How did you decide to go into Medical Field?

cursenurse · Jan 13, 2004

brandie, i made my decision to enter nursing because i wanted a career that was in demand (even when the economy was bad and everyone else was being laid off), and that would enable me to get a job anywhere in the country without any difficulty. i have been an lpn for seven years and am now in my last semester for my ADN. i have chosen to further my education because i found that i really do enjoy the work. it is very scary when you first start out, before i started nursing school i was terrified about everything from accidental needlesticks to coding a patient. if you really want to do this then go for it. you will be terrified, but that will pass.

DixieGirl_81 · Jan 13, 2004

BrandiE,

I made the decision to become a nurse while I was in my second year of high school, and I was only 15 years old then. Look where I am now! Pre-grad and I graduate in May!! I must admit that I felt the same as you before I was entering school. There is so much to learn, and like you, I thought I might not be smart enough to retain all the information that we would need to know to proceed on the path to become a nurse. All the advice that I can give you, is try as hard as you can. You might not realize how smart you are until you actually start nursing school and begin to read your textbooks and start applying what you have learned in clinicals. The fears will eventually fade away (not completely, but will be further in your mind)

Good luck in your future endeavours (sp???).

Chantelle

kwagner_51 · Jan 13, 2004

I knew I wanted to go into the medical field when I was 11!! Does anyone remember the TV show EMERGENCY!? I grew up watching that show every Saturday night for 6 yrs. I took an Advanced first aid class when I was 15 and learned how to do ememgency child birth, CPR, splinting broken bones etc.

So why did it take me 32 yrs. to finally get my first semester of nursing behind me? In 1977, on Nov. 9th, my 3 y/o nephew was killed in a tragic accident. I was going to be like Roy and Johnny and be a paramedic..after Bill died, I couldn't do it. I buried my dreams with him.

I wanted to help people, so I got a degree in automobile mechanics. I fgured I would be the first female who actually knew what she was doing and was honest. One who didn't argue with the customer.

God had other plans. When I graduated with my AS degree, I was also 4 months pregnant!! I had 3 boys in 5 yrs. +I had a four yr. old daughter when I graduated.

Nursing never entered my thoughts as we [myself and my husband] struggled to raise our family. He was the only one working, because we agreed that I would be a SAHM.

I managed to save enough money to buy him a satelite dish for Christmas and on TVLand EMERGENCY! was playing in reruns. The desire was still there afer more than 22yrs. I enrolled at the same college where I got my first degree, and went for EMT-B.

Unfortunately, I found out that I can't handle the emotional/aderalin sp?] of emergency care. So just before finals in 2001, I changed my major to ADN.

Like you, I was terrified. I knew that I could do this, but I would be responsible for people's lives...more that as an EMT. I was not sure I had picked the right course until I had my first clinical. I knew 2 things after that day. 1. YES!! This is what I was looking for!! and 2. The nursing instructors will HELP you all they can to give qualiy care w/o endangering the patient's live!!

I hope this eases your mind! It is scary going into the unknown. Just remember, you are smarter now than you were then. You can do this!!

Keep us informed!!

beckymcrn · Jan 13, 2004

I made my decision to become a nurse after years of telling myself all of the things you said in your post. I am not smart enough, how will I ever be able to do all that medical stuff. I was scared to death. I knew I had to do something with my life my kids were in school, my husband had his job and I had this job and that.

I too felt like I had a calling to be a nurse. I did alot of soul searching and praying and just took the plunge. WHile in school I started to work as a CNA to see if I actually liked this kind of work. I was lucky because my mother-in-law was a CNA in the nursing home I started to work in and took me under her wing and showed me the ropes. By the way I highly reccommend anyone thinking about nursing to work as a CNA it really

helps.

WHen others I went to school with were affraid to enter pt

rooms in clinicals I felt very comfortable with it. Don't get me wrong nursing school was a lot of hard work and I am soooooooooo glad it is over but I loved every minute of it :) . Even when I stuck my first sq shot in my own finger as I stuck the pt. (Yep right through my finger into the pt. It was heparin so it was hard to hide because I was bleeding pretty good.) Had to do all the HIV and hepattis stuff on me on the pt. It was so emabrrassing.:imbar ( I beat myself up for days after that)

I love what I do. It is hard, demanding and all that stuff but I would not do anything else.

