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.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

After the grueling days of work, it only took one event that truly helped the patient that day to remind me of why I am a nurse. And they were few and far between.

Those going for the pay will either develop the compassion and caring as time goes by, or will leave the field. IMO It's a very personal decision to work so hard for a great cause.

I have faith that the newbies will succeed into the profession. It's a heart, soul thing that keeps us here.

And that is why we have a generation of great nurses, putting up with political stuff, and still showing up for work.

[irving_et2]

It's kind of strange for me because everybody thought I was going architecture... Now when I think about it I don't know why, because not even my parents encouraged me on this. But if you ask me now, maybe it's because I want to help people and make my life useful and interesting ^__^. I guess IMO the feeling sticks.

[BahaMamamaRN]

My mom had me when she was a teenager. One of her close friends worked in a nursing home at night as an aide after they graduated from high school. When my mom needed a babysitter. Her best friend would take me to work with her. I have always been a night owl.

One night I was sitting in what must have been a day room with an elderly gentleman. (I was 4 years old, i remember this so vividly). Some one had cut out silhouettes onto construction paper of the residents side face profile. He and I sat there for what must have been hours. He had me trying to figure out which image was him. I had so much fun. I could tell he really enjoyed my company we stayed up all night he was just a talking and quizzing me on all sorts of things. From that day forward I always wanted to be a nurse.

:bow:Here I am today loving my chosen career and I still really enjoy talking with elderly people and making their day a little brighter when they are not feeling the best.

[michuds]

I actually had a cush cush job when my daughter was born sick, she spent 3 months in the hospital. Hearing all the hospital jargon got me addicted and interested. As soon as she was 2 I started taking pre-reqs. Since I was going to go back to work anyway I just made a change while staying home with her.

[presuppose]

Being a candy striper at age 16 gave me the opportunity to speak to a 90+ yr old man who thought I was a journalist. Getting to spend time with people in the hospital was cool to me - even though all I did was fill ice pitchers. I loved the smell of the hospital wards. Then I started nursing school (diploma program) right out of high school. I recall one time on a Telemetry floor in 1979 - I saw a cool 'sine' wave on one of the screens. Of course a pt was in Vtach and the code team then ran into the room. Then I knew I wanted to be where the monitors are. I eventually started in critical care by 1984. What I found was that even more than the monitors, I loved learning the pathophysiology of a given disease (and the corresponding protocols). My favorite for years was cardiology. Eventually the physical demands and the lack of proper sleep (most ICUs like to have every one help with night shifts) lead me to clinic work. So I now am learning the cool stuff about dermatology.

I get to have conversations with patients instead of trying to read lips or their scrawled writing (due to being intubated). If I had to do it over again (or if I won the lottery and could have a fantastic nanny for my kids) I'd love to get my PA in either critical care or dermatology.

[smr78]

Hi everyone,

I decided to go for nursing because I want to be educated enough to help people. I look around and see how so many people are diagnoised with obesity, diabetes, and other ailments and it worries me. I want to be able to help people help themselves and some how be able to control their diseases. I hope to be a big help. Thank you.

[MisterMurse]

Hello All!

i wanted to take on this profession because what nurses do is noble and underrated. I take the NCLEX in a few days. Wish me luck y'all!!

[mcs1505]

Though technically not a nurse yet (though I got my acceptance letter today):

When I was 16 I wound up in the ER with abdominal pain (yeah yeah, I know, everyone's favorite vague symptom, but I would up having to have surgery) and somehow I got hooked on the hospital atmosphere. I became an EMT while in college the first time (getting my useless psychology degree) and fell completely head over heels for patient care. A couple of my close friends were nursing students and encouraged me to go after a second degree, and here I am.

[catsibsix]

It was the years of hippie, vietanam, and walk on the moon. Out of high school for less than year, I lived in Memphis,TN and Jackson, MS playing and having fun. well fun and funds ran out so home this little pig went. After a month or two my mother gave me three options: 1. She would pay for me to go to nursing school 2. I could find a job locally in town and work for factory 3. Or I could work in chicken houses (back then everything was manual not electronic,etc. So guess what my decision was? I have been a nurse for almost 35 years, and have been able to support myself, and a sick husband when needed. I'm glad I went into nursing not because it is rewarding, but because of the security if you do your job correctly,honestly, fairly with loyalty then there will always be a job open some where for you. THANKS MOM (Now in heaven)

[Womankind]

I had no idea that I wanted to be a nurse, much less a Public Health Nurse, since I thought all they did was immunize children. The idea of spending my days making small children cry wasn't exactly a turn on. No, I wanted to be a Social Worker - that way I'd spend my days helping families improve their lives, working mostly with single mothers and caring for folks emotional needs - helping them along the way to whole health.

Then, an excellent college counselor arranged for me to spend a day with a Public Health Nurse. We visited an abandoned hotel to take Tb meds to a homeless man, visited two families with special needs children and provided mostly just emotional support and resources, and we visited two high-risk teenage pregnant clients, one whose BP was 180/110! We promptly notified her Md and within 30 minutes had her in the hospital.

Voila! I learned that day that what I wanted to be 'when I grew up" was a NURSE. Thank goodness for that counselor who truly went 'an extra kilometer' for me. I feel badly that I can't remember his name. I've never had a single regret regarding my career choice and have practiced nursing all over the world. NURSE RULE! And that's MY story that I'm going to stick to. What's yours?

[babyzang]

i really never thought of being a nurse nor even dream of it when i was younger!!..but then,i am here now!..

very strange coz i really thought of giving up because of the intellectual and emotional torture being in the course at first but i was just surprised that i'm immuned with everything about nursing..:d

at first i thought that this would be just a plain and simple career for me,and i never thought this could be as beautiful as i never thought of..it's not merely just a carrer now..it's an art!!..where you make everything, care, supports and decides artistically..:bow:

i just tried it, then i loved it more and more each learnings everyday..:wink2:

nursing is wnat i really love even though i never thought of it at the start..now that i have started loving it, i'll be more proud of it tahn before..:nurse:

[lamazeteacher]

.. i forgot how to be a computer programmer as my knowledge on that field is swiftly drifting away.. (quote)

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oh please, please keep some of your programming skills to create nurse-friendly software! especially for home health's oasis forms, 18 pages of which have to be completed every 2 months, for medicare patients. by hand, i've had to put the patients' names and the date of completion/assessment at the tops of all those pages, repeat the same history and treatment information many times.......

others have told me software exists, but is too costly! (like my time isn't valuable?) some government folks just don't have their priorities straight, budgetwise.......

with so many small accessories available, it would be great to have programs that supply nursing diagnoses, icd-9 codes, medication classifications, etc. pop up when the assessment info is input. errors could be brought to the attention of the user.....what do you think?

you could be a "nurse computer specialist" and rake in the money! hmmmmm maybe this should go into the thread about inventions, too.:typing