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.

The long and the short of it is: the "dreamkillers" made me do it! :angryfire We're talking the early 60's here, right out of high school of course. I grew up in a family where you NEVER dared "question" the wisdom and counsel of dear old dad.

I knew I harbored this passion for writing ,but I was also smart enough to figure out that "dear ole dad" would never support me in terms of it becoming a "career" of any description. It was only after I had worked as a "candy striper" in the local hospital, and began hearing from significant adults around me that "you would make such a wonderful nurse"....it became a possibility in my own mind. Such feedback was not lost on my parents' ears either. It even filtered through to my high school guidance counselor's ears and he beat me over the head with the idea for two solid years.

Frankly, to shut everybody up (the dreamkillers) - I became a nurse. Have I loved it - you bet. Has it only enriched my passion for writing - you bet. Would I do it the same way again - NO! :rotfl:

And Brian.......where are you in Minnesota? I'm near St. Cloud.

Bonnie, Freelance Writer, retired from the frontlines of nursing

From the time I can remember I wanted to be a doctor. Then, in high school, having never even been in a hospital. I realized that I wanted to "take care" of people..

Nursing is an art. I think it is a calling. I love all of the aspects. I used to be so disgusted when a doctor would say to me "but you're so smart, you could be a doctor"...like I would rather do that than be a nurse. Doctors make big decisions and walk out of the room, they break terrible news and the nurse is there to help pick up the pieces. We are the ones who put it all together. If it wasn't for the nurses there would be no hospitals

Hey everyone. My name is Erin, I am 22y/o, an ADN student (got in last fall, audited due to personal/financial reasons, got back in for this fall...), lifelong NC native, etc. My reason for going into nursing is truly personal. I had ALWAYS known I wanted to go into healthcare (probably since about the age of five or thereabouts). I had ALWAYS had the dreams, aspirations, etc. of being a physician though. However, at the age of eight/nine I realized that since I struggled SOOO much with math, ALWAYS would, etc., I'd better change my thinking. LOL. So...I still kept it in the back of my mind as the years went on...anyway, my reason, furthermore, was because I wanted to "give back" to the medical profession for saving my life/taking care of me. I was born 10 weeks early @ 2#2oz., 10 1/4" long, had some of the common premie problems as well as one somewhat uncommon one (well, common mainly to the smaller premies). I had: As & Bs, exchange transfusions, seizures during my first 2 weeks of life, a Grade III IVH (intraventricular hemorrhage, aka: brain bleed)---that's the "uncommon" problem I was talking about, developed CP @ 2yrs., am deaf in my rt. ear, etc. Due to the IVH, I developed (subsequently) PHH (Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus), was initially shunted at 5 wks., 2 days old with a subgaleal shunt, etc. I wound up having ten surgeries during my first seven years, and managed to go EIGHT weeks and TWO days shy of FIFTEEN years before having to have another shunt revision (#11) on 4/20, and I had (brace yourself) a Delta 1.5 medium pressure, occipital burr hole, non-programmable right sided VP shunt placed (whew! what a mouthful! LOL!). On May 10th I had another surgery to have my 14y/o shunt (just the ventricular, or proximal, catheter) removed *and* a left ICP monitor placed (for 3 days). On top of that, I was dx'd w/migraines the day before I was d/c. *SIGH* So...backing up into my high school days...I took health occupations education classes my 10th and 11th grade years (some of y'all may have heard of HOSA: Health Occupations Students of America, and even participated in the classes/club), went to competitions at all levels, placed at regional, state, and even national level (summer before my senior year: a knowledge test in pathophysiology, 3rd at state, 10th at national). Anyway, I had narrowed down my specialty to neonatal nursing (Level III) by my sophomore year when I found the neonatologist that cared for me (via the Internet), started corresponding via e-mail with him, agreed to meet/eat lunch/tour the NICU, etc. and on December 28, 1999, I met him (Dr. Ernest Kraybill, now retired, since 2000) at UNC Hospitals (which was before they built the new Women's and Children's Hospitals which were dedicated September 8, 2001). I also met some nurses, and again, was able to tour the NICU July 13, 2001 with the nurse manager (Maura Williams), who ironically enough had been one of my primary nurses when I was there), and got to shadow a couple of nurses (staff as well as NNPs, because that's what I had intended to do) for a few hours. Anyway, I am still fascinated/interested in premies, NICU nursing, etc., but have shifted my focus/specialty from that into neuroscience nursing b/c of my recent hospitalizations. One thing I had worried about when I had set my sights on NICU nursing was becoming too involved/my personal experience(s) and how that would tie into everything, but everyone assured me that this wouldn't hinder me in any way; it would actually help b/c I have a certain perspective that no one else does. I hope to be able to do neurology/neurosurgery (floor) nursing. I also like the idea of maybe NSICU nursing, as well as neurosurgery clinic nursing, OR...heck, anything that deals with neurosurgery. LOL. Sheesh. However, I REALLY am leaning towards floor nursing...I TRULY enjoyed the nurses, NAs, doctors, EVERYONE on the floor during my hospitalizations, got to know them, etc. and they're all a GREAT group! I'm fond of quite a few of them, some just a tad bit more (there are two guys that are HILARIOUS together). Anyway, that's *my* story! Thanks for listening, and sorry this is long! LOL!

