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 Medical Assisting.

Like Mahatma Ghandi stated: "Be the change you want to see in the world." I feel that if I go into nursing, I can be the nurse I'D want taking care of my family, friends, and myself. I feel a calling, so to speak, to do this thing called "nursing". I know it's what I want to do, at least for the time being.

When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to be in some form of the medical field. Unfortunately, I dropped out of high school, got pregnant, and had to move back home. Right after I found out I was pregnant, I went and got my GED. As soon as my GED came in the mail, I enrolled in the local CC. I still wasn't 100% sure on what I wanted to do.

My first semester of school, I was on bed rest for having pre-term labor. I ended up having my daughter 6 weeks premature. While I was in labor, I ended up getting sick all over my hospital room. And while apologizing to the nurse and her student nurse about having clean it up, she told me to get back in bed and not to worry about it (all with a smile on her face).

When I got moved after delivery, my nurse I had was actually a student completing her Master's. She was very nice and told me all about her school experience. She was even sneaking me Dr. Pepper's in to my room! :heartbeat:heartbeat

When my daughter was born, she got transferred to the NICU at the local Children's Hospital. As soon as I was discharged, I went to see her. This was a Friday, and I just happened to meet her nurse, who only worked weekends. She was more than helpful with any questions or concerns I had. She even bought (yes, with her own money) ALL of her patients baby books and put their foot prints on them for the parents! During the week, I had met some nice nurses, and some not so nice nurses. One even had the nerve to tell me that my daughter wouldn't be going home when the Dr. said she would! :madface::scrying: (I called the Dr. and told him what this nurse said, and I believe he told her manager, because I never seen her on that floor again). Anyways, that very nice nurse was back the next weekend when my daughter got discharged.

All the nurses I came in contact with over that week and a half, have touched my heart. They always went out of their way to help me and be there for support, even emotional support. Ever since that experience, I have wanted to be a nurse. All three (or four, if you count the nurse student) have touched me. I only hope to be as nice and supportive as they were!:redpinkhe:loveya:

I graduated high school 20 years ago with no career goals or path. I worked retail and at a dental office. After 5 years, I realized my job prospects were dreary without a college degree so I enrolled in a local college. Well life happened after two semesters, got married, moved out of town, had kids etc. My brother by now had graduated college, and medical school and was a doctor. I have two children with chronic conditions, epilepsy, hypoglycemia, allergies, asthma, ezcezma, etc. I spent many nights/days at the hospital with them. I would be there with them, and was wishing I could help with the crying baby next door, lonely child without visitors/parents, etc. Well in in Nov -2009 my dd got swine flu and ended up spending 10 days at the hospital with 3 of them being in PICU. I was concerned but calm. I was amazed at how well she was treated by the nurses, RT's, doctors, etc. It was at this time that I felt that if I can handle my own child being critical and not lose my cool, then I could be a nurse. I enrolled in college within two weeks of her being discharged. I managed to complete 33 hours in 4 semesters, while maintaining a 3.93 GPA and got accepted to a ASN program here. I start in Fall of 2011. I'm so excited about my future, I'm 40 and I know I'm not the youngest, but I hope my age will help me.

My brother and his wife have been one of my biggest supporters and he has said all along that I was meant to be a nurse. I look forward to when I can sign my name with RN at the end.

Well, aside of money matter. This course is my greatest ambition. I like taken care of a sick people specially the babies.

Wanted to be a nurse after high school, fell into the party scene and didn't finish my pre-req. In my twenties, I got married(horrible idea), got pregnant(the greatest gift of my life), and then I got a divorce. I went back to school did very well in the pre-reqs, was accepted into the nursing program and I just graduated at 30 years old. My daughter is about to begin kindergarten and I feel we have finally made it.

I grew up with a mother and aunt as nurses and a father and aunt(same as nurse aunt) as veterinarians. I wanted to be a veterinarian. At 19 I had been married less then a year and had a newborn...and I watched my mother die. I lived 10hrs away from her when I got the call that she was on hospice (2 weeks before she had been working still) I honestly didnt expect her to die. It never even occurred to me or to most people because of the person my mom was. It was the 3rd time she has cancer so we all expected it to be the same as before. I was back home in less then 24 hrs after getting the call about hospice. By the time I got there my mom was no longer responsive. 24hrs before she had been laughing and in decent shape. 12hrs after I got home I watched my mother take her last breathe. I was very much alone. I was the oldest child and I had to take care of the farm, my 15yr old brother, and all of my mothers end of life details. Everyone was turning to me for answers I did not have. The only people who were there for me to rely on were the hospices nurses.....I would of lost my mind if it wasnt for them. They gave me the emotional support and guidance I needed. The next few months were awful and the next few years were almost as bad. As I went through my mothers things I found all sorts of awards for pt care and notes from her pts about how wonderful of a nurse she was. That combined with the memories the hospice nurses left for me gave me the push to go into nursing. My mother died in the Spring of 07 I enrolled in school Fall 07 and I graduated this last may with my ADN, this last july I passed my NCLEX. I love nursing, it is definitely what I was meant to do. I hope my mom is proud.

I grew up working at animal hospitals. The first major surgery I assisted in was a lower lung lobe removal. As soon as the Dr split the ribs I saw the lung inflating and deflating right in front of my eyes . It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen! I was instantly addicted to assisting in surgery. I loved it so much that I decided to switch to human nursing so I would be able to work in the OR all day every day and assist in more complex surgeries :D

I have my LVN license already and am applying for RN programs this fall. It makes me really happy to know that I found my calling in life. I cant wait to get my career going!

my dad wanted me to take nursing but i decided to take hrm instead. when he died last 2007, i realized that he is right, that's it.

I'm diabetic and suffered from infertility, and have been on the receiving end of some really terrific healthcare, and some really crappy too - I decided to be a nurse so that more people can be exposed to the really terrific side of healthcare...

Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.

Plan A was to be a Pop Star, but then Justin Beiber came around and crushed my dreams.

My grandmother was a school nurse(school nurse of the year in '91!) And my great grandmothers on both sides were also nurses; I grew up hearing about how rewarding it was, etc.etc. I always insisted I would never be a nurse because I "hated blood"(now I find it fascinating lol). My grandmother told me for years that more nurses were always needed.

After high school, I started studying communications. But the thought of being a nurse had kind of snuck up on me. I would get pangs of jealousy whenever I saw a nursing student. But my advisor told me switching to nursing was a terrible idea.

One day I was watching "Mercy" with my family and I said, "you know, I'd love to be a nurse" and my dad just looked at me and said, "then do it". The next day at work, a customer dropped a coin and I found it, it had a prayer for nurses on the back of it. I kept it and decided that that was it. I withdrew from school, got my CNA, and now I'm at a different school doing my pre-reqs.

My great grandmother died in April at age 96. On her death bed, I assured her I'd make her proud :)

I decided I wanted to be a nurse because of a RN named Mary. Honestly, I can not remember her face but I have always wanted to thank her. If u know her, please tell her I said, "Thank you".

It was 10 years ago on April 23, 2001. My oldest son was born. I was in labor at a hospital in Flint, Michigan. I was in so much pain, I was crying and my mother (Mary as well) was there trying to talk to me and calm me down. All of a sudden a new nurse came on duty and seen my condition. She started rubbing my lower back and I melted like putty in her hands. Mary, where ever u are today, U are the best. I have had 2 children since and both times, I prayed for a Mary.

She is my driving force, to be a Mary :heartbeat. Thanks Mary! :redbeathe

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