why do i want to be a nurse essay

Essay Sample on Why I Want to Be A Nurse

Nursing is a rewarding and challenging career that has the power to make a real difference in people’s lives. Whether your motivation is to help others, attain financial freedom, or both, writing a “Why I Want To Be A Nurse” essay is an excellent opportunity to express your passion and commitment to the field.

In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why you might want to become a nurse and provide you with helpful tips and inspiration for writing a powerful and persuasive essay .

Why I Want to Be A Nurse (Free Essay Sample)

Nursing is a career that offers a unique combination of hands-on care and emotional support to those in need. There are many reasons why someone might choose to become a nurse, including:

The Empathy and Altruism of Nursing

I have a strong desire to help people and hope to become a nurse. I think nursing is the best way for me to make a difference in other people’s lives because it combines my natural empathy and desire to help people. Nursing gives me a chance to positively touch people’s lives, which has always attracted me to the thought of doing so.

I saw the beneficial effects that nurses may have on people’s life as a child. I have always been moved by the kindness and concern they have for their patients. The small gestures of kindness, like holding a patient’s hand or speaking encouraging words, have always touched me. I think nurses have a special power to change people’s lives and leave a lasting impression, and I want to contribute to that.

Additionally, I think that becoming a nurse is a great and selfless job. To provide for their patients and ensure they are secure and comfortable, nurses put their own needs on hold. I absolutely respect this kind of dedication to helping others, and I aim to exhibit it in my own nursing career.

The Economic Benefits of Nursing

The financial stability that comes with being a nurse is one of the reasons I wish to pursue this career. Nursing is a field that is in high demand, which translates to a wealth of job opportunities and competitive salaries.  This profession offers the chance for a stable income, which makes it a good choice for people who want to secure their financial future.

Nursing not only gives economic freedom but also a flexible work schedule that promotes a healthy work-life balance. Many nurses can choose to work part-time or in a variety of places, such as clinics, hospitals, and schools..

A Love for the Science and Art of Nursing

To succeed in the unique field of nursing, one must have both artistic talent and scientific knowledge. This mix is what initially drew me to the thought of becoming a nurse. The human body and its mechanisms have always captivated me, and I enjoy learning about the science that underpins healthcare. But nursing requires more than just a scientific knowledge of the body. It also requires an artistic understanding of the patient and their needs.. Nursing is a demanding and fulfilling job since it combines science and art, which is why I’m drawn to it.

I saw as a child the effect nurses had on patients and their families. Their compassion and understanding have motivated me to seek a profession in nursing because they frequently offer comfort and help in the hardest of situations. My enthusiasm for the science and art of nursing will undoubtedly help me to have a good influence on other people’s lives. I want to work as a nurse and improve the lives of the people I take care of, whether it be by giving medication, educating patients, or just being a reassuring presence.

Continuous Professional Development in Nursing

I think the nursing industry is dynamic and always changing, which gives people a lot of chances to learn and grow. I would have the chance to continuously advance my knowledge and abilities in this sector if I choose to become a nurse. In turn, this would enable me to better care for my patients and stay abreast of professional developments.

There are several different nursing specialties available as well. There are many options, including critical care, pediatrics, gerontology, and surgical nursing. Because of the variety of disciplines available, nurses have the chance to develop their interests and find their niche. 

I am certain that a career in nursing will provide me the chance to pursue my passion for healthcare while also allowing me to grow professionally.

Nursing is a fulfilling and noble career that offers a mix of hands-on care, emotional support, and professional growth. I am inspired by the positive impact nurses have on patients and their families and aim to offer my own empathy and compassion. The nursing industry is constantly changing, providing ample opportunities for growth and job prospects with financial stability. The ultimate reward in a nursing career is the satisfaction of making a difference in people’s lives.

Tips for Writing A Compelling Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay

Now that you understand the reasons why someone might want to become a nurse, it’s time to learn how to write a compelling essay. Here are some tips and strategies to help you get started:

Create an Outline

Before you start writing, it’s important to identify the main points you’ll discuss in your essay. This will help you stay organized and make your essay easier to read.

Start with an Attention-grabbing Introduction

Your introduction is your chance to make a good first impression and engage the reader. Start with a hook that captures the reader’s attention, such as a surprising statistic or personal story .

Be Specific and Personal

Rather than making general statements about why you want to become a nurse, be specific and personal. Share your own experiences, motivations, and passions, and explain why nursing is the right career choice for you.

Highlight your Skills and Qualifications

Nursing is a demanding and complex profession that requires a wide range of skills and qualifications. Be sure to highlight your relevant skills, such as compassion, communication, and problem-solving, and explain how they make you a good fit for the nursing field.

Related posts:

• The Great Gatsby (Analyze this Essay Online)
• Pollution Cause and Effect Essay Sample
• Essay Sample on How Can I Be a Good American
• The Power of Imaging: Why I am Passionate about Becoming a Sonographer

Improve your writing with our guides

Youth Culture Essay Prompt and Discussion

Why Should College Athletes Be Paid, Essay Sample

Reasons Why Minimum Wage Should Be Raised Essay: Benefits for Workers, Society, and The Economy

Get 15% off your first order with edusson.

Connect with a professional writer within minutes by placing your first order. No matter the subject, difficulty, academic level or document type, our writers have the skills to complete it.

100% privacy. No spam ever.

Explore Jobs

• Jobs Near Me
• Remote Jobs
• Full Time Jobs
• Part Time Jobs
• Entry Level Jobs
• Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

• $15 Per Hour Jobs
• $20 Per Hour Jobs
• Hiring Immediately Jobs
• High School Jobs
• H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

• Business And Financial
• Architecture And Engineering
• Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

• What They Do
• Certifications
• Demographics

Best Companies

• Health Care
• Fortune 500

Explore Companies

• CEO And Executies
• Resume Builder
• Career Advice
• Explore Majors
• Questions And Answers
• Interview Questions

How To Answer “Why Do You Want To Be A Nurse?” (With Examples)

• Cover Letter
• Registered Nurse Interview Questions
• Registered Nurse Job Description
• Why Did You Choose Nursing?

When you’re in a nursing interview, you’ll hear the common question “Why do you want to be a nurse ?”, so it’s essential to know how to answer it. Your answer should reflect on what it was that drew you to nursing and tell a story about it, such as the moment it was clear that you wanted to be a nurse.

