[Aaron C.]

if you didn't go to nursing school, what would you be right now, rather than a nurse?

I'd probably be teaching History and coaching high school basketball.

I love kids and I love sports, but I'm quite happy with the decision I made to go into the field of nursing.

[cougarnurse]

Ya know, I never really thought about it. Seriously. Guess I'll have to think about it now.

'Cat'

[nursekate]

Shortbus,

This sounds lame, but I can't see myself in any other profession. From the time I was five years old I knew, I would be a nurse. I can remember sitting on my mother's bed and holding her nursing pins and cap and watching her get ready for work and she would say, "Someday you'll have your own nursing pins and hat." My mom has been gone for a long time now, but I still have her graduate nursing picture on my desk (1941) and her pins (Diploma RN and US Army WWII) lie right next to mine (ADN, BS, RN and MS, RN) in my jewelry box. To me, nursing is a gift, and I truly feel lucky to have had the amazing opportunities to serve a variety of populations, from infant to elderly, and especially the dying. Without nursing I would have never been complete.

NurseKate

[Aaron C.]

I don't think that's lame at all. Very cool actually.

My mother is a nurse too, and I always wanted to be a nurse but didn't feel like it was manly enough so I went to school premed, which lasted about a week, then switched over to education before finally giving in.

[MagRedC5]

Nursing is not my first career, but really my true calling. I can understand where Shortbus is coming from regards to not thinking nursing to be "manly enough". That is certainly how I thought in my youth... stupid me [back then]. I entered the USMC at the age of 19 with a guaranteed contract for avionics. After eight years [as a Marine] and three more as a civilian aircraft electrician I decided on a career change.

Learning how something works, then knowing how to "fix it" has always intrigued me. However, I needed the human contact... which an aircraft cannot provide. Learning how the human body works, then being able to take part in making someone get better excited me. So, at the age of 33 I went to college for the first time. The waiting list for nursing school was too long. My first step into the healthcare field was via an AAS in Surgical Technology [aka Scrub Tech, CST]. Then, a year later I was accepted into an ADN program. Then, six years later finished an RN-BSN program.

Being an RN is something I should have gone for back when I was 19. However, I've learned a little wisdom I hope from all my life experiences. So, really I have no regrets with the route I took to my present occupation as an active duty Army Nurse.

[LTC LPN 2006]

I took the long route to nursing in a short time if that makes sense. I started college accepted from high school into Northern IL Univ.'s Nursing Program. After my first year of gen eds I decided to go to community college to save money so that I could afford an apartment instead of having to live in the dorms. I became a CNA and realized the idea of a "Nurse" I had was more the role of the CNA and in a nursing home I was surprised by the amount of paperwork and lack of hands on care nurses had.

While at community college I went into Massage Therapy which I completed, but never used my certificate... spent a semester considering going into Floral Design (which my father reminded me is a hoby, not a career - in his words) then decided I wanted to focus on biology and got my Associate Degree in Science then went back to NIU and got my Bachelor's in Biology. All this while I worked as a CNA and then as a receptionist at the same nursing home.

I got out of school unable to find a way to use my Bachelor's Degree and ended up working in another nursing home as Bookkeeping/Personnel. It was then I realized that no matter how hard I fought, my heart was in Long Term Care and less than 2 years later I'm now a LPN working in a different nursing home. While I think ..."if I'd only stuck on my original course I'd have gotten to nursing sooner"... I also couldn't have imagined having the responsibility of being a nurse a few years ago and I probably needed to follow my path to gain experiences to truely appreciate where I am today.

[Cammer]

Originally Posted by MagRedC5

Nursing is not my first career, but really my true calling. I can understand where Shortbus is coming from regards to not thinking nursing to be "manly enough". That is certainly how I thought in my youth... stupid me [back then]. I entered the USMC at the age of 19 with a guaranteed contract for avionics. After eight years [as a Marine] and three more as a civilian aircraft electrician I decided on a career change.

Learning how the human body works, then being able to take part in making someone get better excited me. So, at the age of 33 I went to college for the first time. The waiting list for nursing school was too long. My first step into the healthcare field was via an AAS in Surgical Technology [aka Scrub Tech, CST]. Then, a year later I was accepted into an ADN program. Then, six years later finished an RN-BSN program.

Being an RN is something I should have gone for back when I was 19. However, I've learned a little wisdom I hope from all my life experiences. So, really I have no regrets with the route I took to my present occupation as an active duty Army Nurse.

MagRed your path is very close to mine. If I substitute fire fighting any time you mention the USMC it would be nearly identical. I was a firefighter then became a paramedic when I was in my mid 20's, tried to get into nursing school but the 3 year waiting list was very discouraging. I was able to bypass the waiting list through a fortunate set of circumstances and now here I am.

If I wasn't a nurse I would still be a firefighter/paramedic and I would still be unhappy. Firemedic is a great job for some people but I can't imagine doing it my whole life.

[MagRedC5]

Cammer, have you ever thought about flight nursing? Just curious

[MagRedC5]

Originally Posted by LTC LPN 2006

I took the long route to nursing in a short time if that makes sense. I started college accepted from high school into Northern IL Univ.'s Nursing Program. After my first year of gen eds I decided to go to community college to save money so that I could afford an apartment instead of having to live in the dorms. I became a CNA and realized the idea of a "Nurse" I had was more the role of the CNA and in a nursing home I was surprised by the amount of paperwork and lack of hands on care nurses had.

While at community college I went into Massage Therapy which I completed, but never used my certificate... spent a semester considering going into Floral Design (which my father reminded me is a hoby, not a career - in his words) then decided I wanted to focus on biology and got my Associate Degree in Science then went back to NIU and got my Bachelor's in Biology. All this while I worked as a CNA and then as a receptionist at the same nursing home.

I got out of school unable to find a way to use my Bachelor's Degree and ended up working in another nursing home as Bookkeeping/Personnel. It was then I realized that no matter how hard I fought, my heart was in Long Term Care and less than 2 years later I'm now a LPN working in a different nursing home. While I think ..."if I'd only stuck on my original course I'd have gotten to nursing sooner"... I also couldn't have imagined having the responsibility of being a nurse a few years ago and I probably needed to follow my path to gain experiences to truely appreciate where I am today.

Yep, your destiny was to be a nurse. BTW, I agree that the paths we take in life may seem the long way around, but once the destination was reached it was the correct path.

BTW, this is an outstanding Thread!!!

[Cammer]

Originally Posted by MagRedC5

Cammer, have you ever thought about flight nursing? Just curious

Hell yes! I was all set to go a few years back at the urging of a good friend of mine. I had my application in to a local trauma center and things looked good. Unfortunately my good friend was killed when he was responding to a call and the pilot flew the chopper into some wires. All three crewmembers were killed - the pilot, the flight nurse and the medic. The medic was the friend who had encouraged me to fly. His name was Erik Hangartner and was one of the best people I have ever known. The helicopter was Bayflite 3. After that happened my wife got scared and made me promise not to do it. I have two kids as well so I decided to keep my feet on the ground. I've been approached a few times since but I'm not going to do it. I may do some fixed wing transport at some point but while I'm in school I need a regular schedule.

Here's a link to a website about Erik -

Erik Hangartner

.