Why Nursing?

There are so many reasons why people choose to apply to nursing school. Often times when I ask students "why nursing?" they respond that they want to help people. That is definitely a key reason, but there are dozens, if not hundreds of careers where you can help people.

I usually follow up with "why healthcare?" Many students then respond that they have a parent, aunt or sibling who is a nurse. That is an acceptable answer, but we don't have to pursue a career simply because we have relatives who are in the field and recommend it to you. Do you love science courses and find that they are your strongest subjects? If you're not sure, our introductory biology and chemistry courses will be a good start. If you struggle in those two classes, you'll probably struggle to do well in the more advanced science courses and may not be as competitive an applicant.

someone's hands holding hundred dollar bills

Another reason I frequently hear from students is that it pays well. And, yes, that is true, however, there are plenty of careers that are less demanding that pay as much or close to the same salary without the physical and emotional demands.

I encourage students to complete some career and personality assessments for a couple of reasons. One, does health care and nursing appear on the lists of careers based on your answers? If so, great, but the assessments can also provide you with many other careers to consider and explore before making such a huge commitment.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Another question I usually pose to students is how they feel about bodily fluids, nudity and a wide range of possibly disgusting smells. Blood, urine, feces, vomit, pus, saliva, and snot cover most of the fluids you'll encounter. Some students have responded that they don't like any of those but plan to work in a field that doesn't require interacting with people on that level. While that may be true eventually, you have to get through nursing school and take any job you can get once you graduate.

Why Healthcare Experience Before Nursing School is So Important

Many nursing programs award students with prior direct patient work or volunteer experience with extra points. Some programs are now requiring that students have at least some hours working as a CNA. We know that nursing programs are extremely competitive to get into and the faculty and deans want to make sure that students selected for the program are ready for what they will encounter. It's frustrating when a student drops out a semester into a nursing program, or sticks with it until the end, but then quits the field after their first year. Every nurse and nursing school dean I have spoken to really hope that students have made the most informed decision possible when accepting a spot in a program.

Before seeking out employment in health care which can take six months to two years, why not volunteer in a hospital? Take a nursing success class offered in your area (College of San Mateo - NURS 666 - Career Exploration in Nursing) or other classes that will expose you to health care (Medical Assisting classes, Emergency Medical Responder - EMS 5 and EMS-010 at San Jose City College).

American River College has a great example on their webpage that you should read. Nursing General Information - Why Do You Want to Become a Nurse?

This is a great video that honestly covers the good and bad of nursing. Schedules, bodily fluids and smells, helping people, mandates (mandatory overtime/forced extra shifts), staffing, etc. She has other great videos that might be helpful for you prior to applying or starting nursing school.

If you watch the video on YouTube, you'll see others as well that may provide you with additional insight.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

(money) Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash

"What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Nurse" - Nurse Liz, YouTube, 2019