Why I Chose Nursing

Why did I choose Nursing as a profession?

A reader recently sent me this question in an email. She is debating between becoming a nurse or a doctor and wanted to know my reasoning for choosing nursing.

She feels like she should push herself hard as she knows that she is capable of being a doctor…but that nursing calls to her because it might allow for more freedom. She worries that she might be selling herself short by becoming a nurse.

Instead of emailing her response, I’d figure I’d make this into a post.

Nurse Jackie is the reason I decided to become a nurse.

Obviously I am kidding.

I grew up wanting to do something in the medical field. It started out that I wanted to be a veterinarian (which I would call a vegetarian…little Lisa was confused). I think I just wanted to play with animals all day if I am being honest.

I eventually started doing gymnastics and found myself at the doctors office all the time. I was an injury waiting to happen. I became close with my orthopedic surgeon and he let me shadow him for a week. I was able to see patients with him, go into surgeries, and understand a little more how it worked. I loved it.

I got into high school and realized that I was horrible at math and science classes. My dream of going into the medical field was shattered because I thought I wasn’t smart enough in those areas. I was delegated to writing and reading and pursued a Communications degree in college.

After three years working in the real world, I realized I wanted more. The medical field was still calling my name. I started doing pre-requisites that would be needed for any medical field while I decided what area I was interested in.

I thought of being a doctor, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a physicians assistant, a nurse, a dental hygienist.

I ruled out all of them and settled on Nursing.

I absolutely love talking to people. I love communication (it was my degree after all). When you are taking a patients history, you are essentially getting to know them. You are making them feel at ease and comfortable with being in the hospital or clinic. You are becoming their friend.

Helping people is a huge passion of mine. I can pursue that passion every single day with nursing. Nurses are the ones that bridge communication between patients and their doctors.  They explain and interpret things to the patients family, they are the advocate for the patient when he/she can’t be that person for themselves, and they are the ones the patient bonds with during what is often the most difficult time in a person’s life (by the way, a lot of this was said in Elise’s post about nursing. She explained what I thought perfectly so I used some of her words).

Nurses see people in their most vulnerable positions.  We are there everyday to help ease that stress.

I love that I can be all of those things for my patients, without all the stress of being a doctor. I don’t want the responsibility that being a doctor brings. I don’t want to be the one making the decisions regarding a diagnosis or treatment. Someday I do want to become a Nurse Practitioner so I will have some of those responsibilities in the future. However, I love that I will have the training to know how to care for the patient as well.

I want to be the one who is there for the patient. Taking care of them. Easing their stress. Making their stay just as comfortable as I can.

What do you do for a living? What led you to make that decision regarding your career?