nursing a calling?

rn/writer, RN · Apr 24, 2006

If nursing is a calling for you--

learn all you can before, during, and after schooling
keep abreast of the latest developments in your specialty
be open to both old and new ideas
learn to listen to your patients
be scrupulous in your practice and your documentation
become adept at being team player
be wise in trusting others
take very good care of yourself
maintain a balance between professional and personal life
avoid stepping into the role of a hero or a martyr
learn how to say no
learn how to say yes by choice and not just by obligation
understand that the mind, the spirit, and the body are inextricably linked, not only in your patients, but in everyone, including you
live every day with a sense of wonder and appreciation and if the day comes that you can't, step back and seek a new direction
look for and live for the everyday sacred

If you view nursing as a really cool career with lots of opportunities and options--

learn all you can before, during, and after schooling
keep abreast of the latest developments in your specialty
be open to both old and new ideas
learn to listen to your patients
be scrupulous in your practice and your documentation
become adept at being team player
be wise in trusting others
take very good care of yourself
maintain a balance between professional and personal life
avoid stepping into the role of a hero or a martyr
learn how to say no
learn how to say yes by choice and not just by obligation
understand that the mind, the spirit and the body are inextricably linked, not only in your patients, but in everyone, including you
live every day with a sense of wonder and appreciation and if the day comes that you can't, step back and seek a new direction
look for and live for the everyday sacred

NaomieRN · Apr 24, 2006

Nursing is a calling for me because I want to be a nurse to help people, not for the money. I feel great when I can make a difference in someone's life.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Apr 24, 2006

I'm in it for the money.

But.

I'm also good at it and like what I do.

But.

I'm in it for the money.

~faith,

Timothy.

casi, ASN, RN · Apr 24, 2006

I’m getting into nursing for a lot of reasons. I don’t even know exactly why I checked the little box that said nursing as my major really. I remember during most of high school I had wanted to become a doctor. Specifically I wanted to be a trauma surgeon. I thought it would be the coolest thing ever! I loved biology and simply was fascinated by the human body and doing trauma surgery would be like putting together this big nifty puzzle! Thankfully I’m over that now. I actually couldn’t imagine going to medical school now, EVER.

I had managed to mess up pretty bad in high school and was thankful to end up at the local community college. I had of coorifice toyed with the idea of being a nurse, I don’t think I could ever do the sitting behind a desk and pushing paperwork kind of job, so I just managed to check the nursing major box as something I was interested in. I started my prereqs, and then I dropped out for a year. I was failing miserably at that as well and truthfully was questioning if nursing was right for me. I then finally took a CNA course and started working as a CNA it was then I fell in love. Once I got my hands into the world of nursing I felt like I was home. I have started doing well in school and for once I actually like my job.

I guess it kind of turned into a calling, but it’s also always been about getting a good reliable job that has lots of options. There are other things I wouldn’t mind doing, other degrees that I would love to get, but career wise they aren’t smart options. What could I really do with a degree in woman’s studies or history? Where is the job stability with what jobs I could get with those degrees and what would happen if I burned out? Nursing can answer these questions.

Miss Determination · Apr 25, 2006

Hi nurses,

I am loving this thread. I made an entry on April 19th and I am enjoying reading. rn/writer that was really cool and helpful.

I did my entrance exam today for Practical Nursing in Jamaica. Easy sort of stuff to check your Language Level and Math skills as well as Comprehension. I got 98% and I am so proud, after being out of school over 20 years!!! My 8yr old daughter told me exactly what I would have told her...... "Mom next time try to get 100%!!!" Such cheek I would have been pleased with 70%. Now who would have THUNK it!!:roll

ONE LOVE

MISS DETERMINATION

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 25, 2006

fortunately, there is room at this table for ALL of us. If only we could just learn to respect and "live and let live"....

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Apr 25, 2006

Not a calling, it was more like the next logical step. I always thought it would be cool to do something that helped people. I had worked as a unit secretary for many years so it just seemed like the thing to so.

I really wanted to be a flight attendant, or work in diplomacy for the UN!

DidiRN · Apr 25, 2006

I think you need a bit of caring too, not so much a "calling". The worst nurses I have encountered are usually the ones who went in it strictly for the money/job opportunities. Not all of them, of course, but in my experience, that's what it has seemed like.

Now that being said, I have to admit I went into this career completely blind. I was 17 years old, my dream at the time was to either be a court reporter or a secretary for some big company. I went to a career fair one month before graduation and picked up a brochure from an ADN program on nursing. Took a peek at it, and said, "yeah, that's what I'll do...I'll be a nurse." A very sudden decision with very little thought to it at all. It had never crossed my mind before to go into nursing. My parents thought I was nuts, in fact, they both tried to talk me out of it at the time. I had ZERO experience around people, never took care of anybody before, not even babysitting. I was horribly shy and quite introverted, I knew of no nurses at all, the pay at the time wasn't good, and there was a glut of nurses and very few jobs. I went through school, ended up developing the people skills for it (which actually improved me as a person also; not quite so introverted anymore), and 24 years later, have no regrets at all going into this profession, even though it is very frustrating nowadays. It was a lucky chance I took, that worked out very well for me. I've truly developed a love for it, do my job very well, and am very glad that I made that very sudden decision. Although normally I wouldn't make such a decision without alot of thought to it.

So I don't mean to offend anyone who is going into it for the $$ and the opportunities, the point of my little story was to know that you can go into this for other reasons and still end up a great nurse :)

HeavenBound0530 · Apr 25, 2006

I feel that i fall into both, a calling and money/flexibility. I've always known I wanted to go into the medical field, even throughout high school. I knew I didn't want to go to school to be a doctor because that's too much schooling for me, and that's when I found nursing. Nursing offers great pay and flexible schedule, and at the same time I get to help people that need me. To me, the money is a bonus because I've wanted to help people, I love to help people. That's why I'm pretty sure I'm gonna like my career, it's just dealing with the doctors that might be a bit of a pain.

hippie nurse 1985 · Apr 27, 2006

i always wanted to be a nurse casue i love helping people i started as recreation now iam a cna and soon hopelful an lpn then rn ijust want to help people and make peopels lives better so if god will allow me i would love to be a nurse