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.

[missi30]

just like abooker, I'm a librarian and my father has been trying to convince me for years to go into nursing. Of course, I rebelled and got my masters in library science. However, with the death of both my grandparents and volunteering for hospice made me realize the important role nurses play in death and dying, it was a very eye opening experience. My father would also say that the nursing skills are very essential to have.

Now at 32, I have just enrolled in a CNA class hoping to get my RN in the future.

[Soapy]

WOW, I love reading all the stories!! :)

I'm acutally BARELY just starting with school but I know this is my "calling". Since I could remember, I was just always intruiged by hospitals, the human body, medicine, etc... When I was younger, because my dad was in the Army, we had free medical. I'd always make up some illness or over do my cold just to go to the doctor's. I LOVED hospitals.

Anyway, in 7th grade, I got really sick, and the docs said it was just the flu. I told my mom there was something wrong with my lung, but the Doc said no, I was fine. I was in the ER 2 days later with pneumonia and a collapsed lung. I was hospitalized for over a month, all through Christmas and New Years with chest tubes. It was two nurses there that I will NEVER forget. One was a very pretty lady with LONG eyelashes. She'd hold my hand when they were doing spinal taps or inserting my chest tubes and she always spoiled me. If she was on shift no one could touch me unless she was in the room with me...she called me her baby. I loved her! Another was a younger man studying to be a surgeon. He taught me to jump right as the elevator takes off, and right before it stops. He'd bring me magazines and tell me about his "cool Army life" when he'd have the night shifts. It was so fun and he was really cute! They probably made the biggest impact on me knowing that I wanted to be a nurse. The LITTLE things they did for me made me feel wonderful, especially when I'd be hurting so much. I really loved them because they LISTENED to me when I said something was wrong. 9 times out of 10, there was something wrong, and they were the only ones that seemed to really comfort me. Throughout my life I've had too many physicians not take me seriously, and I vowed to never do that when (not if) I became a doctor or nurse.

Well, my buget can't handle being a doctor. That and from what I've heard, it's not for me. I want that patient to patient care. My plan was to join the Army and be a medic, doctor, nurse, whatever. Those plans went downhill when I found out I'm medically (how ironic) disqualified from joining the military. So, now I just hope that I can get through all this school and be in what I like to call "my second home" (a hospital...seriously, I don't know why I love them and feel so comfortable in them.) someday, and maybe I can get to work in a military hospital since DH is in the service.

I've always picked up and absorbed anything medical...I'd always be telling people what was wrong with them, or what I felt they should have "checked out" with very surprizing results! Even in middle school they'd be amazed at "how did you know about that?". It was cool! LOL. I hope that memory and absorption of info sticks with me through nursing school!

[nurse to shine]

Well,i am very new to this site, and really enjoing it! I started working in a nursing home 1975 as a nursing assistant. The assistant administrator encouaged me to get my LPN training. My boys had started school, so did i. i graduated in 1977, and worked in hospital, as an LPN. In 1984, i graduated from nursing school and had my RN degree. I worked part-time for a number of years in the hospital, and ventured off and on into home health. My husband is a minister and we have 2 sons, married, and now six grandchildren. I am between jobs, recently left the hospital due to 12hr. shifts. I am interviewing for school nurse position, ready for a change. I always felt it was a call on my life to work as a nurse, and have been blessed to do so. It is a great profession with many options. :balloons:

[robinabraham]

i loved the nursing field sice my child hood because my sister is a nurse.thats why i selected nursing

[nepsys]

This is not my story but my wifes:

We are both Computer Engineers; I am little more experienced and she was just starting up. Everyday she went to her office, she felt scared what her boss might want her to start working on. It was really small company and she was the only software engineer and had to do a lot. It is lot difficult when you are new and don't know a lot about how the system works. She got pregnant and had to quit her job. When ahe was pregnant with our second son, she started going back to school for her Master's Degree in Computer Engineering. On her final day of the semeser (she had a paper presentation) she fainted on her way to the school while waiting for the subway(she was 8 months prenant then).

We rushed to the hospital and found a wonderful nurse. When she knew how we came to the emergency; she was so kind and helpful. Her words were so hevenly and my wife decided that she will change her career to Nursing and I supported her decision !!! Now she is in Accelerated BS->BSN program and expect to graduate in May 2008.

