What's your story? Why did you take up nursing?

    Joe V
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    Joe V

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What's your story? Why did you take up nursing?

Every nurse has their own story to tell about how or why they chose to enter the nursing profession. Some may have been inspired by a personal experience with healthcare, while others may have been drawn to the idea of caring for others. Some may have stumbled upon nursing by chance, while others knew from a young age that it was their calling. Whatever the reason, each nurse has a unique narrative that led them to become a caregiver. These stories are a testament to the diversity and passion within the nursing community and the profound impact that healthcare can have on our lives.

Please be as detailed or as short as you wish. It'll be interesting to hear everyone's stories.

1113 Answers

Specializes in Med-Surg.

My mom has been a nurse for thirty years and I just loved science and how the body works as a kid. I use to read all of her medical nursing books and as all of us as nurses are I am a very caring individual and give 150% to my patients.

When I did retail my customers were so excited that I was going to be a nurse and felt sad to lose me as photo specialist but loved the fact that I was to be a nurse. a good career choice they would tell me.

I love being a nurse, at times it can be frustrating and thankless but for the 2% that don't appreciate the other 98% make up for them.

I was a bad kid. I ran around with the wrong crowd. Got into some things I shouldn't have and saw some things I shouldn't have. The things I saw stuck with me due to the violent nature and the impact and I wished then I could help out in some way.... and vowed to do great things later.

I knew then I wanted to be a nurse.

Z ?

PS: I'll write more detail later..when it's not 3 am. 

Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

I've always found the human body fascinating, enjoyed biology and anatomy. While in Jr. High school, one of my best friend's mom was a nurse, and the idea of being a nurse intrigued me. I also new a flight paramedic and his stories always peaked my interest as well. While in High School, I made my mind up that I wanted to be an ER nurse and eventually become a flight nurse.

I went to nursing school, started out in Geriatrics, became very interested in Nursing Informatics, which at the time was fairly new. I was amazed at how little the Nursing Home and Hospitals used technology, and I loved using computers to save time. I never did anything with my interest in Informatics directly. I then moved to the hospital, worked Telemetry, and then I went to work in CCU for several years.

Back in 1995, I started a nursing website as a hobby when I was in nursing school back in 95, that hobby became a passion, and then became a business for me. That website is now called allnurses.com (this website) has grown to significantly since it's early days. I've never for one minute regretted becoming a nurse!

While I never became an ER nurse or a flight nurse, I am very happy where my nursing career has taken me ?

I was in my back yard one evening with a nice fat possum on the grill. I heard a noise and looked up to see a spacecraft directly above me. In an instant, I was transported into a dimly lit area equipped with strange equipment. Then a 3 ft tall being with a single eye in the center of his neck...or what I though was a neck, kicked me in the shins. As I jerked my leg up out of the way, several of the little critters pushed me back on an exam table. The next few hours were a blur as I went in and out of consciousness. Before I knew what was happening I was graduating from nursing school. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Well I applied to the local supermarket and they didn't have any vacancies, I was gutted, all my life I'd dreamed of stacking shelves. As a last resort I went to nursing. :chuckle

Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

In the Australian outback town where I grew up, being a nurse was the only job you could continue working at AFTER you married! ?

It was a town ruled by the union movement, and married women weren't permitted to hold jobs! The jobs had to be for the single girls only. TRUE! Understand, I'm talking about the 1960's.

Not that my decision to become a nurse was something I really considered or thought out in great detail. I really "sort of" fell into it. I'd actually always wanted to study law! However, circumstances sent me on a different pathway.

I'm always grateful I did become a nurse. I've never been unemployed, other than by choice, and have had an incredible journey along the way. It's a profession whereby you can travel and see other places and always be assurred of obtaining a job. Something I've done over the years. I think the thing that has always held true for me about being a nurse is; it's a REAL job! It has purpose. It has a reason for being. I realize ALL jobs have reason/purpose, so NO need to flame me! But nursing just has that edge and something more/extra, over most other jobs.

Would I do it all over again, given my time over? Hmmm .... the jury's still out on that one. ?

hi! I am a new graduate. I am going to be 26 next week, but I have wanted to be an RN since I was in 8th grade. funny story? I had a lot of ear infections in 7th and 8th grade, and I went to the doctor... back then, to me, he was about it. the "hunk" of my dreams! ha ha! ever since then I have been interested in medicine. I had a collection of gloves from different places that I snatched on my way out. (now I can get all I want!) I graduated high school, went to college for one year for and art major (my other love), but realized I wouldn't be able to do anything to make money in the area I was, and was not going to move to a big city to make big money. so, I got married (nope, not the doctor!! he he), 3 years later had a son, then after he turned a year I decided to pursue my dream. that was 3 years ago, my son is now 4, and I am now an RN. I have not gotten a job yet, and I have not taken my boards. (I just graduated last Friday!) so I am very anxious and excited to get out there and start in the real world!

Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

My mom was a 2nd grade teacher (now retired.) I decided early on that I would never be a teacher - way too much work. Never thought about being a nurse, I wanted to be a vet.

After my oldest son was born, I had contact with several nurses who made a big impact on me with their kindness, gentleness and concern beyond the immediate problems. Still didn't think about being a nurse, mostly because I had screwed up my life, not graduated HS, and felt I had missed my chance at going to college.

After my last child was born, I decided I had to make something of myself and decided to become a psychologist. I got a community college class book and started thumbing through it. Being a psychologist started to look boring. I looked at all the cool classes nurses got to take - anatomy, chemistry, biology. I decided to do that instead.

So, 18 years later, here I am. It took me from 1991-1999 to earn a 4 year degree - 1 class at a time sometimes. Little kids and life got in the way. Somewhere along the line, I forgot about ever wanting to be anything but a nurse. Now, although some days I feel like running into McDonalds and filling out an application - I can't imagine working in any other field and being satisfied at the end of the day.

It sounds like a cliche, but it's the little things that keep me going back to work, and make me feel good about what I'm doing. Even the patients you work your fingers to the bone for 12 hours on - touch and go the whole way - who don't remember you, but think the nurse who extubated them the next day must be the best nurse in the whole world. I look at them up walking around, going home to be with their families - and I think, well at least I did something right!

I didn't dream of becoming a nurse growing up. I was originally a nuclear medicine major. My older sister became ill with leukemia, and fought an amazing fight. She was the strongest, bravest person I will ever know. She always said that when she recovered, she was going to go back to school to be a nurse. It will be four years next month since she passed away. She was only 30. The care from that she received from her nurses was nothing short of extraordinary. When I returned to school that fall, I switched majors, and just graduated with my BSN last weekend. I am 24 years old, and so glad that switched so young, because I know that I am going to love doing this for the rest of my life. :)

Bekahlynn

My story is pretty boring. I just wanted to help people. I honestly love being a nurse. My wife tells me that I'm empathetic and compassionate, but she may be biased. :)

My wife is also a nurse. She says she became an RN because she grew up in the hospital as a patient. She lit herslef on fire as a child, beat the odds and lived, and feels it's her responsibility to give back.

Interesting thread.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

My story; a little boring but I'll share anyway. I come from a family of nurses. I have a mother, two aunts, a cousin, and a sister who are all nurses. Oddly enough, I never considered nursing as an option for me. I was accepted to an excellent education program at a highly rated college in my area. I decided since I was not getting much financial aid (and I was paying for my own school for my first two years) I would attend the community college and then transfer my credits. Well, I started at the CC in a 2+2 program for Elementary Education. My best friend was attending the same college for nursing. I ended up getting married during my second semester, moving out of state, and having children. Meanwhile, my best friend failed two co-requisites and was taken out of the nursing program. I took almost three years off to be a SAHM, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However our family grew exponentially and I hated seeing my husband sacrificing all his days off and working 12-16 hour shifts so that we could make ends meet. I told him that if we moved back to NY I would go back to school since we had family here that could help with the kids. Well, for my third pregnancy I was tended by midwives. They made such an impression on me and it dawned on me that I wanted to be (and was meant to be) a nurse. I applied to the LPN program on the last possible day, interviewed on the last possible day, and somehow was chosen out of 413 qualified applicants. It was God's grace. I graduate this Tuesday, but I've already been pinned. I don't regret making this career choice at all & I absolutely CAN'T WAIT to start my job 6/6/05 and continue towards my RN this August.

:chuckle PS- I mentioned my best friend to say this. She has gotten her Associates and is working as a paraprofessional- slated to start school this coming January for her teaching certificate. :chuckle

Specializes in ER, ICU, Corrections.

Well I started out wanting to be a horse trainer but I realized that I wasn't going to make the big bucks at that job and I decided to become a high school teacher but that didn't pan out and I am glad that it didn't. I finally decided on becoming an nurse and i am soooooooo glad at what I did. I would have never been able to do and see the things that I have all these years.

I have been a nurse for 30 years and in corrections for 16 and I am glad that I am doing this. I love my job and I wake up wanting to go to work and each day I feel like this is where I am supposed to be, taking care of these guys and making their life just a little better and making them feel like there are a few people that care.... I only have 6 more years and then I can retire, but I don't think that I would ever completely quit working, I will find something to do in my spare time when I can.

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