What does nursing mean to you?

[xInspiredx]

I have read some posts where members state that "I believe what nursing stands for" or "I love the concept of it."

My question is, what does nursing mean to you? What does it stand for in your opinion? What's the "concept"?

More importantly, how has the meaning/concept of nursing changed since you've been a nurse (versus when you were a pre-nursing student)?

[WindyhillBSN]

in the beginning.....a chance to affect others lives for the better...........right now...heartache.

windyhill, rn bsn in 2 weeks:heartbeat

[sevensonnets]

As nurses we hold other people's lives in our hands so we have to know what we're doing and do it right every time. Nursing is on par with raising children and saving souls in terms of importance.

[vald96]

to me its always go back to traditional meaning tender loving care,think of florence nightingale.

[cna23]

To me its caring for and helping those in need. We're there when their family doesn't want to or chooses not to care. We do it because we love it, not because we don't have a choice.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Lately? .... Nursing is a job ... a way to pay my bills.

I'd like it to be more -- and sometimes, it is more. But I have to admit that I wouldn't be doing it any more if I had the financial means to retire.

[Benedina]

For the original question: Nursing means to me an opportunity to offer skilled attention to people at times of need. I find I get to do that as a hospice volunteer, as a nurse assistant, and am just beginning to learn how to do that as a nurse. Right now, that's the contribution I want to make.

Lately? .... Nursing is a job ... a way to pay my bills.

I'd like it to be more -- and sometimes, it is more. But I have to admit that I wouldn't be doing it any more if I had the financial means to retire.

I had the job of my dreams for more than 20 years. From time to time I got worn out with it, but fortunately the job would change enough (or I could change it enough) to keep me interested. But even that good job finally was no longer a good match for me.

I'm only speaking for myself here, no one else, but I do wonder if some of us just aren't well suited to spend our entire life work in one field. I'll write to the end of my days, but I don't want to earn my paycheck in publishing any more.

I'm lucky enough not to have to. (And I really, really mean "lucky." I just happened to have the financial and life breaks necessary to make this change. I couldn't have pulled it off ten years ago.)

Dina