What did you want to be when you grew up?

[demylenated]

And did it have to do with nursing?

I had 3 things I wanted to be: A nurse, a scientist, and a special education teacher. I cannot remember a time in my life where I wanted to be something different.

I'm kind of all 3 :) I did a lot of work with special needs people as a nurse. The scientist part comes through with using your nursing judgement and trying to put the pieces together with the Dr. to make a clear diagnosis :) Also, I am attaining my degrees in Psychology and Sociology... social sciences...

A lot of nurses I speak with have wanted to be a nurse, teacher, or vet... So, I'm interested: What did you want to be (who knows, maybe I'll do a research paper on it... LOL)?

~Demy

[Tina1968]

I had always been very sensitive towards other people's feelings growing up. Then when my brother turned 13 yrs. old, he began showing symptoms of mental illness. Eventually he was diagnosed with bipolar. From that point on, I knew I wanted to do something like psychology or nursing. It took many years, but I'm now a nurse and I love it. I have always felt "called" to aide others. I feel so blessed...

[lwd338]

I really wanted to be an Airline Hostess or Stewardess as they called them back in the day!! and let me tell ya if the economy was better I might have still tried out and retired from my 35 year nurseing job. I wasnt eligable becasue I was to short (5'4' and about 15 lbs. overweight you had to be about 115 lbs at that time) NOW anything goes hahahah

[amarilla, RN]

Interesting question! When I was little, I wanted to study dinosaurs. I'd tell people, "I'm going to be a paleontologist!". I spent all my time playing with them, watching movies about them, drawing them and burying them in the yard, (so I could dig them up and 'discover' them, of course.)

I ended up in insurance sales, project management and then risk management. Total nerd with liability on the brain. Nursing came along as the market crashed. I still watch the dinosaur shows on tv, though.

[caringhands88]

A pediatric np or a teacher

[STL2008, RN]

Vet and I still do

[demylenated, BSN, RN]

Thanks everyone... this has been a fun thread to read :)

I still want to be a scientist (possible forensic nurse), and still love working with special education!

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

A secretary, but when I became one, I didn't like the position.

Oh so much my smart alek mind could say......:p

[AusRN]

When I grew up, I wanted to be a vet, then a lawyer.

I decided that was too hard and became a nurse instead.

[LPNnowRN]

A paleontologist. Dinosaurs are still my passion!

[csw5048]

It is never too late to follow your dream. I did not go to nursing school till I was 40. Regret makes one bitter with life. Follow your dream!

[Raven Sierra, BSN, RN]

Fighter pilot. Seriously. I pursued that dream with a vengeance until I was 16 and my eyesight fell below military standards for pilots. I was just getting ready to drop an Air Force Academy packet...

So then I wandered in college. First, I decided designing airplanes as a mechanical/aerospace engineer would be my consolation prize, but I hated calculus. Then, it was biochemistry (my dad is a biochemist), but, by this time, I enjoyed the college party life too much for studying. So I wandered over to print journalism, my B.A. I was actually pretty good at it, although it was a long way from fighter pilot. I had played temporarily with the idea of a double major in nursing but decided it was "too much work," plus it would delay my graduation.

After 10+ years in the journalism business, I'm back at nursing. My first love will always be flying, but I fell in love with nursing during my time as a CNA (did it several years ago for the health insurance). I'm not naive, and I know it's tough. But I loved it...most days.

Eventually, I will go for NP. Oh, and I'm going in the military after my nursing school graduation. :)

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I'll let you know when I do grow up! Seriously, I changed me mind a million times. A dancer, an actor, a singer, a "star" when I was little. Then an archaeologist or a vet. Kind of fell into nursing later in life [got my degree at 37] and have not regretted it - at least most days,LOL!