In my opinion...

What’s in a name? Those whom we call nurses by any other name would care as deeply. It’s not as beautiful as Shakespeare’s words but true nonetheless. The question at hand is not why we choose to be nurses; it is why we choose to be the ones who stand unfaltering during a time when so much is at stake, how we know that we have always had something inside us that led us to help others, and what we will withstand in an effort to always be the healing hands that nurture human existence.


There are several facets of a career in nursing that require careful consideration and preparation in order to master. Some duties may seem simple, like communication for example. The truth is, without the various types of communication we are taught to utilize, we cannot even begin to achieve our goal as healthcare providers. As nurses we will have the opportunity to use our acquired knowledge to provide patient education, words of encouragement to the patient and their family members, as well as relay critical information to our colleagues in way that is professional and appropriate as each situation requires.

A nurse should be a caregiver proficient in emergency, time, and stress management. Emotional stresses that can in turn have physiological repercussions are unavoidable and thus an obstacle we must seek to overcome. Physical demands that are necessary to meet can wear down even the most determined among us. And, adherence to schedule and protocol constraints that have the potential to push us to full mental capacity is just another part of what we face in this environment. Once we are able to acknowledge and accept the immense responsibility of a nurse it is possible to appreciate that what purpose we serve is more than just the job we do. We are part of something bigger than ourselves; individuals responding to a common calling to which we voluntarily and wholeheartedly dedicate our efforts.

Personally I feel that the drive to go forward in this direction is something that is engrained in me. I believe I can achieve great things as a result of all of the defining moments I have yet to experience on this journey. I say that I would like to pursue ER nursing, but I know that while particular settings may appear desirable the important thing is simply that I am somewhere, helping someone, somehow.