Why do I want to do nursing? I chose to do nursing because I love people and helping care for them. After I graduated high school I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. So I traveled down to South Africa and volunteered at an orphanage for six months where I cared for and loved on 60 babies. Many of them were sick with various illnesses periodically or had ongoing illness secondary to being HIV+. I loved the time I spent there and the work I was doing. I was 19 and this whole experience rocked my world. I’d thought about doing nursing, but it was through my time in Africa that was a big deciding factor. I have hopes of returning to Africa when I am an RN, either short term or long term to help at clinics, disaster relief, and more. I also would like to work in a hosp or clinic here in the States, maybe with Psych patients as I have a special place in my heart for the mentally ill population. Only God knows what life holds down the road in life.
I also chose nursing because it is a profession that is really useful in many areas of life and it is versatile. I’d like to marry and have a family someday and knew I wanted a profession that is flexible. I can use my skills with my own children (someday) and work in numerous settings (clinic, hospital, home care, rehab, etc). It’s exciting to know there are so many areas I could potentially work in. In the future I’d like to consider pursuing a Masters degree to be a nurse midwife. I’m not in this for the money, but to be able to help people and to serve God through serving others and providing the best care possible!
I realize this is a profession that can be physically tiring and emotionally taxing, so it is important to maintain a balanced life. Even now I try to get good sleep, eat well, get out to run, etc. As a nurse I will face trauma, death, sorrow, pain. But there is also help, healing, and hope. I want to be there to offer hope to my patients and care for their whole person. I know I have a LOT to learn still, but I am on this journey and will continue to learn and develop who I am and how I can be an excellent nurse.
//This was written for a school assignment, but I enjoyed thinking about this and writing it down, so I would like to share it.
