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When did you realize working in the medical field or as a nurse was fit for you?
-Was it something you realized over time or in a moment?
-Did a person inspire you?
-As you progress into your career, do you fall "inlove" with your job?
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James’s Answer
It took me quite a while to make the decision to become a physician. I enjoyed many different areas of study, and considered zoology, education, field biology, and even musical theater. I listened to my vocational counselors - both high school and college counselors suggested that medicine would be a good fit for me. I was extremely fortunate to have my older brother be a family physician in rural Kansas. He let me stay with him and shadow his work for a few weeks. The good he was doing, and the respect he held in his town was remarkable to me. His ongoing learning and growing as a doctor impressed me. That is what directed me to apply to medical school. I am very glad I chose this path.
Ailanis Wiebe
Nurse by trade, in executive healthcare leadership.
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Ailanis’s Answer
For some people the desire to become a certain role in life comes easily and has been on their mind seemingly forever. "I always wanted to be....". Know that it does not happen that way for everyone. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to be when I was young. I hadn't always known what I wanted to be when I grew up. The decision to become a nurse was not an instant realization; rather it was something that evolved over time. First I decided I was going to become a doctor, but there was no passion there, somehow it was about money and a little bit about becoming something I thought was 'big' like Doctor or Lawyer big, so I even went to university to start that process. However over time I realized that more than anything I love helping people and it wasn't about the title...the ability to help people blends in medicine and nursing. I like to find ways to help others feel better-physically, emotionally, spiritually. For me, going into nursing became about the passion, not the price tag or big role. Then I started to thrive in school again. I had a reason to do the work and succeed at it.
I've now been a nurse for over 25 years and love what I do. Helping people heal in some way is a universal role- any country, any language, and place. From hospitals, to clinics, and even home health, there are just so many options. From working in medical/surgical units, heart surgery units, cancer units, home health, kidney failure and transplantation units to name only a few; nursing is a job one can take around the world. Becoming a nurse opens so many doors in addition to helping people. As we live in a world of people, so the need for nursing is everywhere.
When you love what you do, it does not feel like work and I absolutely LOVE what I do. Being a nurse opened so many doors for me naturally, so I've been blessed to be able to do many things over the years thanks to being a nurse, such as the examples listed above, that's been me. Had you asked me 25 years ago if I would be an executive leader in some hospital or healthcare system somewhere in the world I would have told you no way! But it turned out that leadership was something that came naturally to me even if I did not want to believe it, it's yet another area that being a nurse can lead to with time and experience. Don't get me wrong, nursing, like anything in life we wish to be successful at, takes work, it takes effort. You are there for your patients in their most vulnerable and messy moments. You take care of the whole person, not just the cause that brought them to your hospital or clinic. We meet them where they are emotionally and physically and help them one moment at a time. Seeing a smile on their face after they face their challenges, it could be helping take their pain away, giving them a hug while they are crying and knowing you helped even for a brief moment, makes a world of difference. When you love what you do, it's not work, and in the end that's the best place to be.
Is there an area of nursing that you are interested in? Is there another question that would help you clarify your next steps?
I've now been a nurse for over 25 years and love what I do. Helping people heal in some way is a universal role- any country, any language, and place. From hospitals, to clinics, and even home health, there are just so many options. From working in medical/surgical units, heart surgery units, cancer units, home health, kidney failure and transplantation units to name only a few; nursing is a job one can take around the world. Becoming a nurse opens so many doors in addition to helping people. As we live in a world of people, so the need for nursing is everywhere.
When you love what you do, it does not feel like work and I absolutely LOVE what I do. Being a nurse opened so many doors for me naturally, so I've been blessed to be able to do many things over the years thanks to being a nurse, such as the examples listed above, that's been me. Had you asked me 25 years ago if I would be an executive leader in some hospital or healthcare system somewhere in the world I would have told you no way! But it turned out that leadership was something that came naturally to me even if I did not want to believe it, it's yet another area that being a nurse can lead to with time and experience. Don't get me wrong, nursing, like anything in life we wish to be successful at, takes work, it takes effort. You are there for your patients in their most vulnerable and messy moments. You take care of the whole person, not just the cause that brought them to your hospital or clinic. We meet them where they are emotionally and physically and help them one moment at a time. Seeing a smile on their face after they face their challenges, it could be helping take their pain away, giving them a hug while they are crying and knowing you helped even for a brief moment, makes a world of difference. When you love what you do, it's not work, and in the end that's the best place to be.
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Martin’s Answer
I took the long way around. I was initially in healthcare admin after completing a Master's and doing a residency. I really was not thrilled with the field, but went on to get an MBA with a concentration on health. Had several different positions in health management, but knew I was not happy with it. Then decided to go back and enter a bridge program in nursing. This was a tough decision because male nurses, by peers, were looked at either as being "LBGTQ or a reject for medical school", both of which did not apply. While learning nursing was a challenge, I found the direct patient and medical field had been my calling and that I would much rather be working my skills as a nurse then sitting at a desk and doing paperwork all day, despite the lower wages I would receive. I never turned back and still work as a nurse practitioner, both paid and volunteer, even after retirement. While I never would have thought of becoming a nurse 10 years earlier while in college, I am very happy I found it.