Whether you want to be a pediatric nurse , emergency department nurse, or travel nurse, we’ll go over how to answer “Why did you choose nursing as a career?”, why interviewers ask this question, as well as some common mistakes to avoid.

Key Takeaways:

Try to think of a story or a moment that made it clear that a nursing career was right for you.

Interviewers ask “Why do you want to become a nurse?” so you can highlight your passion for nursing and what got you interested in the field.

Avoid saying anything negative because it can often be a red flag for interviewers.

How to answer “Why do you want to be a nurse?”

Example answers to “why do you want to be a nurse”, why interviewers ask this interview question, common mistakes to avoid when answering, interview tips for answering this question, possible follow-up questions:, nurse career path faq, final thoughts.

• Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs

To answer “Why do you want to be a nurse?” you should first ask yourself questions as to why you want to be a nurse, start at the root, and tell your interviewer a story. Below is a more detailed list of how to answer this interview question .

As yourself questions. Before the interview, ask yourself, putting money and career goals aside, why do YOU want to be a nurse? Consider the following questions to better understand your reasoning:

Do you want to help people?

Does the medical field excite you?

Do you have certain skills, such as communication or concentration under duress, that naturally fit the position?

Do you thrive when you get to build relationships with people?

Do you love both science and working with people?

Focus on these aspects of yourself when you are asked why you are choosing nursing as a career.

Start at the root. If you’ve wanted to be a nurse since you were a kid, start there. If you got into medicine thanks to an impactful college professor , make that your starting point.

Tell a story. Most interviewers prefer narratives over bullet point facts — especially with a personal question like this. Don’t feel like you have to make up some great tale about how a nurse saved the day when you were a child, but bring in real moments when it became clear that nursing was the career for you.

Talk about people and experiences. Nursing is all about building relationships, so your answer should touch on your empathy and ability to form bonds with the people you work with and serve. In this way, your answer will show that you want to be a nurse because you truly enjoy the process of nursing.

Bring it to the future. Close your answer with a nod to the future and what you’d like to accomplish in your brilliant new nursing career. Bringing your answer from the past to the future shows that you’re forward-thinking and determined enough to make your dreams a reality.

Below are example answers to “Why do you want to be a nurse?” for different scenarios such as pediatric or emergency room nursing. Remember to tailor your answers to your specific needs when you answer in your interview.

Pediatric nurse example answer

“I have wanted to get into nursing since I was very young. One of my earliest memories is of a nurse taking care of me when I had to go to the hospital for stitches. She was so kind and gentle with me that I didn’t even cry or panic. I remember leaving thinking that was the kind of person I wanted to be when I grew up. Ever since then, everything I have done has been working towards becoming a nurse.”

Emergency room nurse example answer

“When I was in college I took a course on basic first aid and found it super interesting. I started signing up for volunteer first aid positions and some of my fellow volunteers were nurses. I was curious about their job and the more I learned about what they did the more I found myself excited by the prospect of helping people in medical situations. I made friends with these nurses and they helped guide me through the application process.”

Travel nurse example answer

“Medicine is such an exciting field, and one of the biggest joys of nursing is that I’m always learning new things. I know people who dread getting their necessary CEUs every year, but for me, it’s a perk of the career. “For instance, just last year I completed my certification from the Wilderness Medical Society and can now serve as medical staff on the Appalachian Trail. But from Diabetes for APRNs to Nursing for Infertility courses, I’m always able to maintain my passion for nursing through continuous discovery and wonder at the medical field.”

Critical care nurse example answer

“I believe in helping people, especially in times of extreme need. When I worked as an EMT I was always the one asked to facilitate information between any involved party. I want to expand this skill and I think nursing is a good fit for me. My interests and experience with medical professionals are good for this job.”

Nurse midwife example answer

“I want to be a nurse because I am deeply committed to providing compassionate healthcare to women during one of the most significant and transformative moments of their life. Being a nurse midwife will allow me to empower women by advocating their choices and preferences during childbirth. “Being a nurse midwife will also allow me to make a positive impact on the lives of women and their families. I will be able to provide personalized care, emotional support , and educational resources to help ensure a smooth and empowering birthing experience for my patients.”

Oncology nurse example answer

“I want to be an oncology nurse because this field is driven by a profound desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those fighting cancer. I am committed to providing compassionate care to patients during their cancer journey. “Working as an oncology nurse also has the opportunities to be part of cutting-edge research and advancements in cancer treatments. I want to be at the forefront of innovation and help contribute to the improvement of cancer care outcomes.”

The interviewer will ask why you want to be a nurse to know how serious you are about the position. This isn’t a career to take lightly because there are many challenges.

Nursing is a profession with a prerequisite for assisting others in potentially high-stress environments. So by answering this question, you are given the opportunity to highlight not only your skills but more importantly, your passion for nursing and ability to keep cool under pressure.

Additionally, interviewers hope to learn why you got interested in the field in the first place. Telling a story about an impactful experience with a medical professional or about the sense of satisfaction you feel when helping a patient can help illustrate that you’re not only skillful but also have deep compassion for the people you’ll be working with.

You should avoid saying anything negative because it can be a red flag for the interviewer. Here are some other common mistakes you should avoid when answering:

Saying anything negative. A negative response will be a red flag for the interviewer. If you are one to complain or see the worse in a situation, this will make you a difficult coworker in an already difficult field.

Focusing on money or self-serving reasons. Even if the wages are an attractive feature of the profession, mentioning this as a reason will hurt you. The interviewer is looking for an answer that goes beyond your own needs.

Unrelated anecdotes. Don’t get caught up in telling stories about nursing that have nothing to do with you or the job. Remember to keep things relevant and concise.

Your answer should be positive and you should use a personal experience to help you answer and tell a story. Here are some more tips to keep in mind when answering this question:

Be positive. Nothing will concern an interviewer more if you are cynical and negative in an interview where the job requires a strong sense of empathy and selflessness. This does not mean you can’t, nor should, ignore the challenges of the profession. If you can reframe these difficulties with a positive mindset and a “can do” attitude, you will strengthen your impact in the interview.

