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.

Honestly, I have no idea why I went into nursing! I didn't like the brief time I was a candy striper at a local hospital...I loved biology in school, didn't want to study long enough to be a vet yet felt it was time to pick something *shrugs*. I actually was still very unsure until about the second year nursing school when we could take care of patients. It was so rewarding that I have never looked back.

My first and only sibling (Kelley) was born when I was 8 years old. She was born with a VSD along with multiple blockages -at ten days old had her first open-heart surgery to repair the damage. She recovered beautifully, but as time went on her heart began to weaken again. At four y/o she underwent her second open-heart surgery to repair her heart. As time went by her she developed aortic insufficiency. Surgeons went in to repair the damage as best they could. Fours years later at age 12, Kelley had the Ross procedure. She is one year postop today and is doing well. She has shown more courage than I could have ever imagined from such a young girl. The strength she has is greater than I could ever give. Growing up and watching her push through every step has been amazing, and God has blessed us so many times. The nurse and all medical staff that provided care for her were truly amazing and as well played a huge part in my decision to join such an incredible career. I am also thankful for every conversation and encounter I had while my family and I spent many weeks throughout Kelley's surgeries at Ronald McDonald House. Every family was different but we were all experiancing some brokeness that brought us together. I can't wait to be take part in an experiance like this. Thank you ACH

I was 24 years old - no training or no college education. Figured that I could better myself and my family if I went to nursing school. Tha'ts exactly what I did. I've never been sorry. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE CAREERS, OR ENTER THIS FIELD. GOOD LUCK TO ANYONE CONSIDERING NURSING AS A NEW CAREER!

Specializes in Med-Surg.

Same reason I became a paramedic- I'm too fat to be a firefighter. I went into EMS because I was always out of breath with that airpack on, and I noticed when I went to rehab the EMS crew was always near A/C, beverages and fans. HHMMM..

So I got my EMT found out I really liked it. I got my medic, been there for almost 9 years, decided to take the next step. And I'm STILL too fat to be a firefighter.:mad:

I believe I took up nursing to save my sons life......but I didn't know it then.

I had been a stay at home mom to 3 kids for almost 10 years. Yes, I was so glad I could do this but I was also so bored.

When they all started school, I began pre nursing classes. I had never worked in the medical feild before. I loved it and graduated as an RN in 2005.

I began working on a med-surg/onc floor right after graduating. This was alot to learn, lots of sick cancer patients, lots of meds, lots to know.

One day I noticed my youngest son (age 10 at the time) "didn't look right." His belly was distended and he had not been eating well all week. He reminded me of pt's I had on the onc floor. One Fri night I made him go to the ER. I forced him to go, he didn't want to. I told the ER doc that my son had been having trouble keeping down fluid/food for one week and that his abd was distended.

Well, it turned out to be Lymphoma (with tumors in the abd.) He was diagnosed with Burkits lymphoma, an agressive cancer that can doubble in size about every 24 hours. They started chemo right away and my son went into tumor lysis syndrome. He almost died from the high K levels. He was in ICU for a week, and finally made it to the floor for chemo. He had 4 months of chemo and survived.

So I know In my heart......That was the reason God wanted me to become a nurse, to recoginze his s/s,to get him the proper tx, and to ultmately save his life. I believe this with all of my heart. I became a nurse to save my son.

I'm 26 and got laid off... I was miserable for the past yr at my work sitting at my desk asking me if this is my life and if I went to college to surf the internet and deal with b***y fashionistas who think they're better than you... I rather deal with life as it happens and not read about it on the internet... I have a long way to go.. hopefully the job market picks up when I graduate a program.

Specializes in med/surg/tele/LTC/geriatrics.

During the summer of 1996 my grandpa was in a head on collision that sent him to the nearby Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. My grandpa had several surgeries and was in the Intensive Care unit with and uncertain prognosis. I remember my grandma going out into the hall to talk with the nurses or the doctors with my mother and I was left alone in the room with my grandpa. I remember the nurses tied the sheets to the bedrails and all I could think was I hope those knots hold and my mom and grandma hurry up. Our last night at the hospital I read a doctor seuss book to my grandpa. About a year later he thanked me for being with him while he was in the hospital and gave me two silver quarters before he died the next summer. Exactly nine years later I became a nurse.

Specializes in sub-accute.

I took up nursing after losing my first child. He was delivered with forceps, and lived for three weeks before passing away from cerebral edema. I remember how absolutly hopeless and helpless I felt when he was in the NICU and then the PICU, and I vowed to never put myself into another situation where I didn't know what to do besides give CPR.

Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

Honestly, my grandmother and my mother told me to.

I'd disappoint her if I didn't take up nursing.

Thanks, grandma!; Love ya

Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

Because my grandmother told me to.

Thanks, grandma; Love you!

Background on Grandma: RN for 40+ years

(sorry for the double-entry)

Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

I did it for the money :smokin:

That's actually true. When I graduate HS in 1974 there were very few well-paying jobs available for women in South Alabama. Women were actually barred from certain jobs, like commercial flying, police & fire, construction, etc. I couldn't type and I didn't want to teach. So that left nursing, the one job that I knew would always provide me a paycheck large enough for me to support a family on. And it hasn't failed me yet.

Lucky for me(and everyone else, I guess) I fell in love with nursing and I've been at it >32 years.:nurse:

i was in real estate sales back in the 80s and 90s and one day i woke up and realized the only reason i had to get out of bed was to find someone...anyone..and take their money. I got up but i never sold another house. i went to lvn school then rn school and the funny thing is i now make more money than i did in real estate and most days dont feel like im working. im just doing what i love to do...saving peoples lives...its really like that since i do hemodialysis...i show up...do my thing ....they live...its great..and they pay me ....whata deal!!!!!!woohoo!!!!

+ Join the Discussion