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 Intensive Care.

I became a nurse because my grade 12 biology teacher inspired me. She got me interested in health care and the complexity that is the human body. I love the profession and hope to do research as much as possible.

On bad days I still wonder why I became a nurse, LOL. Seriously though, I always had a soft spot in my heart for sick/ill people since I was very young.

Why do I want to become a nurse? Everyone always asks me and I get a little intimidated and insecure about myself when asked, but when I listen to everyone's story, everyone had something they had to overcome themselves in order to become a nurse so here's mine.

I'm not a nurse as of yet. Heck, I'm not even in nursing school. But I have enough faith and courage in me to believe that one day I will be one. Main motivation??? Give back what I've been given.

It's interesting that some people's story starts with being a bad kid, well, because I once was one. It has often set me back, thinking I can't do it anymore, and then the depression hits. Well, I wasn't always a "bad kid", it happened at adolescence. Before high school I was a straight-A girl and was put in advanced classes. But I was also very insecure and shy. I turned rebellious my freshman year and gave my parents a hell of alot of trouble. I ended up getting my GED my senior year, but I was one of those that loved academics so that did a number to my self-esteem.

I enrolled in the local community college and got a nurse's aide certificate. I was very proud of myself, even to have accomplished that. You see, my father was my coach, my guide throughout my life. All he wants for me is for me to have a bright, secure future. This was a step for me towards accomplishing that.

I liked being in college. There I could be myself with no pressure of fitting in and I wouldn't be put down for being smart. Trouble was I didn't know what I wanted to do...

In grade school there was a career fair and I chose nursing and teaching as my interests. A little while later I remember for a class assignment in health class we had to do a speech in front of the class. I don't remember any other time that I've been so confident in myself. My teacher praised my speech in front of the class and I got excellent marks. That spoke volumes to me that I was going to be good in one of those fields.

In high school, I was in honors chemistry my soph year and my teacher asked me what I wanted to be so he would know where to put me the following year. I said a nurse and without hesitation he wrote down the recommendation. That boosted my confidence up more.

Okay, so you're thinking I was 100% sure on becoming a nurse? No, I couldn't get myself out of my insecurity for too long. Besides I was doing better in other subjects other than science, like math (ironic isn't it) and social sciences. So in college I pursued other interests, such as psychology. I failed anatomy a couple times just because my heart wasn't totally into it. I've declared a liberal arts major a few semesters and just been in the journey of "finding myself".

I want to elaborate more and finish my story but I have just about 5 mins left on this computer.

I decided to go back to school 5 years after graduating high school. When I considered what to go back to school for, I looked in the newspaper and saw many ads for RNs. I thought "I could do that" and that was that. I was off to nursing school. I graduated and immediately started working in CCU on night shift and loved it, but I never found my true calling until I started working as hospice nurse. I can't imagine doing anything else.

i just love nursing!

its a calling....:saint::saint::saint:

I was thrown into it due to my daughter.....I actually always wanted to be a hairdresser even went to school for it.....When I had my daughter she was almost 3 weeks old and got sick with Meningitis & Encephalitis together. It did alot of damage neurologically..as she was perfectly healthy and normal prior to this. There are alot of things she has gone through medically....she was only supposed to live to be one month old IF she was one of the lucky ones..and she will be 17 on July 5th....she has a boatload of things going on but I love her just as much as if she were "normal" She ended up with severe brain damage from the illness....when she first went through it at her worst she was bent backwards head and feet touching so she looked like a donut..and stiff as a board, we took her home in her corificeat like this....we pretty much took her home to die at that point...anyway she has had tons of things done, as well as many bouts with illnesses & keeps on going.....she has a trach, g tube, seizures, severe scoliosis from the CP.....etc etc...so by "Having" to learn how to take care of her at home after all of the different things she has gone through I have home care nurses that work with her in my home too & they are what got me into nursing...I never even gave nursing a thought until 9 years ago.......and now I absolutely love it & wished I did it years ago...I have been doing nursing care for 17 years as far as what my daughter requires for day to day needs but I will be an RN officially this Dec...yay!!!!! I really learned alot of stuff from the nurses who take care of my daughter....and it has really helped me with what I do on clinicals as far as nursing care.....I see how hard nurses work & I have nothing but admiration for them.....I cannot wait to become a working RN..can't get here fast enough!! I started out taking a couple of classes a semester back in 1999 so it took me until now...7 years later to finally be graduating........I always joke that I could of been a doctor by now.....everyone tells me they are very proud at what I have accomplished and so what if it takes me 20 years to get there because under the circumstances I am lucky to have been able to even do this with everything I have to do with her.......and one of her nurses who has been with us for 9 years ..she is an LPN ( has been for many many years) & can run circles around any nurse at any educational level & has alot more knowledge & common sense than most I ever saw..which is why I never will judge any nurse reagrdless of their educational level.....it's the care & how they give it that is the important thing..........she always says to me "look at all the people your daughter has brought together" " look at all you've accomplished because of her" and it is soooooo true! So I always remember the place I came from & will never forget that as I hope it will make me a good nurse as I go through my career.....All nurses are hard workers:balloons:

Me a nurse? You must be joking. Everyone I knew suggested it and I resisted like crazy.