Be concise. A long-winded, rambling answer may give the impression that you have not considered the question ahead of time. That said, if you rush through your words, you may concern the interviewer as well. So, don’t be afraid to take breaths or have moments of silence, but choose your words carefully and effectively. Concise communication is a huge part of the nursing profession so here is an opportunity to highlight that skill.

Use personal experience. When answering the question “Why did you choose nursing as a career?” it can really help to bring in a personal touch to the response. This creates a unique answer that can help you stand out among other candidates. The personal experience may also reveal a moment of inspiration pointing towards why you chose nursing as a career.

Remember the job description. Use the skills required in the job description and apply them to yourself as you explain your interest in the field. Integrate them with care, you are not trying to restate your resume . Instead, consider how your skills have developed over time and how that relates to your interest in nursing. Remember, skills are developed through some kind of interest too.

Research the organization/department. Wherever you are applying to is going to have unique characteristics. Perhaps the organization focuses on low-income individuals or the elderly or intensive care patients. You may be able to bring this into your answer. Even if you do not, it is still good to give you context. By understanding where you’re applying to, you strengthen the explanation of why you are applying.

Practice your answer. Before the interview, practice this answer, preferably with someone else who can give you feedback such as a friend or family member. However, if you do not have that opportunity, practice in front of a mirror or, better yet, record yourself on your phone and listen back to what you said. In the end, you want to “train” for this question by giving yourself the opportunity to run through it a couple of times with the chance to tweak your response.

After the question “Why did you choose a nursing career?” there will most likely be follow-up questions. Here are some examples of other common interview questions and some tips on how to answer them. This will help you prepare yourself for the direction the interview may take.

What do you think is most difficult about being a nurse? Why?

Be aware of certain challenges of nursing ahead of time. Do some research . The worst thing you can do for yourself is be caught off guard by this question.

How are you at handling stress?

Consider what techniques you use for reducing stress. It is going to be important to show your competency. Consider answering in a way that reveals you to be a team player and aware of the stresses of your coworkers as well.

What are your long-term career goals?

The interviewer is going to be gauging your seriousness in becoming a nurse. It is not a profession that you can just “try-out”, so give an answer that shows sincere consideration for a long-term medical profession. Note: This does not necessarily tie you strictly to nursing. Many managers and hospital administrators come from nursing backgrounds.

Why do you want to work here?

Many interviewers will want to hear about not only your passion for nursing as a career but also how your passions align with their organization.

Look up the mission and vision of the facility before your interview and talk about how that resonates with you, or give an example of how you’ve seen them in action and want to be a part of that.

What drove your interest in this specialty?

Not every nurse fits well in every nursing role, so your interviewers will likely ask you why you want this particular job.

Whether this is the specialty you’ve always worked in or you’re trying something new, structure your answer similarly to your answer to the “Why do you want to be a nurse?” question.

Why would one want to be a nurse?

Many people want to be a nurse because it gives them an opportunity to help people in a meaningful way. Nurses not only perform specialized tasks that are vital to a person’s well-being, but they also get to emotionally support people who are going through an incredibly difficult time.

This can be as simple as being a calm, friendly presence or advocating for them with the rest of the medical staff, but it makes a huge impact on people’s lives.

In addition to this, many people choose to become nurses over another occupation that helps people because they love science and medicine or love the fast-paced, challenging work environment.

What is a good weakness to say in a nursing interview?

A good weakness to say in a nursing interview is a weakness that you’re actively working on. Whether your greatest weakness is that you’re too detailed with your paperwork or say yes to too many people and requests, always follow it up by explaining the steps you’re taking to overcome that weakness.

Hiring managers don’t expect you to be perfect, but they do expect you to be self-aware and take the initiative to minimize the impact of your weak spots.

What are the 6 C’s of nursing?

The 6 C’s of nursing are care, compassion, communication, courage, and commitment. These are principles taught to many nurses to help them learn how to give excellent care to patients.

They also help to set cultural expectations at medical facilities, since all of the nurses are upheld to this standard, no matter what their educational background or specialty.

What are some common nursing interview questions?

Some common nursing interview questions include:

What skills do you think are important for nurses to possess?

Describe your experience as a nurse and what you’ve learned from it.

How would you manage an uncooperative patient?

How well do you thrive in a fast-paced environment?

There are so many nursing jobs out there and nurses are in high demand. You will want to know what you’re getting yourself into before you are asked at the interview what brings you to the field.

Knowledge is power, so knowing your response to “Why did you choose a nursing career?” is crucial for success. This is your moment to shine and show why you are the best candidate for the job.

Those who are able to answer with sincerity and empathy are the types of nurses all organizations will want. So get yourself ready and figure out ahead of time why you want to be a nurse.

Nightingale College – How To Ace Your Nursing Job Interview: Questions, Answers & Tips

The College of St. Scholastica – Why do you want to be a nurse? Students share their sentiments

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Conor McMahon is a writer for Zippia, with previous experience in the nonprofit, customer service and technical support industries. He has a degree in Music Industry from Northeastern University and in his free time he plays guitar with his friends. Conor enjoys creative writing between his work doing professional content creation and technical documentation.

Recent Job Searches

• Registered Nurse Jobs Resume Location
• Truck Driver Jobs Resume Location
• Call Center Representative Jobs Resume Location
• Customer Service Representative Jobs Resume
• Delivery Driver Jobs Resume Location
• Warehouse Worker Jobs Resume Location
• Account Executive Jobs Resume Location
• Sales Associate Jobs Resume Location
• Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs Resume Location
• Company Driver Jobs Resume

Related posts

10 Thank You Letter Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

5 Tips For Getting Hired At A Remote Customer Service Job

How To Answer “Sell Me This Pen” (With Examples): Job Interview Question

What Percentage Of Lawyers Are Female?

• Career Advice >
• Get The Job >
• Why Do You Want To Be A Nurse

Online Nursing Essays

Top Quality Nursing Papers

Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay

Applying for nursing school is an exciting step towards a rewarding career helping others. The nursing school essay, also known as a personal statement, is a critical part of the application. This is your chance to showcase your passion for the nursing profession and explain why you want to become a nurse.

This guide will show you exactly what admission committees are looking for in a strong nursing school application essay. Let’s walk through how to plan, write, and polish your “why I want to be a nurse” personal statement so it stands out from the competition.

