When I was in second grade I had to have ear surgery. You know how when you are a little kid you have no perception of time, so I thought I was in the OR for hours waiting to be brought in for the surgery. I started crying and a nurse stopped and held my hand. She waited with me until I was wheeled into the OR and fell asleep. I have, and never will, forget that woman.
My other motivating factor was dealing with doctors when I had a health problem in the late 1980's. I was appalled at the way I was blown off. Turned out my problem wasn't in my imagination as they had suggested and boy did I make them eat a little crow! I decided that I wanted to be like that OR nurse and help people who were also getting blown off.
How about you? Why did you become a nurse and who was your inspiration?
Regards to Jenny P for the idea from the thread What rules have you broken... Thanks Jenny!!
Reading-first I did a book report on Clara Barton in 4th grade, then later, read all the Cherry Ames books I could get my hands on. Never knew anyone who was a nurse and my particular school nurse, I only met when I blew a cap off and needed to go home and see a dentist. In those days, you either taught, were a secretary, or got married.I didn't like any of those choices. i had a friend whose sister was going to nursing school, she talked me into it. here i am semi-retired after many years-OB/GYN and Peds, school and college nursing and teaching. You never know where life will lead.
Specializes in Hospice, LTC, CBRF, and Home Health.
Hi Y'all, My inspiration started when I was younger. Both of my parents, when I was between the age of 15-17, became ill of terminal cancer, two years apart from each other. I spent much time in and out of hospitals with them, and loved how caring all the medical staff were. I also cared for my parents at home, out of the hospital, and I guess that just kindled the flame for caregiving. Since I have been married I now care for my newly disabled husband and also cared for my younger son for a year after his spinal surgery when he broke his back in a school football game. I have been a CNA for 7 years and loved it so much I became determined to get my GED at 38 and go for my ADN. I start in the fall. I have decided if God has put me on this earth to care for others as I have already, then I shall go all the way for the degree. Besides loving to care for others, subjects of science, health, and psycology in school are a breese for me learning wise so schooling shouldn't be too hard, It's just the math I worry about.:imbar
Like Maureen, it was reading a book about Clara Barton during the Crimean War in elementary school. I read and re-read that book, multiple times, and then anything else I could find about her. I always liked helping hurt or newborn animals when I was young.
I married a year out of high school, and had two kids in less than three years. My idea of becoming a nurse was kind of buried. During that time, a married friend of mine went to Nursing school. She had 2 small kids too. That planted the seed that it was still possible for me. Then 2 of my uncles died of acute MI's, my dad had triple bypass surgery, and another had several pacemakers (they failed, one after another, for some reason). I decided that it was time for me to try to make a difference in someone's life. If I could help one person, or their family, through a rough time, then I felt my life would be more worthwhile. Since then, I've "helped" many patients and families, and in many ways, they have helped me too. Consider my career a dream fulfilled!
I was always really sick as a kid with some unknown GI ailment, back in the early 60's at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, NY.
We pede pts. would get student nurses. I had a wonderful student RN. I remember telling her "you're not as pretty as the other one but you're way nicer" :chuckle and I remember telling her that "when I grow up I want to be a nurse like you" :kiss
Well, here I am, finally an RN, graduated in 2000. I wish I could thank her, but I don't even remember her name. I just know she was an excellent student, a kind person, and I think about her often.
I wanted to be a nurse when I was in highschool, but I forgot about it, sounds dumb. So i studied music for a long time, but when I got pregnant I read everything I could find relating to childcare it made me really wish that I had some medical training. Then I started talking to my OB/GYN nurse and she told me I could be an RN in just two years and I figured that it would take me that long to get my worthless music degree so I finished the semester and then started working on my prereqs. So Brandy M from Dallas, if you're reading...thanks.
I had the most wonderful labor nurse with my first daughter. This was when they still sat at the bedside with pitocin and she was with me all night. I remember she stayed after her shift to see how my labor turned out. She was an LPN. I have never forgotten her and never will. She is the reason I am a labor and delivery nurse.
During that time, a married friend of mine went to Nursing school. She had 2 small kids too. That planted the seed that it was still possible for me. Then 2 of my uncles died of acute MI's, my dad had triple bypass surgery, and another had several pacemakers (they failed, one after another, for some reason). I decided that it was time for me to try to make a difference in someone's life. If I could help one person, or their family, through a rough time, then I felt my life would be more worthwhile. Since then, I've "helped" many patients and families, and in many ways, they have helped me too. Consider my career a dream fulfilled!
Maureen007
18 Posts
Reading-first I did a book report on Clara Barton in 4th grade, then later, read all the Cherry Ames books I could get my hands on. Never knew anyone who was a nurse and my particular school nurse, I only met when I blew a cap off and needed to go home and see a dentist. In those days, you either taught, were a secretary, or got married.I didn't like any of those choices. i had a friend whose sister was going to nursing school, she talked me into it. here i am semi-retired after many years-OB/GYN and Peds, school and college nursing and teaching. You never know where life will lead.