Why did you take up nursing? What's your story?

Every nurse has their own story to tell about how or why they chose to enter the nursing profession. Some may have been inspired by a personal experience with healthcare, while others may have been drawn to the idea of caring for others. Some may have stumbled upon nursing by chance, while others knew from a young age that it was their calling. Whatever the reason, each nurse has a unique narrative that led them to become a caregiver. These stories are a testament to the diversity and passion within the nursing community and the profound impact that healthcare can have on our lives.

Please be as detailed or as short as you wish. It'll be interesting to hear everyone's stories.

I knew as a child I wanted to be a nurse. My dad is a nurse, my hero seem if it was good enough for him good enough for me. I graduated high school in 93. I didnt immediately go to school couldnt afford it life put on hold. Nov 20'97 I was in a horrible accident where I am lucky to be alive (i was t-boned driving my little sport car hit by a cadillac at 65mph, my car rolled down and embankment ... ) anyhow realizing how close I came to death. I thought damn i would of died at 23 and never accomplished the one dream i hadl. Needless to say the following September I started nursing school. thats my story.

Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry.
since i was born ive had many medical problems and that is the main reason why i've chosen to become a nurse. at the age of 1 i had epileptic seizures and was flown immediately to john hopkins where i stayed for a year and that is where they diagnosed me with tuberous sclerosis. i don't know if many of you are familiar with it but it's a genetic disorder that leaves benign tumors either on your internal organs or in my case red benign tumors on my face. i was put on medicine for my seizures and had to report to john hopkins every week for tests to determine whether or not i was going to be mentally handicapped. most people born with tuberous sclerosis are so luckily for me i passed the tests and was considered average. i went through over the years many surgeries on my face and have a lot of experience with anestesiology. at the age of 8 years old i realized that i wanted to help people and it became a passion of mine over the years. at the age of 11 i was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. a year after that i began having kidney problems and am now on lipitor. after that at the age of 16 i was diagnosed with breast cancer as well as my mother furtunately both of us are still here and alive because of all the nurses and doctors who helped us through a rough time. they were kind and caring, always seeming to just be there to whenever you needed them to be. they were so compassionate and at the same time so thurough in what they were doing that i knew then that i would like to work with cancer patients one day. the nurse's were absolutely amazing. i began volunteering at the hospice house near the hospital a couple weeks after i found out that my cancer was in remission. about two years after that my uncle was diganosed with liver and pancreatic cancer. his wife at the time was a nurse at the local hospital and was actually working with cancer patients. after 7 years of medication, chemotheropy and feeling sick most days he finally passed on this past year. in the same month i was 5 months pregnant with my daughter, and being a diabetic plus having tuberous sclerosis meant that if i had my daughter in augest 12th my due date there could of been complications and there was a 75% chance she would have had tuberous sclerosis and be mentally handicapped. sadly i didnt' make it that far because april 28th i went to my doctors appointment and was told by my doctor that she was gone. her little heart just couldn't handle the complications my body was putting her through and at 5:31 am on the 29th my daughter was stillborn. we had an autopsy done and she was sent to a research lab. the autopsy showed that because i was a diabetic no matter how much i tried to keep my sugar in control there had been something wrong with the placenta. i had a little picture of a tear drop placed on my door and my blood pressure level sky rocketed and i was kept in the hospital for 5 days. i remember two wonderful nurses named rebecca and bonnie who came in even though they were both of duty to hold my hand while i gave birth. they cried with me and sat down and talked with me about how i was feeling and after i came home i got a letter in the mail from them both telling me if i ever needed them to just call and they'd be there. the following day and 2 weeks after i had a single rose delivered to my house every day and for that they both have a litttle piece of my heart. and lastily i just learned recently that my mother had breast cancer, liver cancer and lung cancer. how this happened i have no idea. she had been going to regular doctors appointments and still one day she called me with the news and i was heart broken. she is going for her first chemotherapy on the 26th of this month and i'll be there with her so she is not alone. i believe that being a nurse isnt just about doing your job but you have to be compassionate towards your patients and their families because i know that as many times as i've been in the hospital it means the world to people when they know someone cares and not just because its their job to do so but because they are genuine and thoughtful. so i'm begining college either in january or feburary of 2006 and i'm so happy to finally be able to do what i've wanted to since i was 8 years old.