What To Include In Your Nursing Essay

Writing a compelling nursing school essay requires advanced planning and preparation. Follow these tips to create an effective personal statement:

Plan Your Nurse Essay

The first step is to carefully conceptualize your nursing school admissions essay. Jot down some notes answering these key questions:

• Why do you want to go into nursing?
• What personal experiences or traits draw you to the field of nursing?
• How have you demonstrated commitment to caring for others?
• What are your academic and professional qualifications for nursing?

From here, you can start mapping out a logical flow of key points to cover in your nursing school application essay.

Show an Emotional Connection to the Profession

Admission committees want to see that you have genuine passion and empathy for the nursing career choice. Dedicate part of your personal statement to describing your intrinsic motivations and positive impacts for desiring to become a nurse.

Avoid cliché reasons like “I want to help people.” Instead, get specific by sharing a personal anecdote that emotionally moved you towards nursing.

Here’s an example of how you could open your nursing school entrance essay by highlighting a meaningful patient-care interaction:

“Holding Mrs. Wilson’s trembling hand, I watched her fearful eyes relax as I reassured her that the medical team would take excellent care of her. At that moment, providing empathetic comfort to calm her nerves despite the clinical chaos around us, I knew deep down that nursing was my calling.”

This introduction immediately establishes an emotional pull towards the human side of healthcare. From here, explain how this or similar experiences instilled a drive in you to become a nurse.

Show That You Care

Much of nursing is providing compassionate, person-centered care. Therefore, your “why I want to be a nurse” essay should emphasize your ability to be caring, empathetic, patient, and comforting to others.

Share examples that showcase your natural inclination for caregiving:

“Volunteering at the Red Cross shelter after the wildfires by comforting displaced families demonstrated my patience and attentiveness to those suffering. Even as some evacuees grew frustrated by the chaos, I calmly reassured them that we would do everything possible to assist with their recoveries and ensure they felt cared for.”

This example highlights key soft skills needed in nursing as a career, like compassion, active listening, the desire to help, and providing a calming presence under pressure.

Share Your Aspirations

A strong application essay will also articulate your goals and vision for contributing to the nursing field. What are you hoping to achieve through a career in nursing?

Here is an example of discussing aspirations in a nursing school personal statement:

“My long-term aspiration is to become a nurse leader by earning an advanced degree and management experience. I aim to leverage my organizational, communication and critical thinking skills to mentor junior staff, improve operational workflows, and advocate for policies that enhance quality of care. In nursing, I’ve found my true calling – to provide critical care, and help others by being a source of compassion and driving excellence in healthcare delivery.”

This type of self-motivated, forward-looking vision demonstrates maturity, strong goals, and natural leadership qualities.

Describe Your Nursing Skills and Qualifications

Finally, your nursing school entrance essay should summarize the skills; profession offers, and experience that makes you an excellent candidate for the nursing program. Highlight relevant strengths like:

• Academic achievements (science/healthcare courses, GPA, etc.)
• Extracurricular activities (volunteering, internships, etc.)
• Relevant work experience (patient care roles like CNA, medical assistant, etc.)
• Other transferable skills (communication, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, etc.)

For example:

“My passion for science, healthcare experience as a CNA, and volunteering at a community health fair have prepared me to thrive in the intellectually stimulating and collaborative nursing curriculum. I bring dedication, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic as demonstrated by my 3.8 GPA studying Biology at the University of Michigan.”

With application essays, it’s all about showcasing why you would make an outstanding addition to the nursing program, making a difference through your qualifications and intangible traits.

How Do You Write an Introduction to a Nurse Essay?

Now that you’ve brainstormed content ideas, it’s time to turn them into a polished personal statement. Here are some tips for crafting an attention-grabbing introduction to your nursing school essay:

Hook the Reader with a Personal Story

One of the most engaging ways to start writing your essay is by recounting a brief personal story that illuminates your drive to become a nurse. This can immediately immerse the reader in your intrinsic motivations.

For example , you could open with an anecdote describing a meaningful instance of care and comfort you provided to someone in need:

“Tears streamed down Mrs. Hernandez’s face as she told me about losing her husband to cancer last year. As a hospice volunteer, I held her hand, listening intently to her painful story of grief and loss…”

This type of vivid introduction pulls the reader into the narrative straight away. From here, you can continue sharing details about the scenario and its influence on your desire to pursue nursing.

Illustrate the Human Impact of Nursing

Another compelling way to begin your nursing personal statement is by painting a picture of nursing’s profound impact on patients and their families. This highlights your understanding of the profession’s vital role.

For instance:

“Looking a trembling new mother in the eyes as she first held her newborn, relieved knowing both were safe and healthy after a complicated delivery – that is the human difference nurses make each and every day.”

This type of introduction emphasizes nursing’s profound emotional impact on patients during vulnerable yet joyful moments. It activates the reader’s empathy by bringing them into the vivid scene while showing your own insight into the medical field.

Articulate Passion for Helping Others

Finally, you can start your nursing application essay by asserting your resounding passion for caring for others. This clear expression allows you to succinctly introduce central values like empathy and compassion.

“Ever since I was a young volunteer candy striper in my local hospital, I’ve held an unwavering passion for helping those suffering through the profound act of nursing. I was born to care for others.”

This authoritative opening clearly states your emotional connection to nursing in a compelling yet concise way. You can then build on this assertion of passion through personal examples and further explanation.

No matter how you start your nursing school essay, the introduction should vividly showcase your motivation and why you chose nursing. Set the tone early with your authorship and emotion.

Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay Examples 

Now let’s analyze some complete sample nursing personal statements for inspiration on crafting your own:

Why I Want to Be a Nurse at a Hospital: Essay

Essay on why i want to be a nurse assistant, 1000-word essay on why i want to be a nurse, essay on why i want to be a nurse, why i want to be a nurse: argumentative essay, mental health nursing personal statement, why i want to be a pediatrics nurse, why i want to be a nurse practitioner essay, writing a why i want to become a nurse essay.

To craft a standout nursing school application essay, prospective students should engage the reader with an emotional opening that illuminates their calling to the profession, whether through a compelling personal anecdote or vivid imagery expressing the profound impact of nursing. 

The conclusion should be resolved by painting an inspiring vision of how the writer’s skills, values, and determination will be channeled into excellence as a nursing student and future registered nurse, making an empathetic difference in patients’ lives.

