Why I R_N: Why I decided to become an RN

A lot of people were surprised by my choice to be a nurse. I come from a fairly business oriented family and have quite a strong personality and a weak stomach, right off the bat it didn't seem like a normal trajectory for me to pursue a career in healthcare. I'm the type of person to ALWAYS look at the bigger picture, sometimes to a fault. Firstly, I knew I could not have a job where I sit in a cubicle and pound on a keyboard all day in a ill lit office building, the thought literally gives me hives; I knew I wanted a job that had a lot of opportunities. The number of different avenues you could take as a nurse are endless. It's an umbrella career that encompasses so much, you could become an Nurse Practitioner, take a path towards education, administration or anesthesia. The opportunities are endless. 

I graduated high school in 2007 when the U.S economy was absolute shit and only continuing to get worse. I realized that if I chose a career in healthcare I would always have a job no matter how bad the current state of the economy got. I did my research and countless polls and websites ranked nursing as one of top careers for those going to college, there was a nursing shortage and competitive universities were eager to get students enrolled in the nursing program. I continued to do my research and decided I would go into nursing and eventually go on to become a Certified Registered Nurse of Anesthesia (spoiler alert: not a CRNA, and have no desire to be at this time!!!!). 

I don't have some amazing, life changing story or event where the universe stopped me dead in my tracks, thunder bolts came down from the sky and I was told I am destined to be a nurse. I chose it because it was a smart choice, I would always have a job, make a decent salary and have a flexible, desirable schedule. Through the years nursing has shaped my mindset and perspective and has come so much more than a "safe, smart choice", I love interacting with people in such a vulnerable, fragile state of emotion. It's amazing to see the impact you can have on someone from one interaction. Hearing peoples stories of sickness, health, loss, love, gain, and hope change you more than you could ever realize. I won't lie, the current state of most hospitals seem very political but the patients I meet on a daily basis make it worth it ten times over. This isn't a career for everyone, it takes a physical, mental and emotional toll on you--it's something that people will tell you but you can't prepare yourself for it until you're in that moment facing it head on. I feel so lucky that 18 year old me decided to enroll into pre-nursing and embark on this journey because it was sensible. The almost 28 year old version of me feels so lucky I decided 10years ago to enroll into pre-nursing because of all the people I've met along this journey that have made me into a better person. 

My hope is with this blog is to reach more who are interested in nursing or healthcare and show them how amazing this career path is and where is could take you.