Why do you want to be a nurse?

About one month prior to school starting we went through two days of orientation. On the first day we did the awkward introductions. They actually made us get up, individually, and introduce ourselves. Our criteria was our name, whether we worked, family history, and the dreaded "why do you want to be a nurse?" question.

I was sitting in the middle front row, so I had some time to think about it. I sat there a little concerned because I really didn't want to sound like an idiot on my very first day. After all I am going to be with these 40 people for the next 16 months. I couldn't quite put my finger on it that day. I got up and just said that I just always wanted to be a nurse. I am the second youngest student in our class, I've always been a nursing major since I started college. Even though the answer satisfied my professor and peers, it just didn't satisfy me.

I kept thinking about it and the truth is... I didn't want to be a nurse for a while. I remember in high school during my Junior year I took the ASVAB. They announced it on the intercom and me being the nerd I am decided I was going to take it! The school was paying for it and I was curious. They "advertised" it as a career test. So I went through 4 hours of the ASVAB test. When I got my results I was not happy! First career that fit me was teacher, second nurse, third I don't even remember. Nowhere did it say "successful CEO" or "stock market broker". I was supposed to be a business woman! I disregarded the ASVAB completely. I'm not sure when it was that I decided that nursing was it. But by senior year it was done. I applied to all the schools that had great nursing programs. I worked hard in high school and graduated with high honors and a scholarship that I was told I could not use so off to the community college I went (whole other story).

I started college as a nursing major. Nursing just felt right. I still can't quite put my finger on it. All I know is that I want to take care of people. I want to make a difference, even as small as it may be in this huge world. I want to be the one nurse that holds a dying person's hand. I want to be the nurse patients are glad to have because they know I care about them. I want to be the nurse who is a patient advocate and is not afraid to stand up for them when they can't do it for themselves. I want to serve humanitarian mission trips and help those in poor areas. I want to be the best nurse I can be. And I truly believe that means I'm going to be one of the best. I'm not in nursing for the money, career stability, flexible shifts. I am in nursing because I love it. I am in nursing because I care.