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 Management, Surgery, Recovery Room.

I was a stockbroker for 9 years, and one day I told my mother that I had always thought about how cool it would be to be a nurse (I was good at finance, but never had much passion for it). I was going through all kinds of changes in my life at that time (getting divorced, just had a child), so the idea of going back to school and changing careers seemed crazy! But, my mother, being the pit bull that she is, didn't let go of the idea and practically forced me to pursue it! I thank her every chance I get!

hi! i just graduated!even though i dont have a job yet and i dont really have a clear mind of what it really feels like to work as a full time RN, im proud and im really glad that i chose to be a nurse. actually i decided to be in this field because of several reasons. first i wanted to do something in the medical field and second i wanted a gauranteed job. also i felt that with a nursing degree it would allow me to provide something for my family, society and myself. nursing ffelt like the right choice to make! and thats why i became a nurse!

Specializes in critical care transport.
I'm a guy, 39 years old. I have been married twice and both of my wives went to nursing school while we were married. I helped them both with the sciences quite a bit, and had some interest in nursing. But as my first wife had been a CNA in LTC for many years I knew a bit about what was involved with being a nurse, and I didnt see where I would fit in.

I had spent a number of years doing IT (Computer) work in various healthcare settings. I was working with HIPAA in 1997 for the grouphealth division of New York Life (we laid some of the technical groundwork for parts of what is now the WebMD.com site); I was a regional IT manager for a huge home health company; In house IT support at a Bayer plant where they extracted proteins from blood plasma; as a small biz owner I helped a number of clinics become HIPAA compliant.

Then, as my second wife was nearing completion of school, an old buddy from school showed up as an RN at the homehealth agency, and I read in an AJN about a mental health triage nurse. When they listed the traits you look for in someone to have this job I realized they where describing me! ie older, comfortable around people of all socio economic backgrounds, excellent communication skills, varied background etc.

I realized then and there that was my calling. I have dealt on a personal level most of my life with peoples psych issues, and I am so greatfull to be learning more and to soon be able to help people (I will complete my LPN next year, and will start working right away and go on to get my BSN) At 15 I held my moms hands apart while she tried to cut her wrists with broken glass. My brother has been a drug addict since he was 14, I have had a few close friends commit suicide over the years. My mom drove special education busses and we always volunteered at the special olympics.

A few months ago a close friend killed himself. We spent alot of time together over the last two years (both of our marriages broke up at the same time and we lived in the same neighboorhood) I knew he was depressed and reached out to him on several occasions over the last months. I even aksed him bluntly if he had guns in the house and he said "I know better than to have guns around when I feel like this". I believed him, but I know better now. After that I almost changed my plans for my specialty. It was hard, we had been friends since about 14. And after all, if I couldnt help someone I was that close too, how will I help people I barely even know? After several weeks of thinking hard though, I am only more dedicated to learn from this and learn more in clinical settings, and from those more experienced than I am, so I can go out and help some more people who need it, cause I know they are out there.

It looks like I have my first job lined up too. At a lockdown civil commitment DETOX center, and I cant wait!

Wow long winded, but it's good to talk about things, dont you think?

Bless your heart- you weren't nudged into nursing, I'd say you were shoved!

Whatever you believe in, it's like something bigger than you is showing you where you should go.

Specializes in Telemetry, ER, SICU.

I thought that I wanted to be a psychiatrist, or a dentist before I became a nurse. I never knew a nurse or really paid attention to what a nurse did whenever I went to the doctor's office as a child. When I found out how long it would take me to become a psychiatrist, I changed my mind. When I realized that I hated people's breath and rotten teeth, the thought of becoming a dentist flew out the window. As a senior in high school, all of the college recruiters kept trying to get people to go to their school to become a nurse, and I got sucked in. I stuck with it and ended up liking it, so that's why I'm where I am today. Plus, considering the other jobs I could have, being a nurse was a lot more interesting.

Specializes in medical, surgical, reearch , clinic.

