Why I Chose Nursing: A Career Application Essay

Introduction: A Lifelong Interest in Medicine

Ever since I was a child, I contemplated a career in medicine. Of course, as a child my patients were dolls and stuffed animals, and I vacillated between wanting to be a doctor and wanting to be a veterinarian. As I grew older, my interest in medicine grew, and with it an interest in science. I began my education at a community college, where I pursued science courses — including inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and microbiology — that would give me an advantage in any type of medical career. I began discussing my goals with people who worked in medicine and found myself torn between becoming a doctor and becoming a nurse. After conversations with several practicing doctors and nurses, I decided that nursing offered the kind of patient experience I was seeking. I also came to understand that nurses are more involved in active patient management than doctors in most situations, and I came to appreciate the flexibility that nursing offers. I knew that nurses were in high demand due to a nationwide nursing shortage, and I also had to consider the practical aspects of pursuing a nursing degree versus a medical degree. All of these factors led me to conclude that nursing was the right path for me.

The Appeal of Patient-Centered Care

The first thing about nursing that I found appealing is that nurses get to have the kind of patient experience I want from a career. In today's high-pressure, fast-paced, HMO-driven medical environment, doctors are often pressured not to spend significant time with their patients. However, I believe that a patient is more than a diagnosis, and that a successful treatment plan must treat each patient as an individual. I had an aunt with cancer who probably would not have survived without the friendship and care offered by her treating nurses, even though it was technically her doctors who prescribed her chemotherapy. I also had a relative die under hospice care, and I witnessed how the nurses did everything in their power to ensure she died with dignity and that the family was comforted throughout that time. That kind of human interaction is exactly why I want to be a nurse. As research and patient advocates have long recognized, nurse-patient relationships are central to positive health outcomes.

The Active Role Nurses Play in Patient Management

When I came to understand that nurses are more involved in the day-to-day care of patients than doctors, I began to appreciate what an important role they play in a patient's life. Nurses are usually the people responsible for taking patient histories, ensuring that no treatments are contraindicated by a patient's medical background. As such, patients must trust their nurses to be truthful about their histories, and nurses must know how to ask the right questions to gather the information they need.