Nurses-why did you decide to be a nurse?

why when there are plently of other healthcare professions to choose from which involve more money, less working hours, less contact with bodily fluids and still alot of time to care for patients.x

im a radiographer by the way-blood doesnt bother me but urine, vomit, saliva etc i just cant deal with lol.

and you do a brill job-i have been for 2 operations in the past few months and the staff were brilliant!

I failed all subjects except Biology at school. Also, I'm a bit of a masochist - plus I look really HOT in the uniform

Yeah.... and do you practise Bed-Baths with a Banana.....?

They gave me a cup of tea, a large whisky a chinese takeway and said "sign here". They didn't tell me it was a contract to become a nurse in the NHS. LOL

I personally am going into physical therapy, but my boyfriend is going into nursing simply because he loves helping people. He is not doing it because of the money, and knows he could make more elsewhere.. but this is where is heart is, and where he knows he can make the most difference. More specifically, he is going to become a hospice nurse, to help that time in someone's life to be less stressful or painful.

Im a nurse.

I get paid a hell of a lot more than most of my friends!! (as a nurse practioner I make 拢25k) yeah, im not a millionaire, but ive got friends in 'admin' or IT making under 拢20k

I work in mental health, the only fluids I deal with are water and coffee.

I choose nursing because its more hands-on than being a doctor that calls onto the ward, has a five minute chat with a person and then moves on. I work 35 hr weeks as I think is the norm, I do over-time and get paid accordingly so I dont complain on that front.

I have the satisfaction of guiding people close to the edge back to a place of safety and happiness (well at least that's the aim..of course its not going to happn everytime)

I have amazing work mates, nurses, doctors, Occupational Therapists, Health support workers, Psychologists, Pshychiatrists... I meet a huge spectrum of people that all HAVE to work together to attain results...

Its not so bad.

There are Nurses who work in general medicine that obviously do come into contact with more 'bodily fluids' but they choose their speciality and to be honest.. having worked in elderly medicine..Seen one load of poo, vomit, blood..Seen it all... Its like anything.. You're there to make a person well, maintain dignity, help them pass away with grace, whatever... You cant afford to be grossed out...You imagine your mum, grandad, brother..lover..whoever and treat the patient as you would wish your loved ones treated.

While there are other professions that do allow you to work with patients, I challenge that they really allow you to care as directly and intimately with them as nursing. Pay is certainly VERY good, especially in certain nursing specialties. As to body fluids, if you are squeamish, it may not be for you. That was never a problem for me.

I got interested in nursing because I started working as a nurses' aid in a nursing home when I turned 16. I put myself through nursing school by working at the home, but I actually did not start out with any desire to be a nurse. I just learned I enjoyed caring for people through my experiences as an aid.

I have been a nurse now for forty years, would never consider doing anything else. I knew from early childhood that nursing would be my career, my vocation and my avocation. In my opinion, it is the most satisfying role in the healthcare field. But it does appear to take a special mindset, a special desire to heal and help to make it in the nursing field. As they used to say about the peace corps...it's the hardest job you will ever love.

i got into nursing because i wasn't any good at math - i really wanted to be a physiotherapist but you had to take college math for that - and since i didn't want to be a teacher, then nursing was the only thing left. This is during the mid-70's, and no-one suggested that i could even think of going to college. damn!
once i got into it i realised that it is a great job - reasonably good money, a lot of different types of jobs, with a variation of pay scales, lots of different hours available, and (usually) really nice people to work with and for.
great job security too. You can alway get a job.

you get used to body fluids too.

its something thats in you I had to wait until I was 17 so I studied hairdressing first ,but it was still in me ,and and soon as I started at 17 I have never looked back I enjoy my job very much my hairdressing skills did have an advantage and reflecting back I used to do all the patients hair in the wards,and in the community,I did learn excellent communication skills,with my hairdressing,I just enjoy being with people and helping all I can for them now I specialise in the elderly which I really enjoy,hate the paper work would rather have more time with the patients/carers,as they all need it would be fair to say yes I enjoy my work very much if not I would not be there for over 30yrs and that's without a break