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 School nurse, primary care.

I was a sex educator in a highschool before ...I worked with a school nurse and it is with her that I learned more about this job, Iwent back to school to become a nurse...I never say to people I meet what I did before, enough ear when you say you are a nurse and they tell you for the thousand time..oh..I'm sick...ahah...imagine the stupids things that come when you say you are a sex educator...

I always wanted to be a music teacher or a hairdresser. But circumstances changed that. I got married instead. The marriage wasn't going so well, and I was certain that one day I would be on my own again. So at age 26, I went to a local community college just to get an education. Didn't have a clue what I wanted to study. So the counselor gave me a list of courses they offered and said, "Come back and see me in a week, after you've had a chance to look this over."

The next week, I told her I'd be interested in x-ray technician study, or dental assistance, or dental technician. All those classes were offered at their satellite classes (about 50 miles away), so that wasn't feasible. So then she looked at me and said, "Have you ever thought of becoming a nurse?" I quickly said an emphatic, "NO!"

So she said, "Well think about it; you can get a job just about anywhere you go, there are all kinds of nursing---school nurse, nursing home, hospital, industrial nursing, teaching, etc, etc."

I thought about what she said and decided right then that she was absolutely right.

I started their nursing program and within a year, my husband left me for a drinking girlfriend of his. I've not looked back. Been in nursing for 25 years now and it's not the stress I love, it's the gratifcation of doing a job well and being appreciated for it by my patients (not necessarily by my NM's)and am hopeful to be a traveler in the near future.

finally i am also a nursing student:nurse:

About 5 years ago, my brother's wife (who is an RN) was pregnant with my nephew. It was early in her pregnancy that she was told her son had 3 fluid-filled cysts in his brain. They didn't know that he was also missing his corpus collosum until he was a couple months old. The CT scans of the brain were quite impressive. I began getting as much information as I could about his medical dx. It seemed to snowball from there. I read everything I could get my hands on. I couldn't afford to go to school to be an RN at the time so the LPN was the obvious next best thing.

I saved enough money to go to LPN school full time (only working about 8 hours a week as a CNA at the hospital) while raising my teen-age son by myself-as I had just divorced and purchased a new house. Alimony would have been nice.

My nephew is almost 4 now. He is in OT, PT and goes to a special school. He walks, tries to run, plays, talks and is just a miracle. On the outside--he looks perfectly normal. On the inside-he has a shunt, has had 2 major brain surgeries, and a stroke from one of the first surgeries with Right side paralysis (resolving). He really opened my eyes to a whole new world. He sees things differently because his L & R hemispheres do not communicate with each other as ours do. But, one would not know he had issues to look at him-he is doing awesome!!!

Medicine is truly GOD'S work through the minds and hands of his instruments--Anyone caring enough to be in the medical professions.

I Didn't Want To Be A Nurse When I Started. My Dad Talked Me Into So I Would Always Have A Job. I Was Always Taking Care Of People,my Mother, Aunts, Etc. So I Gave It A Try. My Dad Was Right I Have BEEN Working All My Life Except WHEN Having Children. I Don't Regret It One Bit, But Nursing Has Really Changed. The Cna's Lpn's/lvn's Really Do Most Of The Care Now. Rn's Just Bang On The Commputer,give Meds, Be Liable For The DrS (many Times), And Every Now And Then You Help Someone And Truly Feel Good Inside. I Would Much Prefer Bedside Nursing If I Was'NT TIED TO THE MONEY. I Do Think One Day When I Retire I Will Volunteer For What I Like To Do Just Sitting At The Bedside Holding Their Hand ,help Them With Their Adl's And Hopefully Be Comforting.

I started nursing the ambition right from my secondary school days when I was admitted into the hospital. I was attended to by some pretty,caring and smart ladies always in white ( CAP, DRESS , SHOE, RED&BLUE PENS ,N/WATCH etc) There and then ,I decided to be a nurse. Thank God today I,m a rn .

Anyway we became nurses, and now we all work in the similar positions, we should do best, because it is our own choices. Go on !

Specializes in cardiac.

I just wanted to make a difference. Not so easy to do, as I found out. But, still trying!:wink2:

and it's not true that the patients sleep on 3rd shift, at least not on a med/surg floor :uhoh3:.

i've been a "professional" patient several times, and i can attest to the fact that it's very difficult, if not impossible, to sleep in a hospital bed!!!:lol2:

Specializes in Surgical/Orthopaedic.

My mum introduced the idea back when I was in highschool trying to figure out what I was going to do after it. Mum suggested nursing, I was adamant at first becuase as a little child I hated the sight of blood and the smell of hospitals. But it turned out to be mums best suggestion. I cannot imagine myself doing anything else......its been great so far. Especially cuz I'll be moving to california next year to start work and expand my career. :wink2:

Specializes in Med-Surg, Home Health, LTC.

More important question for me personally is how do I find a vocation that actually helps people and does not support a failing system?

Nursing in the traditional world is against wellness and true health.

Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I am just a nursing student at the moment, but nursing is all that I have ever wanted to do. I remember being 2 years old, and getting my first play Dr's kit. I remember the texture of the plastic case, and running around doctoring everyone in my family. When I was a bit older I would play sick so I could go to the Doctors office. My ped was married to his nurse, and she was beautiful. I remember telling her that when I grew up I wanted to be just like her. Every christmas I would ask for science kits, and chemistry sets. I had to take allergy shots for a while, and I would steal the needles, and go around giving all of my stuffed animal shots. When all the the other little girls were playing dolls, and house I was playing hospital. When I was about 4 I found a medical text book for ob nurse about childbirth. It belonged to my grandma who was a midwife, and I don't have a clue how I ended up with it. It was written in the 40's and was falling apart. I started out looking at the pictures, and was loved how handsome the Dr's and nurses looked in there scrubs. I was intrigued by the tools, and instruments. As I got older I finally was able to read the book. It eventually lost it's binding, and faded away like a long lost friend. When I went to my dad, and told him what I wanted to do as a young women he told me "NO" that I was a pretty girl, and needed to look for a nice man to settle down with. This was in the 80's so I guess he was a bit behind the times in the womens lib department. I ended up married, and after 3 children, and a divorce I am doing what I was always meant to do going to school to be a nurse.

Peach

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