I remember when I was in high school I wanted to be a lawyer. I still think I would make a fantastic lawyer because I will argue and defend my point until the bitter end…ask my husband! Unfortunately, we do not always fulfill our high school dreams. After graduation, I had no clue what I really wanted to be when I grew up. I enrolled in various classes, but nothing really struck me as my “mission in life”. I was working a part time job and really going no where. One of my friends enrolled in a CNA class and talked me into going with her. I had no idea what a CNA was at the time. The class only lasted two weeks, so how bad could it be, right? Our first week consisted of classroom lecture and getting certified in CPR. The week went by very fast and I don’t think I really learned much. The second week was “clinical” hours in a local long term care facility. Basically, we followed our instructors and other CNAs for a week. We got very little hands on care and were more of an inconvenience than a help to the facility employees. The CNA exam was given by our instructors. We had the written part and the hands on part. I’m pretty sure everyone passed. At the end of the course, I had a CNA certificate and knew absolutely nothing about what I was going to get myself in to.
My friend and I got jobs at a long term care facility about 45 minutes from where we lived. We worked the 11-7 shift and had the same schedule so we could take turns driving. The facility gave little orientation to new hires…I’m assuming they thought we knew what we were doing. We did not. Basically, we figured out the job on our own. We learned to lift, turn, dress, bathe, and care for the residents over time and became really good CNAs. During this experience, i decided that I wanted to further my education and set my goal …I wanted to be a Registered Nurse. After several years of working as a CNA and opening a medical staffing and home care agency, I finally went back to school. I applied for the LPN program one day before the deadline and actually got in! I was extremely excited and nervous at the same time. After I completed the LPN program, I applied to the LPN to RN bridge program and became a Registered Nurse. I was so proud of this accomplishment! But, I didn’t stop there! I had momentum and the desire to learn, so I applied to the local university and was accepted into the BSN program. Now, I’m considering my MSN and need to decide exactly which path to pursue.
There you have it. My journey in a nutshell. I credit my friend who dragged me to the CNA class and occasionally wonder if I would have ever entered into the healthcare field without her. She continued her education, as well, and is now a Home Health Case Manager and Certified Wound Care Nurse. I like to think we helped each other and it was meant to be.
There are many different reasons to become a nurse. Some people know early in life that it’s their calling, whereas others, like myself, stumble into the field. I wasn’t totally unfamiliar with nursing. My mother was a nurse and worked at a busy family practice during my high school days. Since I frequently visited the office, I thought I knew what nurses did all day…. Turns out, I had limited knowledge of the vast variety of options and career paths offered in nursing. I was simply amazed at the seemingly limitless career choices and specialties that come with a degree in nursing. Once you get the foundation for your education, the sky is the limit! Literally, you can go in so many directions and it can feel a little overwhelming. Take advantage of your awesome nursing instructors and advisers by asking them any questions you may have about career choices.
Why are you a nurse? Did you always know you wanted to be a nurse? Or did you stumble into the profession like I did? I would love to hear your journey and how you came to be a nurse! Please share!
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