Why did you become a nurse?

rubato, ASN, RN · Aug 29, 2014

When I decided to get back into the job market after being a stay at home mom, I wanted something fast paced that wouldn't bore me. Well, I got what I asked for, that's for sure!

Caffeine_IV · Aug 29, 2014

I really don't remember but it wasn't about money.

Prisnur04 · Aug 29, 2014

I NEVER wanted to be a nurse, it was simply an easy fix for a bum's lifestyle that had to end. However, now that I am a nurse and have been working in a prison setting for 10 years, I'm glad I did it. I guess I like taking care of people who nobody else wants to care for. One of my nursing instructors told me it was my destiny. That sounded so sad to me at the time, but I have a gift for letting a person's faults drop from my mind when they come into my infirmary seeking help and treating them as if they were anyone else in the free world. (Maybe it's because I used to be a bum and a criminal myself :sneaky: )

malamud69, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2014

The scrubs

Karou · Aug 30, 2014

I always wanted to be a nurse. I don't really know why. I do remember playing with my nurse barbies and watching ER with my mom. I don't recall that influencing me though.

I have always had a servants heart. It makes me happy to be able to do something for someone that they can't do for themselves. Taking care of family when they were sick, helping friends with homework, being protective of my little sister, whatever it was. I like to cook and provide for the people that I love.

Nursing allows me a career where I actually get personal enjoyment from what I do. My family jokes about what a people pleaser I am and that I can be self sacrificial at times. True. But it's what I love to do.

taggart84 · Aug 30, 2014

I worked at a day care right out of high school. One day a coworker told me she was going to take a two week STNA course and asked if I would be interested. I honestly had no idea what all that entailed. She told me about basic duties and pay, which anything was better than the day care. So off I went. I spent the next 6 years in a couple different nursing homes. I was a damn good aide and am intelligent. A couple nurse friends encouraged me to attend nursing school. I dug my heels for a while before hitting a rock bottom in my life. I suddenly needed to be able to provide for myself independently. So off I went again. I completed the LPN program in 2009. I've worked in one nursing home (that I was an aide during school for) and for the last 4 years I have been in home health.

Step_981 · Aug 30, 2014

Before being a nurse I was a rescuer (in Italy the figure of paramedic on ambulances doesn't exist) but I desired have more skills and knowledge to help and to care people, so I have decided becoming nurse.

Honestly the economic aspect played an important role in my decision as well, but it wasn't the primary aspect in my choice.

(Excuse me for possible grammatical or writing mistakes)

AspiringNurseMW · Aug 30, 2014

I'm going to nursing school because I want to be a Midwife. I would actually prefer to be a Professional midwife vs nurse - midwife but I have a young family so having the option to change between hospital /birth center /home births depending on where I am in life is a HUGE benefit. If I had known just HOW much MORE care a nurse provides during labor and delivery vs a doc I probably would've had pursued nursing straight out of high school, but here I am almost 10 years and 2 kids later starting on this journey, I'm glad for things turning out the way they have so far. I feel like I'm going to be much more appreciative than I would at 18.

I love the honest answers here.

AWanderingMinstral · Aug 30, 2014

I became a registered nurse after serving in the Peace Corps. I continue to have a strong commitment to helping those most in need. However, I quickly learned that the bedside wasn't where I wanted to be. I'm still looking...

klone, MSN, RN · Aug 30, 2014

The paycheck

That was a joke, btw. I just wanted to see how long it would take for some bliss-ninny to come along and chastise me for being in it for the wrong reasons. No takers, alas.

Honestly, the reason I became an RN was because my goal was to become an IBCLC (board certified lactation consultant), and at the time, having a nursing degree was the fastest route to that goal. Ironically, I actually enjoyed nursing in its own right, and I wasn't even going to sit for the IBCLC exam when I finally became eligible, but one of my coworkers talked me into it. I actually haven't even done bedside lactation consulting in over 5 years.

SWM2009 · Aug 30, 2014

Easy entry as a second career and the paycheck. Yes, I am one of those nurses.

NurseTralala · Aug 30, 2014

I had had a rough time in university, very directionless ect. I ended up leaving after my second year and was left to fend for myself in the world of retail. I liked the work when it came to helping people but the pressure of sales was eating my soul alive. Plus, I was getting sick of working for 10 bucks an hour and wanted a Big Girl job. My sister worked for the registrars office at a post secondary institution and recommended I check out the nursing program there. It was short (16 months!), I had the grades to get in, and I knew I was interested in maternal/child care. I also came from a family of nurses, so I knew it was a career I could be flexible with, especially if I wanted to start a family down the road. When it became clear to me that sh** was gonna hit the fan yet again at my retail job, I bit the bullet, applied, and got in. It was a rough experience but in many ways it was so positive and I found that I got really passionate about nursing. So here I am.