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.

Specializes in Oncology, OR.
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...

Hi, I'm right there with you! I'm 38 and just now pursuing my dream of being a nurse. I wanted to be one since I was 6 years old but other things in life -- including 3 kids and a husband -- kind of took priority. I've taken classes off and on over the years and actually have enough credits now that I can even consider being accepted into a program, I just need to finish up my sciences. I've had a very successful career in marketing/PR for the past 15+ years and, like you, I worry about starting over, the costs, and taking time away from my family. But I figure, there's never going to be a perfect time to do this. Plus, my family is super supportive and I'm in the best position right now to take this on. So I have applied to a diploma program and will know if I'm in or not within the next 8 weeks. It seems like forever! But I'm really hoping that I'll be starting this new adventure come Fall. So that's my story and I'm sticking to it! :lol2:

Anyway, don't be afraid to go for it! Things always have a way of working out. And lucky for you, so many of the prerequisite classes are offered online now...if you are an independent learner, that set up can help out with the family situation and buy you some time before you have to really be away from the home to finish up.

Good Luck! And welcome to allnurses.com, there's a great group of people here!!

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!!!

My mom didn't do back to school until her late 30's. She was talking with someone and said" I can't go back to school because I'll be X years old when I graduate!!!" and he replied "Well, how old will you be in 4 years if you don't go back to school?" She went back and has a master's in social work. ;) It's never too late and you can never be too old!

Keely

Specializes in MedSurg, Nursing Education.
moorpark said:
Not to be too personal, but can you tell me how old you are?

I was 38 when I started nursing school, and I'm pushing the big 5-oh now, and I'm still going to school! The thing is, in 8 years, you will be 8 years older whether or not you went back to school. Go for it! A classmate in my LPN year was 66 years old. The older you are, the better you do, because you have left your youthful whimsies behind and can focus on what counts. You know how to balance your time, you know how to prioritize. Your younger classmates will look up to you for your wisdom. Life experience makes us better at everything. I wish you success!

eversince i was a child, my ambition is to become a nurse since i want to take care of the sick

I kind of stumbled across it....I was waiting for security clearance from the Army....that took so long...I was bored and in a dead end job...they were advertising training so I applied...I finally got Army clearance the day before my nurse training was confirmed...Anyway, long story short, I took the nursing as the Army wasn't definite...did RN, worked CCU for 2 yrs, did midwifery and then joined the Army with 3+ years exp as a midwife...so I got to do both...Lucky :):)

Specializes in Emergency.

i sat across the dinner table from my mother crying that i would never be able to take care of my child ..............she said,,,,,,,,,get your a** over to the nursing school and get in school, 2 years later i was a nurse...............haha, i can't thank my mom enough.

I always wanted to be a nurse - i trained as an enrolled nurse when i was in my late teens - being to young to commence my registered nurse qualifications. i always wanted to go back to nursing but had kids husband etc and there never seemed to be any time.

When i was in my mid thirties my marriage ended and i became a single parent of 4 children aged 6 to 14. this in itself was a life changing experience and the responsibility of having to provide for these 4 kids for an indefinite period of time spurred me on the go to as get my bachelor of nursing.

I completed my degree and was an A student, my kids and I survived the whole experience relatively unscathed and are now reaping the benefits.

I now work as a nurse manager with regular 8 - 4 hours evenings and weekends off.

so i say to anyone no matter what age you are go for it - the road is hard but the end result is worth the tears

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...

I'm a nurse already. I'm an LPN and work in LTC on the weekends and go to school through the week. I have most of my pre-req's done. So I'm pretty happy about that. I love being a nurse and have wanted to be one since I was 3 years old--I'm pursuing my RN to open the field to me. As an LPN so many areas in nursing are closed. I always wanted to work in Labor & Delivery, but the longer I'm a nurse I realize that I just love to make a difference with in a patient's life, any patient in need, so it doesn't matter where I am. I'm working with these geriatric pt's and I adore them. I can't wait to see them again on the weekends and give them a hug, or just hold their hand or calm their fears for a moment. Sometimes it doesn't work, but I try to make them feel cared about. (I've gotten in trouble a lot for taking the time to do this by another nurse on the floor-- I call her the ego manical witch from hell:chair: ) Anyway... I've shared enough already....So... off I go to make my dent in the world. :p

Well I applied to the local supermarket and they didn't have any vacancies, I was gutted, all my life I'd dreamed of stacking shelves. As a last resort I went to nursing. :chuckle
that was very funny!

Here's inspiration for all my great grandmother graduated from nursing school when she was 62, she went on to be the first director of nurses at a small community hospital when it first opened. Go great grammy. I have a copy of her class graduating picture that shows her whole graduating class.

Me I never really thought about being a nurse, I went to college got a psyc. degree, realized I didn't want to be a doctor so I turned to nursing school instead. I never knew that my great gramdmother had been a nurse until I graduated from nursing school. On the day I graduated I got a computer disk from my grandmother she had had someone scan the picture onto a disk for her. Being curious I opened the file and there was a short note attached to the picture saying you are never too old to learn new tricks.

My granny is the greatest she will be 90 this year.

I'm cosidering a career change. Are there many men in the nursing profession?

i wanted to be a nurse for as long as i can remember when i was a little girl i always admired the nurses in their white uniforms and there hair neetly gromed .i vow to myself some day i want to look like that because they r also well respected persons in the society.now at 25 years old i am 5 years post graduate RN it was my life time dream and i did it .:yeah:

oblove23 RN

+ Join the Discussion