Whty do people become nurses?

happy2learn · Apr 27, 2010

I am a pre-nursing student and I'll tell you why I decided nursing was for me.

Two years ago, I volunteered for a small organization that ran a small Christmas event at the local Children's Hospital, in the pediatric cancer ward.

I'll never forget that night. Here are these children, ranging from about 4 years old to 16 years old, with such a horrible disease. All of them had smiles on their faces. All of them participated in each activity(I was at the cookie decorating table), and they enjoyed every minute. Each time they smiled, I looked at the parent or family members face. The look on their face was hard to describe. A smile, but so much deeper than that. It was a pure joy that just penetrated my heart. These children had all kinds of things hooked up to them. Not once did they complain. Not once did they talk about their cancer. Not once was their a cry. They were happy to be alive and happy to be enjoying an activity with the people they love.

That night changed my life. I couldn't help but think about all of the things I complained about and as a society, what we think is important. It still brings me to tears when I recall their smiles. It pains me to know that children have to go through cancer, but it touches my heart to see how strong they are and how they enjoy such simple things in life. So many children and adults die from cancer each day and my life goal is to care for them and give them just one more smile before that day comes. From that night, I knew I wanted to work with cancer patients and I knew the best way to make a difference in their lives, is by becoming an oncology nurse.

I've just started and it's not easy. I can't afford the schools that have no waits, so I have to wait for my dreams. I sometimes feel selfish for taking so many years of my life to go to school, and at times I feel like I should start my own family, since I know my husband really wants kids. But I know if I have a kid now, I may never get through school. Prioritizing life for a dream is not an easy choice and I still have many more years to go. But knowing a dream can become reality is what keeps me going. In the mean time, I am going to be volunteering so I can start to make a difference now.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 27, 2010

I want to do nursing because I always like helping people. Started when I got my EMT. Plus as I kid I told myself that I would never work behind a desk and I wanted to wear a stetho all day at work, no joke.

I wanted to give up when I failed a class, but wasnt going to let something like that get in the way of me and my goal. Sometimes you gotta get knocked down a bit.

Kimberlyjoy · Apr 27, 2010

thank you much for replying to my blog I really appericate it. HSPPY2LEARN your story really hit my heart. This is how i feel when i do community service with the elderly. it just warms my heart you feel good. THAT GUY keep doing your thing never give up

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 27, 2010

I am a people person and I really like helping people (sounds corny I know) but I had a really rough life growing up and I always wanted to try and make a difference in someones life like I didn't have. So from a young age I knew I would be in a field helping people.

I wanted to do social services to "Save abused children" but then I saw how it was and how much their hands are tied and stuff and I knew I couldn't do it without breaking laws. Same with law enforcement. I mean if I tell you to stop or I will shoot, I'm shooting, I'm not chasing your behind 8 blocks.

I wanted to be a forensic detective too, (before CSI and all them shows). I went on a field trip to the FBI academy and fell in love. But kids kinda derailed that plan.

So I wasn't sure what profession I could do to still fulfill what I was wanting to do until I had a lot of medical problems. I had a lot of great nurses and a lot of bad nurses and it became clear to me that I would do that.

So here I am. It's been a long journey, I was on a wait list for 3.5 years, my school was wait list only, but it's worked out and I am just about done with my first year.

BSNMomOf6 · Apr 27, 2010

I want to become a Certified Nurse Midwife and deliver babies, and you have to be an RN and have 1 year nursing experience to get into the masters program to become a CNM so here I am. I figure nursing is a great "back-up" should my goal of becoming a CNM not work out or take a long time. But my ultimate goal is to catch babies! I had all 5 of my children with midwives and LOVE it. I'm a doula and catching babies is my passion.

Kimberlyjoy · Apr 28, 2010

thank you so much for respnding to my question :)

Muffy5 · Apr 29, 2010

I am currently a LPN and will be receiving my RN in June. I originally wanted to be an English teacher and that's what my classes were focused in. I always wanted to write in my space time and just do something creative. I never thought of being a nurse until about age 19 after a friend of mine got me a job doing activities at a nursing home. I fell in love with the geriatric population! After being told by every nurse (well not every nurse), that I had a gift and that I should definitely go into nursing. I was not a science person, but as soon as I started taking the classes and originally struggling, I began to love it! I had to retrain my brain to think that way, but I managed.

While awaiting to get into nursing school a family member of mine was diagnosed with lymphoma and died very suddenly. I spent everyday with her, and I was so comforted by one hospice nurse in particular. I realized then that I could do this! Just the fact that I could handle that situation and be there for my family member, I knew I could and wanted to be there for others, whether in hospice or not.

Now after being almost through the program, I never have a regret or doubt about that this is what I was born to do, and as far as creative goes, I truly do see that nursing is really a science and an art and a very special profession!