Erin

P.S. I guess I should add that my Dad having had MULTIPLE health problems also factors a little into my decision as well: he'd had metastatic kidney cancer w/mets. to lungs and bones., with prosthetic right elbow joint; NIDDM, HTN, chronic sinus problems which he'd never had until NG tube removal re: the RCC, diabetic complications, etc. He passed away 10/3/03 due to an anoxic brain injury (went w/o O2 for ten minutes) which was d/t cardiac arrest and *that* was d/t ARF. He also had other problems that we never knew about (but looking back, I'm not surprised) until we had a partial autopsy requested b/c we wanted answers (i.e. he had atherosclerosis, BPH, etc.).

I am not even a nursing student yet but I want to become a nurse because I have a genetic disorder, Neurofibromatosis, and have been hospitalized multipal times for surgeries. Well, my nurses have always been awsome to me, even haveing them pretend that they understood what you are going through is helpful. Like once, I was five and I had just had surgery a day or two before and I needed a blood test. I was not letting the tech anywhere near me. The nurse told me she had needed blood drawn and that she had had this certian tech do it for her because he was very good. I let him take it.

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.

They got to you, too? I thought it was just me! :rotfl:

Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.
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.

I got burned. We moved to Canada from Brazil September 1967...I was a few months shy of 5 at the time. We didn't have much in terms of kitchen stuff...so my dad was boiling water for tea in the bottom half of one of those Italian expresso coffee makers. He picked up the pot and went to pour it into his cup...unfortunately I was standing right next to him and he spilled all the boiling water all over me. I don't remember much except for my parents pulling my flannel jammies off and I vividly remember grabbing my right upper arm and when I pulled my hand away, the skin of my arm was stuck to it.

My dad barely spoke any English and my mom none....they were both scared to death and I screamed and screamed and screamed. Instead of taking me to the hospital they chose instead to bandage up my burns themselves. All went well until the dressing on my upper arm stuck. Once again I went into hysterics and wouldn't let my mom near me. Finally my mom's friend Sonia showed up....told me she's a nurse and she would take care of me. And she did....removed the dressing without any pain and redressed it.

From that point on I wanted to be a nurse just like Sonia.

It wasn't until I was about 15 or 16 that I learned that Sonia wasn't a nurse...it was all just a sly ploy to convince me to cooperate. Too late... I was already bitten by the nursing bug.

You know something...it just occurred to me...I don't think Sonia knows that I'm a nurse because of her. It's a shame, I haven't seen her since I was a kid.

Laura

A couple of months before I graduated from high school my parents asked just what I planned on doing? I had it all figured out, I was going to take a year off and just relax and continue to work at Burger King and then I would go to school and become a teacher. I also thought I would probably get married as my husband and I were engaged. They then said they thought I should become a nurse. Just give it a try and if it wasn't for me, then pursue something else. I thought no way, since I had the weakest stomach in the history of the world, but I was a gutless wonder back then and would never have questioned their wisdom. Thinking back they must of had put some thought into this before they sat me down because they had a very impressive presentation. They listed alot of perks and pro's, some of which I have given up waiting on. Anyway I became an LPN and got married the same week I took boards. I guess they knew me better than I knew myself, been doing it for 19 years now. When I get really stressed I think I've got to do something else, but then can't seem to think of anything else that I want to do. I guess I'm destined to be a nurse.

p.s. I love kids, but at this point in my life the thought of being stuck in a classroom with a bunch of kids 5 days a weeks sends chills down my spine.:eek:

I guess mom and dad knew best.

Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.

I went to college, got a B.A. in Communications Disorders, discovered I needed a Masters Degree to be a Speech Pathologist or Audiologist. Decided I wanted to go into Deaf education instead, volunteered at a couple of schools for the deaf while working as a secretary in the government with every plan to return to school to get a Masters in deaf education. I met my husband while working as a secretary in the government and got my "MRS." instead of my Masters, became a full time homemaker for about 13 years, raising our five children, looked around and realized they were about to leave the nest in a few years, told my husband nurses were "cool" and besides I'd counted 150 jobs for RNs in the newspaper that day and that I should have studied nursing. He encouraged me to go back to school. I did in 2001 and graduated in 2004 with a BSN.....have been a nurse almost a year now and most days I actually enjoy it :) Strange thing is....seems like nursing fits me just fine... Some people say its a "calling"....I'm inclined to believe that is true...... :)

