Why did you choose to become a nurse?

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2012

I definitely agree that you should have a passion for whatever you decide to pursue, be it nursing or another career. However, nursing is still a job. We shouldn't judge the motivations of others. If I wasn't able to live comfortably, I wouldn't do it. I don't believe in the "calling" bit either. We all have our own reasons for choosing nursing.

Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2012

Plain and simple, I got into nursing for the steady paycheck and it is good money. I have a Business Admin BAch. and my BSN. I was in the military and was gotting out and I looked down the road and saw that I could always have a job as a nurse with a steady paycheck. After all my years in the service and all the things I have seen done to people and have had to do to people and after almost 25 years as a nurse I really could care less at this point about "helping people in their time of need" train 0of thought. Nursing does not choose you...you choose nursing.

mazy · Jan 30, 2012

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!

I think this is a really good thread. I have gotten to know a lot about other nurses and who they are and what motivates them. Nursing is a complicated and difficult job. It's nice to know all the different personality types and what they bring to the profession.

And yes, to a certain extent nursing chooses us, but we are all so different and I like hearing about the life experiences that have led people to be open to doing this kind of work.

yuzzamatuzz · Jan 30, 2012

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!

Maybe I'm just confused. How did the OP express that she went into nursing for financial gain? My understanding was that her post actually expressed excitement to be a nurse! I completely agree with you though that nursing is a career that chooses you.

Anyways, I love nursing and don't regret it at all. I can't see myself doing anything else and even on the "bad days" I still enjoy my job. For the good and the bad (but mostly the good), nursing has defined who I am as a person.

CNA1991, CNA · Jan 31, 2012

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

Yes, and I have many more reasons as to so...assuming this is an indirect reply to my previous post.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jan 31, 2012

I chose to become a nurse because I wanted to impact others in a positive way.

I am a giver.

In this life there are givers.. and there are takers.

The current health care situation is all about money.

Therefore ..I am not able to fulfill my esoteric goal. So.. it is a no win situation.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2012

Fear. I chose to go into nursing in my last semester of high school, the same time my parents were divorcing. That got me thinking about getting into a stable career that would pay a decent wage and would not go away like other jobs have. And I would be able to support myself and my mother quickly. I had initially considered biology, leading later to med school, but that path takes a lot longer. The divorce had me scared for the future, so I chose nursing because I thought it was safe. My mother had been a home maker all her married life, and even when the divorce happened, the economy sucked. What jobs are there for her? Over the years I have been in college, I have gotten used to nursing. I like some aspects of nursing, and I dislike other aspects. My eyes have been opened to the realities of this profession, and well, it's too late to turn back. Had I had my eyes opened earlier, I may have gone on a different path.

When I was in high school, before my parents' divorce, I wanted to run away soon after graduation. I wanted to break out on my own, and get away from a crappy family. Filial piety prevented me from doing that. And it has also prevented me from changing paths. So yeah, I sort of regret my choice. It's not the patients I don't like. It's the fact that all the other aspects of nursing can suck out the soul out of someone who has the best of intentions. I haven't even graduated yet, and I feel a void inside myself. I sold myself out, because of fear. I have done that time and time again, only to regret it later.

I'm sure getting off to a good start in adulthood, am I?

Vespertinas · Feb 1, 2012

You're saying it's too late to change now. But I'm going to look into my crystal ball and say that you're going to be back in school in less than 5 years considering how jaded you are already. Maybe save yourself the tuition and wasted career years and go ahead and switch while you still can? Without perspective it's easy to think it's too late but the deeper you go, the more you'll realize how much opportunity you actually HAD back when you started saying, "it's too late."