I had orientation last week to my program and the Professor asked us all to introduce ourselves and tell why we wanted to be a nurse. It was a great way to get to know more info about our colleagues. I was getting into it but then about 5 people in a row said it was "a calling" to be a nurse. What does that mean? The girl next to me said that she was called to be a nurse so I asked her. She said that she did not know, she just felt like she wanted to be a nurse. I would much rather have heard her say that than say, "a calling". I felt like I was watching Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock when all the contestants had to say World Peace,
Now, that I just watched this clip, almost the same reaction was going on in the class. It almost seemed superficial. Are other professions called into their profession? I've never heard that term before for other professions. I was not judging them, they all worked really hard to get into the program and I'm sure will make wonderful nurses. I just don't get the calling response, it seemed like the coined answer for people that were either not sure why they wanted to be a nurse or did not want to say because nursing seems like a good job or other reason. It is an honorable job, a caring job, a messy dirty job, a mentally challenging job but a very rewarding profession. I cannot wait to be a nurse.
Nursing isn't the only profession that people mention is their "calling." I believe I heard Beyonce say being an entertainer was her calling. I know professors who have stated teaching was their calling.
It's something that spoke to you loudly within your heart that you felt you should be doing. Whatever gifts/talents/desires you use toward that calling, you do it feeling "this is what I was meant to be doing."
People (like myself) who truly believe nursing is their calling shouldn't matter to you in the same way people truly go into nursing for the flexibility, pay, and opportunities. My calling happens to provide me with all of that.
Its a stupid term along the lines of "Nurses eat their young" and "bullying" that people use as an excuse or crutch for those who are occupying a spot in a nursing program or job that they should have.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Calling is in and of itself a joke. Nursing profs have usually been out of the game for some long they start to believe the calling mumbo jumbo from their research into nursing academia and theory. New nursing students have a romanticized version of nursing where there is no death, abusive patients or the nastiest bodily fluids known to man. It all comes together in nursing school to provide the passive student with a unrealistic expectation of nursing.
The reality is, if there is any chance of low-census, education days or being put on-call 99% of nurses not in financial need will jump at it to get off the floors. That's really how it is.
While I do not put much stock in "The calling".....I have been a nurse a LONG time and LOVED my job.
Just becasue I would jump at the chance to be home with my family and have an extra day off doesn't mean I didn't love my job. I just love my time with my kids more.
iPink, BSN, RN
1,414 Posts
Nursing isn't the only profession that people mention is their "calling." I believe I heard Beyonce say being an entertainer was her calling. I know professors who have stated teaching was their calling.
It's something that spoke to you loudly within your heart that you felt you should be doing. Whatever gifts/talents/desires you use toward that calling, you do it feeling "this is what I was meant to be doing."
People (like myself) who truly believe nursing is their calling shouldn't matter to you in the same way people truly go into nursing for the flexibility, pay, and opportunities. My calling happens to provide me with all of that.