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.

[Era]

I was in my back yard one evening with a nice fat possum on the grill. I heard a noise and looked up to see a spacecraft directly above me. In an instant, I was transported into a dimly lit area equipped with strange equipment. Then a 3 ft tall being with a single eye in the center of his neck...or what I though was a neck, kicked me in the shins. As I jerked my leg up out of the way, several of the little critters pushed me back on an exam table. The next few hours were a blur as I went in and out of consciousness. Before I knew what was happening I was graduating from nursing school. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

:roll Hahahahah That's funny!

My story? Simple..... I wanted to make my Grandfather proud + the fact that I was from a line of nurses & midwives! I also wanted to make a difference in my own little way.

[soingal]

I've not taken any pre-req's yet or even enrolled in NS, but I've talked to one NS that's part of a large hospital in the nearby city, but, simply put, I've been a professional patient many times over, hence the interest.

I have 3 young children, and if something were to ever happen to my spouse, a career in nursing would allow me to support myself and my children. Presently, I started work this week in the transportation/distribution industry (again), but I look at it as a stepping stone.

Even though I've gotten this job, I still look at the allnurses.com forums when possible.

[shoegirl28]

I never inteneded to be a nurse (well I am now a student nurse). My dream back in highschool was to be a physiotherapist (since I was a gymnast for most of my teen/childhood years I had a huge interest in body mechanics and movements. However I never achieved the Straight A/A plus average needed to become a physiotherapist. Since I also was a candystriper and I shadowed nurses in high school I had an interest in the profession. My passion in life all my life has been caring for other people in every way possible way. So maybe it was destiny.

So far I LOVE nursing school, and all of it's challenges.

:balloons:

[shoegirl28]

I've always found the human body fascinating, enjoyed biology and anatomy. While in Jr. High school, one of my best friend's mom was a nurse, and the idea of being a nurse intrigued me. I also new a flight paramedic and his stories always peaked my interest as well. While in High School, I made my mind up that I wanted to be an ER nurse and eventually become a flight nurse.

I went to nursing school, started out in Geriatrics, became very interested in Nursing Informatics, which at the time was fairly new. I was amazed at how little the Nursing Home and Hospitals used technology, and I loved using computers to save time. I never did anything with my interest in Informatics directly. I then moved to the hospital, worked Telemetry, and then I went to work in CCU for several years.

Back in 1995, I started a nursing website as a hobby when I was in nursing school back in 95, that hobby became a passion, and then became a business for me. That website is now called allnurses.com (this website ) has grown to significantly since it's early days. I've never for one minute regretted becoming a nurse!

While I never became an ER nurse or a flight nurse, I am very happy where my nursing career has taken me :)

Hi Brain

You have a very interesting story. Are you still practicing nursing today, or are you practicing in the sense of entrepreneurial nursing?

This is a very neat website. I only just discovered it. Is it your first one? Do you have any other ones?

Cheers

comportment

[Valanda]

I come from a family of professors, engineers, and veterinarians, I grew up to believe that nurses were not very intelligent.

After I had a premature baby, I spent many hours in the NICU with my baby. I saw everything that the nurses did. They were the only ones who seemed to be able to explain what was happening to my baby in a way that I could understand it. They were also the only ones who treated me like a human with feelings instead of a wellfare case. One of these nurses even helped me by asking the questions that nobody else bothered to. I wasn't even really this nurse's patient -- my son was, but she asked about my home life. The fact was that my husband had kicked me in the stomach shortly before my water broke. She was the only one who asked me anything about that! She helped me talk to the social worker who arranged for me to get out of that situation and into a safer environment for both me and the baby.

That whole experience made me realise that nurses were so much more than what I had been raised to believe.

I chose to become a nurse myself so I could help others like these nurses helped me. In some ways, I feel I owe them my life. After 17 years of being a nurse myself, I think I just may have have given it to them.

A thousand blessings to the NICU nurses at UTMB- Galveston!!!

[harley007]

Little girl growing up in the 1960's falls in love with "Cherry Ames" books and reads every book. (Still has them all too!) ..... then one of the wonderful "older" girls in the neighborhood goes off to the local nursing school. Seeing her in her pink checkered dress, starched white bib/apron, white heeled shoes, stockings and that huge white cap .... Oh goodness, I want to be her! So, I fooled around in high school, then worked hard and became an LPN. At 20, I was finally wearing a pink uniform ... sadly was it had changed to a one piece wash and wear but I did get that huge cap! For 31 years my RN has helped me in so many ways. I went back to acute care last year and kept my sanity when my husband of 25 years left. The older girl in the neighborhood? She went on to earn her nursing PhD. She was tragically killed, by a drunk driver, the month she was to graduate. An advance degree nursing scholarship is offered in her name - Dr. Lorraine G. Spranzo, my hero.

