Why I Chose Nursing and My Future Career Goals

Viktor Frankl said, “Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked” (Frankl, 1959, p.131). We are constantly being presented with opportunities to make our lives worth living. Choosing a profession is one of those opportunities, and I do not want to let it go to waste. I have spent the last four years of high school contemplating my college education and the profession that I want to pursue. The decision weighed heavily on me because I wanted to make sure that I chose a job that was both fulfilling and interesting to me. I want my future career to contribute to my ultimate “meaning”, and I believe I have finally found something worthwhile. I have chosen nursing as my profession because I want to combine my fascination with the medical field and my desire to change the lives of people. I am hoping that my education will help prepare me to live a life of meaning.
My decision to major in nursing was finalized during my junior and senior year of high school when I was fortunate enough to get to volunteer at The Arbors Nursing Home. The opportunity to work with Alzheimer and dementia patients was an amazing experience that helped me to grow in my compassion and patience, and has assured me that I want to be a nurse. I am incredibly lucky to have been a part of their direct care and to have connected with the patients on a personal level. During my time at the Arbors, I learned how much more rewarding it can be to provide healthcare when you know and care about the patients that you are treating. The role of compassion in nursing is sometimes overlooked, but it is one of the main reasons that I chose this profession. I considered medical school for a wh...

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... the more fulfilling the experience. Forcing myself outside of my comfort zone when it comes to nursing will enable me to reach my full potential.

I want be generous with my time, knowledge, energy and compassion. I am looking forward to the opportunities to not only improve the quality of peoples’ health care, but to also get to know the people I am helping and form relationships with them. I know how blessed I am and want to give back to those less fortunate than me. I can give my life meaning by helping to make this world a better place one patient at a time.

References
Catalano, J. T. (2011). Nursing now! Today’s issues, tomorrow’s trends. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.
Frankl, V. (1959). Man’s search for meaning. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
Hickey, P. (2009). 7 summits a nurse’s quest to conquer mountaineering and life. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.