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 will be starting nursing school this Fall at Deaconess in St. Louis. I have most of my gen eds out of the way (bio, chem, microbio), so I will be concentrating on my nursing classes. I had recently been hired for a job in the emergency department here at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, in preparation for my move to St. Louis. Initially, I had been planning on becoming a radiation therapist. But in working with the good people here in the E.D., I decided that I liked the role of the nurse better. I had already thought about becoming an RN several times before, but my parents didn't want me to because it isn't a "guy's field." But in seeing all the male nurses around the hospital, I no longer think it is an issue.

I am a registrar in the E.D. currently, but there is nothing more rewarding than covering a patient with warm blankets, helping someone down the corridor, or even just taking a minute to listen to what the patient has to say. And the nurses here say that there is nothing more rewarding than receiving a thank you card from a family who appreciated the care that was given to a patient. I can only imagine what it's like, but it'll become a reality for me soon enough.

And that's my story. :-)

Specializes in everywhere.

Everyone's stories are so very interesting! Mine is very boring. I have always to go into nursing, my mother is a nurse. My ex always told me that I was too stupid to become a nurse and moved me out of state each time I applied (and was accepted) to the nursing programs in that area. With his job, he was able to transfer anywhere there was an airport. When our son graduated high school and went to college, I divorced my ex, the day after the divorce was final, I applied for the LVN program and started classes that August, stayed on the president's list, won several academic awards and graduated with high honors. Yes, I worked hard for those grades and I'm very proud of them.

Met the love of my life during LVN school, we were married one week after graduation, I've been taking my pre-req's over the past two years and on the 6th of June, I start the LVN to RN transition program. I do love my job, yes, there are times I wonder why in the world do I want to abuse myself like this? But, like another poster said, when that one patient improves, or the family member (from hell) thanks you, then you know you have to go back.

i saw "meet the parents" and just knew i had to be a male nurse.

actually, i always wanted to save the world, involved in green politics, the union movement and such. and realized the only way to help people was to get hands on.

9-11 played a big role too, i wanted so bad to help but realized i had no skill to help. i realized my psychology degree would not enough. now with the asian tsunami i am convinced that i must do nursing and help when another catastrophe occurs.

my ultimate goals are to get into doctors without borders and really get my hands dirty and get my heart pumping, i figure to save the world around 2043 or so, if it all goes according to plan......which it won't.

Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

I loved this thread. I used to be a bartender and one night I had a gut full of obnoxious drunks. I also had a couple of regular customers that always came in on Saturday night and they just happened to be there that night in general. After I had dealt with the final drunk of the night I said to my friend and her husband " I have to find a better job than this. Something that has a regular paycheck and insurance." She looked at me and told me she would give me a job and she was a director of an ICU. I just laughed and said right I didn''t know any thing about working in a hospital, much less an ICU. She told me to come and see her Monday. So I did I filled out the application and was honest and put all my jobs on it, grocery stores, waitress and so on and soforth. She said the other jobs weren't needed and then tore up the application and we started over and lied thru our teeth about job history and put down aides in nursing homes and such. I was terrified someone would call these references. She told me the only one who would call these places would be her so not to worry. and then that day she taught me how to run an EKG machine and do blood pressures. That night I went to her house and she taught me some basic arrthymia stuff. what was deadly and what wasn't, and I went to work for her 2 days later. I loved it. I loved everything about it. I quit that job due to a bully nurse but my mentor found me another job at a bigger hospital in there CCU and I would be riding as an assistant on a mobile coronary care unit! I was so totally hooked. I knew then this was all I wanted to do for the rest of my life. She also was my best reference when I went to nursing school.

My mentor died some years ago but I still think about her every time I remember how much I love my job.

Six years ago I was dx with diabetes. The diabetes educator I had was wonderful and saved my life, BG over 650, obese, drank, smoked, ate too much, sedentary lifestyle. I really started taking care of myself at that point. I worked as a project manager for a business firm and hated it. I started looking into how to become a diabetes educator, but didn't have the guts to quit my job. I got laid off and decided that that was the sign I was looking for. I went back to school in my mid thirties became an RN, and two years later I am a diabetes educator. I love every minute of it. I am living my dream.

