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

UPDATE: Changes: New Log In Requirement

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.

Specializes in Geriatrics, ICU, OR, PACU.

I was a technical writer in the nuclear power industry, when my then husband wanted to move back to FL. Couldn't find work in my field here, so I got a unit secretary job in the ER. It took me about 3 minutes to realize that I wanted to be on the OTHER side of the desk, taking care of the patients. I went to EMT school, worked as an EMT in that ER while I went to nursing school. I graduated, moved out west, and worked in neuro, openheart, and trauma ICUs for the next 8 years. Did OR for a few years, and left hospital nursing for LTC. Loved it, and after a few promotions, am now the DNS for a 120 bed SNF. It's been a great career, and I'd never do anything else :)

Specializes in CCU, CIU, Cathlab, EP lab.

I was a carpet-layer. One sunday morning in September (27) 1992, my 34

month old daughter was awaiting my special cheese toast breakfast, when she cried "My eye is hurts" . I rushed to her, and she was limp and her eyes

were unresponsive to light (at the time..they looked 'funny') and she would not respond to my questions.

She was a perfect baby, having potty trained herself at day care at age 11 months, and dressing herself (pretty much) at age 18 months.

She did, however, have several small blanching cutaneous 'liver spots' or birthmarks, when she was born..one on ankle and knee, and one on her

left forehead hairline.

When she presented to the local level 2 center, a CT revealed an AVM of the midbrain, which had bled, causing herniation into the cerebellum.

She was transferred three more times that day, till we were in Tampa General's pedi-ICU, and scheduled for surgery the next day.

I was the first parent to be allowed to stay in the Rehab there, by vote of the board of directors. I learned much from the staff and physicians

regarding Osler Weber Rendu, and AVMs and their tx.

Jasmyne walked out of the TGH rehab just before Christmas that year. My wife had great insurance, and our church and family helped us quite a bit..otherwise our family would have had a rough time. The Sheriff's dept. bought us a washer that year, as ours started leaking..

I was able to enroll in the local vo-tech, and accepted into the nursing program. In January of 93, Ladislau Steiner accepted Jasmyne for tx (gamma knife) at

Charlottesville in Virginia. She developed mild progressive loss of mobility, secondary to the tx, but we made that decision based on the near certainty that a re-bleed would be fatal.

Jasmyne passed away two years ago..and I grieve for her every day, I just take comfort in the belief that she is finally walking and running again

with her grandaddy, and others...

I practiced as a floor nurse in med-surg for a year or so, and got a job as

a cardiologist's assistant working in the cath lab,I was required to pass the ACLS course..(quite a feat for an LPN) and helped start an EP lab at LRMC. My boss (my doctor) was/is and EP doc. I cross trained in the hospital's surgical education program, so I could assist with pacemaker implantation after we ablated AV nodes, or other aberrant pathways of the heart's conduction system. I managed his patients in office, billing, and procedures..whew- burnout.

After some skirmishes with the hospital and the clinic we had priviledges

under, I left to work directly for the hospital in the units and

respiratory floor.

I backed out of nursing for a time, but am now back in...

Regards..

I wanted to become a doctor, but didn't have the grades. But I am glad I didn't, i enjoyed nursing, I married one instead.............

Hi everyone! this is my situation right now, i am an american citizen but graduated from nursing school in the philippines.im back in boston and i am working as a nursing assistant...i know you all must be thinking...take the NCLEX already. i really want to but paper works in the philippines are taking so long. the state i am in is asking for many requirements such as having to go thru cgfns. and when i read posts about people just being able to get the nclex already, really frustrates me. so i really want to take it. i went to kaplan in the philippines and i learned alot from it. and its been a couple of months already and i dont want to drain out what ive learned because as time goes buy...you kinda forget and ur head goes blank. as i mentioned i am working as a nursing assistant in a nearby rehab place. my goodness...its tough work...as in physical tough work, your on your feet the whole day for 8 hours! and i told myself how can i study? work like crazy and study at home. and they are working me 40 hours a week pa! and the pay sucks...just because i studied nursing school in the philippines, they dont wanna give me the same pay as a nursing student in america workng part time there...i mean come on...we're doing the same job and ur just a student. i thought i would learn from working at a real hospital setting in a america that i would be able to apply it to NCLEX but no...you actually dont learn and people in america really dont go by the book like how its described in the NCLEX.