I think we need nurses who want to do this because they truely care about what they do. Thats what makes a great nurse:nurse: .

My opinion is if you really want to do. Just do it! you will never know if you can do it until you try. Saying you tried it and it is not for you is much better than regretting that you never did.

( I love this little Guy!)

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2004

All this sounds so familiar, but with me it took being sick and a patient. I knew i could give at least as good or better care than i got. I was a midlife convert to nursing, years since i had sat in a Algebra or science class. If i can you can, you have to want it and be dedicated enough to learn.

BrandiE · Jan 13, 2004

I want to thank each and everyone one of you for your replys. This has meant so much to me since I was a child as well. Last night, I did some real soul searching after posting this thread. I have decided to go ahead with it. Atleast I can say I gave it my best shot if I do fail. (but ya know what-Im not going to fail...lol) That's alot better than "not ever knowing."

Again - thanks!

For now, I will start my Pre-Reqs in April. Untill then, Im going to try and find a CNA course that I can get into before then.

I will be here to ask many questions as I go further down this road. I hope to have many more conversations with each of you and hope to build many long term friendships along the way!!

Talk to you soon!

southern rn · Jan 13, 2004

I always wanted to be a nurse from the time I was a little girl. My sister and I never really investigated any other career choices. Remember those little aptitude tests they give in h.s. that tells you what kind of job you're suited to do? My aptitude test told me I would have a hard time completing the requirements for a medical field. I started nursing school/college straight out of high school at the age of 17, graduated with my associate in nursing when I was 19. That was almost 15 years ago...

If nursing is truly what you want to do then go for it! Tomorrow will still be here whatever choice you make, so make the ones that make you happy :)

sprtbikegrlsv65 · Jan 13, 2004

I was in 4th grade (10-11yrs?) when i decided. we had a career day and had to pick from a list...i picked being a doctor. we had to do some minor research on it, and dress the part.

as i got older i realized that i really didn't want to go to medical school so in high school i had the oppurtunity to go to a vocational school and i took allied health. we got to learn a lot of the different fields (EMT, OTA, PTA, RT, RN) nursing just felt so right. at 16 i worked as a dietary aide in a nursing home, and when the residents would beg me to help them eat it broke my heart. at 17-18 i took the CNA course offered at the nursing home, became certified! it was great...it was also hard at that age having such a responsible job!!!!

then from the time i was 18-21 i worked in doctors office's and a hospital to see what kind of field i would like. (i decided on Peds). once i got married (19) then divorced (21) i just didn't seem to have the compassion i had before. i took a mundane job at a mortgage co. where i've been for 2 years...NOW that showed me where i actually belong! i've applied to nursing school and can not WAIT to do it! i just can't imagine sitting behind this desk the rest of my life!

so that's my story...i'm happy with the decision i made! :kiss

JULZ · Jan 13, 2004

I have always wanted to go into the medical field ever since I can remember. I should have done it when I graduated but I got married right after high school and got a pretty good job in an accounting office which I liked but I knew deep inside it wasn't my calling. Anyhow, now it's 14 years later and I have 3 kids (2,5,7) and I have been a sahm for 6 years and can't wait to have a career as an RN.

I have my application in at penn state but haven't gotten word of my acceptance yet, and I'm very nervous! My sister just started yesterday for her BSN and she is two years older than me.

My husband thinks we can't afford for me to start school but I just keep telling him, if I get accepted, I'm going!!! I don't care if I have to work full time to do it. I refuse to miss out again!! I love my kids and feel that I have taken care of everyone and this house for long enough and it's time they helped me!!

PRAY FOR ME AND I'LL PRAY FOR YOU!!--DEAL?

JULZ

BrandiE · Jan 13, 2004

Julz - DEAL!!

Again - Thank you all for your responces! I know my heart is in the right place..... Just gotta make sure my Brain is ready for the challenge! LOL

Good luck in all that you do!

iliel · Jan 13, 2004

My dad had to go to the Pittsburgh blood bank every week and I use to be fascinated by the blood spinning around in the machine and the nurses would let me watch what they were doing. That was when I was about 8. Even through a different career path, nursing still nagged at me so I have no doubts about what I want to do.