Why are you REALLY going into nursing? Honest answers please.

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Ok, I'm a bit frustrated with all of these posts telling us that we shouldn't go into nursing because we need a job and steady income. Sure, I do like to help people, but I need a steady job even more. So, I decided to post a poll to see if we can get some honest answers.

:p

Specializes in Renal.

I guess Im one of the only ones going into nursing for a slightly different reason. Yes, there is job security, and yes the pay is steady, but I eventually want to go on the missions field doing Jesus' work. My fiance and I really want to work in Asia or Africa doing missions and medical missions has always been a dream of mine. While in America though, I wanted a job that could allow me to work and then come home and leave work at work.. ya know? And also a career that could allow me to have kids, stay at home if I wanted, and also work part-time if I wanted to.

I also just really like healthcare and learning about the human body and being able to take care of people and their needs.

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I will probably be taking a pay cut when getting a job as an RN....but I want to be home with my kids ....so I chose nursing for flexibility of my schedule....hopefully it will workout with with my family plans.

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i thought i knew when i started school 3 yrs. ago and now that i'm 6 mos. from graduating.... i have no flippin' clue :uhoh3: ! every med/surg clinical is TOTAL hell! so, won't be doing that and now it's ALL about finding an area of nursing that i can just deal with day to day. Very different from my BIG plans in the beginning!

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Specializes in Looking for a career in NICU.

I was in an industry (finance) where I got sick and tired of the interest rates determining whether or not I could keep my job.

Originally wanted to go into Forensics, but looked at the pay and even for a PhD, you are only looking at $35,000 to $45,000 per year.

I only knew that I loved helping people, and growing up around the medical profession, I think I dismissed it s a career when I was young because it was "expected" of me.

I finally realized that it was the adult aspect of nursing that didn't appeal to me, and when I had my daughter, that is when I learned of NICU and a whole world of pediatric nursing.

I lost my job due to layoff again, this time, I couldn't find another (due to rising interest rates), and I decided that this would probably be the last time I would be able to return to school in my life.

I'm going to choose my first job carefully and NEVER want to look for work again.

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Specializes in trauma,ortho, neuro.

i decided to become a nurse because I've been a tech for over 10 years and each time i have moved away from nursing i always come back. this is my love and I like the job security and most of all my main reason is

I KNOW I HAVE MORE TO GIVE THAN JUST BEING A TECH

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Specializes in trauma,ortho, neuro.

i decided to become a nurse because I've been a tech for over 10 years and each time i have moved away from nursing i always come back. this is my love and I like the job security and most of all my main reason is

I KNOW I HAVE MORE TO GIVE THAN JUST BEING A TECH

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I posted in this thread when I first joined, but now I have even more reason to think this is the direction I should go in. After taking all the classes I have, I have found a genuine interest in learning all I can about nursing. I know I will learn much more when I do get into the program and I will learn even more when I am an RN.

I think with each passing year, I will learn more than I did the year before. At this point, I can honestly say the money has very little to do with my decision to go into nursing. I know I will always want to work, and you are at work way too long to be unhappy.

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Specializes in LTC,Home health, Med/Surg.

This is a very interesting thread to say the least. let me first say that my reasons for becoming a nurse first and foremost was that I see great honor in being an advocate for those in need. if i were not a nurse i would be a teacher, doctor or some other profession where i have a direct role in helping someone who for whatever reason couldn't help themselves/ just needed someone.

after high school i graduated from college w/a degree in psychology. now, as a new grad w/a psych degree guess what? there ain't too much money going on there. i knew i wouldn't be a living the lavish life or making a great amt of money if i didn't get a masters/doctorate degree and i didn't care b/c it was my passion. as far as being poor vs rich or married vs single/divorced.. i will say this, i graduated from high school four months pregnant. i made all the choices i made myself and that was fine w/me. i broke my back everyday for years for my son, myself, and the people that i would one day help. my son has always gone to private schools and has never lacked (except for hours when mommy worked while he was sleeping at night) I, not my parents or my son's father paid my way through school. i was fortunate to recieve scholarships from Delta Sigma Theta, loans and grants. i would have stayed as counselor for the non-profit forever if i didn't keep hitting brick walls and was sooooooooo limited to how much i could help those who were in need.

i say this b/c i believe i know a little something about not being rich. the main reason i say all this is because i became a bit bothered by some of the comments. let me say first, i'm don't care enough about the reasons someone chose to become any profession to JUDGE them about the why's b/c we all made our choice for a differnt reason. if it's poverty, job stability, family, survival, nurturing, caring, life-calling, etc. as long as when whomever is the pt in his/her care is treated in the manner in which they should and to the best of his/her ability, w/respect and compassion then i say ROCK ON with your bad self. it just so happens that i did get married some 8 years ago to someone who provides well and i don't HAVE to work, but i choose too. and that is one of the reasons why it is even that more special to me. i actually spent some time at home w/my kids before i chose to go to school for nursing.

so i think it's a bit rude to question if someone is truly a nurse because they want to make a change or help someone's life b/c that wasn't your only/main reason. vice versa, if someone is making choices b/c of family first and foremost who are we to judge them? we don't feed their family or pay their bills. as long as the best care is given, pt's are first, and we are following the principles of nursing then to me your a great nurse and we need more. by the way i have done volunteer work w/hospice and hosptials that didn't include financial compensation, but was absolutely priceless to me and i considered myself paid in full.

hate me/ flame me/ or love me....but it's MY reasons and your no one to judge me.

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These is for people who think that those of us who are going into nursing for the money can't make a good nurse. A nurse is someone who respects values and views of others even though these values and views do not reflect the values and views of the nurse. Lets say a women comes to your hospital for a treatment of STD and she sleeps around, would you judge her? Would you deny treatment, if you values are completely different from hers? My point is, don't judge me. You don't know me. Although I'm going into nursing for the money it's not any different as going for nusing because of Jesus calling. If I want to I can make an excellent nurse.

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At this time, you have 409 posts, and I just don't have time to read all of them, but I'll tell you mine...

Actually, I always wanted to be a vet...but I never ended up going to school and have worked for as a secretary for the lat 12 years. A few years ago, my husband and I were in an accident, and while I was well taken care of in the emergency room then brought to my hospital room, my husband was actually left in the emergency room (after his x-rays) with the curtain closed and lights off. Although he was not my husband at the time, no one should ever ever ever be treated that way. He had a broken bone, not me. I vowed that no one should ever feel all alone like that again.

And that's my mushy story.

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Specializes in OB.

Because it is the first time I have ever done something (job wise) that felt like the perfect fit. Like it was what I was always meant to do

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Hi everyone,

This is my first post, and this topic really got my attention. Right now I'm in the STNA training program in Ohio, and I must say this is something really new to me. I've always wanted to be a nurse and help people, but life didn't lead me in that direction. I'm now 34 and married with two kids, 13 and 10. I've finally decided after quiting my office job of 8 yrs that I wanted to do something different and rewarding, because I have such a great personality and a passion for helping people, that I decided the office wasn't for me anymore. I honestly want to help people who are sick, and may not have loved ones around to help them by either helping them change, eat or just someone to talk to. After I start working in the long term care facility, I'm enrolling in the LPN program. I'm very excited to make this career change, even at my age. Yes I probably should have done this in my 20's, but it's never too late to help people.

It's nice to meet you all

April

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