How important is it to you to be a nurse?

[purplegal]

We all had to work hard to become nurses, but how important is it to you to stay a nurse? Is nursing the only career you want or would you pursue other careers in the event you are no longer able to be a nurse and/or no longer enjoy it?

I personally am not interested in other careers and will continue pursuing nursing until I am successful. I worked too hard for this to change directions in life and did not go to school for four years only to wind up doing something else.

[Kitiger, RN]

Being a nurse is a HUGE chunk of who I am. I can't see myself doing anything else.

Same here!

[milesims]

I have to say, not really.

I have a big interest in nursing and it changed my life, but it isn't who I am.

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

I would leave nursing and all its stress behind in a heartbeat, if I was offered a job with comparable benefits and salary. Unless the new job was like a Port-a-Potty cleaner or spider catcher, or something else really icky.

[irishicugal]

I am a mum first, nurse second. That said, if I won the lottery I'd probably still work, just maybe 8 hours a week in a voluntary capacity somewhere. I couldn't just give it up, nursing for me was very much a vocation and it completes me...

[nutella, MSN, RN]

Being a nurse is just one part of who I am - it is not how I would identify myself overall but it is an important piece.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I like being a nurse, I work hard at it, and I think it utilizes many of my best qualities. I'm not obsessed with my current specialty and can see myself moving around a few times in this career; the variety is one of the best things about being a nurse. However, I think I could be equally as happy with certain other jobs - lead singer is a title that comes to mind.

[nurseinthezoo]

Since this is how I support my family my wife would say it's very important. Plus I'm pretty good at it too.

[~PedsRN~, BSN, RN]

I've been a nurse for going on 5 years now, and I do love it. I am currently out of work (we are relocating, my new job starts in July!) and it's WEIRD and I miss it. Even on the worst days I love what I do.

[NurseCard, ADN]

I think quite often of things that I would rather do if I could... Own my own business, be a professional artist/illustator. However, I've always been the breadwinner so it's unrealistic to consider quitting nursing altogether.

It is a very small part of who I am.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Nursing pays the bills. If I could no longer pay the bills as a nurse.. I would seek another field.

[WheresMyPen]

I love being a nurse. Even if I won the lottery I would still work as a nurse. Maybe just cut my hours for some more free time :)

but I can't see myself NOT being a nurse, til I physically can't anymore!