What made you choose nursing?

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The reason I've decided to pursue nursing is two-fold. I have many family members that are nurses. Some chose nursing as their first (and only) career, and others went back to school in adulthood. I've always found it a fascinating profession. The second reason I have decided to pursue nursing was due to my involvement in a rescue operation at a boating accident last year. I ended up being one of the first on scene to a deadly crash. I walked away from that day with a deeper appreciation for life in general and a strong desire to actually HELP people. I'm currently taking pre-reqs and am hoping to start a BSN program in a couple years (I work a very busy FT job and will only be able to take 1 or 2 pre reqs a semester.) How do you know that becoming a nurse is the "Right" thing to do?

Thanks for any thoughts!!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Both of my parents died of cancer, and the nursing staff we encountered over that 3 years were absolutely amazing. I want to take care of people the way they took care of my family.

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It's always been in my head and heart but not until just a few years ago did I really start to believe in myself. I'm 30 now and just finished my pre-reqs. Now that I have a family I feel like there is no better time to pursue this lingering dream. Better late than never right?

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I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare. I had my kids very young (19 and 21) so I didn't have the opportunity to go to school before now. I think the thing that really pushed me was my daughter. She was born with significant health problems (spinal disorder, selective variable immunodeficiency, hypermobility syndrome, asthma, stomach trouble, just to name a few) and I became very close to some nurses at the children’s hospital. It is because of my relationship with them that the desire in me grew and I began my prerequs. I have been in school now for 2 1/2 year and am planning to enter into the BSN program next August, I should graduate in December of 2016. I have a passion for pediatrics so I hope I am able to land a spot there.

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Thank you for your comments. It's truly inspiring to hear others descrbie their passion. I should have noted before that I'm 30 now, and will probably be 33 when I start the BSN program (God willing!!) :)

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Specializes in Hospice.

Not so noble for me...... Does an addiction to the Discovery Health channel's show "Trauma: Life in E.R." count? I am obsessed with becoming a trauma nurse, and I know that it will be a long road, if I ever get there. So I started taking pre reqs a few years ago, and start the ADN program in August. As far as I have researched, in order to be a trauma nurse, I need to be an RN first to gain experience, then get my BSN, then take my trauma nurse cert class. At my advanced age (49) I will probably never be a trauma nurse but that doesn't mean I will cease my efforts to achieve that goal.

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Specializes in Maternal Child, Home Health, Med/Surg.

My story might be a little lengthy.

Anyways, ever since I was 16 and first started college I always had interest in nursing. However, family always told me I couldn't do it, so I believed them and went towards other things I really didn't care to do. Fast forward about 5 years of college, and my 5 month old son gets cancer. Because of his diagnosis, and having to do a lot of the thing a home health aide would have to do - I realized maybe I CAN do this. Having to do injections, medications, broviac flushes/dressing changes, and the like just made me realize how well I handled this. Plus, I went to a medical assisting school briefly which made me realize I had an affinity for medical things and enjoyed it(I'd get 100's on everything). Anyways, I spoke with many nurses about it, who told me that if I can handle doing all of this with my own child(even holding him down because his broviac got a bubble in it, so it could be splinted), then I could definitely handle it with someone else's.

So, here I am. Chemistry is halfway done, next semester is AP 1 & 2, Microbiology in the wintermester, apply in the Spring. I finally feel accomplished, like I'm actually doing something for myself. I want to be that person that those nurses were for me.

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I was in a medical records program when I had the opportunity to participate in a program through my state which exposes students in medically related programs to underserved areas of the state. A couple days of the program were to be spent shadowing someone in your field of study, but the person coordinating that for my group accidentally put down 'nursing' as my area of study - resulting in my spending those days shadowing nurses instead of someone in the medical records office...lol! Watching those nurses at work really inspired me to reassess why I was in the medical records program and to seriously consider switching to nursing - I realized that while a nurse's job isn't always glamorous (sp?), a nurse can be very inspiring to his/her patients, can give them hope, and can provide stellar care for those who need it!

(This got kind of long...sorry)

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Both of my parents died of cancer and the nursing staff we encountered over that 3 years were absolutely amazing. I want to take care of people the way they took care of my family.[/quote']

Bless you! My mom died of cancer & my dad of COPD. They had amazing nurses & I've always said the same thing u said- I want to take care of patients, the way they took care of my family!

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Not so noble for me...... Does an addiction to the Discovery Health channel's show "Trauma: Life in E.R." count? I am obsessed with becoming a trauma nurse and I know that it will be a long road, if I ever get there. So I started taking pre reqs a few years ago, and start the ADN program in August. As far as I have researched, in order to be a trauma nurse, I need to be an RN first to gain experience, then get my BSN, then take my trauma nurse cert class. At my advanced age (49) I will probably never be a trauma nurse but that doesn't mean I will cease my efforts to achieve that goal.[/quote']

What does age have to do with it?! Unless you can't move quickly, I don't see why you're too old to be a trauma nurse! Go for it!!!

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I have always been one to help out when ever needed, and have been a first responder for more than a decade. I have had several menial jobs and the last literally disappeared from under my feet. So I made the choice to go back to school and get into nursing.

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Specializes in LTC.

I am a type 1 diabetic, and I was inspired by nurse educators. They were always so much better to deal with than MDs. I really "decided" on nursing when a friend of mine was diagnosed as a Type 2 last year and she really got 0 education, as she receives all her medical care from a tribal health facility. It was then I knew I wanted to work as a nurse educator (CDE) with under served diabetic populations. I'm halfway through my pre req's and taking Spanish and tons of cultural studies courses to better assist myself when I can actually enter the field.

I hear a lot of gloom and doom about finding a nursing job, but I have a lot of faith that, since my goal is clinics, not hospitals, and I'm not looking to make great money (if I wanted that I would have stayed put in casino gaming), that I will be able to work in the long run.

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