How Did You Decide On Nursing as a Career?

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Hello fellow pre-nursing students!

I have a few questions for all of you; how did you choose nursing as a career? What was the thought process and time line behind your decision? What was your family and friend's reaction to your decision? Are they supportive?

I think I would make an excellent nurse and have toyed with the idea for quite some time. Only recently I decided to make it my main focus and pursue my RN, full steam ahead. The issue is that my loved ones have watched me pursue things and fail (like teaching) in the past and are a bit skeptical, but still supportive. I really feel like this is my last shot. I know nursing is a long path - I'm afraid I'm going to get discouraged and give up, just like in the past. I have never put 100% into anything, and this path definitely requires 110%. I feel like I can do it, but I am scared. I really want to do this. I think I want this more than I've ever wanted anything. Have any of you ever experienced anything similar? Thanks in advance.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

First, the pre-nursing board is back one page, and down at the bottom near the guys' club.

My path towards choosing to be a nurse started with being pre-med in undergrad. I didn't matriculate into medical school after my first attempt, so I went to work in a research lab. I reapplied twice to no avail, though I at least got interviews those years. After being rejected the last time in June of 2008, my mother suggested I look at nursing, as I had most of the coursework already. I looked into all the accelerated BSN and masters-entry programs in my state, found one whose prereqs I already satisfied, applied for the winter-start cohort in July of that year, and was accepted in early August.

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I decided my senior year of high school that I wanted to be a nurse. It's been so long that I can't remember how I arrived at that decision, lol. I dropped out of school after 1 1/2 yrs to get married and I thought I wasn't ready to be a nurse. I changed my major and fell into another career that I was really good at. I went back to school much later as a sahm and started thinking about nursing again. So, here I am!

I'm not the ultimate caring, giving person that you think of when you think of a nurse. Not that I don't care, lol. When I was in my last job and pushing paper I just kept thinking,this is not important and I want to do something important. I'm a super type A person that loves problem solving. I wanted to take that and do something great with it instead of noticing paperwork errors.

Oh, my family in semi-supportive. My parents and dh want me to go to law school. They think that best fits me. At the same time, they are proud of me. I just got accepted to the program today and my mom already said, well maybe you could be a nurse practitioner. I know she thinks I'm settling. I've been told how smart I was my entire life, which was probably more detrimental than good. It made me think I didn't have to try. I'm thrilled that I'm just actually going to finish something for the first time in my life.

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Wow, where to start... I fell into an accounting position after high school and kept in that field for 17 yrs. I thought I wanted to become a CPA. One day I went to work with my mom (she was a CRNA), it was AWESOME!!!! I watched the nurses, and other personnel in the operating room dance around (figuratively). I wanted to be a surgical technician. I came back home and started surgical tech school and completed it in a year. I worked for a couple of years as a surgical tech but they found out I had accounting experience and wanted me to start ordering supplies for the whole operating suite. We were having financial troubles and I could make more money quicker if I returned to Accounting, so back I went. While attending Surgical Tech school I so wanted to be a nurse but it was more schooling.

I have been back in the accounting field for 6 yrs now and have felt like something is missing. I have done a lot of soul searching and found that I miss getting my nursing degree. I took a week off for jury duty and when I returned to work I decided I would complete my pre-reqs and apply to an Acclerated BSN program. I got my Bachelors in Accounting online and I could apply to the accelerated program.

My husband is very supportive!!! He knows that I have been completed different and upbeat since deciding to go to nursing school. I have told my mother but have been very reluctant to let other family or co-workers know. I still have a student loan for my online degree and my daughter is completing her degree also. My other family members would tell me I am too old to change my career now. My co-workers tell me that due to the current situation with the job shortages it would not be a viable option to go to nursing school, hense, that is why I have not been able to say anything to them.

I am soaking a bunch of information in, I am trying to finish 4 pre-reqs in 3 quarters, while registering late.

I miss talking to people, getting to know them, helping them, getting out and learning, I have always been a "professional student". I love learning and I know nursing is constantly learning. If feels so right but I have numerous hurdles to scale over.

Thanks for reading!!