~amber~

amber, i think you are one, if not the, most brave person i have ever met or had the pleasure of hearing his/her story. i pray that god gives you the strength you need to overcome the problems you are facing and the ones the obstacles you will face. god bless you and good luck in your studies.:redpinkhe :heartbeat

Randy they stopped by here and want their probe back. You know which one!

I worked for a bank as a branch manager. My office was down sized and I was told I had to move to another state. HA! My wife had a great job so I went back to school did 2 more years of general pre-med stuff, took the MCAT and decided I did not want to be a 'medical monk', divorced and a week-end dad. So I went to nursing school. Became a 'nursing student monk(EY)' , somehow stayed married and was a everyother weekend dad due to the hospitals staffing of working everyother week-end and everyother holiday. Did I make the right choice or what!?!?

Orange50 replies:

Why did I become a nurse:

I was 12 and really sick in the hospital. I had a riproaring infection and was in and out of the hospital for 31/2 weeks. I had the meanest pediatric nurse ever. She felt that since I was 12 and old for the unit, I shouldn't regress or cry. Well get lost I was going to grow up and be better than she was!

Then there was my Mom saying you have to have a job because you don't know if your husband will always be able to support you. Well I wasn't going to be a secretary like she was, and I liked science. So I became a nurse.

I went to nursing as my last resort to make my way thru University. Now i find myself going to school and having to work weekends only to pay my high tuitions. Nursing school was worth it to make lots of money, work little, study a lot to become a Nurse practitioner

My mom was a nurse...

I have always been in LTC from activity assistant to Billing department..

I decided to become a nurse become I was tired of being called an aide and also lazy nurses, I am in nursing school now and my mom said the save the na campaign will end soon once I become licensed but, I still feel that way

Specializes in too many to remember.

I was in the Army and trained as a medic, came back home and started working as a CNA and EMT in a hospital. I was still in the Army reserves and they offered me an opportunity to go to LPN school, so I did, worked as an LPN for 6 years then went back to RN school. Just seemed the natural progression of things and I think the driving force was that I knew I was smart enough and tough enough to be a nurse. If I had to do it all over again (which I don't) I would have gone through LPN and RN school without taking time off in between. I just couldn't do it at the time (trying to raise three boys and pay the mortgage). But I think I would have still chosen nursing.

I was in undergrad at a huge university....undeclared major for 2 years...then my son was born.....my beautiful child, the blessing that she is, forced me to get serious and 1.finish school 2.have a strong career when i got out. So, nursing seemed like a smart option; my friends with english degrees are always moving from office job to office job. Plus, I love science, like math, and generally like people. The fact that you can have a life-long career and make a good salary was also a big draw.

Specializes in ER, NICU.

To just be around the medical field, clinically.

To have flexible hours.

To make decent money.

Because dh's company gone bankrupt after he's worked there 27 years; they hosed his retirement fund. He's 57.

:o

=

I wanted to be a nurse since I was a child. Not sure how young I was, but it was the only thing I ever considered doing. My dad's older sister, Mary, was a nurse, and I adored her! LOL

Almost didn't get into nursing school, due to bad grades in high school, but I waited a year and put everything I had into my education. I'm a diploma grad and I am glad I went that route. I do wish I'd gone on to college after graduating, but I never regret going to a hospital-based RN program.

Currently I work in computer software, but looking to get back into Case Management. I can't due patient care due to back problems. But I love working with patients. Elders, are my favorite! LOL

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