Why did you choose to become a nurse?

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Was it the best decision you ever made? Any regrets?

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I like medicine/health and find the body fascinating.

regrets: post burn out yes. Now? Absolutely not.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Medicine, science, and the medical field has always been something that caught my interest over other subjects (engineering, business admin, ect...) ever since highschool. Nursing seemed like a feasible route to get my foot in the door; at the time I unfortunantly couldn't take out the loans for med school, so I picked the next best option.

Do I regret it? I regret that I didn't do it sooner instead of fumbling around with my pre-med Bio-major (while I appreciate the knowledge, not the most versatile degree). I am humble that I was accepted before the crazy started and every one and their mom (literally) started to apply further diluting the pool for college students.

For me personally, nursing is a stepping stone. Now, I don't plan to work for 1 or 2 years as an RN and jump ship, but I plan on using my obtained clinical knowledge with working with the docs and other nurses to build myself a good foundation so that in 5 or 7 years I can apply for PA school, which I think will satiate my desire to be "the one that heals" better in the long run. But who knows, still got the whole future ahead!

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Specializes in med/surg/ortho/tele.

I made best decision when I decided to help people. There is different kind of professional satisfaction in taking care of sick and needy people. sometimes for 80 yrs old woman you become angel or sometimes father who cannot speak english understands very well that he can rely on you to take care of his child.

however these days hospitals have become centers of maximum profit at the cost of poor staffing and less resources. one cna is assigned to 20 patients, RN's work environments are full of politics and leaves for your family or important needs becomes secondary or of no imp to your hospital.

yes, regret do comes sometimes when people do not realize that nurses leave behind their families to care for other people. their commitment to humankind is ignored. it hurts !

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Best decision I ever made? No clue. I chose it because of the job flexibility and ability at the time, money and bennifets I also had some minor interest in it, has actually grown over time.

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That question.... especially in an interview situation it is so annoying. I just want to roll my eyes and say, "I want to take care of the world!" or some kind of pageant-type answer. Heh.

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Specializes in LTC.

I simply love taking care of others. Does my heart and soul good to know I made someone breathe easier. Wouldn't trade my career for the world.

I'm sure I'll be speaking another tune when I get off work from my 3-11 shift later. lol

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
Was it the best decision you ever made? Any regrets?

I needed a career change.

It was a pretty dang good decision.

No regrets yet. Heading to work in a couple hours and looking forward to it!

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Specializes in LTC.

When I went to college after high school, I double majored in psychology and philosophy with no real career plans, just found them to be interesting. When it go to be my senior year and I realized i was going to have to either find a job or apply to graduate school, I started looking into graduate school. One of my psych professors suggested looking into a Master in Public Health. So I started looking into that and decided that I would like to do community outreach type stuff and decided to apply to a post-bacc RN program to become a RN first and work as a public health nurse and then maybe get a Masters in Public Health. I also was newly married and thinking about starting a family and liked to flexibility that nursing offered. Ironically, when I did my public health nursing clinicals, I realized that being a public health nurse was not for me!

ETA: I forgot to answer your questions. I don't know if it is the best decision I ever made, but I like my job and think I made a good choice.

My only regret is that I didn't major in nursing when I was initially going to college after high school and my parents were helping me pay for it! I considered majoring in nursing, but wasn't sure if that was what I really wanted to do so I followed the "major in something you're interested in and the jobs/money will follow" BS advice.

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Specializes in (Nursing Support) Psych and rehab.

My inspiration came from my grandmother who died. On her last day we visited her and found multiple things wrong including her hygiene. I literally vowed to be part of the few who truly show care and compassion so that those I touch and care for would not go through what my grandma did. After I made this vow, I realized how much I was interested in the human body/mind... I wouldn't change my decision for a minute

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Except for a brief stint working in a movie theater as an 18 year old, I've never done anything else but take care of people. I also have a basic knack and interest in the sciences.

I started as a CNA, and had a close friend that was an RN, who inspired me a great deal. She was an excellent example of the profession and I looked up to her immensely. So, the progression to RN was a natural one for me.

There is a great deal of satisfaction going home at the end of the day knowing you have "fixed" health problems for people, and that perhaps their discomfort was eased by your care and actions.

I also love the interdisciplinary aspect, collaborating with docs and other professionals on the team is highly rewarding to me.

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When I was in college in my prereq classes, we'd have to go around the room and say what field we were looking to be in and why. Everyone who said "nurse" dreamily added "because I want to help people" and I rolled my eyes like the snot I was. At the time, none of my friends could believe I was gong into nursing because I didn't come off like a very caring person. I made the argument, "in an acute care situation, if you had to pick, would you rather have a sweet nurse or a smart nurse?"

I didn't even want to do nursing. I was halfway through getting a degree in administrative education and my parents were afraid I'd be stuck as a teacher (brutal in my city) for years before having a chance to be the principal I wanted to be. Meanwhile, my cousin was a nurse and after family dinners I'd go up to her room and read her books for fun. My mom pointed out to me that I seemed interested which I hadn't even noticed. Basically, I got badgered into switching majors and although the rebellious kid in me wanted to resent my parents for "giving up my dream", I can say gratefully that I have never looked back.

Actually caring for people has been an unexpected bonus. Turns out I've got reserves of sweetness and patience that only comes out when I'm at work. I'm blessed that I am in a career that has made a better person out of me.

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