When and Why Did You Decide A Career in Nursing Was for You?

sbic56, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2004

As a single mom working as a CNA, I admired an LPN who seemed to be so good and comfortable in her position. Plus, I knew I couldn't raise 2 boys on a CNA wage. I'd say my decision was based on part necessity/ part romance of the position.

bunrab · Feb 26, 2004

when i knew i was getting too old to be an exotic dancer, mid thirties.

i worked for ibm for many yrs, and when they closed the local office i needed to make good money fast so i became a stripper, and then went to nursing school and became an rn ten yrs ago. thankfully i enjoy this (ortho) almost as much as being a stripper.

sbic56, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2004

when i knew i was getting too old to be an exotic dancer, mid thirties.
i worked for ibm for many yrs, and when they closed the local office i needed to make good money fast so i became a stripper, and then went to nursing school and became an rn ten yrs ago. thankfully i enjoy this (ortho) almost as much as being a stripper.

Best story so far :)

Shed13911 · Feb 26, 2004

I can't top the stripper one for sure!!n LOL

I knew I wanted to be a nurse from when I was about 8-10 years old. I started getting my studies in line in junior high school. I had advanced study on my core studies for high school so that I could enter LPN nursing study during my senior year.

That was more than 25 years ago! One of the best decisions of my life

warrior woman · Feb 26, 2004

This is what happens when you watch EMERGENCY!! as a kid. Love that Dixie McCall!!

mattsmom81 · Feb 26, 2004

I initially started premed. Had an interest in medical stuff but at 19 didn't want to devote my life to it...couldn't see being a doc AND a wife and mama as something I would enjoy. My aunt is a nurse and so is my Mom. So I needed a career and took my medical interests into nursing. While its been a solid job and kept my family fed, there are days I regret not staying in premed as my personality is probably a better fit to being a doc than a nurse...taking shyt has never been my strong point and nursing is definitely a lesson in powerlessness under abusive circumstances...

I repeat to myself many times a day "Deb, accept the things you cannot change yada yada'.

And I gravitated to critical care where my personality serves me best and the shyt is not quite so deep. :chuckle

hock1 · Feb 27, 2004

I've always been a caregiver. So much so that way back in 1985 my father was constantly trying to 'push' me into nursing as a career partly because he knew I'd thrive and partly because he believed it was a "good job for a woman".(give him a break he's 80 yrs old now, so it's what he grew up believing). I wanted to do something non-traditional and make my mark for women everywhere so I replied something like... "eeeewww and wipe all those butts...no way...I'm going to get a real job." Ironically I went traditional skipped college, married, and stayed at home with three children. I knew eventually I'd have to work outside the home to help send the kids to college. One day my son was really bragging hard about how his daddy fixed computers. When he was asked what his mommy did he replied..."wipe butts"! I realized then that there was nothing wrong with a caregiving job. Nursing was as good as career as any, and that I should stop fighting the call. Here I am almost four years later a new nurse. I am very excited to start my first job in 12 years on March 1...traditional or not...can't wait and hope the feeling stays that way too.

sobelle · Feb 27, 2004

I too, was encouraged to be a nurse when I was younger, but never really thought seriously about it (I wanted an office job). My mom, CNA in nursing home, nearly 30 yrs now. Well, I finally realized I needed to better myself for my family. I was 6mths pregnant and decided to be a nurse. The nurses I met when I had my baby were awesome. RN in 2007 here I come!

So what, if it took me thirty years to figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life!!!

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Feb 27, 2004

Sobelle, that matters not. I'm a second career LPN, and I graduated from the program at age 55. Nursing is like second nature when you've been given the talent and the love for it. :nurse:

live4today, RN · Feb 27, 2004

Well, it's no secret around these parts that I never thought of becoming a nurse while growing up...just a doctor who operated on people. I read the book "Elizabeth Blackwell...first woman doctor" a bazillion times as a little girl. I was so fascinated with that doctor, and dreamt of becoming a doctor just like her. :)

Fast forward many moons........a girl in my psych class talked me into giving nursing a whirl (I was in college majoring in Psychology at the time)...so I marched off to the nursing office and signed up. That girl and I both graduated college with nursing degrees at the same time, and twenty years later we are still bestest of friends. :nurse:

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Feb 27, 2004

That's wonderful Renee

Well, it's no secret around these parts that I never thought of becoming a nurse while growing up...just a doctor who operated on people. I read the book "Elizabeth Blackwell...first woman doctor" a bazillion times as a little girl. I was so fascinated with that doctor, and dreamt of becoming a doctor just like her. :)

Fast forward many moons........a girl in my psych class talked me into giving nursing a whirl (I was in college majoring in Psychology at the time)...so I marched off to the nursing office and signed up. That girl and I both graduated college with nursing degrees at the same time, and twenty years later we are still bestest of friends.

live4today, RN · Feb 27, 2004

that's wonderful renee

good early morn to you wonderful angel you! :kiss