Why did you choose to become a nurse?

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

I was always introverted and bookish and got my bachelor's in a similarly bookish non-health but advocacy-related field. Managed to build a professional life but I had just gotten so sick of being focused on the inside of my head.

I wanted to be out in the world, to feel like I was a part of something bigger than me and to continue to help people; even to feel like a small, little, unimportant fish in a big pond, just swimming along with all of the other helper fish, trying to make a difference.

One of the things that I love about nursing is it's pragmatism and immediacy. Most important of all, is that for that period that I am on the floor doing my job, there is not a single thought in my head about me and my life. That was an unexpected plus.

In retrospect I think I knew back when I made the decision to do this, that distance from me was something that I needed in my life.

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Specializes in CAPA RN, ED RN.

I didn't actually choose to become a nurse until I had been out of school with my degree and working for about 5 years. I started as a Nursing major because I had funding for nursing. There was a nursing shortage at the time and the feds were donating to the cause. I always thought I would transition to another degree but somehow they kept giving me money. I just kept on going and graduated with a BSN.

I took a nursing job out of school and worked for 2-3 years in a couple of different areas. It was a job. I figured I could always have an income in nursing while I decided what I really wanted to do. Then an opportunity came up to work in the advertising field. It was a "who you know" sort of thing and I jumped right in. I learned a lot and did well. However the more I did, the more lonely I became. My time was spent analyzing products, writing, meeting copy deadlines and planning ads and commercials. I had a less free schedule, I worked mainly on my own and there was never anyone to pick up the slack even if I was sick. If a deadline was not met, it was on me. I had a corner office but it was just me, not the team I had worked with in nursing and the person-to-person contact I had with my patients. I went back to nursing.

I have to admit I am a nurse for selfish reasons. I love working with people and it is a field that puts me right with people. The majority of my career has been bedside nursing because that is what I have chosen to do. I also give back to my colleagues by developing and implementing training and precepting programs and I am currently on a national committee in my chosen specialty. I believe strongly in the professional bedside nurse. I have been offered department head jobs, desk jobs for nurses, etc., but I am still primarily a bedside nurse.

Would I do it again? Obviously, yes. I have been a nurse for 37 years now. From time to time I think I might have chosen to go with medicine because of the extra money but nursing has been a good fit for me. It has wrapped itself around my life and flowed with the personal changes I have needed to make. I have had enough money for myself and my family. I enjoy nursing and I expect to be doing it until I can no longer be upright. I would say that those people who gave me money to be a nurse all those years ago got more than their money's worth with me!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I wanted something where I'd never be bored...and I got it. And I found that I like it and have a knack for it.

Would definitely do it again...only regret is that I didn't do it earlier than I did.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/home health care.

I am interested in becoming a nurse because I have always been interested in health, I wanted a job I could get into quickly, and a job I could support a family on. When I was little, in the 5th grade, we had to disect a pigs heart. Everyone was afraid to touch it and I dove right in, sticking my hands throughout the valves here and there. Then came high school, it was time to disect a pig, again, I was appointed the lead disector and cut that thing up like a butcher:rolleyes:. My teacher was impressed, to say the least. My dad has always told me I should become a surgeon because I have "skilled hands". My favorite shows are: 1000 ways to die, Dr. Oz, and Mystery diagnosis. The body fasinates me like nothing else has. When I told my grand ma I wanted to become a nurse, she said "I always knew you would because you were always so helpful and whenever someone was injured, you were always the one to ask if they were ok and band aid them up". A girl passed out in high school once and started having a siezure and while everyone was just sitting there stunned I ran to the nearest teacher and yelled out "some girl's having a siezure!". I have been told I am good in emergency situations. I am a CNA now and I often see people in forms that would make others puke, but am not in the least bit grossed out by it. Blood does not make me queezy. I am very strong, and I have beaten people twice my size in arm wrestling contests before. I am my most awake at night. I have good stamina and edurance. I can't see any reasons so far as to why nursing wouldn't be a good choice for me.

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Why was a public health nurse not for you?

Thanks You!

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

I had a stupid moment in my life when I looked at what I would make hourly over anything else... That is why I chose nursing!LMAO, sorry ask a serious question, get a serious and honest answer!Happy

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

No regrets here!

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I've always been interested in medicine and felt that this was the best way to incorporate that into my life's work while helping others. For a while I was thinking of becoming a psychologist, but I didn't feel like I would see it as fulfilling as nursing. I don't know, something just clicked I guess....:p

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I had been managing a fast food joint since I was a senior in high school, I kept getting promoted to the point of being the Sr. Assit General manager blah blah blah and I was tired of working for a for profit company, tired of how my employees were being treated, was told by my area manager to fire my perfectly good employees because they had been there too long and now made more than minium wage. I was tired of getting yelled at by customers over the most small things ( really your entire day is reunied becasue there was sauce on your pintos & cheese!?):uhoh21:

I figured I liked working with people, I can handle being yelled at, just geez it better be life and death, I liked biology and at that point in my life it was looking like I would end up being a single parent and I needed a job that would support the 3 of us, plus be flexiable.

Now that I am a nurse I still like working with people, but some of the companies that I have worked for are no better than the fast food joint, treat employees like crap ( we are a dime a dozen) ( SNF/LTC) and boy do we get yelled at for the stupidest things. I worked for 3 years in the ED as a CNA while going through nursing school. Had sombody come in while we were coding someone I am doing CPR and they wanted to know why they hadn't been seen yet and that they needed a blanket and some food:eek:

However I am pretty happy where I am at, working for a non profit pediatric LTC which so far is really good to their employees and I know that I do make a difference in the kids lives. I hope to one day to jump to acute care peds and then to the NICU

My only regret is that I did not go to college right after high school and I didn't become a nurse sooner

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Specializes in Neuro ICU/Trauma/Emergency.

Honestly, individuals who ask these questions seem to not be fit for the profession. I see a lot more students entering college with quick financial gain on their brains. This generation is becoming more geared towards finances, rather than passion. Nursing is a career that chooses you. You don't choose nursing!

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I can think of a lot better reasons to preemptively assume someone is not fit for nursing than a simple inquiry on our reflections.

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Specializes in General Internal Medicine, ICU.

I was in my second year of university and figured that I needed to study something that would turn into a career for me. Nursing caught my eye, and it seemed to be do-able so I submitted an application for the nursing program at the university that I went to. Got an offer an accepted it. A few years later, and here I am working my first job as an RN.

I don't regert any of it.

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