What or who was your inspiration for becoming a nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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When I was in second grade I had to have ear surgery. You know how when you are a little kid you have no perception of time, so I thought I was in the OR for hours waiting to be brought in for the surgery. I started crying and a nurse stopped and held my hand. She waited with me until I was wheeled into the OR and fell asleep. I have, and never will, forget that woman.

My other motivating factor was dealing with doctors when I had a health problem in the late 1980's. I was appalled at the way I was blown off. Turned out my problem wasn't in my imagination as they had suggested and boy did I make them eat a little crow! I decided that I wanted to be like that OR nurse and help people who were also getting blown off.

How about you? Why did you become a nurse and who was your inspiration?

Regards to Jenny P for the idea from the thread What rules have you broken... Thanks Jenny!!

Reading-first I did a book report on Clara Barton in 4th grade, then later, read all the Cherry Ames books I could get my hands on. Never knew anyone who was a nurse and my particular school nurse, I only met when I blew a cap off and needed to go home and see a dentist. In those days, you either taught, were a secretary, or got married.I didn't like any of those choices. i had a friend whose sister was going to nursing school, she talked me into it. here i am semi-retired after many years-OB/GYN and Peds, school and college nursing and teaching. You never know where life will lead.

Jesus Christ inspired me.

Specializes in Hospice, LTC, CBRF, and Home Health.

Hi Y'all, My inspiration started when I was younger. Both of my parents, when I was between the age of 15-17, became ill of terminal cancer, two years apart from each other. I spent much time in and out of hospitals with them, and loved how caring all the medical staff were. I also cared for my parents at home, out of the hospital, and I guess that just kindled the flame for caregiving. Since I have been married I now care for my newly disabled husband and also cared for my younger son for a year after his spinal surgery when he broke his back in a school football game. I have been a CNA for 7 years and loved it so much I became determined to get my GED at 38 and go for my ADN. I start in the fall. I have decided if God has put me on this earth to care for others as I have already, then I shall go all the way for the degree. Besides loving to care for others, subjects of science, health, and psycology in school are a breese for me learning wise so schooling shouldn't be too hard, It's just the math I worry about.:imbar

Like Maureen, it was reading a book about Clara Barton during the Crimean War in elementary school. I read and re-read that book, multiple times, and then anything else I could find about her. I always liked helping hurt or newborn animals when I was young.

I married a year out of high school, and had two kids in less than three years. My idea of becoming a nurse was kind of buried. :rolleyes: During that time, a married friend of mine went to Nursing school. She had 2 small kids too. That planted the seed that it was still possible for me. Then 2 of my uncles died of acute MI's, my dad had triple bypass surgery, and another had several pacemakers (they failed, one after another, for some reason). I decided that it was time for me to try to make a difference in someone's life. If I could help one person, or their family, through a rough time, then I felt my life would be more worthwhile. Since then, I've "helped" many patients and families, and in many ways, they have helped me too. Consider my career a dream fulfilled!

I was always really sick as a kid with some unknown GI ailment, back in the early 60's at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, NY.

We pede pts. would get student nurses. I had a wonderful student RN. I remember telling her "you're not as pretty as the other one but you're way nicer" :chuckle and I remember telling her that "when I grow up I want to be a nurse like you" :kiss

Well, here I am, finally an RN, graduated in 2000. I wish I could thank her, but I don't even remember her name. I just know she was an excellent student, a kind person, and I think about her often.

Specializes in critical care.

I wanted to be a nurse when I was in highschool, but I forgot about it, sounds dumb. So i studied music for a long time, but when I got pregnant I read everything I could find relating to childcare it made me really wish that I had some medical training. Then I started talking to my OB/GYN nurse and she told me I could be an RN in just two years and I figured that it would take me that long to get my worthless music degree so I finished the semester and then started working on my prereqs. So Brandy M from Dallas, if you're reading...thanks.

I had the most wonderful labor nurse with my first daughter. This was when they still sat at the bedside with pitocin and she was with me all night. I remember she stayed after her shift to see how my labor turned out. She was an LPN. I have never forgotten her and never will. She is the reason I am a labor and delivery nurse.

Wow Sleepyeyes, I did my PEDs rotation at St. Peter's....not in the 60's though, in 1998. I must have liked it, cause I am a peds nurse now.

I had a wonderful friend who was an RN... she really supported me in my struggles through school. I still feel like I owe her big time!

Aw right, Capgirl! :)

Glad to see someone from my neck of the woods. Originally from Colonie; moved about 12 years ago to the sunny South.

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