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Specializes in Gyn/STD clinic tech.

i am a current nursing student, i finished pre-nursing and was immediately accepted to the nursing school which was my first choice.

i have been a cna for 10 years, my mother is/was an rn for 30+ years, so i guess you could say it's in my blood. i knew i wanted to be a nurse at age 5. i volunteered starting at age 14/15 in hospitals and nursing homes, and i knew i was made to be a nurse.

i have always known.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I was just accepted into an MN program this week! I start in September. The MN is for people who already have a Bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field but wish to become an RN. It's a 16 month, full-time program and at the end I will have a Master's degree and be able to take the RN exam.

My path to nursing has been long and exhausting but exciting and rewarding too. My Bachelor's degree is in International Studies/Political Science. I had no science or math background whatsoever and never even thought about nursing as a career until after I'd already graduated from college. My first job was working in the ER at a children's hospital. I got to know the doctors and nurses and was just fascinated by what they did. I decided that I really wanted to pursue nursing but put it off for about 6 years because I wasn't ready to go back to school and I assumed I'd have to start all over and get another Bachelor's degree. In the meantime I worked in publishing and thought about pursuing a career in law. I even took the LSAT and was accepted to a law school but it never felt like the right decision for me in the way that nursing did. After a lot of soul searching, research into the career, prerequisite classes and various programs I decided to just jump in and enjoy the ride. I started taking night classes while working full time in January 2008 for the prereqs required for this MN program that I found, found out I was pregnant a week into my first class (!), continued with school and work until my daughter was born in September 2008, quit my job to be a SAHM and continued classes. I take my last prereq class (Pathology) this summer and will begin my MN program in September and graduate in December 2011. I'm so excited!

Ultimately I decided to become a nurse because I'm fascinated by the science part of it, how the body works, diseases, etc. I also hated my corporate job and felt like my only purpose in life was to make money for other people. I wanted a career where I really felt rewarded by my work and that what I did mattered to society. I also wanted a career that will keep me learning, working with people and that will provide me with many opportunities for pursuing whatever I feel like pursuing whether it's becoming an NP, CRNA, teaching, etc.

My family and friends are all super supportive so I'm very lucky. I think they see that this career excites me more than anything I've ever done before and it's really the right choice for me. Some of my friends are envious that I have found my passion and path in life because they really haven't...yet. :)

Good luck to you and don't give up if this is something you really want! Work hard and enjoy the journey!

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kschenz,

Another corporate fellow. I was at a corporate job then moved to a medium size class and it just is NOT REWARDING at all!!!!! I agree with you making other people money and at the end of the day what have you accomplished, the same thing you did before.

I do know when I decided to return to school I am full speed ahead and I have asked my husband to hold on with me!!

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Thank you all so much for your responses. I too am coming out of the "corporate" cubicle world. I knew it wasn't for me, but for a while I wasn't ready to go back to school either.

I faced a real setback this week - I did poorly on my Chemistry midterm. I can still pass the class, but it is going to require a considerable effort. I am not giving up - and if I'm going down....I'm going down swinging!

Thanks again for all the wonderful replies. You nurses and nursing students are my absolute heroes and I can't wait to join you in the workforce someday.

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Well, I am like most of the people here, got a BBA unrelated to nursing, graduated several years ago and have yet to find a job. I have also thought that it is not worthy working your a$$ off to make others rich. I want to do something in this lifetime worthy of doing and rewarding. I am planning on taking some pre requisite classes this summer. I hope I do well enough to get accepted into a nursing school.

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Go for it!

I'm taking my first full load of classes in quite a while, and let me tell you - my brain is in shock. It's been a good warm up for what is to come. If I can pass this Chemistry course, I can really, truly do ANYTHING!

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Specializes in n/a.

well. i think im experiencing the same thing. my family is kind of thinking i might give up, cause i always start and then dont complete school, but deep down im very scared and nervous.they kind of dont believe, that im going to be starting soon, but i have to show myself and them that im going to go through this and complete it,as well. so, you are not alone.:confused:

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

My grandma took me to NYC for my 21st birthday..I fell in love. I was in my senior year of college, studying microbiology. I immediately applied for accelerated BSN programs, and started a 14 month program right after my micro degree. For me, it was an avenue to get to nyc, I thought I'd have great job security and decent pay to survive the city. What a bust! I applied everywhere in nyc, no dice. Am now stuck in Houston..c'est la vie, will try again after I have my golden year of experience :rolleyes:

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