Why did you decide to become a nurse?

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I personally chose it because I love the medical/hospital environment, and I really enjoy helping others.

For the plethora of free food in the break room, obviously.

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Specializes in Nursing student.
I was a hard core "For the calling" type through school and my early career. Thankfully I've matured past that.

I'm writing an article about that now, why nursing is seen as a "calling" and how it became associated with us. If people knew the history behind how we got there, they'd not "have a calling" so much.

I'd love to read that article whenever you've finished it!

Anyway, to answer the question:

As I stated above, I went in for "the calling". I still am motivated by altruistic intentions, but I'm not such a fanatic about it anymore. It's a personal journey as far as the altruism goes.

I do believe one is happier when they see the value in what they are doing, and I see a lot of value in nursing.

I agree on the importance of seeing value in what you do! :)

Initially, it was for altruistic reasons. I wanted to help people, I wanted a job that mattered, I wanted to know that I made a difference, etc.

I still see the value in the things that I do. But I also see the benefits that come with having a career in nursing, that have nothing to do with altruism or helping people.

Yeah, making a difference really is a great feeling!!

Wife=Baby=Get a Job!!!

Haha!

Temporary Insanity. That and I'm a 3rd generation nurse, now retired!

wow 3rd generation!! I'll be a first gen. nurse but my grandmother always wanted to be one, but she never had the opportunity to become one.

I chose nursing because I was too immature to make my own decision so I followed the advice of family.

Eventually I grew up and it turned out that hard work and being able to impact others is what I eat for breakfast.

To have essentially chosen a career blindly and have it turn out this way has been a blessing.

I'm happy to hear it turned out well for you!

I never even thought of nursing as a career choice. Back when I was 17 I took the asvab and the test pretty much gave me three choices, psych tech (I think it is called mental health specialist now) petroleum supply specialist, or medic. I ended up choosing the Army Medic MOS which eventually led me to qualify for the Army's LPN program. I would have been just as happy hiding behind my E-4 and staying a medic but my Platoon Sgt encouraged me to attend the LPN program.

I think this is why I never went beyond LPN and became an RN. I have always wondered if I based my whole life on a test. I eventually received my bachelors in a different field altogether but a history degree only pays so much, lol. So here I am back in an LPN job.

I eventually went to a career counselor and took another test to see what other jobs I might excel at.

Guess what was one of my top choices.

Nursing.

Was actually hoping for something else. I just can't get away from it!

I am seriously considering a military nursing career, if you could PM me, i have a few questions!:nurse:

Non nurses fixate on this because they are seeking an answer that a nurse working "for the calling" would give. They want to hear something uplifting and altruistic. Some get bent out of shape when the answer is just "I was young, my friends were doing it so I did too."

I do believe for most of us, it really is something as simple as that. But, since we believe you must have a calling to belong to the ranks of nursing............we create our own story to fit in.

That is why some "for the calling" nurses are so fanatical about it and promote the "If you are here for money you don't belong" mentality. Lacking a true sense of a calling for themselves, they over compensate and are trying to convince themselves they belong.

I never really thought about people having that point of view before, very insightful.

I literally fell into nursing by accident. I was young and wild and had a serious motorcycle accident. I got hit by a drunk driver late one night and ended up in the hospital with some serious leg/hand/shoulder injuries so I stayed there a few weeks. While there I kind of had a revelation and realized that I could do this and was fascinated by hospitals, so as soon as I got out I applied to nursing school and the rest is history. Nursing saved my life, literally and figuratively. That was 25 years ago and here I am.

Wow, that sounds like a life changing experience -- when my aunt had her first baby, and I saw all the wonderful nurses working in hospital is definitely when I knew nursing was for me.

I literally fell into nursing by accident. I was young and wild and had a serious motorcycle accident. I got hit by a drunk driver late one night and ended up in the hospital with some serious leg/hand/shoulder injuries so I stayed there a few weeks. While there I kind of had a revelation and realized that I could do this and was fascinated by hospitals, so as soon as I got out I applied to nursing school and the rest is history. Nursing saved my life, literally and figuratively. That was 25 years ago and here I am.

I'm glad you only hate it twice a week haha!:roflmao:

I thought I was going to save the world

I'm definitely hoping to do that!

For the plethora of free food in the break room, obviously.

Haha, free food's always a plus! ;)

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Specializes in Nursing student.
i actually really dislike this question. Friends and family seem to fixate on this question as well and it's frustrating because i don't really have a good story for it. In nursing school many of my classmates had some sort of experience like their dad was in the hospital bla bla bla. Truth be told i like the thrill of working in the ICU and critical thinking. You wouldn't ask someone that works in accounting why they chose it as a career, so why a nurse?

I can definitely say I don't have a great story to tell either. The point of the post was really just to get to hear different nurses' stories!

Just a note --- if you read the title of the thread and don't like the question, you don't have to answer!

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I decided to become a nurse when my grandpa got very ill, he had his leg amputated. He had visiting nurses doing wound care, of them taught me and I would do it on the weekends. The nurse explained to me why he was taking meds and how they worked. My grandpa would say I was his personal mini nurse. (I was about 16 at the time). Before he passed he held my hand and said I had the qualities to become a great nurse. 9 years later I did become a Nurse. No one ever really told me it was gonna be this is and stressing, but I love it. I am currently pediatric private duty nurse.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

My parents suggested it for me since it's a reliable career. I went for it since I didn't know what else I wanted to do.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I've always had a keen interest in anatomy. The human body is so interesting!