[Sexyman]

I want to be a nurse not for the fame, fortune or women... OOONO... I wanted to be a nurse because I felt I could help people... ever since I was younger, I always felt this need to help others and I don't know where it comes from within me but I have this feeling that I'll be happy doing this sort of career. i was always into the medical field from watching all these shows on t.v. but besides the point, right now I'm in college... I already took a nursing coorifice because I got accepted into a nursing program... the thing is that I failed the 1st coorifice and now I got kicked-out of the program:o ... I really don't know what to do since this failure in nursing is going to show on my college transcript and the other colleges will look at it and not accept me even if I shaped up my grades... should I pursue with my nursing career? I plan to take the LPN program in March for the meantime but till then somebody, PLEASE HELP!!!:uhoh21:

[k.lvn.mom]

Well I am in my 2nd level of LVN school and thought I would tell my story...

When i graduated HS, i went to a community college with a full ride through nursing school. Well I got married a year into my prereqs and moved to The Woodlands, TX. Well there went my scholarships and nursing school. But that was ok. I was going to a university and was going to go to med school or be a biology teacher or somthing like that. ( They did not have a nursing school). I was not fond of the university setting. I knew that i wanted to be a nurse... I found out that the local hospital had a nursing school. I applied, and passed the entrance exam, and the interview was great, but a few weeks later I got a letter in the mail and it said that " I needed more experience". Ok, I said. I went to CNA School. Got a job... quit that job. and went to work at this LTC faciltiy that was just AWFUL!!! I left in the middle of my second shift, knowing everything that i was risking... and went to work at Target. A few weeks at Target and I got a phone call from an assisted living facility, I reluctantly went to work for them as a CNA. I loved IT. It was the best thing. I went back to school at a community college with a nursing program. I applied and applied for 2.5 years to every school in the system that had a nursing program, they told me i needed more experience. I said OK. I went to CMA school. I loved that too. I was fascinated by medications and what they did and all that. I continued working at the AL Facility until my husband was transferred, when we got here I got a job as a CMA and went on to apply to nursing school and I got in, and I am going into level 2, and cant wait to graduate. I plan to continue on to get my BSN-MSN.

I told this story for all the potential nurse who are at times discouraged bc of denial letters or what ever seems to be holding them back. It will be a very rewarding career for someone that is caring, loving and wants to help people.

[k.lvn.mom]

I want to be a nurse not for the fame, fortune or women... OOONO... I wanted to be a nurse because I felt I could help people... ever since I was younger, I always felt this need to help others and I don't know where it comes from within me but I have this feeling that I'll be happy doing this sort of career. i was always into the medical field from watching all these shows on t.v. but besides the point, right now I'm in college... I already took a nursing coorifice because I got accepted into a nursing program... the thing is that I failed the 1st coorifice and now I got kicked-out of the program:o ... I really don't know what to do since this failure in nursing is going to show on my college transcript and the other colleges will look at it and not accept me even if I shaped up my grades... should I pursue with my nursing career? I plan to take the LPN program in March for the meantime but till then somebody, PLEASE HELP!!!:uhoh21:

There is nothing wrong with taking the LPN program first. Sometimes it is the best way to go. You can always work your way up...

[Julie_Bean]

I originally wanted to be an accountant when I started college after H.S. I worked part time at a sears call center for delivery while pursuing accounting and realized I didn't want to be stuck at a desk all day helping people get rich or low ball customers so I quite going to school and starting working full time in a different dept for a bit. Took about 6 months to goof off and figure out I really needed to get back into school when I started hunting around for another part time job.

My best friend at the time worked as a PCT at a hospital near by in ICU and got me a job there PRN. It didn't take much longer for me to realize I JUST HAD TO BE A NURSE! I had never felt so good about myself and what I did at any job I had ever had before working as a PCT. It also made feel like I actually made a difference and what I did is important there and would be missed if I called in sick. I was excited to go to work because no day was the same and I never knew how things were going to go. Nursing was appealing because it would keep me in that same position and make me enough money to support myself as beind independent is also very important to me and to have independence in my work as well.

So I just graduated from an ADN program in December, start my nurse orientation at the same hospital I've been working at as a tech for the lst 3 years next week and take my boards Jan 22nd. Wish me luck!

[k.lvn.mom]

Good Luck, I know that I will need it in Aug when i take mine...

[edgwow]

I was sent to school to be a nurse because my dad said, "if you make a bad choice and marry a loser, at least you can support yourself." At the time, I did not think that was incredible wisdom. But our elders are wiser than we want to admit sometimes. I haven't always loved my jobs, but I am always a good nurse and proud of it. We Nurses, make a difference in the lives we touch, every day.

[sassy ayen]

In my gradeschool and highschool years.. I'm in a theatre group.. I love to act on stage, sing and dance with my fellow students.. so I decided to go for a performing arts in college but my parents disagreed.. they want me to choose either nurse, dentistry, physical therapist.. anyone of those.. then i choose nursing career.. Knowing that they know what's best for me.. it will make them happy.. and most specially, I can help other people too. Now I'm a nursing graduate and continue loving my chosen career