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 Surgical/MedSurg/Oncology/Hospice.

I am starting nursing school because my youngest daughter and her wonderful nurses inspired me. My baby was born with Stage 4 cancer nearly seven years ago, and has now been in remission for almost six years. I have always been interested in medicine, and was taking pre-pharm coursework when I gave birth. School was put on the back burner, and I became quite skilled at NG tubes, injections, meds, sterile dressing changes, and estimating the volume of vomit that came up every time she opened her mouth! ;)

Seriously though, I have always been a nurturer, and loved helping people when I was working as a pharmacy tech, pre-cancer dx. When my daughter started elementary school I decided there was NO WAY I was going to retake all of my Chem classes (you have to enter the PharmD program within five years of taking them), and knew that I was meant to be a nurse. I keep telling myself that if I can give injections ect to my own child, I can do it to anyone...right?:uhoh3:

I am leaning toward Pediatric Oncology Nursing, which seems to be a surprise to many...I feel that I will be the most effective to these patients and their families, since I know first-hand what they are going through. Then again, I wonder if being in that setting will bring back all of those overwhealming emotions and anxieties. I want to give hope to these patients and families, let them know that "happy endings" are possible...but at the same time I know that might create false hope since not all patients will have the same outcome as my daughter.:o

Good Morning NBMom1225,

I believe you will be a excellent nurse. You will be able to touch patients & their families in ways where other can't. You walk it. Don't ever give up.

Treasure

I've always wanted to be a nurse. All the things I would play with when I was a child had to do with nursing.

Helping others, giving them comfort and support. Maybe make the difference in the life of somebody was one of the things that was always important to me. And being a nurse gives me the opportunity to achieve all this and much more. And we receive so much back...

I love to be a nurse :)

Summy

I want to be a nurse to care for the people that God created.

My son was born with one kidney, hearing impaired, and borderline autism. I have been thrilled to watch him grow and become the amazing teen ager that he is and I would be totally fulfilled to help others in any way possible. I am leaning toward oncology or obstetrics. Just applied for nursing school so I have an open mind.

Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

I've wanted to be a nurse for as long as I can remember. Why? Because I came from a totally dysfunctional family and I was always the caretaker. I've always felt my role was to make people feel better. Ultimately, I would like to work in psych or addiction areas, you can probably figure out why, my family.

Specializes in correctional,ICU,CCU,ED,military.

i started out as a secondary ed major, concentrating on french and spanish, as i thought i was going to become a foreign language teacher. my father (bless him) in 1973 said to me, "what are you going to do as a young wife and mother to support yourself well, in case you are widowed? teachers do not make much, and the field is glutted with them now. what if there is another depression or a stock market crash? can you guarantee your skills as a language teacher are going to carry you through? how about nursing/ you are compassionate and bright. i know you would make a fine nurse!"

fast forward to 1974:

i went into an adn program in 1974. my marriage ended and i had to stop as an lpn and go into the work force with a 2 year old child at home. i persisted, and returned part-time to college in 1978 to begin getting those wonderful credit hours for the "core" of a bsn. by then i was working in an icu in chicago. i continued working full-time (12-hr. nights) all through school, and went fulltime my junior and senior years at loyola u. of chicago. i do not know how i did it, but i graduated with honors in 1983.

fast forward to the present:

i have had a varied exciting career! i worked in critical care and ed for27 years. i served my country as an army reserve nurse officer from 1984-1992, and entered the correctional healthcare venue in 2002. i presently work as a nurse educator for the largest prison in n.c., and am halfway through graduate school for an msn in healthcare systems management. the first child is a wonderful 35 yr. old chemical engineer/paramedic-instructor/firefighter captain. she went into emergency medical services on the side due to what she says was the thrill of watching her mother enjoy her nursing career in critical care.

the moral of my story:

do not ever say you cannot do or achieve any professional goal. if you desire it badly enough, you will make it happen. i hate hearing people complain about facets of their professional growth being difficult. nothing worth having is ever easy. you will cherish it so much more for the blood, sweat and tears of working towards it.

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.

hi

well it all started when i wanted when i finished grade 12, i liked math and physics alot, and i wanted to become a math or physics teacher, but my mother didnt want me to become a teacher as she convinced me to become a nurse, i like the sound of that, i liked to work with cildren, and as my mom says i have a big heart. and then i realized i was registering for nursing. and here i am a 4th year nursing student. and i am happy.

I had just graduated high-school and was trying to decide what career I wanted to pursue. I wanted to go to beauty school because I wanted to learn to cut and style hair. My Dad told me "Go to Nursing school instead then you know you will always have a job. People might not have enough money to go and get their hair fixed, but they will go to the hospital even if they don't have money! You will always be able to earn a paycheck as a nurse!" I guess Dad was right! I have been a nurse for over 25 years and have never had to go without a job or a check!

I was an exotic dancer (best job I ever had!), but knew that as I approached my late 30s I'd need another career, so I went to nursing school. Thankfully I like nursing almost as much as stripping.

I bet you made more money stripping though! My 22 year old daughter is a waitress at an upscale restaurant, she is in college but has no degree yet. She actually makes more money as a waitress than I do as an R.N.!:uhoh3: I think that really sucks that nurses are so overworked yet so UNDERPAID!!

Good Morning MyToon38,

Does she really? I net $1,200.00 wkly on a sit down nursing job & $1,350.00 on 12 shifts / 3 days. A waitress make that much, wow. I know my daughter was thinking about posing. My niece posing, is paying her way through college. She has no delayed gratification. As my son who struggle through college financially, after I hit a tough spot in my life say, "I CAN'T GET MAD AT MY NIECE". She got to do what she got to do. Treasure

I was an underground prize fighter,( yes, before UFC and Pride fiighting shows came out on TV) so I frequently had to visit ER for related minor injuries. I befriended with a nurse who told me about nursing profession, so I enrolled to Paramedic school to get my feet wet. I realized it was more fun to help people feel better than hurting them. After grueling years in nursing school, I came out a new person: I have learned to symphatize, and care without compromising my machismo type personality. Hey,it's just a job. Even though I know I can knock out my rude patient with a punch, I' ve got to do my job as an RN, meaning my patients' well being is my highest priority. It ain't calling; it's just a job like any other jobs out there although this one, patients trust their lives on us, so we have a duty to act to utilize our nursing skills to help them.

My record as a fighter was 114-13-2, meaning wins 114, lost 13, draw 2. I was making enough money then to live a simple debt free life, but it was a dangerous job because alot of people who I defeated wanted me literally dead. So nursing was my escape in the beginning, but as time goes by I have realized that nursing is a great job for me because meeting people in their most vulnerable times ( illness, tragedy, death and dying, sense of hopelessness and uncertainties that they are experiencing while in the hospital) gives me a sense of personal or spiritual fulfillment when I'm able to help or at least comfort them. I'm sort of touched by being there and witnessing the whole arrays of emotions of families and patients --which was for me, I seriously used to think that only sissy men would feel this way.

I lived a life of a violent man once, but now the mortality of others I have witnessed allows me to reflect and to make use of my life for good, so when I'm about to depart from this world one day, at least I have done something good to others by being a nurse.

Oh wow, interesting story!!!

and I like and agree what you said about the extra thing that being a nurse has...K

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