q for the pros: what's my story?

TazziRN, RN · Aug 4, 2006

I didn't, because for me it was a desire I'd had since childhood, but I don't see anything wrong with putting that in there. If you have room, write it down just like you did here.

judyblueeyes · Aug 4, 2006

I hope you don't mind an atheist answering your question.

First, I don't recall being asked "why" I wanted to be a nurse in any official way. Perhaps I was asked that and just don't remember it now.

Next, I do work with people who were motivated by their faith to become nurses. That's ok. There are also people who say they have wanted to be a nurse since childhood, or that they loved the smell of alcohol, or liked going to the pedaitrician as a kid, or have a family member who is a nurse, or that they find it good work for women, that they fell into by accident, that it felt like a 'calling', or that they simply like the earning potential.

There are lots of good reasons to be a nurse.

Best Wishes!

leslie :-D · Aug 4, 2006

i do remember specifically being asked why.

i attended a Christian school of nsg also.

but to be pc, i chose not to elaborate on "it was a calling".

that's me though.

i vaguely remember stating that i had always been highly sensitized to the suffering around me.

there are different ways of saying the same thing, me thinks.

best of luck.

leslie

P_RN, ADN, RN · Aug 4, 2006

I was asked this question several different times. From early teens I knew I would be a nurse. It took me a long time to realize that due to marriage kids and family. So 12 years after HS I became an RN.

I do not doubt that some people have a calling. So my answer now would be: Because it is something that I HAVE to do.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Aug 4, 2006

I think my story can be written into a book, part comedy of course...LOL!

When I was 14 I volunteered as a candy striper for a local hospital. I was told that is a good thing to do with your summer, and is a good start to getting jobs and work ethics. While I was there I met many people and helped them in non-nursing ways. I had a nack for making folks cheery, and laugh!

One lady I simply feel in love with! She was elderly, and was unable to do many things for herself. I would go there and do things for her, brush her hair, play cards, go zipping through the halls and outside with her wheelchair...we just had a blast together! I found out she was a cancer survivor with throat cancer, and the cancer came back and she was going through more treatments and was weak. She lived alone in a very rural coastal town and had no family left. She and I continued this relationship of trust and caring, both growing until one day they spoke of discharge! I was so excited, but very sad our time was coming to an end.

The day before discharge she made me swear to GOD that I would be a nurse. I said sure, but I don't think I really thought about it. I just wanted her happy!

The next moring I went to her room, with a gift and a card with my address and so on and there were two nuns outside her room, and there was a lot of things going on inside the room. Very puzzling! So I went to the door and the nun's started speaking to me...

I don't think I heard a word of what they were saying...there was my dear lady, a doc doing compressions on her, carts and people everywhere. I insisted on going in! "I am the only family she has!!!!" I screamed. They didn't let me in, and I was mad and shoved the nuns out of the way and went in crying my head off!

One of the docs knew me and said that I needed to go, there was nothing I could do in there, but to go to the chapel and pray for her if I so wished. She was dead already... Considering the nuns called security, I ran...fast to the chapel!

To this day I cringe at how mad I was, how I screamed and cried to Jesus...yes cussed to about how angry I was and how unfair this was to do to a child of GOD! I was beyond reasonable in my oppinion. But no wrath hit me, but I did get a grab from a Priest and excorted off the property. (I was allowed back, but I didn't go back).

So later on in life 28 years old I had my son in that hospital. And all the nurses and midwives and docs said I would be a perfect nurse! I helped out other pts in the halls, kept them cheery, and I hit the books on pregnancy and knew what was going on before anyone mentioned it! I was having so much fun learning about this that I thought...they are right!

Then I remembered my promise!

I went to the chapel and appologized whole heartedly for my behavior back then, and that I was ready to start my promise to my lady, and the next day was calling the colleges and applying for financial aide, and brushing up on my math!

I became a nurse!

The best part of the story I find is the fact that I was working in an ALF/LTC and lo and behold...both those nuns lived there! I cared for them for 4 years, saving both twice (MI's). One passed and the other is still doing great and I hear from her from time to time! In fact, she is the same nurse that while the paramedics were wheeling her out said "your doing her proud sweety, God knew you would".

I am not a religious person really, but WOW! That is just too cool and showed me that I picked the right path!

Thanks for reading..and that is just a part of my story! LOL!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Aug 5, 2006

Wonderful. I had a lady just like that. She was with us a year and a day. This brought tears to my eyes. What a nice friend your lady had in you.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Aug 8, 2006

THanks for the responses.

I think I have it straightend out how I will answer the faith part,but the question on my essay is:

What activities or experiences have contributed to your personal growth and have influenced your decision to become a nurse?

Should I mention the part about being laid off during 9/11 and taking care of my Golden? That really was the catalyst for me, but it was subtle although I felt like I was making a difference it didn't hit me "I could do something medical"...as I explained, that came later. However I don't want them to think it's silly or trivial or "just a dog"....or even a logical assumption, why wouldn't I want to be a vet? Although I love dogs...it's people that I want to help and make a difference for...anyway I should say any or all of that?

Thanks again, you guys are great.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2006

6 years old, first grade, drew a picture of a nurse

Here I am 30 years later and have been an RN for 14 years......

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Aug 8, 2006

Thanks Otessa,

I get why "I" am going into nursing...but my question is moreso what is acceptable to be putting on a nursing school application?

Where I work, although they claim to want your valid opinions and feedback, we all know that is definitely not the case, so you shut your mouth and play the game (tell them want they want to hear)

I don't want to blow my chances before even getting in, to me taking care of my Golden was an opening to the compassion I truly didn't know I possessed. It's strange it took a dog to bring that out of me...but there you go. I just now feel a strong need to give back and for people...I get very charged up and emotional watching the DH Life in an ER etc...(though I wish there was one that focused more on just nursing)...anyway that's what I'm looking for, if it's silly to list taking care of a dog as part of my awareness.

Your drawing would tell me that this was always in your heart...for me, I remember playing "hospital" as a child...but my patients were always 'stuffed animals' I didn't want much to do with people...never thought I had that compassion and/or skills now I feel much differently.

jschut, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2006

I think my desire to be a nurse was just naturally "born" into me.

I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything!

babiesX2 · Aug 8, 2006

My favorite great aunt went to nursing school in the 1940's. After her graduation she joined the Army "to see the world." She joined during WWII. She retired after she came home from Vietnam. Her rank at retirement was Lieutenanat Colonel. Like I said, she has always been my favorite aunt and she never had any kids of her own. Her and my grandma were the closest of any of their sisters so she took a special interest in me and my sister. From an early age I saw how family members and friends would get her to check their blood pressure and/or ask her advice about different health issues. Her answers were always so interesting and entertaining to me. She would buy me medical books and books about nurses -- things to drive my interest. My grandma (her sister) died when I was in my mid 20's and I wasn't at a good place in my life. My aunt told me she needed to talk to me in her kitchen after my g'ma's funeral. There she made the gift to me of a college education. She told me that if I went and enrolled in a university she would pay for my classes. So I did and here I am now -- an RN! She pinned me and when the announcer said who was pinning me and her years of nursing experience and her service in the Army, my dear sweet 89 year old great aunt received a standing ovation! It was one of the proudest moments in my life.