Each nurse that you encounter throughout your life will have a different story about why they decided to pursue a career in nursing. Unfortunately some decide on a nursing career because of the money. There are some that had memorable nurses in their lives that inspired them to become one as well. No matter the differences in each nurses' story there is a common theme of caring for people.
My journey towards nursing started my sophomore year of high school. I had just moved across the country and up until that point I did not have a clue about what I wanted to do with my life after high school. I did know that doing God's will and being a part of the ministry was to be a major part of my future. Part of God's will included getting married, yet I did not want to be someone who worked a minimum wage job until Mr. Right came along. It was not until I was sitting down with the school councilor at my new high school that I realized that I wanted to do something that involved taking care of people. My counselor then recommended nursing as a possibility. I immediately latched onto the idea and it slowly began growing roots, becoming part of who I am. As the years in high school slowly ticked away I began to really think about what I wanted to do as a nurse. By the time I graduated I had determined that I want to be a pediatric nurse!
Why pediatric nursing?
First, I love children.
Second, I hate seeing children sick and want to fix them, make them better.
Third, the following story is what really tipped the scales towards pediatric nursing. Growing up in NH there was a family in our church that we were very close to. Jane, my little sister, was especially close to their youngest boy at the time. Isaiah was a blonde haired, blue eyed, little guy that enjoyed monster trucks and miniature industrial equipment (i.e. the back hoe was his favorite). This little angel of a child was diagnosed with a fatal form of leukemia, a type that was normally only seen in adults. By a miracle of God he survived and went into remission. About a year later we were informed that the cancer was back and even stronger than ever. The doctors at Boston Children's Hospital gave little Isaiah a dim prognosis, there was very little chance of remission this time. Some of my fondest memories of Isaiah were during this second bout with cancer. I can still hear his little voice saying, "When I get to heaven I want a hamster and a backhoe". This statement was said with a smile that lit up his pale face; making the observer look beyond the bald head, oxygen tubing, and gray sunken cheeks. Every time I saw Isaiah, he knew he was not going to make it through this time, but he had such a peace and a joy. This is what I want to bring to each child's bedside and to each family member standing there beside me. I want to bring a smile to a sick child's face. I want to build hope within the hearts of each family member. I want to comfort the dying child; chasing away all the scary dreams. I want bring comfort and peace to the families as they travel the journey with their child. It's not about the pay or the recognition, it's about the young life that has so much more to live for beyond that hospital room. It's about seeing the soccer field with the child with the broken leg. The concert stage with the child with the blind kid sitting beside you. It's about seeing graduation with the adolescent cancer patient. It's about getting a shot at reaching the all important first birthday with the preemie in the NICU. This is what I am striving for, what drives me to be the best nurse that I possibly can be.
