Why Nursing?
It was not surprising for me to seek a career in nursing. My parents are natural caretakers, a number of illnesses and disorders are represented in my family, and it is has been a comfortable transition (and improvement in overall wellbeing) from my teaching career.
What I love about the field of nursing is that nurses are present from the bedside, to research, administration, management, and beyond. Regardless of their role, nurses share a bond that transcends the employee/management relationship that dominates other professions. When opportunities for improvement present, nurse preceptors, mentors, and managers can tap into their own experiences as a new nurse to empathize and help guide the next generation of nurses.
“Once a nurse, always a nurse!”
Additionally, there’s always something new to learn in nursing. Nursing research is a big reason that I hope to work at UCSD, in particular. I admire those who engage in research that shapes the future of our field, and I hope to be part of that one day soon. The opportunities are varied, too! Nursing is a big world with countless specialties and roles, which means my opportunities are endless. The idea that nurses are shaping the future of nursing through research and evidence-based practice makes me excited to join this elite group!
Along my journey to nursing, my decision to become a nurse has been reaffirmed almost daily, in spite of the struggles that naturally line the path to and through nursing school (and those bonus barriers that the universe likes to throw in to keep me on my toes). I’ve been able to connect with countless individuals— patients, coworkers, teachers, classmates, managers, and administrators— in ways I haven’t been able to connect before.
I learned what it means to touch peoples’ lives— and time after time they have left permanent a permanent impact on my heart. If you offer a listening ear and pretend to commiserate, the grumpy old man may just offer you a smile. If you throw around a few military terms you learned from friends, family, and rotations at the naval hospital, the old veteran feels more at-ease and remembers who he was before his body slowed down. Finally, when you tell an “unresponsive” and “vegetative” patient how great she looks in her new dress on shower day and you’re rewarded with the biggest unilateral smile nobody believed in, you become a nurse. There is no other option.
Author: Brittney Ahern
Brittney graduates from Southwestern college in May 2022, and anticipates earning a BSN from Grand Canyon University in August 2022. She is excited to bring her experience in EMS, heart for people, and love of learning to her first RN role.