Several things came together all at once to make me decide I wanted to be a nurse, some logical, and some emotional:

Logical:

1. I am retiring from the Air Force, and want to keep a steady paycheck.

2. I am a computer tech and can appreciate the value of working in a career where you are needed.

3. I like helping people.

4. Over the years, I have mentally shifted from being an INTJ to an INFJ. I guess I have moved to a more complex and interesting system by moving to people.

5. I always wanted to save a life.

Emotional:

1. I found faith in God

2. A few years ago my stepfater passed away after an extremely long illness. When my mother couldn't lift him anymore hospice was called in. When the nurse came she was always a relief to us all. She was a visiting angel. She laughed when she could, and she listened all the time, and when things got too sad she went out on the porch and cried a little.

I was so impressed with her...humanity...that I decided I wanted to be a nurse.

pelsmith

Specializes in NICN.

I decided to become a nurse the summer I turned 7. My dad was diagnosed with brain tumors and spent most of the summer in and out of the ICU. My mom decided after two months of fighting and him only getting worse that it was time for him to come home and spend his last days with his family. The last three weeks that he was alive I helped my mom take care of him. I knew I wanted to be a nurse and not a doctor b/c the nurse is the one who spends more time with the patient and their family. I am planning on specializing in neonatal intensive care when I graduate and look forward to taking care of my patients and developing good relationships with their families. I am also hoping that I will be able to help others that may be facing the same situation that my mom did. I want to be able to make a difference in someone's life, even if it is only one person.

Specializes in med surg, SICU.

I've always been interested in all things medical. This comes from the fact that my dad was sick all of my life until he died when I was 19. He had Lupus which brought on ESRD. He then had a kidney transplant and a CABG on top of his other recurring co-morbid conditions, so needless to say we spent a lot of time in hospitals. Even when my dad was in the hospital, I would be excited to go there. The environment is just thrilling to me... so many doors with so many cool things behind them!

The funny thing is that I started college as an English major. I'd never even considered nursing because the sciences weren't my strong poing in High School. I've always loved to watch what my husband calls the "bloody shows" like Trauma: life in the ER and Maternity Ward. One night I had the t.v. on TLC while I was trying to write a paper for my Foundations of American Education class (I thought I would be an English teacher). The paper was to be about why I wanted to teach. I was conflicted because I didn't really want to teach, but what else are you going to do with an English degree? Then it hit me. I looked at my then fiancee and said, "you're going to think I'm crazy, but I want to be a nurse." I never looked back. I dropped my education classes :p and started my pre-reqs for nursing. The rest is history :)

I graduated May 13th and am currently a graduate nurse! Yea!

Hi There.

I Wanted To Be A Nurse Or A Teacher Then Later On I Wanted To Be A Doctor

I Took Nursing At Uh But Did Not Do Good So I Decided To Take Medical Secretary And Work As A Secretary To A Doctor While Going To School To Become A Nurse

I Got My Lvn Though Back In 84 And Worked In A Retirement Community In The Health Center Night Shift

I Was Alone And I Did Not Know How To Be Productive Yet -- He He He He What Would I Do Without My Pc -- My Very Best Friend

When The Health Center Is Full Of Patient Like Sometime Up To 5 I Think I Like It Though To I Get To Be Busy

I Doubled Check Every 2 Hours

I Made Sure They Got Their Medications

I Get Them Up I Think In The Morning

I Made Sure They Had Fresh Pitcher Of Water With Ice And I Always Encouraged Them To Drink Water

But Not If They Are On Npo

But Encouraged Them Especialy When They Were On Ip/op

I Never Got To Be A Doctor But One Day I Know I Will

I Will Take One Step At A Time

I Need To Get Better And Healed First

But Before That I Need To Shine Somemore

Many Thanks

Mabuhay!

Kathy

Kpop

I was a wild child, getting in trouble and causing my mother grief when I was growing up. I was graduating high school and I really did not want to go back to school. I craved excitement in life and adventure was calling me. I was bored with my life in suburbia, and so I enlisted in the military. I chose to join the Marines to prove to myself that I am capable of becoming one of the few and the proud. Needless to say, I got my share of adventure and excitement, I even celebrated my 24th birthday in the desert during a war.

