Why did you take up nursing? What's your story?

UPDATE: Changes: New Log In Requirement

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.

It Shouldn't happen to A NURSE Halifax Courier July 22

At one household they are greeted by their patient (in pyjama top but no bottoms) with a home-made sign (in capital letters), demanding: "Nurses, please put carrier bags over your feet when walking on the new flooring as I don't want it defacing."

And because they are usually working on the "graveyard shift" all the incidents are in the late hours of night.

The idea of a book began to take hold gradually, they reveal as they often recounted incidents to one another.

"I do tend to jot things down but I don't keep a strict diary," says Jean.

Barbara has written before but revealed she had "to master a computer this time round."

"We actually got the title because it wasn't uncommon to be stopped by police when we were out late at night, driving slowly along looking for addresses of patients," says Jean.

"They'd ask what we were up to and once I just jokingly replied: 'We're ladies of the night, officer'."

The book is dedicated to a former colleague, Yvonne Whitely, as well as Barbara's two dogs, Holly and Jet.

Jet - who becomes Buster in the book - would accompany them late at night, in the back of the car.

They admit to feeling nervous when giving the book to colleagues to read but the reaction has been overwhelming.

"I took in 20 copies to work and they went in seconds," says Jean.

"People have said when are the next lot of memoirs coming on so we'll have to see.

"We've enjoyed doing it though because there has been more than plenty to write about," adds Barbara.

"One thing that did influence us was watching programmes like Where The Heart Is and Doc Martin and you think 'It's not like that at all. Don't these programmes use any proper research?' There are so many blunders, it's untrue."

"Yes, we wanted to tell it how it is," adds Jean.

"We've brought in personal issues too - one of the characters has been given my dad's name (Thomas Hardcastle Brook) and we've set it against real backdrops which did affect us, like the fireman's strike and 9/11.

"That way it has a credible background.

"We just hope people will really enjoy reading it - whether or not they've ever been in the lively business of district nursing.

I have to say, though, it's a pleasure doing what we do because you share in so many people's personal experiences. I hope people who have met us over the years will enjoy reading it too."

l Ladies of The Night by Barbara Green and Jean Wilkinson and wonderfully illustrated by Irene Friend, is available at Fred Wade, Halifax.

At one household they are greeted by their patient (in pyjama top but no bottoms) with a home-made sign (in capital letters), demanding: "Nurses, please put carrier bags over your feet when walking on the new flooring as I don't want it defacing."

And because they are usually working on the "graveyard shift" all the incidents are in the late hours of night.

The idea of a book began to take hold gradually, they reveal as they often recounted incidents to one another.

"I do tend to jot things down but I don't keep a strict diary," says Jean.

Barbara has written before but revealed she had "to master a computer this time round."

"We actually got the title because it wasn't uncommon to be stopped by police when we were out late at night, driving slowly along looking for addresses of patients," says Jean.

"They'd ask what we were up to and once I just jokingly replied: 'We're ladies of the night, officer'."

The book is dedicated to a former colleague, Yvonne Whitely, as well as Barbara's two dogs, Holly and Jet.

Jet - who becomes Buster in the book - would accompany them late at night, in the back of the car.

They admit to feeling nervous when giving the book to colleagues to read but the reaction has been overwhelming.

"I took in 20 copies to work and they went in seconds," says Jean.

"People have said when are the next lot of memoirs coming on so we'll have to see.

"We've enjoyed doing it though because there has been more than plenty to write about," adds Barbara.

"One thing that did influence us was watching programmes like Where The Heart Is and Doc Martin and you think 'It's not like that at all. Don't these programmes use any proper research?' There are so many blunders, it's untrue."

"Yes, we wanted to tell it how it is," adds Jean.

"We've brought in personal issues too - one of the characters has been given my dad's name (Thomas Hardcastle Brook) and we've set it against real backdrops which did affect us, like the fireman's strike and 9/11.

"That way it has a credible background.

"We just hope people will really enjoy reading it - whether or not they've ever been in the lively business of district nursing.

I have to say, though, it's a pleasure doing what we do because you share in so many people's personal experiences. I hope people who have met us over the years will enjoy reading it too."

l Ladies of The Night by Barbara Green and Jean Wilkinson and wonderfully illustrated by Irene Friend, is available at Fred Wade, Halifax.

Specializes in M/S, Tele, Peds, ER.

"BECAUSE I CARE"

lol.. ok really...

When I was in 2nd grade, the teacher made us all choose careers for ourselves and draw a picture and tell a story about why, etc...

Well I come from a big close family and love and admire my mom, and I always knew I wanted to be a mom.

Thats all.

I wanted to be a "MOM" when I grew up!

SOOoo, the teacher informed me that though that was a great "vocation", she wanted us to choose a "job"... so I did some thinking and put down a doctor and pictured myself healing little kids.

10 years later... I found myself wanting to be a nurse and I applied to nursing school. Forget doctor! I don't want all that school time, nor the responsibility! :) ha!

5 years later, with 2 years of nursing under my belt, I realize I AM EXACTLY what I wanted to be way back in 2nd grade.

Heres the way I see it...

Nurses are like the best Mom's in the world: (I've actually written an entire paper on this before, just for fun, but here's some points I can think of offhand...)

~Moms send their kids off to their first day of school. They pack their lunch, and calm their fears.

~ Nurses prep the patients for surgery. They keep them NPO, scrub their abdomen, premedicate them, and calm their fears.

~Moms juggle 101 things at once with a calm, skilled, quick and sure grace that keeps a household running.

~Nurses juggle 101 things at once with efficient, quick and sure skills that keeping a hospital running.

~Moms tell their child "no" when they want something that's bad for them, and teach them the right way.