I was a single mum heading down the wrong path and didn't know where to go. Mum and dad were supporting me and I was pretty much depressed when they suggested that I should give nursing a go. I guess, at first it was to make mum and dad happy, didn't really think I'd get into uni, but I did, and now I've completed my degree and am working towards a PG diploma in family and community health. I'm glad mum and dad suggested it as I couldn't picture myself doing anything different now!

I always wanted to since I was a child. I like to take care of people. I like to see people getting healty and stay healthy. It makes me feel good. Also my grandfather was a surgeon, a really good surgeon. I guess by becoming a nurse, I also get into the medical field. I'm a new grad and my goal is to become an excellent nurse that truly cares for my patients and and hopefully be loved by them as well.

1991,i lost my job.i had been playing golf with an rn/manager of an icu in princeton nj.she said,rich,with your love of people and christian upbringing would you ever consider nursing?i laughed[ i have 7 boys,no girls in my family],well a few months later after losing my job i started nursing school.it was absolutely the best thing besides my loving wife and 2 loving children to ever happen to a guy like me!i would never consider another profession unless it had the same feel good feeling i get now knowing i help people every day of my life!.

My story is short. I admired the nurses I had at the time of a surgery and again during a pregnancy. I took 2 years off to be a stay at home mom. School and studying began when my daughter was in pre-school. Flexibility to work any shift made it possible for my husband and I to raise her without hired help!! Wages allowed me to have a home life as well as a career.

BTW, she's in college now and says the LAST thing she will ever do is go into nursing :chuckle

Love my job, Abbie

Specializes in CCU,ED, Hospice.

Well, I have a secret fetish about pushing old men out of bed, why else?

No really, when I was a kid and my dad was terminal, I spent a lot of time at the hospital. The nurses were the coolest..

Specializes in oncology.

Interesting thread, everyone's stories are fascinating.

true story

I was originally and still am a licensed massage therapist. Many men at least 50% of male clients in florida massage studios ask lude and lascivious favors from female therapists, it is very degrading and humiliating. In a very vivid nightmare I had some dirty old man client chasing me, I ran into a hospital and the nightmare turned into a divine dream. I clearly felt the light of God fall all over me and into me and I had a beautiful peace, and in that moment I knew He wanted me to be a nurse.

I woke up and immediately called a nursing school in my area that I knew would include a Christian component to the nursing program and I applied, through His help I kept two jobs and went to school full time simultaneously, graduated without problem and love nursing more than I would have ever realized on my own.

God Bless all nurses, it is a divine calling that dates all the way back to Florence Nightengale's calling:caduceus:

well now, for me, nursing as a career started out as my grandfather's dream. well, he wanted my mother to become a nurse and when she didn't, it fell to me. i began nursing school while a senior in high school. i graduated high school at age 17, nursing school at 18 and was a charge nurse before my 19th birthday. boy was that a mistake that was. got totally burned out before i turned 21. couldn't make myself even drive by a hospital or nursing home for years. two years ago i started working in the kitchen of the local hospital, mainly to prove to myself that i could actually walk through the doors day after day. actually got a look of satisfaction from one of my nursing instructors who is now a hospital volunteer. back when i was in school she said i should quit and become a secretary or something. well basically, that did it. worked my hind quarters off and renewed my lpn and luckily enough people with whom i'd worked before still worked at the hospital but were now in positions of directors and supervisors. our don was willing to give me a shot. now even on the craziest, most hectic days when nothing is going right, i can't see myself doing anything else. i love my job and although this may sound boastful, i'm good at what i do. i guess it took those years away from it to realize just how much i'd missed it all. it also took that time to develop the confidence and assertiveness it takes to deal with doctors, other departments, and families. i've learned tact and diplomacy and now i actually have family members and patients seek me out on a daily basis. had two ladies tell me that i was no longer allowed to have days off lol. i've learned to tolerate other nurses who get upset because i have a good rapport with doctors and families. i simply am who i am and do not appologize for it. not every day is perfect, and not every patient's story has a happy ending but i like the fact that i've made a positive difference in so many lives and on so many levels. wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.

I think I always just knew that this was my path...

Meeting new people, helping others, being active-I'm so glad I chose it.

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