That question all nursing students get: why do you want to be a nurse?

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Many nursing students I know have a very specific reason why they want to be a nurse. For example, a girl I know told me that she had taken care of her grandmother with osteoporosis and for her that sparked an interest in this field. I developed an interest in this field only a year ago, and I feel like I do not have a good enough reason. I guess my reason is: I have always been interested in anything medical-related. I like the idea of being able to help patients and to work as a team with other health care professionals to contribute to patients' well-being. Are there any other ways I could elobarate on this to make it sound better? If I get an acceptance letter, I will interview in 3 months, and I want to be as prepared as I can. If anyone has any suggestions, that would be most helpful. Thanks :)

I think your reasoning is good.

My reason: It's another way for me to help people.

I have two degrees in psychology and have always enjoyed helping people doing direct care. I have always maintained a very high interest in medicine and loved that it was one more way to help others. With the economy, I was faced with the choice of working behind a desk to support myself (I prefer to be hands on) or find another area. I decided that nursing would allow me to continue to work with and help people on a mental and emotional level, as well as medical. It would also allow me more direct care which I love and satisfy my continued interest in medicine. I begin the program in the fall and have loved every minute of class preparing for it! :redbeathe

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most people say with that face "I like to help people". but i call that somewhat a bs. most people do it for money, and maybe partially to "help others". think about it. if they payed you $30,000 starting, you think people will actually endure through that much of school and stress just to help people? I don't think so. sure, it's great to help people, but it's better because we get $50,000-$60,000 starting. but sure, they say "oh I like to help people". ya right, tell me that when nursing pays like crap, then you see a big drop in application. you just got to see through people's (and your own) bs too.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Nursing hasn't always paid as well as it does, and there have always been nurses since the profession was created. I know a women who started out making $15 an hour many, many moons ago. And she really does like helping people.

If you're in it for the money and secretly hate people, I promise you won't last long. It's a hard, thankless job, and in the grand scheme of things, the average starting salary of $24/hour is NOT a gold mine.

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I feel so "typical" saying this.. but I wanted to help people, make a decent living and have a portable job since my husband is military. I didn't want to be a teacher, so nursing seemed like a way for me to do this. I wish I had some other amazing reason, but I don't. I just wanted to finally be happy with waking up in the morning and going to work and I know nursing was it for me.

I think your answer is fine.

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most people say with that face "I like to help people". but i call that somewhat a bs. most people do it for money, and maybe partially to "help others". think about it. if they payed you $30,000 starting, you think people will actually endure through that much of school and stress just to help people? I don't think so. sure, it's great to help people, but it's better because we get $50,000-$60,000 starting. but sure, they say "oh I like to help people". ya right, tell me that when nursing pays like crap, then you see a big drop in application. you just got to see through people's (and your own) bs too.

It's really unfortunate that you feel like anyone who says they like to help people are lying. My experiences in the psych field have been extremely challenging. I've had very little pay for getting physically abused by mentally challenged individuals. But I felt like I was helping them and seeing the progress they made on a day to day basis rewarded me more than my paycheck did. Nursing is the same way and I agree with Stephalump, you aren't making a whole lot to start out with compared to the challenges and difficulties you'll face. People who are only in nursing for the money won't be in the field very long and the money isn't enough of a reward to keep anyone doing that work for long. They should be in it for something else.

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i want to be a nurse practitioner because i want to help people but i want to do this in a "skilled" way. nurses have to wear many hats and we are with people when they are at there worst, that can be challenging and fulfilling at the same time. nurses bring compassion, laughter, patience, and hope to patients and families while going through these hard times. that to me is enough for me to want to be a nurse. oh and the pay can be pretty good too! lol :lol2:

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Do we really even have to say we're interested in a job's paycheck, anyway? If I wanted to work for free, I'd do charity work. Whether I'm waiting tables, driving a dump truck, nursing, or working as an FBi agent, it goes without saying that I'm doing it somewhat because it's an available source of income. And I'm pretty sure an interviewer doesn't need me to lay that out for them!

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ya, when I say most people do it for money, of course it also means there are few that really, I mean really do it because they literally want to help others and feel their hearts light up because of the result of their care for their patients; but from what I have seen and experienced, working at hospital and doing clinicals there, most people do it for money, and even if they do it to help others, there is always a "money" that takes up large part of reason for doing nursing. I am your typical male; i think I should have gone into becoming a military officer or reach high ranks in the law enforcement force. I hate people that whine and can't stand people that act weak (aka wrong profession selection). That doesn't mean I will hurt patients because I will do my job damn good since I am responsible for what I get payed, but I just was not raised to accept people that act like pathetic wimps. I plan to do nursing for a while and go into case management, business, or administration part of nursing.

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Do we really even have to say we're interested in a job's paycheck, anyway? If I wanted to work for free, I'd do charity work. Whether I'm waiting tables, driving a dump truck, nursing, or working as an FBi agent, it goes without saying that I'm doing it somewhat because it's an available source of income. And I'm pretty sure an interviewer doesn't need me to lay that out for them!

I don't think any person should say they are interested in a job's paycheck at a job interview BUT we can tell each other! If they do say that at the interview, I'm pretty sure they won't get hired! :lol2:

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My work is sponsoring me and paying for majority of the expenses. I also plan to travel later, no better way then to work and travel.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Truthfully I chose nrsing for a variety of reasons. I enjoyed the classes and pre-req's that were required. I knew there was a lot of job opportunity as well. The main reason I chose nursing was because I wanted to do something that I felt was beneficial to society and there are many jobs that do that but I felt nursing was the best suit for me.

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