With focused, mature writing that radiates passion and preparedness, a “why I want to become a registered nurse” personal statement can stand out amidst the competition as a window into a promising applicant’s commitment to this vital healthcare profession.

Don’t wait until the last minute

Fill in your requirements and let our experts deliver your work asap.

find nursing schools near you

What to include: why i want to be a nurse essay.

Why do you want to be a nurse? What is your reason for entering the nursing profession? What drives you?

You will face these questions multiple times throughout your career, but there are two occasions in which answering them could actually define your career.

The first is when you apply to nursing school. You may be asked to complete an essay outlining why you want to become a nurse.

The second time is when you apply for a nursing position and answer that question as part of the interview process.

Whether you're applying for a nursing program or job, it's important to know how to address this question and what sort of answers work best.

What To Include In Your Nursing Essay

To create the perfect nursing essay, one that can help you get into nursing school or find your first job, follow the steps below:

Plan Your Nurse Essay

Before you start writing your nursing essay, think about what you want to include.

Jot down ideas that express your passion for the nursing profession, as well as any personal or familiar experience that led you to take this step.

Be honest. Be open. Summarize your story, highlight your goals, and think about what the nursing profession means to you.

All of these things will be important when structuring your essay.

Show an Emotional Connection to the Profession

Do you have any family members that worked as nurses or doctors? Did you care for a loved one during an illness? Did you require a lot of care at some point in your life?

If so, this should be your lead, and it's probably the most important part of your essay.

Nursing is a lucrative career. You can make a decent salary, enter numerous specialties, and even progress to opening your own practice. There is also a national nursing shortage, so you'll also have plenty of opportunities if you're willing to learn and work. But interviewers don't want to hear that you became a nurse to earn good money and pick up lots of overtime.

Think of it in the context of a talent show. We know that the contestants are there to get famous and make lots of money. But when they stand in front of the camera and appeal for votes, they talk about deceased parents/grandparents, changing their family's life for the better, and making a difference in the world.

It's easy to sympathize with someone who wants to follow in the footsteps of a beloved mother or make a grandparent proud. It's not as easy to sympathize with someone who just wants to drive a Bugatti and wear a Rolex.

Examples  :

"My mother is a nurse practitioner. I can see how happy the role makes her and how much it has changed her. I have looked up to her throughout my life and have always wanted to follow in her footsteps."

"I cared for my father when he was ill. I was able to comfort him and assist him in his time of need, and while it was very challenging, it always felt right to me and it's something I would love to do as a career."

Show That You Care

Like all health care workers, nurses are devoted to healing the sick. If you're not a people person, it's probably not the profession for you.

Make it clear that you're a caring person and are willing to devote your life to healing sick people. A good nurse also knows how to comfort distraught family members, so you may want to include this in your essay as well.

If you have any examples of times when you have helped others, include them. This is a good time to talk about volunteer work, as well as other occasions in which you have devoted your time to helping strangers.

"I feel a great sense of pride working with families and patients through difficult times. I like to know that I am making a difference in the lives of others."

"I want to become a nurse so that I can help others in their time of need. I chose nursing as a profession because I feel a great sense of accomplishment when helping others".

Share Your Aspirations

What are your goals for your nursing career? Do you want to become a nurse practitioner? Do you want to specialize as a nurse anesthetist, a critical care nurse, or focus more on pediatrics?

Nurses work across a range of specialties, and it's important to show that you are interested in continuing your education and developing to your full potential.

The goal is to show that you are determined. You are driven to succeed and to better yourself.

If you're just taking your first steps as a nursing student, now is a good time to research into specialties and get an idea of how you want your career to progress.

"I have always been drawn to the nursing profession because it's challenging, demanding, and interesting. I want to push myself every day, engaging my academic interests and satisfying my need to learn and improve as a person."

Describe Your Nursing Skills and Qualifications

If you're applying for an accelerated nursing program or a new nursing job, the interviewer will have access to your qualifications. But they won't know what those qualifications mean to you, what you learned from them, and how you can use them in your career.

It's about problem-solving skills, as well as academic work. It's about experience and personal growth, as well as knowledge acquisition.

This is a good time to talk about internships.

How Do You Write an Introduction to a Nurse Essay?

Starting is always the hardest part, but it's best not to overthink it.

Just start writing about why you want to become a nurse. Don't overthink it. Don't worry too much about the first word or sentence. Everything can be edited, and if you spend too long thinking about those first words, you'll never finish the essay.

Keep it simple, check your work, and edit it until it's perfect and says exactly what you want it to say.

• December 27, 2022

How to Write: Why I Want to Be a Nurse Essay

The Why I Want to Be a Nurse essay is one of the most common components on nursing school applications. There are tons of reasons to become a nurse, but yours are unique – a good nursing essay will stand out and be remembered by those who read it. In addition to general admission, this could even be your ticket to some scholarships for nursing school!

Let’s dive into how to write your Why I Want to Be a Nurse essay and get you into nursing school!

Planning Your Nursing Essay

Before you get into writing anything, you should always complete your pre-writing phase of brainstorming and planning for what you want to write about. Only then can you start considering your structure and details that you want to include.

Step 1: Brainstorm an event or a list of moments that began your interest in nursing.

If this is a lifelong dream, then maybe you can’t remember when you first became interested in nursing. But what moments have helped you continue down this path?

Some people may not have a specific healthcare related experience that inspired them to take this path. That’s okay! You can think broadly and consider times you were satisfied by helping someone with a task or volunteered.

Haven’t taken a writing class in a hot minute? Here are some effective strategies for brainstorming your ideas.

Step 2: Consider what you did to learn more about nursing.

Think about when you began researching nursing as a viable career option. What made nursing more appealing than a different career?

Step 3: Write down what made you decide to choose nursing as a career path.

If you can boil your reasoning down to a sentence or two, then that will be the thesis for your Why I Chose Nursing essay.

What to Include: Why I Want to Be a Nurse Essay

Introduction: your hook and story.

Your test scores and transcripts tell the story of your technical aptitude. But your essay is an opportunity to give your application an emotional route. What experiences have made you passionate about nursing? Have you cared for sick loved ones before? Are there nurses in your family?

