Why nursing?

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Hi, I am a student waiting to get into a nursing program. I thought nursing was a good job to have because of the high demand, pay, and hours. What I have been reading on other posts is making me believe otherwise. Now, I am questioning if nursing is the right career choice for me. My question to nurses is why they like or dislike their job?

Thanks everyone!!!

I had 3 kids to support. I needed a stable job with a good income.

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12 years ago i started working in a nursing as a CNA home to pay the bills, the job was flexible and paid more money than other stuff i was will to do.

the bug bit me and 2 years later i was applying to Nursing School. worked overseas as a qualified nurse, but then i moved here. CA Nursing Board did recognize my credentials and informed me i had to go back and do it all over again.

sat and contemplated beginning a new career and i could not see myself doing anything else. i began doing my pre reqs in spring 2008 and on my first attempt i was accepted!!! at present i have been working as a caregiver to make ends meet.

i can never see myself other than a nurse, for me its a calling.

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I was a theatre major before I decided to be a nurse. I couldn't picture myself being a nurse and sometimes I still can't, but I don't think I would have worked so hard to get into nursing school if I didn't really want this. I want to be a nurse because I want to have the option to travel, and go back to school and finish my theatre degree without having to worry about being financially unstable for the rest of my life.

I think nursing opens up limitless options that no other job or degree can...especially with this economic state.

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Why did you become a nurse?

When you became a nurse, were your reasons still valid?

Why did you stay a nurse? what made it all worth it?

I am currently facing a nursing essay, and I have to explain how the role of nursing is a fit for me.

I understand why I want to become a nurse, and it is slightly more skewed than the normal student. Yes, I do want to help people (the cliche answer), but more so I want have an impact on society.

I need to work in a position where I know I have made a difference. Sure I could have chosen to become an md, but nursing allows me to interact not only with the patient, but with their families. I like the idea that when I am treating a patient, I am not only treating them but helping their families at the same time. I like to think of the entire family as a patient rather than the one needing my immediate attention. Throughout my experiences in the hospital, I have often found that the families were more concerned with the situation than the patient. Sometimes they can have an effect on the stress levels of my immediate patient. So in short, I feel it is important to 'treat' both the patient and their family.

To me answering the question is more complicated than one answer. I thrive on stress and chaos (as in I work better under the pressure, but may not like stress) and find the more I have the better I perform. I have always been fond of working with chaos, and having to critically think on my feet. These few reasons I feel, nursing is for me. I get excited when C. difficile outbreaks, or MRSA outbreaks. Sure they suck for the patient, but the skills needed and the clear mind needed to control these outbreaks is exhilarating.

I know pre-nurses have idealistic expectations, and I hope nursing is not all pretty as we pre-nurses like to think. I have been bitten, spat on, defecated on, and pinched so far, and even though they sucked then, they sure make great stories now. So this is my mini idealistic expectations of nursing, and I feel the changing situations make it idealistic for me.

How about you? (then and now?)

Sorry for the babble, I like to babble:clown:

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I know that this assignment may be considered 'busy work', but its really a valuable exercise - intended to make you reflect on your underlying motivation. It may be fun to hang on to the finished essay and read it once a year after you get your license. I wonder how much you will change over the years?

Nursing was/is a great choice for me because I am a natural-born control freak. It's great to be in a position to tell people what to do -- and they actually want to listen. I am a critical care nurse/educator, so it's a natural fit. I like taking control of situations, bringing order to chaos, and making things turn out better than they would have if I had not been around. And, like all successful nurses - I'm really good at keeping a straight face - "excuse me for a moment, I need to brief the physician on this new development". I'm not special - certainly no one's angel of mercy; don't need any external acknowledgement other than a fair salary for my work.

I'm very fortunate to have a career that has always felt like 'home'.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Why not? I like it warts and all.

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We all want to help people, but is there something or some other reason that's pushed you even more towards becoming an RN? For me personally, I've always been a people person and love being around others. But my biggest reason for going into nursing is because of my car accident. I was t-boned on my drivers side by a lady in her truck who was talking on her phone. We were going around 50 mph.

This changed my life. I lost my car and my mental and physical health was altered. I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and went through 5 months of intense therapy. I also suffered a cervical sprain, thoracic paraspinal injury, whiplash, and I now have scoliosis all because of my muscular damage. Anyways, as you could imagine I went through a lot emotionally and physically.

The thing is, I made it. I made it through and I lived. Becoming a nurse will allow me to be on the receiving end of an individual who has gone through something traumatic just as I did. I want to help someone through an extremely vulnerable and exposed situation like my nurses, doctor, physical therapists, and therapist did.

So what about you? Why nursing? ?

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I agree with you, some personal aspects of my life have pushed me towards nursing. My mom died about a year ago and she died alone, in the ICU. At the time I had a new baby and had temporary custody of my younger sister (I have since been granted full guardianship ?) and I was her power of attorney. There was just no way I could sit at the hospital with her all day, something I have always regretted. Before she was moved to the ICU, I was called by the nurse asking for permission to resuscitate if needed, which I gave. A few hours later I received the call that my mother suffered respiratory failure and had died. Alone. I didn't know it at first but that ignited something in me and steered me towards this field. If I can give comfort to at least one scared patient, be their "family" when theirs is unable to be there, then maybe my mom can know how badly I wanted to be there for her and maybe I can pay that love and compassion forward to my patients, even if it is for just a few minutes at a time.

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\ said:
I agree with you some personal aspects of my life have pushed me towards nursing. My mom died about a year ago and she died alone, in the ICU. At the time I had a new baby and had temporary custody of my younger sister (I have since been granted full guardianship ?de0a) and I was her power of attorney. There was just no way I could sit at the hospital with her all day, something I have always regretted. Before she was moved to the ICU, I was called by the nurse asking for permission to resuscitate if needed, which I gave. A few hours later I received the call that my mother suffered respiratory failure and had died. Alone. I didn't know it at first but that ignited something in me and steered me towards this field. If I can give comfort to at least one scared patient, be their "family" when theirs is unable to be there, then maybe my mom can know how badly I wanted to be there for her and maybe I can pay that love and compassion forward to my patients, even if it is for just a few minutes at a time.[/quote']

I'm so sorry for your loss. I think it's inspiring how you're taking something that'll help so many other people, out of a difficult life event. I think the reasons why you want to be a nurse will be a great motivation and will touch a lot of people.

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Thank you. I am going to try to pay it forward in everyday I can! I want to commend you for having the strength and determination to overcome your personal obstacles. I believe that nursing is going to be extremely rewarding for you and to you! Good luck on your journey! :)

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Quote
Thank you. I am going to try to pay it forward in everyday I can! I want to commend you for having the strength and determination to overcome your personal obstacles. I believe that nursing is going to be extremely rewarding for you and to you! Good luck on your journey! ?

Thanks so much! Good luck to you too ?

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Specializes in LTC.

13 years ago I got sick and almost died. I have required care for diabetes ever since (they removed my pancreas to save my life). Since then I have come across a lot of sucky burnt out nurses... No offensive to anyone it's just been my patient experience. I just need to be one of the good ones! I want to do good, be compassionate, and provide care with grace and dignity. I feel driven to do it! I left a lucrative career for an uncertain future to do it!

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