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 Registered Nurse.

This is an oldie but good thread I found.....years later....and want to say I became a nurse because my Mom died (the classic loss thing) and I thought I might be able to help people, soothe them, something.....boy, was I wrong....

Just kidding! ;)

Specializes in General Ward/ER.

I really wanted to become a nurse even at a very young age but my dream came with a twist, i 'm a teacher and a guidance counselor for years... and as time passes by i realized that i can help further as a nurse....armed with my hard earned savings, i took the risk......unconditional love of work and genuine concern with the welfare of others are the key factors in satisfying career....very noble...... like teacher.

Specializes in General / Midwifery / ED.

I became a nurse in 1975 when it was a hospital based training system. I was the 3rd male nurse to go through St Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst, Sydney Australia. Male nursing was a rare occupation at the time. Why I became a nurse is set out in my blog. It is not a short story but a continuing one. I started nursing basically when I was about 13. Not as a profession but as a helper. It progressed from there. St John of God North Richmond, St John of God Burwood, wardsman at St Vincent's whilst waiting to start nursing, St Vincent's, Westmead and Nepean Hospital. Why I became a nurse - because I wanted to. I loved it. But you move on.

http://stvincentsdarlinghurstmalenurses.blogspot.com/

All's well that nurses well.

Regards Peter McCartney

Specializes in Geriatrics/Hemodialysis.

Hello,

Nice to meet you. I understand what you meant, when you mentioned male nursing is rare. There are too few male nurses due to bias opinions about the profession. Nursing has been viewed for a long time as a female only profession. I am glad times have changed.:monkeydance:

I became a nurse in 1975 when it was a hospital based training system. I was the 3rd male nurse to go through St Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst, Sydney Australia. Male nursing was a rare occupation at the time. Why I became a nurse is set out in my blog. It is not a short story but a continuing one. I started nursing basically when I was about 13. Not as a profession but as a helper. It progressed from there. St John of God North Richmond, St John of God Burwood, wardsman at St Vincent's whilst waiting to start nursing, St Vincent's, Westmead and Nepean Hospital. Why I became a nurse - because I wanted to. I loved it. But you move on.

http://stvincentsdarlinghurstmalenurses.blogspot.com/

All's well that nurses well.

Regards Peter McCartney

Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

I had NO idea that I wanted to be a nurse until I was around my Mother at the end of her life. I was 29 years old was living in NYC, then SF and moved back to the midwest to care for my Mom who was on long term dialysis. My Dad had just had Colon Ca sgy and was recouping in a LTC facility. It was eye opening to me to see what nursing was really about. To see what a difference they could make in someone's life. My Mom truly loved some of her nurses. My Mom died when I was 30. And it took me until I was 40 to finally have my RN. It was an incredible amt of turmoil and pain and healing that I had to do in those 10 years.

It is a great career path. I wish I had pursued it right out of high school. But you can't know what you don't know!!!!

Wanted to be a hairdresser-used to cut and style all my dolls hair, But, my father, whom I adore and idolize,thought I should do something more practical and better paying just in case I ever found myself alone raising a family (by divorce, death etc.)He said "How about Nursing?", so Nursing it was- and I have never regretted it. I have been happily married for 22 years, but just the feeling of knowing that I could take care of me and my 3 boys if necessary is a very comforting and almost powerful feeling.

First post! I have to say this forum is pretty cool.

I am a 20 y/o MALE nursing student, currently a sophomore in an accredited BSN program.

growing up, my mom was a nurse, going on 30yrs now, dad decided to nursing school when i was about 8 or 9, both have diplomas. I'm and eagle scout, and always liked first aide, and helping people, so i figured why not? i wasnt 100% sure though, untill i started going to church again. People talk aout "hearing" God, I realy didnt hear him, somehow he put thoughts into my head, and this amazing feeling deep in my soul that nursing was for me. That was 2 years ago, during my first year of school. I also got a job as an aide at the local hospital, so Ive slowly been gaining experience in the nuring field, which I have to say I loved 90% of it, and the other 10% I can deal with. Fast foreward to 2 weeks ago, While I'm still wondering what area of nursing I want to get into, I was thinking either PED's or ED, couldnt decide. Then, while chaperoning a youth outing to a concert, my best friend, who is a paramedic, gets a page on his pager for a "14 m/o domestic stabbed with knife" I immediately was overwhelmed with anger, frustration sadness, and a sense of conviction, so you can guess what field I want to go into..

