Why did you want to become a nurse?

[Natasha_mer24]

I always wanted to work in the medical field and I was certain that I wanted to become an x-ray technician. But after I was laid off of my job as an administrative assistant, I decided to get a certificate in medical assisting. I loved the hand on aspect of being an M.A and I love working with patients. Now that I've been in the medical field for over a year I can't help but crave more responsibility and more education. There was always a part of me that wanted to become a nurse but there was also a little voice in my head saying that it was too difficult and I was so afraid of falling. But now here I am back in school and starting on my prerequisites for nursing school! , I crush that little voice in my head each day by making steps towards my goal. I know that one day in the best future I will be an R.N.

My question is to you, how did you know you wanted to be a nurse? Was it a defining moment or did you know that nursing was your calling for a long time?

[Atl-Murse]

Truth be told, I did it for the money. My only regrets ? I wish I had done this a long time ago, my retirement accounts would have thanked me for it. The only calling I heard was from my bank account. But I really enjoy my job

[honeyforasalteyfish]

I am not a nurse, and I may never be one. Though I am pursuing it. I had several reasons.

I never completed my education in no small part due to health reasons it always irked me to death, but going back at an older age I wanted a useful degree that would justify the time, and expenditure.

For a time I was making roughy 50k a year with no degree, but it had insane turnover rates, and the skills there really translated no where else. So job security the ability to find work played a role in my decision.

I didn't consider it before being exposed to nurses. I didn't turn my nose up at it, the thought had simply never crossed my mind, but I wish it had. Upon doing more research I liked what I saw.

The huge draws for me were the ridiculous amount of degree paths, the ability to continue my education very far, job security, a job on my feet, a job I actually care about, solid pay, insane health benefits for the current climate, really good lateral job movement, really good upward movement, and finally the ability to break my education into chunks while still hoping to pick it up someday if I was ever ready for more.

I considered trying for med school, because well I wanted to test my limits, but that really wasn't what I wanted. Not saying I could, or couldn't do it, or make any implications about what is better. DNP degrees are PHD programs, and someday if I get that far I can still try for one. However life happens, and breaking advancements into chunks appealed to me more. I wanted to work in healthcare, and always having the ability to further my education while bringing a real skill to bear that offered some level of security.

Someday I may want to settle down, so the flexible path options really appealed to me.

Nursing just seems to offer more of what I am looking for than any other pursuit.

Everybodies reasons are different. It's not my place to lecture, and really if you contribute to my health your reasons are irrelevant to me.

Mine though have so far been a mix of pragmatic, and idealistic. Which is why I found it so tempting to pursue.

Oh ya, and I love blabbing about my reasons for going for it. Because it makes me feel more confident in my decisions. I am serious that is not snark.

[Natasha_mer24]

Thank you so much for sharing!.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I wanted to become a nurse because I desired a stable middle-income occupation that offered chances for educational advancement and career mobility.

I was raised in the working class. My parents had no educational attainment beyond their high school diplomas. They worked manual labor jobs in a time period (1980s & 1990s) when wages and economic fortunes were diminishing for many blue collar workers. Manufacturing and factory work in the U.S. achieved a zenith in June 1979 and has been on a dramatic decline ever since.

My parents' precarious monetary situation and dwindling options in the employment market were stressful to the family dynamic. Running out of money was a frequent concern. At times the utilities were disconnected. A car had been repossessed. In addition, the fridge and cabinets sometimes had no food. Mom and Dad skated by on a paycheck-to-paycheck existence.

Therefore, I wanted to be a nurse to experience the financial security that I grew up without. Nursing was never a childhood dream or calling of mine. No one inspired me to be a nurse. Instead, I saw nursing as attainable and stable.

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

The money, stability, education opportunities and a flexible schedule. It's definitely not a calling for me.