What is a Nurses Calling?

[hopepedersen87]

Hello, I am having trouble deciding on whether or not I should be a nurse, and was hoping real nurses could give me some advice.

My whole life I've been an artist who has never been career oriented. I've only worked in retail, and after moving to another state I decided it was time to settle down with a real career. So I was immediately taken with nursing. It's an amazing career, exciting, where I can help people and save lives and make a difference, and the pay isnt bad either. But apparently everyone I tell that to says they are terrible reasons for becoming a nurse. And it doesnt help that I've been occupying my time with a steady stream of nursing horror stories from veterans online and in books. I'm scared of being bit and punched and verbally abused by patients, scared of C. Diff, and it seems like the best reasons to become a nurse is to be super excited about getting abused and changing bedpans.

I know that's not true, but it seems like my reasons are childish and unrealistic. A true nurse has a 'calling'--but I cant find any definition for the calling nurses get. Why did you become a nurse? What is a calling? When did you first have it? What is a real reason to become a nurse other than wanting to help people and fix problems and being awesome? Am I wrong to want to go down this path because I think it's an exciting and economic career?

Thank you for any information you can give me, I really appreciate it.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Dont buy into that stupid canned phrase that nursing is a calling. For some it might be, for others it is a well thought out decision. You are not wrong in thinking it can be a fun, exciting and economically good career. Just know that it is a hard one too.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

A "calling" is what folks get from God to go into the ministry.

Nursing is a profession just like any other. Some good, some bad. You do not need to be a selfless, don't-care-about-the-money person to become a nurse. In fact, it's better if you're not. You won't be disillusioned when you enter the real world of nursing.

[klone, MSN, RN]

A "calling" is what folks get from God to go into the ministry..

This, a hundred times. You don't need a calling to be a good nurse. In fact, I agree with Roser that it's probably better if you don't. Less risk of burn out.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

At best, a "nurse's calling" is an old fashioned cliche. Don't waste your time worrying about it.

and don't take too much stock in nursing horror stories you read online. The story about my shift where a demented old lady with c-diff wandered naked through the halls pooping indiscriminately is a lot more interesting than the story about my shift where nothing quite so interesting happened. I'm more likely to talk about the former, even though the latter represents a much larger percentage of my shifts.

The bad, "horror story" shifts just get talked about more, and don't count as a representative sample.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

The idea that one must be "called" to nursing (much like a nun is "called" to a life of servitude in religious practice) is about as outdated as, well.....an abundance of full convents

People choose nursing for many reasons. They also choose carpentry for many reasons. If you're inclined toward one rather than the other, there's the direction you should go!

[hopepedersen87]

Thanks. So what, may I ask, were the reasons most of you became nurses?

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Thanks. So what, may I ask, were the reasons most of you became nurses?

Decent money, fast paced, not behind a desk and I get to play drug dealer without getting arrested

[klone, MSN, RN]

Because I had a keen interest in women's health, and it was the most expeditious way of getting my lactation certification.

[SubSippi]

There are so many different ways to be a nurse, I figured I would find something I liked eventually. If you really hate something, you can probably find a job where you can avoid it. I work bedside, and my unit doesn't take c-diff patients.

The catches are, that you'll more than likely spend a year or two here and there in jobs that you really don't like. And also, in order to have access to a lot of non-patient care job options, you have to be willing to get a BSN.

I can guarantee that nursing probably isn't what you think it is. But it seems like most of us like it okay, most of the time.

I mean, there is a ton of complaining on the board. But at the same time, complaining or not, we are still seeking out other nurses to talk about nurse stuff with during our time off. Which I think says something.

[resqbug]

Thanks. So what, may I ask, were the reasons most of you became nurses?

There's no calling or altruism here...I was an EMT for many years and drawn to science and adrenaline. I debated becoming a paramedic, but found that they weren't paid near what they should be for 2 years of school and no real hope for advancement, so nursing was it.

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Do you like to problem solve? Are you a social person? How are you at math? Are you a good multitasker?

I agree with the others,...not sure there is really a calling,...I do enjoy helping others,...but I also enjoy no routine, meeting different people all day, teaching patients, being the person people count on, learning something new all the time, being able to bring calm to a chaotic situation, and the ability to change the atmosphere I work in if I want to.

Good luck to you!