Why do you want to be a nurse?

queserasera, RN · Dec 7, 2014

Several factors went into my decision to pursue this as a career. First of all, I am genuinely invested in the well-being of the human race both physically & emotionally. I really just want to make people's hard times suck less. There's an Emily Dickinson poem that begins, "If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain." It's a little sappy but at the core of it, it's what I feel would give my life the most meaning -- aiding the sick, dying and recovering.

Secondly, I like blood and guts. It may come off as a bit macabre, but honestly I revel in things that gross most people out. Medical oddities, extreme pathophysiology, trauma. All of it. Love it. There was no doubt in my mind that "having the stomach for it" would ever be an issue.

Third, I love learning and when I chose my major in school I wanted to be sure it was in a field that was growing. I never want to stop learning, I would be a professional student if I had the choice. I loved that Nurses are getting more professional recognition, that is more PhD's and Doctorate's Practioner's. I liked that even if I went through a full PhD program I would still be able to continue my education indefinitely as the healthcare field is constantly evolving.

I'm interested to see what others say.

Ashleee014 · Dec 7, 2014

I love your answers.

mrslizgraham · Dec 7, 2014

Honestly there are many factors that incorporate to the decision I have made to becoming an RN.

1. I believe nursing is a career with many opportunities to grow as a person because you learn to be compassionate, caring, and trustworthy to those under your care. In order to be a nurse you learn how to balance and prioritize your work, which is something I enjoy doing in my job now as a CNA/caretaker.

2. You get to leave a piece of yourself to your patients and their families because you have spent X amount of time with them at the hospital, home or facility. As a caretaker, I interact with family members and one of the most rewarding things about my job is hearing about their parents in the past. Also, I develop a relationship with the patient and their family members so it's nice for me to hear and understand how they want to actually be treated by their nurses and doctors.

3. Finally, my heart is burdened by some of the calloused nurses I came in contact with at my old job at X hospital. I understand that patients can be very, how can I say this... Uncooperative at times, but some nurses treated patients very cold. I may not be a nurse yet, but I do believe that I can make a sprinkle of change in each patient and family I come in contact with at work.

More importantly, if I want to see a change on how nurses should be with their patients, I "need to be the change I wish to see in this world"- Ghandi :)

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Dec 7, 2014

It's a stepping stone on my path to be a Certified Nurse Midwife. It helps that I'm a CNA now and I absolutely love what I'm doing so I'm fairly certain I'll enjoy being a nurse before I go on to get my master's.

Polar_lime · Dec 7, 2014

I enjoy the science part of it, too! It is fascinating how the human body is designed and how it works, and I love the idea of using the info I learned to help people. I've encountered some horrible and incompetent nurses (I had an ER nurse transform into the biggest ***** ever when I pushed her out of the way so I could vomit into a trash can. She should have been glad I didn't vomit on HER!) and I want to be the good, caring nurse to make up for them.

VampyrSlayer, CNA · Dec 7, 2014

I want to save the world! Hahaha I'm kidding...mostly. I've always liked caring for others (my nick name at the 4 year state school I went to before I decided on nursing, was Mary Poppins). I enjoy being a help to others. I rescue animals, I babysit for free for my friends who can't afford childcare and I'm active in volunteering. I'm a CNA who loves my residents (and wishes that some of the other aides were softer, although I know it's easy to burn out). I often joke when people ask me to do something that "I live to serve", but in all honesty, it's true. I also love the science and gore.

AspiringNurseMW · Dec 7, 2014

It's a stepping stone on my path to be a Certified Nurse Midwife. It helps that I'm a CNA now and I absolutely love what I'm doing so I'm fairly certain I'll enjoy being a nurse before I go on to get my master's.

You totally stole my answer. LOL. I want to be a midwife. I would be a CPM that wouldn't require becoming a nurse but due to my family circumstances it is not the best fit for me right now. But the more I learned about nursing and the flexibility that the career allows for, the more I am sure I am on the right path.

I also very much enjoy science, taking A&P 1 right now and the body AMAZES me.

This is a 2nd career for me so becoming a nurse is as much about putting my family in a better situation financially as it is about me becoming a CNM.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Dec 7, 2014

I became infatuated with nursing when I visited my grandmother in Jamaica back in 2007...I'm half Jamaican and saw that the islands have little access to healthcare. I became a CNA 2008 and been working as a mental health worker for 6 yrs. Now I'm FINALLY going for my RN in hopes to one day provide the best care in my country.

xopanda91 · Dec 8, 2014

Personally,

I am definitely doing it for the money. That is one large factor.

I find the medical field fascinating and love the hospital setting. I've always been in that category of people. I know that nursing is a job I will wake up everyday and love doing and maintain a true passion for.

I love helping people and being the caregiver.

I also love constantly learning and educating others.

I am fairly competitive and enjoy being the very best at what I do. Constant self improvement.

The hours are great. I prefer to work longer shifts

I feel like nursing will give me the opportunity to do all those things as well as enjoy my career, and keep me financially stable in the process.

And I mean hey, who doesn't want to wear all those awesome scrubs

Miss Infermiera2b, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2014

To be quite honest, (I haven't decided if I think this is appropriate to say in an interview or not) I am pursuing the nursing profession because I've struggled with mental health issues for years, namely severe depression and anxiety. I came to the realization that if I could help people like myself who feel completely lost, I would have fulfilled my purpose. My ultimate plan is to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, but we'll see where this path leads me. My primary passion is mental health.

ready2baRN · Dec 8, 2014

There are several factors that led me to want to become a nurse.

I always loved science and medicine. Growing up my favorite shows always involved the medicine. Shows like Rescue 911, ER, House, Scrubs, Discovery health channel.

I love to learn and need a career where it's constantly evolving and changing. I thrive more as a person when my face is constantly stuck in a textbook or I'm sitting in a class learning a new subject. I get very bored with mundane task and jobs where I have to do the same task over and over again all day long. I need variety.

I need a career where I can best utilize my critical thinking skills.

Helping people is also where I thrive. I have been described as very nice and very patient (Someone actually broke up with me before because they said I was to nice.***** LOL ) . I always try to put myself in another persons shoes to better understand what they are going through to be able to best help them.

I need a career with a little more stability

My grandmother was a nurse and she loved her job. She worked in a nursing homes her entire career before she retired. On Saturdays she would take me to work with her when I was a kid and I would do her rounds with her as she saw patients and gave out meds. My grandmother is a very kind and loving lady and I think that's where I get it from. She loved her patients and her patients loved her.

......and that's why I want to become a nurse