I can relate to this! I have gone on and off the idea of nursing many times, but it keeps jumping back in front of me! LOL Everyone I know says it's what I should do and now I've finally accepted that it's the only thing that feels like the right fit for me. I have 3 kids and have run a home daycare for 8 years and I was hoping to get away from smells and body fluids, but I guess that's what I was born to do - at least I can't be grossed out easily! LOL

Like many others in this thread, I also have a child with special medical needs and I really believe that I can handle whatever nursing school and the job throws at me!

Also like another post I've read, I had a "misspent youth" and have seen lots of violence and drug related death and destruction and I feel a need to contribute in a positive way. First through parenting and daycare, now through health care.

Carolyn

I was thrown into it due to my daughter.....I actually always wanted to be a hairdresser even went to school for it.....When I had my daughter she was almost 3 weeks old and got sick with Meningitis & Encephalitis together. It did alot of damage neurologically..as she was perfectly healthy and normal prior to this. There are alot of things she has gone through medically....she was only supposed to live to be one month old IF she was one of the lucky ones..and she will be 17 on July 5th....she has a boatload of things going on but I love her just as much as if she were "normal" She ended up with severe brain damage from the illness....when she first went through it at her worst she was bent backwards head and feet touching so she looked like a donut..and stiff as a board, we took her home in her corificeat like this....we pretty much took her home to die at that point...anyway she has had tons of things done, as well as many bouts with illnesses & keeps on going.....she has a trach, g tube, seizures, severe scoliosis from the CP.....etc etc...so by "Having" to learn how to take care of her at home after all of the different things she has gone through I have home care nurses that work with her in my home too & they are what got me into nursing...I never even gave nursing a thought until 9 years ago.......and now I absolutely love it & wished I did it years ago...I have been doing nursing care for 17 years as far as what my daughter requires for day to day needs but I will be an RN officially this Dec...yay!!!!! I really learned alot of stuff from the nurses who take care of my daughter....and it has really helped me with what I do on clinicals as far as nursing care.....I see how hard nurses work & I have nothing but admiration for them.....I cannot wait to become a working RN..can't get here fast enough!! I started out taking a couple of classes a semester back in 1999 so it took me until now...7 years later to finally be graduating........I always joke that I could of been a doctor by now.....everyone tells me they are very proud at what I have accomplished and so what if it takes me 20 years to get there because under the circumstances I am lucky to have been able to even do this with everything I have to do with her.......and one of her nurses who has been with us for 9 years ..she is an LPN ( has been for many many years) & can run circles around any nurse at any educational level & has alot more knowledge & common sense than most I ever saw..which is why I never will judge any nurse reagrdless of their educational level.....it's the care & how they give it that is the important thing..........she always says to me "look at all the people your daughter has brought together" " look at all you've accomplished because of her" and it is soooooo true! So I always remember the place I came from & will never forget that as I hope it will make me a good nurse as I go through my career.....All nurses are hard workers:balloons:

Wow, Way to go....what a story, what courage......you have my admiration.

keeep up the goood work everybody.. god bless you all

Specializes in all facets of clinic fp to surg et ob.

to foster care at 16--mom alcoholic--traveled all over for 4-5 years then pregnant and married alcoholic--5 years later divorced with one kiddo-lots of therapy then nursing seemed like a way to support kiddo and continue to try and "fix" people --now know just need to help people am good listener--short and sweet

Reading this I know at least half the people on this forum knows what they are talking about. Help me out lol

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/need-some-help-165828.html

Nursing is my second career:) My first career was highly technical and I'll leave it at that. I retired after 20 years and suddenly felt like a kid again deciding what it was I wanted to do. I picked nursing for alot of reasons. With nursing I know that what I contribute can make a positive difference in other people's life. I love the fact that if I get bored - there are a million and one things I can do along with the level of responsibility and autonomy that goes along with nursing.

I'm starting my first job next monday folks. A little scared and excited all at the same time:balloons:

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