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.

:idea: The time was right

Can I say - it was a spur of the moment decision?

I'm still a student, but before I began the nursing program I was working full-time and ready to get out of my dead-end job. I had all the classes to apply for a BSN program, so just for the heck-of-it, I did! I got in, and I graduate in May! :)

I had a kid to support as a single mom. I was killing myself working as a fast food asst. manager and making practically nothing, no insurance either. So I thought, hmmm... what would be a job where I could make decent money with insurance, get tuition assistance, and I could go to school locally?

TA-DA!!! That is my inspiring story! 19 years later, here I still am.

:barf02: :nurse:

Specializes in geratrics, orthopedy, anesthesia.

May be that is seen funny, but I becam nurse, because I wanted became physician... I graduated from high school and went to accept exam to Medicine college and failed. There wasn't enough time for second attempt in next year, because I had to go to army as each boy how is 18 years old in USSR. And I went to Nursing college... 8 years I worked as a CRNA before Medicine college and when I just study there. I graduated from Medicine college and 3 years worked as physician... Only after my emigration to Israel, after some long years of fails on Exam for Physician license I once remember that I'm nurse and can to go to LPN exam.

Now I'm Israel graduated RN, I work in Nursing Home and love my job and my profession.

It was during Nixon,s era, he was talking about drafting women and i was worried about being drafted into the vietnam war. I would go but i could not kill people, so I got myself into nursing school and learned er care just in case. Those where scary times...

Specializes in MedSurg, Nursing Education.

After I sent the last of my kids off to school, I went back to school to become a teacher - like my mom and dad - teaching has been my life-long dream. My daddy was dying of cancer at the time and eventually I dropped out of school and left my little family to go help my mom take care of him in his last month of life. There was a hospice nurse who came and showed me how to give him TPN through his central line, and how to measure blood sugar and give insulin, and how to flush a foley catheter, and how to deal with my grief so I could help my mom deal with hers. I still cry over that nurse's compassionate service to us.

After my daddy died, I changed my major and went to nursing school. I have loved the elderly and the dying ever since, but I also love teaching. So now I am pursuing my masters degree and will go "over the hill" before I get it. But my daddy is looking down and I just know he is as proud of me as my mom is. And my hubby and kids are supportive and proud, too. One of my daughters enters nursing school in April. Now it's my turn to be proud!

I have had some great mentors in my career. One instructor in my LPN program had great confidence in me, and though she, too, has passed away, her belief in my potential is still a driving force that keeps pushing me on to the next degree. Mentors are so important to our younger generation of nurses! No nursoneophytophagia tolerated here!:nono: :lol2:

Hi,

Not to be too personal, but can you tell me how old you are? Your strory is an inspiration to me! I am 38 years old with a 9 year old daughter. I am thinking about trying to go back to school to be an RN. I really think I would like to work in the ER. However, I finished High School, but don't have one day of college behind me. Of course I work a full time job too, so it may take me 8 years and then I'll be HOW OLD?? Good Grief....Any advice you have, or more stories of how you love it would be awesome to hear!!!! Thanks for being such an inspiration!!!

Hi,

Not to be too personal, but can you tell me how old you are? Your strory is an inspiration to me! I am 38 years old with a 9 year old daughter. I am thinking about trying to go back to school to be an RN. I really think I would like to work in the ER. However, I finished High School, but don't have one day of college behind me. Of course I work a full time job too, so it may take me 8 years and then I'll be HOW OLD?? Good Grief....Any advice you have, or more stories of how you love it would be awesome to hear!!!! Thanks for being such an inspiration!!!

hi,

i am from england and have always always wanted to become a paediatric nurse, and in a weeks time i will be qualified! i have no idea why i wanted to, it was a calling i guess, but i love every minute of it and am so passionate about the children i look after every shift. nothing beats this! :)

My mom was a 2nd grade teacher (now retired.) I decided early on that I would never be a teacher - way too much work. Never thought about being a nurse, I wanted to be a vet.

After my oldest son was born, I had contact with several nurses who made a big impact on me with their kindness, gentleness and concern beyond the immediate problems. Still didn't think about being a nurse, mostly because I had screwed up my life, not graduated HS, and felt I had missed my chance at going to college.

After my last child was born, I decided I had to make something of myself and decided to become a psychologist. I got a community college class book and started thumbing through it. Being a psychologist started to look boring. I looked at all the cool classes nurses got to take - anatomy, chemistry, biology. I decided to do that instead.

So, 18 years later, here I am. It took me from 1991-1999 to earn a 4 year degree - 1 class at a time sometimes. Little kids and life got in the way. Somewhere along the line, I forgot about ever wanting to be anything but a nurse. Now, although some days I feel like running into McDonalds and filling out an application - I can't imagine working in any other field and being satisfied at the end of the day.

It sounds like a cliche, but it's the little things that keep me going back to work, and make me feel good about what I'm doing. Even the patients you work your fingers to the bone for 12 hours on - touch and go the whole way - who don't remember you, but think the nurse who extubated them the next day must be the best nurse in the whole world. I look at them up walking around, going home to be with their families - and I think, well at least I did something right!

Hi,

Not to be too personal, but can you tell me how old you are? Your strory is an inspiration to me! I am 38 years old with a 9 year old daughter. I am thinking about trying to go back to school to be an RN. I really think I would like to work in the ER. However, I finished High School, but don't have one day of college behind me. Of course I work a full time job too, so it may take me 8 years and then I'll be HOW OLD?? Good Grief....Any advice you have, or more stories of how you love it would be awesome to hear!!!! Thanks for being such an inspiration!!!

Personally speaking, I don't think you're ever too old to learn anything. I'm 41 and back in school again. I've always wanted to get my RN so that's my goal. I have 6 kids so I know how life can get in the way too. Just take it as it comes, if you keep putting it off then you'll think well, I could have been here by now. Just jump in and do what you can, bite off what you can chew. That's how I do it. I don't carry a load at school that I can't possibly do. It may not be a fast track, but you will finish and that day will be SWEET! Who cares how old you are? It's just a number and as long as you're able and willing to work in the field who cares, if someone ever said I was too old to be a nurse I would wonder about them. :nono: Go forward and feel good about your accomplishments!

Personally speaking, I don't think you're ever too old to learn anything. I'm 41 and back in school again. I've always wanted to get my RN so that's my goal. I have 6 kids so I know how life can get in the way too. Just take it as it comes, if you keep putting it off then you'll think well, I could have been here by now. Just jump in and do what you can, bite off what you can chew. That's how I do it. I don't carry a load at school that I can't possibly do. It may not be a fast track, but you will finish and that day will be SWEET! Who cares how old you are? It's just a number and as long as you're able and willing to work in the field who cares, if someone ever said I was too old to be a nurse I would wonder about them. :nono: Go forward and feel good about your accomplishments!

Wow, 6 kids and your going for it! I am proud of you! I only have 1, but I still feel guilty pulling time/$$ away from the family to put me through schoo...but you are right. I looked into the field 4 years ago, and if I had just started taking the pre-req classes a few at a time, I'd be done by now with at least those and probably in Nursing School by now..thanks for the inspiration. It's funny, I never think anyone else is too old to do anything new, just me!!! Crazy how we are sometimes our own worst enemies!! I can't thank you enough for the support..Love to hear more of your story and where your at with your studies/how far along/are you enjoying them..??

Thanks...

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