At first I was gonna be a rock star and then a famous author. Neither the voice nor the words came, and I found myself a single mother at 19. Went into nursing mostly because it sounded like a good way to make money. Didn't finish but two semesters...hard to raise a baby when you're 19 and alone and go to nursing school...fast forward a number of years. The interest in what I'd learned remained. I found myself getting jealous of people I know who talked about going to nursing school. Told myself I wanted to be a nurse in theory but not in practice, and had time to think about it. Worked in an animal hospital, worked as a Medical Assistant for last five years. Husband got leukemia 3 1/2 years ago when he was 35 and I was 33 and the truth hit me that time is limited in the best of circumstances. Got him into remission and myself into nursing school. Had to repeat the 1 1/2 clinical courses I'd started which is good b/c I went from C's the first time to A- this time. I need to be able to support us someday but nursing is now WAY BEYOND the money for me. Its a passion that I realized has been brewing and stewing for years and I feel in my soul that nursing is my path in life. I am a Reiki Master, and that as well helped me find my way to nursing.

One more year of school to go and I will be what I already know I am in my heart and soul.

Specializes in ER, Oncology, MS.

Well I guess i cant ever remember wanting anything else. Except for maybe a lion tamer Oh how I loved Lions!. I was in an awful situation in my early years and was removed from there to a foster home at the age of 5 along with my 3 year old brother.He is developmentally delayed from the repeated trauma to head from being beat. I really remember very little of those first few years except for that night that children services took us away and to the hopital. They were the nicest people I had ever seen. Luckily for me I was not kept and was taken to the foster home, have been told that thy felt that I had escaped most of the phyical abuse because I wuld always go and get under the bed.Now WHY would chldren services go ito any home 11 times before removing children is beyond me but I guess thats a whole different story. Anyway, bythe time I wa 7 I wa adopted by a wonderful family andtold them from the very beginning that I was going to be Julia the black nurse( anyone remember that show?), or the flying Nun. Well I have never learned to fly and of course was never going to be able to get that Nun thing down either LOL. So I did the nurse thing, however I still cant figure out the black part either. I guess some things are just out of our control. I did my LPN my Jr/Sr year of high school, thenlater went o for my RN. Not sure how or why but know that I was given the gift of insight and just knew that this was the profession for me. I often look back ov my life and choices Ive mae and the onethat I have EVER regretted is the nursing one. I gaduated from LPN school in 1980 and have had a very rearding career. Have worked ICU, Medsurg, travel nursing, several years in surgeryand also oncology. My problem is I cant say no to a jo offer and at ties am fiding myself in 3 jobs at once. Thats RAZY! But thats a part of nursing that is so wonderful, thre are sooo many options if you truly love what you do.

Specializes in ER, Oncology, MS.
Well I guess i cant ever remember wanting anything else. Except for maybe a lion tamer Oh how I loved Lions!. I was in an awful situation in my early years and was removed from there to a foster home at the age of 5 along with my 3 year old brother.He is developmentally delayed from the repeated trauma to head from being beat. I really remember very little of those first few years except for that night that children services took us away and to the hopital. They were the nicest people I had ever seen. Luckily for me I was not kept and was taken to the foster home, have been told that thy felt that I had escaped most of the phyical abuse because I wuld always go and get under the bed.Now WHY would chldren services go ito any home 11 times before removing children is beyond me but I guess thats a whole different story. Anyway, bythe time I wa 7 I wa adopted by a wonderful family andtold them from the very beginning that I was going to be Julia the black nurse( anyone remember that show?), or the flying Nun. Well I have never learned to fly and of course was never going to be able to get that Nun thing down either LOL. So I did the nurse thing, however I still cant figure out the black part either. I guess some things are just out of our control. I did my LPN my Jr/Sr year of high school, thenlater went o for my RN. Not sure how or why but know that I was given the gift of insight and just knew that this was the profession for me. I often look back ov my life and choices Ive mae and the onethat I have EVER regretted is the nursing one. I gaduated from LPN school in 1980 and have had a very rearding career. Have worked ICU, Medsurg, travel nursing, several years in surgeryand also oncology. My problem is I cant say no to a jo offer and at ties am fiding myself in 3 jobs at once. Thats RAZY! But thats a part of nursing that is so wonderful, thre are sooo many options if you truly love what you do.

Sorry for the misspellings, I didnt look t it until after I posted it. I have a cordless keyboard and sometimes I thinkif my cffecups in the way of the reciever it misses some signals. I guess I could give up coffee! NOOOOOOOO :o

I saw an advertisement on the side of a city bus that said,

"Get your RN in 2.75 years."

I don't know why it appealed to me, but it did, so I wrote down the phone number of the school and the rest is history.

Oh, and by the way, it took me five years, but I was working full time and going to school part-time for my pre-requisites.

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