After the war, there was no promotions and they were trying to shrink the military. They gave us veterans free tuition and so I had to decide on what to do with the rest of my life. What will I major in now that I am faced with so many choices? My family have always worked in the health field as nurses, med techs, phys. therapists, and cna's. I did my research and nursing came up on top, it being the one where one can always find a job anywhere one ends up. I considered becoming a male stripper but I can't dance. My body was good but not that good.

It has been 8 years since I have been working as a nurse and I have always loved the job. I found that I was very well suited for the job and having been a soldier first gave me an advantage. I was not one to back down from a challenge and I love the action in Telemetry and the Rehab patients make me proud to see that I have made a contribution to help these people get better. Yeah, I do work 3 jobs! I am still a member of the Reserves. I have yet to travel as a nurse but someday the kids will grow up and leave the house. How I long for that day to come. So there it is! I am also sticking to this version of my story.

Specializes in ICU-Stepdown.

well, my story stretches out over several years. I was a paramedic in Pasco county, FL., met a nurse there (we went on to get engaged some years later, but the engagement failed (as with all things, not for one single reason, but the culmination was her demanding my quit riding motorcycles after a major accident that landed me in a (thanfully brief) coma) but anyway, I'm married to a fine woman who likes to ride (has her own, now) and things are much better. Anyway, I digress... Back then, I burned out, went to a few classes and became a long-haul truck driver. After a couple of years driving cross-country, my girl told me that she noticed I didn't look very happy with my new vocation. While I liked driving, and enjoyed seeing our beautiful country, I missed working in the medical field -but had no interest in ever being a medic on an ambulance again. She suggested nursing. Part of the problem I had with being a paramedic was that after 4 years, I'd advanced as far as I could, and the field was so over-glutted (still is) that there were no jobs available, pay wasn't what I would have liked (its better now, however) and I hated the idea that in another 16 yrs, I'd still be working in the same capacity (in Pasco, the average age of the officers above me was MY age -in short, unless they quit or died, I would never advance, and I still had the competition of all my 'compadres' who were my age or younger, and had my dreams of advancement. The prospects weren't very good. )

She showed me that RNs are in demand pretty much everywhere, in Florida or outside of it. Pay was better, and the hours were too, (imagine, work just three 12 hr shifts in a row, and have the rest of the week off. OR set it up so you could work six back to back, and end up with an effective week off, depending on how you set your schedule up), and if I got bored with one facet of nursing, I could take a few classes and get into another aspect of the field (more or less) -i.e., cardiac as opposed to med-surg, or same-day, or whatever.

The ONLY thing I really miss from being on the ambulance was intubating (ET tubes) -its great fun, and a good challenge -one I'm proud to say I was quite good at. However, I enjoy nursing and all the prospects it has open to someone willing to work. I may yet decide to become a travel-nurse for a while, or just move to somewhere else, and work there. Thankfully, almost everywhere I've looked, I've found openings, and in truth, the shortage is going to get worse -which SHOULD mean more flexibility in most respects for those of us working in this field -especially as the hospitals (larger ones for the most part) start fighting to retain their work force. We shall see, but I'm doing a job I'd never considdered, and I enjoy it. It isn't as dramatic or glamorous as my old paramedic/firefighter position, but it has far more depth to it, and I'm doing things I never knew I could do, working with people and equipment that has a far bigger effect on the health of my patients, and I don't just shut the door on them and look to the next call -now I see them progress (or not), and sometimes see the difference I make in a single shift. I've long-since let my medic license lapse, and have no intention of getting out of nursing.

Everyone has his or her own story about how or why they became a nurse. What's your story?

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

Well i have been a cna for a couple of years now,,, but I knew I wanted to be a nurse when I had my boy( 4 months ago) cause everyone on the L&D floor was sooooooooo very nice to me I knew I wanted to be a nurse so now I am in nursing school want to work on the L&D floor :)

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