Also, I wanted a decent income, career flexibility (including the ability to work part time) and opportunities. While I do enjoy helping others, like The Commuter, nursing is a means to an end.

I plan to retire and move somewhere warm within 15 years. Nursing likely won't be on my radar at all then. I'd rather teach English overseas when I'm semi-retired.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

People told me to consider nursing when I was in high school. I said, No, I'll become a Dr. I attended the local university as a biology/pre-med major. While I loved the sciences, I just wasn't able to study as I would need to in order to be successful.

I had a 2 yr old when I graduated HS and lived alone and worked.

Years later, when that 2 yr old was in HS herself, I thought I should pursue my dream. I.e. Study science

I decided to pursue nursing because of the flexible schedules, and my own desire to teach and study science.

At that time, I didn't know how much money nurses earned. However, that has been my motivation for several years.

I enjoy caring for others, I love teaching. Plus I get paid very well.

PS that 2 yr old is in college now, set to graduate in a few months.

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

I love people and I couldn't picture myself doing anything else.

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For me I stumbled in. I was an excellent student in highschool, top of my class. Came from a poor area, my parents barely finished highschool. I was accepted into a 4 year school to study education, but we were not able to figure out how to navigate the world of financial aid and so I didn't go. I took a job as a daycare worker and 2 part time jobs on the side, all making minimum wage. When I was 19 I wanted desperately to move out on my own, but couldn't afford it. I had a friend working as an cna making almost double what I was making. So I called the local community college to enroll in the CNA class. The very nice lady told me the class was cancelled due to low enrollment, but she was going to send me the info for the RN program, maybe I might consider that. So I did. I applied, aced my NLN, and started 6 months later. I finished in 2 years, and off I went. Crazy how that one random admissions office person changed the course of my life.

Its now been 16 years. I havnt enjoyed every second, but I don't think I would change it. The good pay and flexibility make up for the stress and physical demands. When my kids were babies I was able to work per diem hours off shifts so we didn't need sitters. I have continued per diem in various positions which means I work as much or as little as I want, I don't have to request vacations or days off for field trips, I just don't schedule myself. I recently finished my bsn and now have the option of deciding where I go next, there are so many options, so many different paths I could take. What other degree has so many different career areas?

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.

As another poster stated, my grandmother told me I should be a nurse starting from a young age. When around 4 years old, I had a toy nurse kit (have no recollection why I liked it so much), and told everyone I was a nurse. Ha ha! As a child, I actually liked going to the doctor and dentist. I forgot about this, until...fast forward...

Around 22 years old, I had a friend who was a nurse and was fascinated by her work. I used to drill her with questions about her day...She encouraged me to try it. I never looked back...

Now, 34 years later, I cannot imagine myself doing anything else. Believe me, I have tried to find something else, especially during the times I have been too stressed, too resentful of all the crap associated, such as corporate owned, money driven facilities that don't give a damn about the patients and all the back-biting that goes on because everyone is under too much pressure and disillusioned by the reality being different from what they expected nursing to be. (Run on sentence...)

Then there is my personality...

Co-dependent- can't NOT help someone in need. Can't ignore problems I am capable of helping in some way. Translation: I like helping people.

A bit of ADHD- I cannot sit somewhere for 8 hours a day. Would go bonkers behind a desk. Need to keep moving.

Translation: Hard worker and driven. Able to keep up. Fast thinker.

AutumnApple - I truly do believe it is a noble career. I truly do enjoy knowing I am making a difference in someone's life. It is noble because it sucks to handle all the gross things we do. Few can do it. The emotional issues are draining and we purposefully put ourselves there.

Now, it is as much about the flexibility, money, and my refusal to throw away 34 years of knowledge, experience and skill. I'm just changing the focus and environment, but still a nurse.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I don't think anyone just had ONE reason for choosing nursing; I know I didn't. I was the first person in my family to go to college, and I planned to be a journalist. Despite financial aid and working 2-3 jobs, I ran out of money at the end of my fourth semester and couldn't make enough during the break to pay for tuition, books and living expenses, so I took a semester off. During that semester, I got a letter in the mail offering me free money to go to school, and all I had to do was declare a nursing major.

I was desparate to finish school, so I declared the major and took the money. My mother thought it was a fantastic idea, since I'd have a BSN, be an RN and spend all my time at the nurse's station drinking coffee while someone else did all the work. (Not knowing any facts never stopped my mother from having strong opinions!). I was fascinated with anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and statistics. And every time I opened the want ads looking for a higher paying part time job, all of the ads were for nurses. The idea of being in demand as an employee rather than hunting and scraping for a job appealed. Indoor work, good pay and real benefits . . . All things that some of my cousins didn't have.

I hated my first two years of nursing; went back to school and got an MBA while working full time as a nurse. Funny thing happened on my way to an interview with one of my MBA-type contacts. I realized I really didn't want to leave nursing after all. I've spent 40 years at the bedside (with the exception of one semester of teaching. Loved the work, hated the hours.). It's been interesting, challenging work with good working conditions (A/C in the summer, heat in the winter and a roof over our heads all year round), a flexible schedule and I've met some great people. I wouldn't change it for anything.

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When my husband graduated as an accountant at the age of 25, it took him 5 yrs to find a job. So when I decided to back to schoo, I researched for the profession where the demand was very high. Nursing was that profession so started as a CNA and became a nurse in the yr 2000.

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