Nurses, how did you decide that being a Registered Nurse, was the right career field for you?

What were some of the things that were important to you, when you choose this as your career?

I'm not sure you could ever get a consensus answer to this question.

Most probably at some level like the idea of helping people. Many like the idea of having a secure job. Some want to be able to get a job where they can travel.

But as there is such a diversity in nursing, not only in the job opportunities, but also in how a person prepares to meet those opportunities.

Some RNs are looking for a job they can get with a 2 year degree. They don't want to spend the time and money on school, they want to work. Many of those never go back to school and are content their whole careers. Some move on and get higher degrees.

Some start of with the BSN degree, they want a higher level of education, and may have plans for the future which requires the BSN.

Many go on for a MSN and go into advanced practice (for some this was their goal in the first place)

Some go back for their doctoral degrees. They either want to advance further clinically, teach at a higher level in the university setting or work in higher levels of research (and some even planned on this from the start)

That's about the best I can do to describe 3 million nurses.

For me I had a goal to be a CRNA, I went to a BSN program, changed my mind about the CRNA, but stayed in nursing, and never regretted it.

I'm not one yet, but on my way :)
Anyway, what made me decide I wanted to be a RN (I want to specialize in labor and delivery) was seeing my best friend in labor, she had it rough, and had horrible nurses. I think people(especially in LABOR) deserve better, and I know I could do better than those nurses.