My Journey Towards The Right Path: How I Decided To Pursue Nursing

I did not want to attend university immediately after I graduated from high school. Simply put, I did not feel ready. I wanted to explore my passions and figure out what I really wanted to do through other means than the traditional ways set out by my parents and society. I grew up being the “smart girl” and with that label comes high expectations that are suffocating to live up to. I was not allowed to take a year off because I would be “wasting” all the potential that I had. I started my first year of university lost, hopeless and unmotivated. I remember how terrifying it was applying to university six days before the first day of class – classes were full, orientation was already on the go, and I knew nothing about my program. After receiving my acceptance letter, I felt that I was slowly losing grasp of my future – not something you would typically hear anyone say after receiving an acceptance letter to a university.

I managed to survive my first two years by achieving top grades. However, my parents never realized the damage they had done until the third year came around and I lost it all. My anxiety was at an all-time high and I had truly given up on the idea that one day I will be in control of my own destiny. The best grade I received that semester was 45% and I was not the “smart” one anymore. I was more lost than I have ever been in my life. It wasn’t until I was introduced to the nursing profession that I have found hope again. Nursing was never an idea let alone an option to pursue. Ironically, I was introduced to nursing through a friend that I made at university. Her experience mirrored mine. She started off her university career pursuing a general science degree and realized that it wasn’t right for her until she found nursing. Having that initial introductory conversation about the program was a life-changing moment for me. Some might think I’m dramatic, however, that was a moment where in the midst of all the darkness I was experiencing, I finally gained back the thrill and passion I had for my future.

Since my introduction to nursing, I started talking to academic advisors, nursing professors and searched the internet to gain as much knowledge about this path as I could. I quickly began to realize that nursing school is the perfect fit for me because it combines my interest in health, wellness, and science and my desire to care for people and help educate, guide, and encourage them to lead a healthy life. More importantly, I learned that nursing is a diverse profession – it allows me to incorporate my passions and my profession. A nursing degree is not constricting, instead, it allows for many opportunities to further explore who I am and delve in my passions for health and wellness, human rights, advocacy, and travel. Now, at the age of 21, I have found myself in a position where I can confidently say that I have never felt more like myself. As cheesy as it may sound, this program represents more than just a step towards a career path. It is a representation of me finally taking a grasp of my own destiny. In a sense, I had to lose a lot in order to build myself back up again. I’m learning to go easier on myself. Going through this has taught me that there is something within me – a fight, a desire to succeed, not just during tough times.

Societal Views about the Nursing Profession

Karen, a nursing academic advisor, was my main point of contact throughout my journey towards entering nursing school. Whenever I had a question regarding the profession or the nursing program she was my number one resource. I trusted her knowledge and advice because of the experience that she has with the nursing profession. She worked as an obstetric nurse at the start of her career for 10 years and she switched roles to an administrator and educator to pursue her interest in education. It is safe to say that she was the most powerful influence that transformed my understanding of the role of a nurse. The main concept I grasped from her was the diversity that a nursing profession has to offer. Before I met Karen, I thought nurses only worked in hospitals or clinics. This view quickly changed as I got introduced to the various roles that nurses take on within public health, primary care, hospice, education, research, administration, occupational health, private sectors, politics and even travel. My previous misinterpretations of nursing roles and settings were consistent with commonly held societal views. There are few platforms available where the public can stay updated on the professional developments in nursing practice, which leads to the formation of flawed public perceptions.

Society mainly views the nurse as an individual that cares for the ill, completely disregarding the health promotion aspect of a nursing profession. Likewise, it is perceived that nurses are assistants to the doctors and care for patients through helping them keep up with personal hygiene, administer medications, and change wound dressings. This misconception is a result of the lack of education on professional developments and diversity in nursing practice. Lastly, there are still a considerable amount of people that view nursing as a female profession and believe that men are not capable of assuming the role of a nurse due to lack of capacity to care in comparison to a woman.

Personally, I believe that lack of education and advocacy are major contributing factors that form these societal misconceptions.

A Powerful Nurse Influencer: Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale was highly acknowledged in the public during her time, and still to this day continues to be an inspiration for many. Reflecting on her commitment and accomplishments, Nightingale demonstrates various qualities, like determination and advocacy, that I find motivational. Mainly, I find her courage to be riveting as she managed to speak out and implement change at a time where women did not have a voice. She managed to change history whilst maintaining a legacy of graciousness and compassion and established care as the basis to the practice of nursing. Personally, Nightingale serves as a symbol of strength and grace. She inspires me to be an advocate for what I believe in, to make sure my voice is heard, and to be a strong, innovative nurse whilst ensuring that compassion and care are the basis of the care that I provide for others.

My Future Nursing Aspirations: Obstetric Nursing

The female body never fails to fascinate me. Ever since I learned about it in school, I have always been interested in women’s health and the female reproductive system. In particular, my interest focuses mainly on obstetric health. Naturally, a practice setting where I can enrich my knowledge of women’s health and obstetric medicine as well as care for mothers and their newborns is where I envision myself being. My passion for obstetric health stems from the enjoyment of the added complexity of having to care for two individuals at the same time. Furthermore, obstetric nursing involves a lot of patient education and advocacy, which is what intrigues me the most about this role as I get the opportunity to share knowledge regarding subjects I am passionate about. Lastly, as an obstetric nurse, I hold the power to shape a women’s delivery experience and that is an empowering responsibility to have. In order to become an obstetric nurse, I first need to be a licensed registered nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario.

This process includes obtaining my BScN and passing my National Council Licensure Examination. After receiving my license, obtaining general work experience and showcasing my safe practice abilities is an important step to build my resume to appeal to employers. In order to specialize in obstetric nursing, I must undergo the perinatal nursing certification program offered by the Canadian Nurses Association. To maintain my status, renewal of certification is required every five years. Overall, the journey to be in the role and practice setting that I envision for myself is going to be challenging, however, every step along the way is a step that I know I will enjoy as it will get me closer to where I want to be.