Why become a nurse

[wendyssmile]

I have been a RN for three years now. Prior to going to school I was told by a nurse that nursing is the last profession to pursue as a career. Currently we have a nursing shortage and there are less and less people pursuing a career in nursing. I have noticed many nurses are cynical about our profession. Why should nursing be pursued as a career? What does nursing offer as a profession? With the current attitudes of nurses why would anyone want to be nurse? Personally I love my profession and would not trade it for anything! I think we need to project a postive attiude of our profession. The shortage is not going to change anytime soon but if our attitude doesn't where will we get new nurses from? Any comments?

[RNforLongTime]

I have been an RN for over four years now. For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to be a nurse and that is what I am doing. As a nurse, there are unlimited career opportunities. The pay is decent. You can go anywhere in the USA and are pretty much guaranteed of finding a job. You get to see people at their worst and at their best. You help people through birth and death. Nursing is a way to really make a difference in the lives and well being of other humans.

The biggest reward for me is when a patient or family member tells me that I am a good nurse. That is what makes it all worthwhile.

I know that not all of my fellow nurses feel this way. I look at it like this---If we didn't truly love it then we wouldn't be doing it.