug 19, 2013

I'll be completely honest here. I got into nursing as a fast track into the medical field. I wanted to be an MD. I originally majored in biomedical engineering (a great degree to fall back on if I decided against med school). Due to family issues I ended up dropping the program in the first semester of my junior year and withdrawing from my classes. I decided that Dec to apply to the nursing program at a local community college. I got a letter of acceptance and then a letter stating I was on the wait list. When I met with the program director she said the acceptance letter was an error in my favor and instead of waiting I was enrolled full time into the program's fall semester. I graduated in 2005. I decided that med school wasn't the way I wanted to go after being at the bedside. I love the nursing model of care and plan to pursue my MSN. I graduated with my BSN a year ago. I love that there is so much variety in nursing. I have so many different interests and can pursue each of them.

Herrington · Aug 19, 2013

I've gone through 2 liver transplants (July of 2004, March 2013) and a total proctocolectomy (October 2012). Got my B.S. in Computer Information Systems 2 years ago, and quickly lost interest in the IT field after that, coming to the conclusion that I should have made a hobby out of what I was trying to make a career out of. I couldn't get a job because of all the medical chaos that was going on. My second option for a career path was actually something medically related, but I sort of shrugged it off initially. I later came to the realization that my experience as a patient in organ transplantation and gastroenterology would be empathetically beneficial, plus the fact that I apparently have a tendency to be altruistic a lot, and looking out for the well-being of others. I don't really know just how much a new RN makes, but pay isn't my priority (though it would certainly help with medical bills). But yea, "I've been there" and "Others before self" are the two mindsets that I'm going into this field with.

Also, scrubs look cool.

Futurenurse75 · Aug 19, 2013

Wow. Yo may god bless you, your a trooper for real. I wish you all the good health. Lol yea i like the scrubs too, yea being a patient too will give you experience because with you being a patient, you understand where a patient is coming from. Good luck.

TexRN, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2013

I want to help women and infants breastfeed by becoming a lactation consultant. A lot of people suggested getting a BSN along with it so I am. It's paid for completely by the military. Currently I am a lab tech so I'm already in the medical field and I feel like I would be an awesome post partum nurse helping to normalize breastfeeding.

meljonumd · Aug 19, 2013

For the last ~10 years I've been a successful Occupational Therapist, working mainly in University-affiliated hospitals. And I truly enjoy what I am able to offer to people: the chance to help themselves get better.

What has been progressively more difficult has been the pressure from insurance regulations that dictate how I do my job, how I document what I do, how I interact with my patients, and the discharge recommendations that I make. Coupled with the strain from ever-tightening budgets of hospitals that force departments to "do more with even less."

Don't get me wrong, I know how to work the system, giving insurance companies and managers what they want, while still providing pretty good therapy, if I do say so my self.

But I'm ready for a change. I have tried to get into hospital education (for both employees and for patients), as well as chart reviewing positions (because I looove digging into a nice thick chart, lol). But even though I have 10 years of experience (mostly in ICUs), a Master's and demonstrated experience with department development and education, no one will talk to me if I don't have an RN after my name. (Yes, it is a tight job market, but even considering that, I never even received a call for an interview).

So I decided it was time for my change. And I'm very excited. I love the technical aspects of medicine, and I am looking forward to learning even more. But I also want to be able to continue to be able to provide care, support and information to people when they need it most. And after a few years, when this body is too broken down to work the floors lol, I will pursue again a position that fits my talents for educating people.

Futurenurse75 · Aug 19, 2013

Good luck, you going to do just fine:yes: I'm trying to get into the medical field while going to school so i can get some experience in the medical field. That is good that you have the military paying for the expenses. Go for it. I eventually want to be a pediatric nurse practitioner, love working with children, that is my goal.

Futurenurse75 · Aug 19, 2013

My fiancé is an occupational therapist. She loves her job but as you say, it is hard to give the patient the right type of care when you have the insurance regulations breathing down your neck. However the fact that she is helping patients out reaching their goals for recovery, it's her most satisfaction part of the job. If your a person that loves digging into a nice thick chart, lol you will be just fine. Good luck, you have great experience, you are going to be just fine

madelynsmom · Aug 19, 2013

I have a good paying job and I guess some would say I could be on the "fast track" to even bigger things here at my company. But when I got pregnant with my daughter and gave birth, I had to re-evaluate things. I like my job but it's not rewarding. I am doing it for the paycheck and security- not for happiness. So I decided I needed to be a good role model for my daughter who is now 1 and do what I really want to do. That is joining the saturation of nursing students... but I think what separates me is that I have the best reasons to want to do this and succeed. Money is no matter (it is a perk though) because my husband and I are doing well. In fact, we will have to cut back once I get into a nursing program. But it will all be worth it in the end.