Your introduction is where you’ll explain the stake that you have in this. You want the admissions team to understand that you belong in the program. Not just that you have the academic qualifications, but that you’ll be an asset to the entire nursing profession.

In kindergarten, there was an accident while my family was camping. A pot of boiling water tipped over onto my leg. The burns were so bad that I had to be airlifted to a regional hospital. I don’t remember much of the incident itself today, but I remember the nurses who helped me recover. They turned a frightening experience into something much kinder. I want to be able to give that to a child by working as a pediatric nurse.

Paragraph 1: Detail the event or moment you became interested in nursing.

This is a paragraph where you really want to reel the reader in. You’ve hooked them with the broad overview of your story: what sets you apart, why you’re so interested in the nursing profession. Now you can detail a specific moment.

Pick one moment and capture it in as much detail as you can. For example, maybe you remember waiting in a hospital for news about a loved one. Perhaps it was the kindness of a nurse who treated you. Or, in contrast, it was a time that a nurse wasn’t kind, and it made you want to do better for a patient in need.

Despite spending several weeks in the hospital, I didn’t immediately develop a desire to become a nurse. Growing up, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. Then in my sophomore year of high school, my neighbor’s son got sick. He was about the same age as I had been when I was in the hospital. When I babysat him, we would swap hospital stories — the good and the bad! And suddenly it dawned on me that if I was a nurse, I could help make those bad stories a little less painful.

Paragraph 2-3: Show how you have used that experience to build your foundation towards nursing school.

Here is where you’ll take your personal experiences into account. Nursing school requires more than just empathy. You will need to have core science credits and an ability to understand the human body. The best nurses are adaptable in the workplace and always willing to learn. You can browse a list of skills nurses need to thrive in the workplace.

I spent a lot of time researching my neighbor’s son’s condition. Though his illness wasn’t terminal, it was degenerative. He began to lose his hearing a few months after his diagnosis. I joined his father in learning sign language to communicate better. During that time period, I spent a lot of time thinking about how so many people have to struggle so hard to communicate.

I want to be a nurse who can give relief to the most vulnerable patients. Every person’s needs are different. A child’s needs are different from a developmentally disabled adult’s, which are different from the needs of someone hard of hearing, and so forth. I’ve seen firsthand the frustration that occurs when communication isn’t easy. So I’ve focused on learning adaptable communication methods and educating myself about the groups that are most overlooked in hospital settings.

Paragraphs 4-5: Detail how you will use your strengths and skills in your nursing career.

This is the point at which you can start to talk about your specific skills, similar to a job interview. You want to highlight any particularly unique aspects, then make sure to solidly establish your core competency. A dream of becoming a nurse can’t just be a dream; you need detail to back it up.

If you know where you want to place your specific focus as a nurse, mention it! Talk about your career goals and how you want to work with your patients and what you hope to learn in doing so.

I think it’s so important for patients to have a nurse that listens to them, and that goes doubly for patients with communication struggles. During my career, I want to continue practicing and using ASL with my patients. I want to improve the quality of care for chronically ill people, especially because so many report anxiety around healthcare settings.

It’s also important to me to keep learning and adapting constantly. I never want to stop learning new skills and refreshing my knowledge. Understanding a patient’s vital signs and demeanor could mean the difference between life and death. In the high-pressure environment of nursing, I strive to have the answers to the questions my patients have – I’ll never stop seeking knowledge.

Conclusion: Reiterate your skills and qualifications, saying why they’d make you a great fit for the program.

The conclusion is fairly straightforward. You’ve provided your thesis: why you want to be a nurse. You’ve explained when the desire started, what experiences support it, and what you plan for the future. Now you just need to tie those things together in a neat summary. Remind the admissions team of why you’re a unique candidate to fit this role.

A long stay in the hospital as a child doesn’t qualify me to be a nurse by itself. But that experience has laid the foundation for my desire to work in healthcare settings. There are a thousand careers that help people, but nursing is personal and dear to me. I want to make sure that any vulnerable patient has access to the care they need, and I can use my adaptability and communication skills to do that.

Related: Stay Organized for the School Year with These Nursing School Planners

Do’s and Don’t’s for Nursing School Essays

Do: Show that you care about people.

Illustrate that you want to help people and have compassion for their suffering. It helps to talk about specific people or groups of people that you care for.

Do: Explain the qualifications that will make you a good fit as a nurse.

Talk about your adaptability, your desire to learn, your interest in the healthcare field, your prior experience – anything that will serve you during your career.

Do: Tell admissions why you want to be a part of their program.

Find a unique aspect of the program to highlight, showing why you want to study there specifically. For example, maybe there’s a school that connects students to underserved rural areas and this is a mission that you are on board with. Spend some time researching the nursing program to be confident in what they offer.

Do: Ask someone to proofread.

You’ll miss typos in your work if you read it a thousand times, so ask for a fresh pair of eyes. It also helps to change the essay to a different font for editing. Here are some more tips to consider offering to your proofreader.

Don’t: Pay for a writing service.

Write your own paper. If you’re worried about your skills, have a peer take a look at your draft, rather than using someone else’s work.

Don’t: Make false claims.

Tell the truth about your motivations, goals, strengths, and driving factors. Don’t make up a backstory or pretend to have skills you don’t.

Don’t: Disregard instructions or criteria.

Pay careful attention to the essay prompt and the criteria. Sometimes you’re expected to answer in less than 300 words, or there are more specific prompts to follow.

Related: Can Nurses Have Tattoos?

Why I Want To Be a Nurse Essay – FAQ

What should i include in a short essay on why i want to be a nurse.

A short essay should still include the main points made here – a short story or introduction, why you became interested in nursing and how that experience has propelled you into nursing, and the skills and experience you will bring to the program.

Should I give more than one reason on why I want to be a nurse?

You should aim to stick with one or two main reasons why you chose nursing – too many reasons will lead to a less effective essay due to a difficulty in following along with your main points.

What do I do if I don’t have a personal story that inspired me to want to become a nurse?

Even if your inspiration is not specific to nursing, you should be ready to tie that into why it’s related to a nursing career. Focus on experiences that required interpersonal skills, great communication skills, or show care for others.

The Why I Want to Be a Nurse essay is your chance to stand out from the crowd. You can show your dedication, compassion, and willingness to learn all through being honest. Just make sure you have your essay proofread before you send it!

