Accepted to an RPN program in Ontario, am I feeling “the call” (advice)

[Mitchell Gray]

Hi! Im a 24 year old male and I don’t really have anywhere else to ask these questions. I just got accepted to an RPN program at Fleming college for January 2020 and I’m just looking for general advice from anyone’s who has been in a similar situation.

I really want to be a nurse like right this second. I’ve been trying to find out if I’d “like” nursing via internet, trying to shadow a nurse (not possible as I understand, and generally just asking my friends/relatives who are nurses). It’s not the first time I’ve applied for a program (I tried for a compressed program several years ago but didn’t have the marks). I sort of like caring for other people and consistently end up doing it in whatever industry I’ve been working in. I keep trying to justify the “want” to be a nurse but is it simply ok to want to be a nurse and care for others?

I want to care about people in a appropriate manner and take care of others. I’ve met some very inspirational nurses who treated me very gently and with a great deal of care in the last few years (my summer job has been tree planting and I’ve went to the hospital several times, as well I as standard STI/blood tests, nurses treated my youngest brother so compassionatly when he was hosptilized as a youth). Frankly I have yet to have a bad experience with a nurse.

I just finished my undergrad in biology and feel like I have zero practical skills nor do I really want to continue developing skills that frankly, won’t get a me job. I actually tried transferring into Nursing 3 years ago but at the time didn’t have the marks. I AM worried I might simply be projecting my admiration for hardworking, competent, caring professionals into a career. But wow, nurses in general just seem awesome! I genuinely do like caring for other people. Ive had my intro level CPR and renewed it several times, and had to opportunity to help out in situations in the bush just a few times and I sort of really liked it. I’d love to be a part of that and care professionally. What I’m asking is, what “drew” you into nursing/medicine in the first place?

thank you!

[xokw, BSN, RN]

I’ll preface this by saying that I absolutely love my career as a nurse, but I felt absolutely no actual “calling” to be a nurse.

I was a couple of years out of highschool, completely mortified to be working retail while all my friends approached graduation and we’re headed into their adult jobs. I basically decided on nursing because it paid well (or well enough), was respected by others and seemed interesting. Great choice, no regrets!

Go for it!