~Nurses educate their patients on a daily basis on healthier lifestlye habits, and while their in the hospital, gotta tell the diabetic "no, you can't have another ice cream... your BSG is 420! Heres some insulin and a diet coke instead ;)"

~Moms change diapers.

~Nurses change diapers.

Haha! :)

That one was too easy.

The parallels are endless when you stop to really think about it.

So thats what got me into it, and once I got into it, so many more reasons came up that keep me here! Nurses make a difference. We just do! My patients tell me all the time, friends and family tell stories about the nurses they've had and how wonderful they were. We as nurses have such an impact on people's lives in ways we usually never get to find out, but when we are blessed with a patient telling you later on how much they appreciated the care you gave them, it keeps you going strong!

I truly can't picture myself doing anything else!

Since I was a child I really, really love to wear all white (like a white lady?haha). At first I would like to become a doctor but then when I reached the end year of my high school I change my mind and choose to get the nursing course. I told my mom and dad that I would like to become a nurse and get nursing course they answered me "Child can you choose another course because it's some kind of big expenses and me and your dad afraid that we can't support you all through out your study" after hearing that, I feel that I have a no chance to become a nurse and I loose hope. I prayed to God thay someday my mom and dad changed their mind and support me to pursue my dreams and then one day, My uncle and brother talked my mom and dad that it was so hard to get a course which is not really what I want in my, they really explained it 2 my parents. I think God hear my prayer because my parents agreed and support me to get the nursing course. They really tried their best to support me that's why I studied so much so that they will not get disappointed and to show to them that they are not wasting their time supporting me. And now I'm already a graduate of nursing and I'm very proud of it even though I'm not yet registered.

Any way, I'm planning to take the NCLEX exam and I don't know what are the requirements needed and where to apply, can anyone help me please.......

Specializes in none.

Well, I'm not a Nurse yet, but I'm making a career change from the manufacturing industry to health care. :yeah: Manufacturing in the United States isn't so good, a lot of work is being sent out overseas and I believe that a career in nursing is a bit more stable. The most important thing is that I find nursing, based on what I know, very interesting. I would love a profession in helping a patient recover from a life threating condition, or helping people in general. I realize that its hard work, but I also think that nurses really make a difference in the patients ability to cope with whatever it is they have to cope with. I really like the Idea of being able to get away from the stress of the big city too, in contrast to manufacturing, which seems to conjugate in such places as LA, Chicago, ect... Im not expecting to get rich, only to support my family and buy a house out and away from the noisy, dirty, stressful big city. :banghead: I would rather raise my children in the outskirts of a medium size city. Some where in the country, but yet close enough to town. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it. :smokin:

Let's see NAFTA send this Darn job to Mexico!, Happened to me and I lost everything. The retraining program is a joke. Actual agreement statesthat I am supposed to get training in a job that will give a comparable wage in regards to what I was previously earning. Turns out they were only giving me six months to go to school. Where can you go to school for 6 months and get enough educatin to earn close to $50, 000 in a year?

i always loved the medical field, at first i wanted to become a pharmacist, then i realized chemistry isnt my thing, although once u become a pharmacist you really dont need that, but to get there u do. ehh nursing is good. i love helping people.

I was pre-med at first and then I came to my senses. I wanted to be a Cardiologist. I finished my degree and the thought of going to med school for 4 years, residency, fellowships etc made me sick to my stomach. I have a lot of family members who are nurses so I started talking to them and said hey I think I will be better at nursing. The good thing was that most of my pre-reqs were finished and transfered when I applied for nursing school. I wish I would have talked to the nurses in my family sooner. I wasted a lot of time in school for a degree that I am not using.

Specializes in ICU.

When I was five I watched my dad die from a dissecting aortic aneurysm. About five years later I was diagnosed with a heart problem as well. Years of doctors visits and being sick I developed a deep amazement for the human body. I always thought I wanted to be a doctor but 13 years of school was not possible, so after high school I joined the military to pay for school. After serving four years I began my nursing journey. I have never for a second questioned that I was meant to be a nurse. I really do love my job!!! If I only made the same amount of money as a doctor my world would be complete! (O:

Specializes in RENAL NURSING.

i believe most nurses are inspired rather than persuaded to enter the Nursing industry. I myself have a lot to tell... My grandpa died of UGIB, my grandma died of CVA, my brother had an open heart due to Tetralogy of Fallot, my uncle died of ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia)... unconsciously, they played a foundation on why I'm now in nursing. I regard my patients as next to kin coz I wanted to feel that they too are like my relatives. Love your patients =) :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe

Paramedic for 15 years... Lack of advancement... try something new :)

Specializes in Critical care, gerontology, hospice.

I grew up in the Florida Keys in the early 1950's, when they were really rural. Our postmaster's wife was a retired public health nurse, and she had a bag full of instruments and could do anything! She lived about a quarter mile from us and whenever something happened, which it did regularly at my house, she was sent for. My mother would have a pot of water on the stove boiling and she would walk in the door, and soon the baby would stop crying and the bleeding would stop and the world would be right again. In my 4 year old eyes she was marvelous, and I wanted to be just like her. She stitched up lacerations, saved one of my brothers when he was stung by a bee, and packed my mother off when she had a placenta previa. The nearest hospital was 30 miles away, and there was no local MD, so she was a Godsend. I never thought of being anything other than a nurse, and I grew up to spend 20+ years in ICU before becoming a hospice nurse practitioner. I did a little home care in between, and wondered a couple of times as I was entering some homes with little kids, what do they think of me?

simply put...i always had the passion to help people when they are sick...so i knew i wanted to get into the health industry...but i believe that as nurses we share more of a personal one on one relationship with out patients

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