Shan Dannon

I have always wanted to be an RN; for as long as I could remember. *I married a Marine at the age of 19 with the understanding that he would stay*active*duty in until I graduated.... *I have only worked about 18 months of the 14 years*I*have*been*an*RN because I have chosen to stay at home and raise my kids. *Upon my dh's retirement, I know there will be plenty of years left for me to work. *

**My license is current; however, we don't plan to retire in my original state of licensure. *I know there will be a refresher course in line for me...oh yeah!!! LOL

At the end of my career its interesting to reflect on how it all began.

In 1975 it was just one of those things girls did I think. I trained in the local hospital then stayed on for two years post grad experience.

Then for some reason... a staff room dare I think... I applied for a job in an isolated rural area as a RN on a construction site for a power generation company. Then I knew where I belonged....real primary health care, working in a community dealing with daily life issues for workers and their families, the doctor flew in one day a week so it was baptism by fire for two 23 year old city girls who took turns to be on call for both the construction site and the community.

Every few years I returned to a busy city hospital for a year or so to keep my skills up to date, so I have vacillated between the bush and operating theatres in major tertiary referral centres. I figured theatre was the place to learn about handling trauma so I did lots of orthopeadics and plastics as well as what came up "on call"

The mechanical skills and exactness of being a good OR Nurse was great but community life was what really engaged me.

Nursing in remote areas was great as long as I felt I kept my skill level and certainly the chance to work in an industrial environment...a mining company, a paper mill, and a meat processor provided plenty of intellectual and some times physical challenges.

I'd do it all again, just with as much care of myself as of my clients next time then I might not have my health problems.

New graduates, do your couple of years as what folks as old as me call a staff nurse, then take the risk and move out of your comfort zone, those men and women who live and work away from big cities and facilities need your skills, enthusiasm and energy. The pay back is so much more than dollars.

Princenina

Specializes in ortho...kneesnhipsrus.

i never even thought of becoming a nurse when i was younger. i was afraid of needles, and got whoozy at the sighit of blood. my dream was to become a teacher, get my masters in special ed and then teach deaf students on the college level. somewhere along the line i lost site of that vision and ended up in the aerospace and defense industry buying parts for the external tank on the space shuttle. as the years went by, i relocated back to the northeast and a short time later the cold war ended. there were few government contracts, the industry went dry and i was laid off. so i became a head-hunter, a job that i truly sucked at!! but, i was recruiting nurses and everyone that i spoke too was dedicated to the profession. that's when the light bulb went on. here was a very noble profession that paid well and, if i got my bsn, i could take with me anywhere. so i went home and told my wife i was going back to school to become a nurse. she didn't talk to me for days...how were we going to pay the bills if i was in school? but i was determined to have that RN after my name. there wasn't an obstacle that got in my way that i didn't go around, through, under or over. i worked full time at night and went to school during the day. the marriage fell apart while i was in school as so many do for nursing students. but that was a good thing too! 6 years later i got my nursing pin along with my BSN and i've never looked back or regretted it. that was 8 years ago. what an incredible journey since then!

Hi to everyone, I'm very new to this site (just registering today, I was a lurker)....I am a student just getting into my pre-req courses. My original major was mortuary science. I love the human body and it has always intrigued me to learn every single function, the magnificent organs, etc. My mentor is my oldest sister. She is a lawyer...and we always had wonderful discussions about autopsies, embalming etc....since I was 8 years old. Over the years she continued to encourage my educational path and I decided that once my children were mature enough, I would embark on my career. Well here I am about to nose dive into my studies and my sister fell ill. She had an aortic dissection on July 31 2006...and has been in a non responsive state since August 8th 2006...resulting from a code. Between my travels visiting her in the ICU, in the LTCF, and the Brain Injury Center, out of state...I have fallen in love nursing...the compassion, the nurturing and the overall work has left an impression on my heart ....I miss my sister terribly...and I have decided to go full speed ahead for my BSN....to honor her....

Specializes in LTC/rehab, ED, med-surg.

Your story made me cry. What you are doing to honor your sister is a beautiful thing! You, your family, and your sister are in my thoughts; it's going to be a difficult journey through school for you with a sick family member, but you CAN do it! You sound like a beautiful, nurturing soul and the nursing profession will be lucky to have you. Best of luck! :welcome:

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