• TERMS & DISCLOSURE
• PRIVACY POLICY

BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY SAVINGS

Discounted mcat, gre, lsat, nclex, sat, act.

• Campus Safety
• (866) 825-5426

How to Answer "Why Do You Want To Be A Nurse?"

In the course of your career, there are several occasions when you are asked, “Why do you want to be a nurse?” The first is when you’re applying to nursing school. The second is when you’re applying for a nursing job. And the third you’ll probably pose to yourself throughout your career: Why nursing, and not something else?

Learning to deliver an authentic, compelling answer to this question isn’t just foundational for the interviews you’ll undergo in your profession. It’s also the key to understanding the values that motivate your daily work.

So why do you want to become a nurse? Well, let's look at two excellent examples of responses, why they perform well, and how to formulate one that can help put you on the path toward professional success.

Outstanding Answers to “Why Do You Want To Be A Nurse?”

Your responses to this hallmark nurse interview question will naturally hinge on where you are in your career. For a nursing student applicant, the desire to become a healthcare professional may be rooted in the interest of acquiring nursing skills or in the passion of providing compassionate patient care.  With that, let’s look at two exceptional answers—for a nursing school applicant and a professional registered nurse, respectively—to see what we can learn from each.

Applying to Nursing School 

Nursing school interviewers want to know if an applicant is both a dedicated learner and academically prepared for the unique rigor of nursing school. They’re also looking for candidates who demonstrate nurses’ the ideal demeanor when challenged in the nursing field—a problem-solver, genial and collaborative with colleagues, and genuinely compassionate towards people.

Whether you're currently pursuing a bachelor's nursing degree or a higher education for career advancement as a licensed practical nurse, here’s a shining example of an answer from an imaginary nursing school applicant:

“Science and biology always came naturally to me in school, but I wasn’t particularly interested in care work until later in life. While pregnant, I researched obstetrics and discovered a deep passion for the subject. Nursing school would be a big career change, but I’m confident that my science-mindedness and passion for helping parents greet their babies would make me an excellent OBGYN nurse.” Why it Works There are several reasons why this response hits the mark for an Associate Level Nursing school or Bachelor of Science in Nursing program : Concision – The answer provides a succinct summary of a much more complex personal experience. It also gives the interviewer plenty of opportunities to ask more questions. Honesty – Many people arrive at nursing later in their lives or for complicated reasons. The applicant is candid about their circumstances and demonstrates how their lived experiences contribute value to the role. Specificity – This applicant uses their answer to showcase their interest in a nursing specialty. This shows the interviewer precisely what they want from their education, and their relationship to their interests may communicate that they’ll stay motivated in challenging environments. Apply for a Nursing Degree

Applying for a Nursing Role

Professional nursing interview questions require a slightly more targeted approach since interviewers are looking for specific credentials and qualities that align with the role they’re looking to fill. In your answer, it’s critical to hone in on how your professional background fits the bill.

If your career path points to nursing care education or nursing leadership in the academe, this is an excellent example of a response from a fictive candidate applying for a Nurse Educator role:

“I grew up in an under-resourced community, and many of my family and close friends weren’t educated or motivated to care for their bodies. My health suffered as a consequence, and it wasn’t until my early twenties that I started appreciating and taking care of my body. I know I’d make an excellent Nurse Educator because I can relate to patients—a strength I discovered while working with young eating disorder patients in my previous role. In my view, that’s a critical trait for someone whose role is to inspire and support people in achieving well-being.” Why it Works This answer works well on several counts:

• Personality – Like the nursing school example, this answer brings a personal touch to the question by providing background. The applicant refrained from elaborating in too much detail, but they clearly have a personal relationship with their vocation.
• Conviction – Further into a nurse’s career, employers want evidence of leadership. This applicant is forthright in expressing their idea of what it means to be an exceptional nurse. They also position themselves as uniquely able to contribute that value to their role.
• Specificity – The second part of the response offers the interviewer a chance to inquire about this applicant’s specialty. Whether or not the role is specifically dedicated to patients with eating disorders or psychiatric conditions, this gives the candidate more opportunities to elaborate on why their experience matches employers’ expectations.

Answers to Avoid When Answering “Why Do You Want To Be A Nurse?”

To remain a competitive candidate for any level of nursing , it’s also helpful to know what answers are unlikely to pass muster—and there are a few responses that employers are likely to see as unconvincing. When preparing your statement, avoid delivering the following answers:

• “I want to help people” – An element of giving is inherent to all caretaking professions, and because it’s a given motivator, saying it will probably sound generic to interviewers. Instead, choose a scenario that shows rather than tells your interviewer about the altruistic aspects of your career choice.
• “It feels like the best next step for me” – Variations on this vague statement won’t work optimally when establishing your readiness for a science-minded, person-oriented career like nursing. Even if the sentiment is true, it’s essential to detail why nursing or this role is the logical next step for you: how it will help you actualize your professional potential and what you’ll contribute along the way.
• Irrelevant anecdotes - Avoid getting sidetracked by sharing nursing stories that lack relevance to your own experiences or the present job. Stay focused and maintain conciseness in your responses.

Request Info

Tips for Developing a Sound Personal Statement As A Nursing Professional

In nursing school and job applications, “Why do you want to be a nurse?” is likely just one of many questions you’ll encounter. Whether you’re asked to pen a personal statement or respond to those questions verbally, knowing how to prepare can help you present your best version of yourself.

#1 Anticipate Common Interview Questions

In preparing for your nursing interview, it’s wise to research some other questions commonly asked of candidates. Some questions that are routinely requested in nursing school interviews are: 1

• What makes our nursing school a match for your career goals?
• What role would be most professionally and personally fulfilling in 5 years? What about ten years? 
• From your understanding, what does a typical day of work as a registered nurse look like?
• Tell me about a time you’ve had to move through a problematic interpersonal experience,  and how you handled it.

When applying for nursing roles, you’re likely to be asked questions like: 2

• How do you approach disagreements or conflicts with colleagues?
• What aspects of your education have prepared you for this role?
• How do you communicate with patients and families with grievances about their care?
• Tell me about a high-stakes situation where you had to remain calm and the strategies you used to do so.