I can't wait to actually make a difference in someone's life... including my own.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Aug 21, 2013

I've toyed with the idea of becoming a nurse since high school. I Attended a state university right out of high school, as a single (teen) parent, i worked and majored in pre-med instead of pursuing nursing. i didn't do so well, but really enjoyed the sciences.

After 2 years, I Left college to raise my kids. I Got married.

Over the years as a mom and a preschool teacher, i developed an interest in maintaining health naturally, breastfeeding, and preventing chronic illness via lifestyle. I also still loved the sciences.

At 29 years old, I decided it was my time to pursue my lifelong dream of finishing my bachelors degree. I decided I would like to do something for me-- I wanted to become a nurse, even though the path would be long.

I Went back to college to pursue a BSN in nursing when my daughter was starting high school and my baby was about to start kindergarten. My middle son was in elementary

I did very well in my BSN nursing prereqs for the most part and took that as a sign from God to continue the path to becoming a nurse.

Pursuing nursing has led my life on many twists and turns. The reasons I initially chose to pursue nursing are NOT the same reasons I have chosen to continue pursuing it.

There are aspects of providing health care I love and aspects I hate. ie politics, insurance issues, etc. My husband left me when I was taking prereqs. I could have quit on my dream, but I didn't. One reason I stay on this path is due to finances. I know I'll be able to earn a living and support my kids and myself as a nurse.

If you want to know more about my story and my path to becoming a nurse, visit my blog http://www.prenursingstudent.com

britthohenbrink · Aug 21, 2013

As an infant I was in the hospital for several months due to a brain trauma and other injuries. The doctors at the time said that I would never be able to walk, talk, or live a "normal" life. After going to physical therapy, doing respiratory treatments, and prayer I am very happy to say that I have done more in my life than any neurologist that I had could have imagined. I have a calling to help people and to care for them in their time of need. I start an ADN program in 5 days and am blessed to be able to share this experience with my husband and two boys. It frustrate me to hear so many people say that they are getting into nursing for the money.... if you don't have a passion for something the money will never be enough.

GaGeek · Aug 21, 2013

Love to hear the stories! I actually have never heard anyone say they wanted to get into it for the money, lol. And I'm surprised by that.

Nursing is something I've thought about and looked into several times. I am passionate about medicine and science. I got my first BS in my school's pre-vet program. But then decided my junior year that I didn't want to go to veterinary school after all. I wasn't sure what to do after that. I knew I loved medicine and science. I thought about Nursing, but I was so shy I didn't think I could handle intimidating patients. I wound up getting my vet tech license.

As soon as I had it, I realized I was kind of selling myself short. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the work... I'd been doing it off and on anyway all through high school and college. It was just that I wasn't using my degree and there weren't many options for my future. I was nearly topped out and I was fresh out of Vet Tech school.

So I got a job in research. I worked with mice and mouse cells for a few years.

I got bored and started looking into nursing school again, this time after a reproductive health issue that took 5 years or more to figure out, and a specialist to fix. I had been to several doctors, most of who brushed me off as "crazy" and one nurse practitioner who actually cared and gave me a "bandaid" for a little while. Then I had trouble getting pregnant and another doctor or two tried to tell me it was completely unrelated. The same nurse practitioner, for a second time around, saved my butt and sent me to a specialist. So, in the meantime, I've had this incredibly frustrating experience and I'm more passionate than ever about medicine and decide that I definitely want to go into nursing. I am empathetic and usually patient and always caring. What I needed during this experience was someone like myself! I have so much to offer and I've grown up and I'm not as shy as I used to be, and I've learned to deal with "difficult" patients, clients, and coworkers.

And then I got pregnant. Right after my specialist told me it was BAD and it was going to take some major treatments (IVF) for me to get pregnant. And in the same week I found out I was pregnant, I also got a pretty big promotion at work. So I backed out of the programs I had applied to.

Here I am, 4.5 years later and I am finishing what I started! So, there are a few reasons I want to go into nursing. With a BSN, the money will be better than an RVT gets, but it won't be a whole lot more than I was making in research (just a little bit). So, that does help... but it's not the deciding factor!