When did you know you wanted to be a nurse?

That "moment" for me was when I had to watch my favorite uncle battle his testicular CA which "Mezt'd" everywere.....I felt sooooo helpless to do anything to help him and I didn't like that feeling at all!!.....I decided I never wanted to feel that way again (not to say that I can "fix" everything now, but at least now I have some idea how to go about FINDING away to help).:)

I've wanted to be a nurse since I was little, although can't pinpoint the exact moment. I took a circuitous route to get to nursing school after I finished high school though, and one of the things I did in between the two was living and working in Calcutta for several months. I volunteered at a home for severely physically and mentally handicapped children. The home was (is) run by the Missionaries of Charity, which is Mother Teresa's order of nuns. I completely fell in love with the children and with the feeling I got from caring for them. It just totally filled me up. And then I realized I wanted to learn more so that I could offer them, and others I will care for in the future, more. So, I came back, applied to school and now I'm a year and a half away from graduating as an RN!!

I'm 38 but the seed was planted a few years ago when I went to visit my Dad in a nursing home. (he had alzhimers). When I walked in he was up against a wall in his wheelchair and all by himself in the hallway. He couldn't move his wheelchair because he had just had a massive stroke. That moment bothered me so badly. I just kept wondering how many times someone walked by him and didn't move him. I just want to make a difference in someones life, even if they don't realize whats happening at that moment! And I just have to say, my positive experience was when I had all 3 of my children. I had the best nurses!!!! And will never forget them!!

Probably when i was 4 years old and threatened to beat ppl up if anyone touched my Fisher-Price Doctor Kit.

Seriously, when i was 16 and my dad spent 5 months in the hospital with pancreatitis, pancreatic cyst, bil duct obstruction, and an ileus, i remember one nurse at CAMC named Lucy who was the best. She was very nice, even if Dad wasn't a pt. assigned to her, she still came by and said hi. Just watching her in action inspired me for healthcare.

It was about a year and a half ago. Growing up I wanted to be three things: an astronaut, a doctor, or a teacher. I crossed astronaut off my list b/c I'm afraid of heights and flying, teacher was out b/c they work very hard for very little pay, and doctor--well, let's just say I don't want to put myself through all that to end up married to my job.

I watched my sister die of cancer two years ago and I guess part of me wants to reconcile the fears I had seeing her in the hospital and not understanding everything attached to her. Also she talked about the nurses, esp. the ones she liked, and one shared my first name. Then one day it just hit me--I REALLY want to be a nurse! I'm graduating this December!!

In my early 20s I had some unexplained hypertension and went in for some in-patient testing and monitoring. (I had good insurance and they did that back then, today it would all be outpaitent). But seeing how the nurses operated on the floor put the itch in me, and I imagined that it was something I would like to do in a fantasy.

It wasn't until 15 or so years later when I was broke and had a horrible job and the opportunity to go to school that I saw Nursing in the college catalog, that I actually decided to go for it. It never dawned on me until that moment that I could actually be a nurse.

2 and 1/2 years ago, and now I'm about to graduate from an ADN program (last semester). I was doing some volunteer work for a hospice and someone mentioned that when we sat with an elderly client, we couldn't help them to the bathroom, because we weren't CNAs. I didn't even know what a CNA was. I went to CNA school at a local college, and when I got the textbook (The Nursing Assistant) home and started reading the first chapter, I realized the book was a pure application of the Gospel. I was spellbound. Imagine living the Gospel, and being able to make a decent living, too. It was a gift from God.

Originally posted by prmenrs

I honestly have no actual memory of having made this decision. When I was about 4/5, someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said , a nurse. I considered other things, but always came back to "a nurse".

Same as above. I was about 5 and would dress up for Holloween each year. I wore my mom's Nursing cap and my Grandmothers Cape.:)

For me it was an early mid-life crisis.... I was 26, I was a nanny and the kids didn't need me anymore. I was looking into other jobs and my step-mom who is an awesome nurse said that I should be one... that I would be good at it.

I was still himming and a hawwing while at a women's retreat for church. I wasn't against the idea, but wasn't sure if I could do it. We had a time of prayer and to make a LONG story very short - I ended up in Zimbabwe - it was there that I KNEW, without any reservation, doubt etc, that I was called to be a nurse.

No regrets.....

I used to be pre-med, but decided when I was 20 to go for nursing instead. I really enjoy interacting with people and having real patient contact, so I figured that Nursing would suit me better. Also, I decided that I wanted to be a mother and a wife too (going to school forever wouldn't be able to leave me much room to be a wife or mother). I heard that nursing had more flexible scheduling than drs (nurses dont have to be oncall). My aunt was a nurse, so was my best friend's mom and her sister. I really looked up to them and wanted to do what they did...become a nurse! I am graduating in May and couldn't have been happier with my decision so far

I remember the moment like it was yesterday. I was 15 years old, visiting my grandparents, and one night after everyone went to bed I was bored out of my mind. The only thing to read was Reader's Digest, and there was an excerpt from Elizabeth Mehren's book "Born Too Soon" which is about her premature daughter's struggle to live. The way she wrote about the strength of such a tiny baby was beautiful, but the real clincher was the way she remembered the nurses. She considered them angels, and described their love for her daughter and their supportive care of the family in the most wonderful way. I decided then and there that I wanted to be a part of that world, and wanted to be able to help babies and their families the way the nurses in that book did.

Halfway through nursing school, I hit that slump where everything seems impossible. I went to the bookstore to buy a new drug guide, and there on the nursing shelf was a copy of "Born Too Soon" - and I realized I never even read the whole thing!!! I bought it, read it in one evening, and cried my eyes out. The next day, I was back on my feet, roaring to go, more determined than ever.

I've been working NICU for over 5 years now, and to this day that book still inspires me.