[marikabw]

when my spouse had yet another devastating injury from his beloved sport, I decided I had to go back to finish nursing school so I could be able to take care of my children. Along the route, I realized I really loved this path, and foud a way that I could matter AND make fabulous friends.

[chysyl]

I became a nurse after several attempts of writing exams to get addmission into the university failed. While i was in primary sch i always wanted to work in the hospital and i grew up thinking that the only way to do so was to be a doc. An uncle told me about the sch of nursing form in 2000, i bought the form in 2001 got addmitted in 2002,finished 2005 and i've enjoyed every moment.

[pakiprincess01]

I always wanted to be a doctor when growing up, but then life happened. I was in my fourth year of college and was determined to apply to medical school. That same year, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and she ended up passing away nine months later. Throughout her illness, I spent countless hours in the hospital with her. I fell in love with all of the nurses. They would give me extra juices and they comforted me when I was feeling sad about losing my mom. The doctors, on the other hand, would come into the room for about 3 minutes and then would leave. All I ever heard was bad news from them. So i generalized and believed that all doctors are cold hearted and I didnt want to be one of them. I wanted to spend time w/ patients and unlike doctors, "actually" take care of them, not just give orders. So, I finished up my BS in biology and now I am going to be starting nursing school next month. When i got my accpentance letter, that was the most happiest day of my life. I cant wait to be a nurse and help make somebody's elses life a little more liveable.

[Thedreamer]

Hey guys, I will give you my scoop:

I am a very compassionate person, and it is in my nature to care for people on many levels. I am the second oldest of 6 kids. (my twin brother is the oldest) and I have three special needs adopted little brothers. I was always the sensitive one that took care of everyone else when mom needed the help. I am also the guy that the family goes to when they need any kinda of help. That is just how I have always been.

A few years ago my mom got cancer, started kemo, it was bad. It was really hard seeing that going on to my mom and not being able to help in any way. She kept getting better and getting worse. Also my little brothers all needed to be taken care of med/physically while all this was going on. Needless to say, I began to start asking questions about thier meds, and ways I could treat my mom at home to help her with her problems. At the time I was in film school even though I am a math and science oriented person.

With all that going on in my life, I decided it was time to switch majors so that I could learn more about what was going on with my family. I enrolled as a biology major. I was taking 6 classes of math/science/chem ect a term, while taking care of my family. By the 3rd semester I had knocked out all my math core, chem and Biology up to micro and aced them all. A friend of mine told me that since I was so caring about people and so very good at the math/science side of school that I should look into nursing.

This was like one of those moments where a little lightbulb went off in my head and said "Well duh, a callings a calling, gratz on finally coming to terms with it." I went home, did some research and I just got this overwhelming feeling of "Wow, this is a job i could love!" So i started applying to nursing schools. I told my dad, who lived seperate from us, what my plans were. All he could say was, "You wanna clean asses and feed people? What kinda of a life is that?" This made my laugh. Human biology is human biology. Someone has to clean up after people, feed them, give them medications, and nurture them with caring support in order for them to get better. Thats just life and who better then me? I had to explain to my dad that those kinds of things didnt bother me because as I stated before, biology is biology.

My GPA at the time was 3.6 and I got rejected for 3 terms in a row. But I wasnt going to give up. I am a plan maker, and make back up plans for my back up plans. I kept sending out applications, but in the mean time I enrolled in the local EMT program. This way I would get a taste of the field and see at the same time if i could handle the bloody stuff.(I didnt know about CNA at the time) I did my EMT, aced it, and found out that I loved this "helping people" line of work. A lot of our clinicals were in the hospital, and I would spend hours assessing PTs and talking to the nurses about this and that. I really felt very comfortable in the ER at with all that chaos around me. I learned that I work very well under pressure and stress. It really solidified my wanting to be a nurse, and a damn good one. So fast forward to now.

I got my shiny EMT Certificate and took it to the local LPN program here in Broward FL. The staff at the school I applied to was amazing. I already had my AA in nursing, and EMT cert, so they let me skip the 1-2 year wait list. Also they allowed me to buy the books and take the first semester in tests and clep out of it. I passed. So now I am starting in jan. as an 2nd semester LPN student.

I am SO very excited. I heard that this is a very hands on curriculum and that really excites me.

My plan is to get my LPN, and then do an LPN -> RN bridge program. This will A) put me at my goal of becoming an RN. And B) I can work as an LPN IN THE FIELD till I get accepted to a RN program. and C) I heard it was much less competitive going from LPN -> RN as opposed to the full RN program. Once I get my RN I will get my BSN and then stop for a few years. I want to work with the patients and perfect my skills before I even consider moving on to anything else. This term is med/serg so it will really be a test for me, though I will be frank, I love the hospital and patient care, so I am actually looking forward to this, even though I have read that alot of nurses hate it.