so i am taking a step back...there is another job offer to work as a recreation therapist which is more mellow and works with geriatrics but you do more postive things together and definitely will not keep me on my feet the whole day. the pay would be lower and i know i was complaining about my salary already at this job but my focus is being able to eally sit down and focus more on my nclex...

anyone please feel free to comment

If I were not a nurse, I am not sure what I would do. There is nothing that compares to admitting a patient whose condition seems to be hopeless and then seeing them walk away all healed.

Specializes in Med Surg, Nursing Administration for SNF.

Two reasons.

1. I enjoy nurturing people.

2. I vowed that I would never depend on another man EVER again.

:wink2:

I grew up taking care of my non-compliant diabetic mother. In 1985 I was found dead in a housefire. I died twice more in the hospital. The nurses and docs did not give up on me. I survived for a reason. The best way I could think of "payback," was to become a nurse.

My passion for the medical field as a whole started when i was about 8 yrs old. My dad was a physiology professor,thus he had alot of picture texts which i admired.I was amazed at the pics of the human body,and soon started drawing them up.That was the birth of my art career too,after drawing and painting a while,i was amazed at the variations of what makes us physiologically unique. When i made that out,my hunger to go deeper brought me to the nursing field,which is were i am today.Still wanting to learn more and still not able to fathom the beauty of the Universe within.

My Mother got breast cancer in December of 2003, then in 2004 I got and had a double mastectomy for breast cancer. Nine months later my husband got colon cancer and I decided that I need to be a nurse and give back to the wonderful nurses that treated me. My Sister 9 months after my husband got colon cancer and died in 6 weeks. My mother died after 2 years of having her cancer but she was 91. I feel that I have a lot to offer to oncology patients. I understand, been there, done that. It's not the end but the best thing that happened to me. I am 53 years old and graduate in May of 09.:nurse:

Ever since I was a child, I've always wanted to become a doctor.

Circumstances change, we moved here in the US, and the family's been struggling, we're just barely surviving paying the bills every month, having credit card debts.

So at the age of 16 (I was already graduated in high school.. we graduate early over there), I started my pre-reqs and nursing school to help my family.

But seeing the situation of the Philippines, my personal reasons for entering this wonderful profession is to know how to care for people. Of course it brings money, which Im glad to give to my family, but there are so many poor and underprivileged people there, people dont understand. Its a third-world country, people at the streets, dying of starvation. I want to be a doctor to cure those people.

What I love about nursing or medicine in general is you're taking care of people other than yourself, and that what makes it very noble. I LOVE IT.

Specializes in Med-surg, Mental health, SNF.

This is my third career...early military retirement, then Biotech...couldn't find enough lab work that paid well, needed gainful, in-demand employment that would support my family and I. Since I'm strong in the Sciences and service to my country/community, Nursing just seemed to fit the bill. What a long, strange trip it's been!

I NEED TO INTERVIEW A CRNA ABOUT THEIR JOB FOR A RESEARCH PAPER! MY INTERVIEW IS DUE ON MONDAY! IF ANY CRNA IS WILLING TO HELP ME AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS THAT WOULD BE GREAT!!! THANK YOU!

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

  • How long have you worked for your current employer?
  • What is your current position?
  • What are your job responsibilities?
  • What do you like most about your job?
  • What do you like least about your job?
  • What specific training is required for your position?
  • What advice do you have for someone looking to go into this profession?
  • Can you briefly describe a typical day in your job?
  • Do you have a specific hospital you work at or are you required to commute to different locations?
  • Do you have a set amount of hours you work in a week? Or is your schedule unpredictable week by week? What about during the holiday season?
  • Is it hard to maintain a social life outside the work place?
  • What type of benefits does your job offer for you and your family?
  • If you could choose your career choice all over again, would you still pick to be an anesthesiologist?
  • What type of people do you work with at your job?
  • Do you have to work at your job everyday or is it something that comes naturally to you?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME OUT! THANKS!!!

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