How did you know you REALLY should be a nurse?

Katnip, RN · Nov 5, 2008

You may be surprised to find that once you get into clinicals in areas other than from L&D that you'll fall in love with something completely different.

I know many nurses who started school with a goal in mind, only to change it once they got a sample of something new. A lot of nurses have worked in several different fields after graduation until they finally find their niche.

If it's something that interests you, and you keep an open mind, it could be for you.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2008

I didnt decide I really wanted to be a nurse till I was in my 30s.

It was for what I think are purley selfish reasons, I wanted to work part time, nights and weekend and make a decent hourly wage. I wanted to have a flexible sched and still maintain my stay at home mom lifestyle. I wanted to use my mind and my hands. Nursing seemed to be the perfect fit.

Befor jumping feet 1st into nursing school I did work as a CNA for 6months just to make sure it was in fact what I wanted. I never worked so hard for such little money ever!! But it did show me 1st hand what nursing was all about and that exp alone is in valuable.

I too thought I would ONLY do OB nursing. Until I graduated and there were no OB jobs. I took a job in ICU and couldnt imagine being any where else. After 6mos in ICU an OB job came available and I didnt even apply.

I can honestly say I love my job and even though I didnt go into with this burning passion to save a life, I could not imagine doing anything else. I get way more out of nursing than a flexible schedual and a decent pay check. I feel like what ever was missing in my life has been found.

I love being a nurse!!

86toronado, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2008

I posted a similar thread a few weeks ago, and got no response, so I'll respond to yours. I went into it for the same reasons as racing mom (minus the stay at home mom part) I wanted to work three days a week, and still make a decent salary. But before I started pre-reqs or anything, though, I got a job in a hospital to make sure I could handle the "gross" parts, as well as the environment. It's not your typical 9-5, office type environment. Fortunately that hasn't ever been my bag, and I found myself looking foreward to the chaos.

So I would say look for a part time job in a hospital, because that's where you'll most likely end up for at least your first year of nursing. See if it's something you could see yourself doing!

Dottie78 · Nov 5, 2008

Hello csab, sounds like we're both in the same boat! My mom was also a nurse for 20 years and while I was growing up, I always thought of it as "gross", and said to myself that I "never wanted to be a nurse." Now, I'm singing a different tune, and want to become a nurse! And like you, after I had my daughter four years ago, it was like a light bulb came on in my head, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do...nursing. :idea: I was inspired by the L&D nurse who took care of me. She was the greatest! And so that is also my main interest once I become a nurse (L&D or postpartum), but like someone else said, we could change our minds once in clinicals, and that will be ok too. It's good to be open to other fields in nursing as well.

There are some nurses who have always known that's what they wanted to do, but there are some nurses (like us) who decide later on in life that's what they want to do, and there's nothing wrong with that. :wink2:

Good luck! :wlcmggrp:

Barkow · Nov 5, 2008

Before starting nursing school, just make sure there are other areas of nursing that you'd consider if for some reason there was no hospital near you willing to take new grads at that time. I was one of those types that only wanted to do L&D or postpartum, and knew that L&D typically required previous experience, but sort of ignored that fact until the job hunt. I managed to get very lucky and did snag just one L&D job due to major upheaval on the unit (not ideal to start out in such a situation though!), but otherwise I was all set to work as an OR nurse (which I had very little interest in) because I couldn't see myself being a regular bedside nurse at all. Everything worked itself out perfectly in the end, but I'd definitely recommend being open to other areas as well to avoid the stress.

Gabe's GirlLVN · Nov 5, 2008

I knew I should be a nurse in the first semester of nursing school. The more I learned about the body's mechanism's to keep it in balance the more interested I became. Also at my first clinicals I had an elderly pt that had suffered a CVA. She could not speak, but after a good bed bath and rubbing her feet with lotion, she told me "thank you" as clear as day. In those two times I knew for sure, there was no doubt. Nursing is a calling and if you are meant for it I think you will just know.

L&DWannabe · Nov 6, 2008

This is very inspirational! Great responses so far!

I will be a nursing student soon- doing some more prereqs that I hadn't taken because I was going for another major.

I was going to do Ultrasound and needed hospital volunteer hours to apply. I started out transporting patients, and realized I wasn't happy just picking them up and dropping them off. I wanted to spend more time with them, care for them more. So I transferred to the nursing unit and helped out the nurses- and BAM. That was it! I only volunteered for 4 more days because I realized I didn't need those volunteer hours, I wasn't going to go to Ultrasound school- I wanted to be a NURSE! :nurse:

Pelham · Nov 6, 2008

:nurse:10 Years as a Bank Mgr.10 years staying home with the kids and THEN...Nursing school.I really loved my OB classes. I worked hard and now I enjoy my job so much my husband is jealous of my job:lol2:

Just do it......

jemommyRN · Nov 6, 2008

I knew that I wanted to be a nurse from the time I dropped out of nursing school. I never wanted to go to nursing school in the first place. I was supposed to be preparing myself for medical school but became weary and just graduated with my Bachelor's in Chemistry. Six months later, still not knowing what to do, i enrolled in nursing school. Then, second semester I became pregnant and withdrew and decided nursing was not for me. Well, I couldn't sleep because it became an obsession to get back into nursing school. I decided I was determined to get back in no matter what and the second time I entered nursing school I had a much bigger appreciation for it. It wasn't just for the money, like the first time. Once I finally got back in (after almost 2 years because of the storm and all) I went on to finish and never looked back. I love it!

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Nov 6, 2008

I know this is not going to help you much, but I can't remember a time when I didn't want to be a nurse. I've just grown up knowing that's what I was going to be. :)

csab · Nov 7, 2008

Thanks for all your insights, ladies!

I've been thinking of getting a CNA license to try things out. Do you think hospitals would hire a new CNA (a non-nursing student CNA)? i.e. without 6 mos or a year of LTC first.

I've also been thinking of trying to get a unit secretary position. I'm currently taking a medical terminology class but have not had any medical secretary or assistant classes.