What influenced your decision to become a nurse?

[Guest717236]

For me, It was reading Cherry Ames books. She had such

a vast array of careers even then ! I loved the series. It was my

favorite series next to Nancy Drew as a kid.

For Cherry Ames fans, here's a great link!

http://www.netwrx1.net/CherryAmes/booksummaries.html

[MQ Edna]

For me it was pure practicality. Nursing is a wide open field with near 100% job placement and decent pay. Shortages are expected for at least the next 10 years. Also, I knew that I could go into this field and not experience "middle age" job discrimination (as I went back to school after being a stay at home mom for 18 years).

I know of women who have returned to school after raising the kids to pursue master's degrees in education (they want to teach school) they graduate and cannot find a job. One lady I know has been trying to get a teaching position for almost 3 years (she is the same age as me), the schools are just not hiring new grads in their 40's, she currently works at American Greetings in a secretarial position. Her husband works with my husband and was floored to find out that I had multiple job offers waiting for me as a new BSN graduate (now his wife is contemplating going back to school for nursing).

Another lady I know has a PHD in Psychology and is trying to find a ground floor teaching position on the University level (after years of staying home to raise the kids) . . .also cannot find a job and basically is faced with "where have you been the last 20 years??". Ironically I also know a lady who was an RN for many years and got burned out (even though she worked part time in a doctors office ???), went back to school for a degree in education and guess what . . . can't find a job . . .she let her RN license lapse . . .oops!

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

For me it was a chance to move up from my current job. I've worked as a field EMT, then medic, then I got fed up with the pay and hours and began work in the hospital. Now that I've got many years experience I seek to expand my knowledge base and abilities by becoming a nurse.

It doesn't hurt that doors are wide open to you once you become an RN, either!! Much moreso than life as a paramedic.

vamedic4

getting ready to study

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

For me, it was the stability and ability to get a job wherever we ended up moving (dh is retired military). After 10 years in the ER, I realize that life can never be taken for granted either.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The seemingly wide availability of jobs influenced my decision to become a nurse. I worked at a factory for three years and, while the job paid decently, I was fully aware that I could be laid off at any time without the option of finding another job easily. When compared to manufacturing, there seems to be more job security in nursing.

[TazziRN, RN]

Can't say anything influenced it, or I don't remember if something did. I've wanted to be a nurse since I was a small child. I remember reading the Sue Something books, all about Florence and Clara and doctor stories.....anything to do with nursing/hospitals.