What kinda strikes me as funny though, is that ALOT of people I have talked to complain about having to "clean up ****." (mostly nursing studnets) Maybe it is because I am male, or because I am not squemish.. But last time I checked, total patient health care meant TOTAL patient health care. If that was my mom in the hospital bed and you were her nurse, I would want you to keep her clean, medicated, fed, and hell, shoot a smile and a kind comment here or there when you pass by her room. THAT is total patient care.. Alot of these nursing students have the idea that only "lower downs" do the dirty stuff.. Last time I checked, as you got more education, you progressed more. But we ALL start at basic hygiene and patient care. I.e. Poop, pee, and bed changing. Just because they get a shiny BSN off the bat, I guess they assume they are above it? Makes me giggle

Anyways, I think that sums up everything. Im a goofball at heart. :monkeydance:

- ian

[RNfromMN, BSN, RN]

I think I was about 25, working full-time @ a hotel & taking general liberal arts classes when I could when I decided it was time to get serious about going to college & getting a degree I could actually use. Had never worked in healthcare before.

I opened up the classifieds one Sunday & thought, "Mmmm...Nurses make a lot of money." After doing the initial research @ my college, I learned that the first step would be taking a CNA class. Took the class, decided since I had this CNA-thing that I should probably use it. But I absolutely positively did not want to work in a nursing home. I had a major fear of nursing homes being absolutely depressing places, that the residents must just be humiliated now that they can't even dress themselves, etc.

I was talking to a bartender about it one night & he said, "Well, you can come work at the place I work at, but I'm warning you, you're going to hate it!" Larry told me he was the maintenance engineer @ a center for mentally retarded people. He said the turnover for CNAs there was constant. But...it wasn't a nursing home.

When I went to pick up a job application there, there was a wooden sign permanently staked into the ground that said, "Now hiring for CNAs!" Not a good sign, I thought. I filled out the application & went through the interview process. I told the people interviewing me that I had absolutely no previous healthcare experience, that I was terrified of getting my first job in healthcare & I told them point blank that I did not intend on working @ this facility long at all because they had an absolutely terrible reputation. My friend Larry told me later that the ladies who interviewed me had decided to hire me on the spot.

This place puts you through 2 weeks of classes as orientation before they even let you see a resident there. Before I started working there, I think I'd probably seen about 5 mentally retarded people in my whole life. Once I got to my assigned unit, my co-workers just threw me to the wolves, which was exactly what I'd needed. My first day I had only 1 pt, a 1 yr old little boy, trach, feeding tube, non-verbal. I remember the first time I picked him up, I almost dropped him twice...every baby I'd ever held hugged my hip. This one's muscles were so rigid he was nearly flat as a board. I bawled my eyes out from the second the unit doors closed behind me once my shift was done until it was time for me to go to bed that night.

I cried that way every night for the first 2 weeks I worked there. I could not believe there were actually people in this world that physically & mentally disabled. I saw residents born with their arms on backwards, male & female genitalia, little boys & girls that would chew their own arms down to the bone, grown men & women that were no bigger than a 1 year old child, one resident with elephantitus, another with his nose literally turned inside out, near-drowning victims, shaken babies, fetal alcohol syndrome babies, crack babies...oh, my heart just broke. I remember thinking, "I thought there was a limit on how disfigured God could make somebody." And I could not, for the life of me, figure out why God would make people like this.

I remember one night my mom called me to see how my new job was going. I was in the middle of one of my crying rants & she asked me if I had a cold. I told her, no, it's just this job. I told her about some of the things I'd seen there & how sad it made it me. She said that maybe I should think about working somewhere else.

I don't know what made me stay. I think maybe I had something to prove because I'd heard so many horror stories about what it was like to work there. I'd met so many CNAs that had worked there at some time in their lives & almost all of them had the same thing to say: "Yeah, I worked there for a few months...they treat employees like garbage & the work is really hard..."

After I'd worked there for a few months & had fallen in love with a few of the residents, it kinda hit me: I'd gone into nursing for the money. Pure & simple. Never had a desire to help people, or take care of anyone. I went into it for purely selfish reasons. So maybe the reason God made people like this was to create compassion in people like me.

I had to leave that job to start nursing school nearly 2 years ago & I miss it so much. I miss the people I took care of. I was so good @ that job...certain residents would be assigned to my unit that nobody wanted to take care of that would only respond positively to me. I'm actually worried that I'm going to miss being a CNA once I become an RN.

So that's my story. I definitely think Developemental Disabilities is going to be my specialty, but I'm one of those that believes every nurse should work MedSurg for at least a year before going anywhere else, so that's my plan.

[Thedreamer]

@ Jessica, that was a very good story. God does work in mysterious ways!