The pursuit of one’s goals

The pursuit of one’s goals and dreams are journeys that oftentimes take a lifetime to accomplish.  There are those who reach the end of their lives not accomplishing what they wanted to do because they were either too intimidated by the prospect of even embarking on such a quest or they did not have the right opportunities in life.

I have been working for eight (8) years and during that time I have had plenty of time to see my career develop as my life passed by.  Yet, there comes a certain point in one’s life when one must make a firm decision, a commitment to something much more than one’s own personal goals.  Oftentimes, this means sacrificing one for the other.

There are those, however, who are lucky enough to have their own personal goals and that pursuit for higher objectives converge.  For me, this is the pursuit of a career in nursing.
I have always wanted to help change the world.  As a child, I believed that if everyone did their own little part in taking that extra step to help others, the world would be a much better place for everyone.
The stark reality of it all hit me not long after that but it did not lessen my resolve.  I figured that if so many people I knew did not want to do their part in changing the world then I would probably have to do their share.  This is where my motivation to pursue nursing comes from; the drive to go the extra mile just to make a difference in this world.
I see my goal in life as similar to that of Nurse Leader Mary Breckenridge in that I understand that nursing plays a very important role in the world today.  There are few jobs and professions that are as rewarding as nursing.  While other jobs may get more publicity, the role that nurses play in the health care industry is highly valued and appreciated.
My desire to be a nurse has to do with the fact that nursing is one of the ways by which I am able to do something that I really want to do in my life and that is to care and help other people.  More importantly, I greatly feel that by taking up Nursing I will be able to proceed with my plans in life.
The decision to pursue a career in nursing is not something that just occurred overnight.  Instead, it is the result of an active commitment to being able to carry out my passions in life.  The human involvement that is critical in nursing makes it the ideal profession for me.
The remunerations that one can receive from being a nurse are only secondary to the feeling of fulfillment from knowing that one was able to provide support to those in need.  These experiences that I took with me during my time in the hospital shaped my future and opened my eyes to the benefits that a career in nursing can provide.
As the world continues to change and the workplace becomes more and more challenging and competitive, it becomes imperative for anyone looking for a successful career to not only have the drive to succeed but also the training and expertise to do so.
I am not saying that I do not have the training and expertise at the moment but I do believe that there is still room for more.  That is why I strongly feel that nursing is the profession for me because it not only allows me to become what I want to be but it also allows me to become who I want to be in life.
My previous experiences as a certified nursing assistant and psych counselor have served well to prepare me for what lies ahead.  It has made me realize that what I really want to do in life is to help other people and become an excellent nurse.  I know that I can do more to further this goal by entering a registered nurse program and by getting the training that I need.   However, I feel that this is the crucial step that will herald my success in this profession.
With all of the technological advancements in health care that have indeed raised the standard of health care being provided in the United States, there are a few intangible factors that can never be replaced.  I see my future role, as a member of the nursing profession, as being able to develop these intangibles.  One important example is the special type of manner by which a nurse must conduct herself in order to be effective in performing her task.
The bedside manners are very important and it is something that just cannot be taught in classrooms.  Nurses need to be more than just machines that come in and punch in their time cards but rather professional registered nurses who show their passion and dedication to the profession through their approach and practice.
With this role in mind, I feel that I am not only prepared to take on the challenges of pursuing a career in nursing but that I also have the proper mindset for this type of career.