Considering how you’d answer questions like these can help you deliver thoughtful and efficient responses, opening up more bandwidth for your interviewer to ask questions tailored to your background.

#2 Lead With Your Story

Every person’s life journey is composed of a series of decisions, and those critical moments add up to a story. The same goes for your nursing career.

Before your nursing interview, take a moment to identify the most pivotal points of your nursing or educational career. You might reflect on the following:

• Early encounters you had with clinical environments or healthcare professionals
• Role models or mentors in your academic, personal, or professional journey
• Meaningful experiences (positive, negative, or both) that left an unforgettable impression on you and the meaning of care work

Even if you’re unsure of a single moment or episode where your ambitions originated, picking one experience to focus on will help structure your interview responses. 

Most of us have many experiences that remind us why we do what we do. So long as you don’t fabricate that experience, it’s sure to come through for your interviewer.

#3 Highlight Your Values

Nursing can require a high degree of dedication and, at times, personal sacrifice. Ideally, your story should illustrate what makes those sacrifices worthwhile—the personal and professional values you hold that make nursing the right choice for you. 

Let’s say you choose to share a personal anecdote about watching a sick relative recover from an illness. In this scenario, your values could be family, determination, and hope.

If you’re not sure what your core professional values are, consider the following list:

• Positive patient outcomes
• Professional success
• Knowledge and research
• Making a positive impact
• Mental health
• Human rights

The better you can contextualize your ambitions in the greater scheme of human well-being, the more authenticity you’ll lend your personal statement.

#4 Identify What You Want to Give (and How You Want to Grow)

Nursing is a selfless profession, but don’t be shy about getting specific about your personal objectives and ambitions. Illuminating what you want to contribute to your field and how you hope to grow as a professional is an opportunity to show your interviewer:

• Your awareness of current obstacles in today’s healthcare system
• Your familiarity with the unique needs of specific patient populations
• Any expertise you already have in your chosen (or desired) specialty

If there are any specific demographics, types of health conditions or nursing niches you’re drawn to, mentioning these is an excellent way to differentiate yourself as a candidate. Do your best to keep your answers succinct—if your interviewer wants to hear more about them, they’ll ask.

Further Your Nursing Education at Alliant International University

Since its founding, Alliant International University has offered students an education to help prepare emerging professionals for careers in mental healthcare, education, business, and more. But the  Master's Degree in Nursing Direct Entry program at Alliant isn’t solely designed to furnish you with the real-world skills you’ll rely on in the healthcare sector—you’ll also graduate with a unique and an enduring sense of purpose.

If you’re beginning your path to becoming a nursing professional, apply to our Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program and gain hands-on experience under the guidance of our dedicated nurse educators.

Sources: 

• Indeed Editorial Team. “Interview Question: "33 Common Nursing School Interview Questions" May 17, 2022. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/nursing-school-interv… . Accessed February 1, 2023.
• Indeed Editorial Team. “Interview Question: "Why Do You Want To Be a Nurse?" July 8, 2022. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/interview-question-wh… . Accessed February 1, 2023.

Alice Bourget

Alice Bourget is an accomplished marketing writer, researcher, and strategist with extensive experience in the education and technology sectors. A...

Other Categories

University announcements, featured news, start on your path to succeed on purpose, request information.

• 1 Current Select Interests
• 2 Provide Information

You might also like

Creating a new vision of nurse education.

Dr. Andrew Hoeffler is helping to grow students into qualified, respected professionals. “I tell my students that I see them as my...

From mental health to physical well-being

Alliant has always been committed to helping students make a difference in society where they are needed most. The California...

How to Be a Good Nurse and Tips to Improve

The objective of any nursing education program is simple: teaching each student how to be a good nurse. From clinical competency...

How to Write an Admission Essay for Nursing School

The nursing school admission process is rigorous. One of the critical requirements for new applicants is an application essay, and writing a compelling nursing essay will give you a major head start over other nursing school candidates.

Once you have figured out why you want to be a nurse, all your memories, accomplishments, ambitions, and goals will align. Therefore, writing an essay on why you are interested in becoming a nurse and selecting a specific nursing college or university allows the admissions team to understand why they should choose you over other candidates.

A well-written, organized, and polished nursing school essay automatically increases your chances of acceptance. With thousands of applications destined for assessment and judgment by the admissions committee, you would want to make your application essay for the nursing school admission stand out.

We have admission essay-writing experts and consultants who, luckily, have compiled this intensive guide to help you write an intentional, focused, and perfect essay for nursing school.

Note: If you are in a hurry or you need direct assistance in writing your nursing college essay, please place an order and let our expert essay writers craft for you an original, engaging, and compelling nursing essay!

What Is a Nursing School Essay?

A nursing school essay is a written piece that demonstrates your interest in a nursing career and elaborates why you are the perfect fit for a specific nursing program.

Most nursing schools (colleges and universities) require aspiring students to write an application essay for nursing school admission. It is a personal essay submitted as part of the application process, which the admission officers review to determine if you can be accepted.

A good nursing school essay shows your interest in the nursing field, your chosen career path, why you want to pursue your nursing education through a specific nursing school program, and why you believe you should be accepted into the institution. It has to show why the entire process is crucial to you and why you are a worthy candidate to select for the nursing school program.

Sometimes, it is the only hope one has left, especially if the competition is stiff. Imagine a situation where the application materials such as grades, resumes, test scores, or recommendation letters are all qualified; a nursing school essay will be the only means to select the best out of the rest fairly.

Writing a perfect nursing essay will demonstrate that you are ready to go down the thorny path of training to become a nurse. Nursing education entails research and writing assignments, and a well-written essay demonstrates your readiness.

Helpful Information to Include in a Nursing Admission Essay

You are probably wondering what goes into an application essay for nursing school admission. Well, your nursing essay will answer an essay prompt from the university. Most colleges will specify the essay questions for college of nursing applicants for various levels of study (MSN, DNP, BSN, Ph.D., or ADN).

Below are some examples of what might be expected:

• Your goals and ambitions for a successful nursing career
• How do you plan to achieve your academic goals
• The specific reasons why you want to join the nursing field
• Reasons you are selecting the particular nursing school or program
• Personal accomplishments that set you apart as the right candidate
• Experiences and encounters that make you love nursing career
• Plans for the future once accepted
• Experience with medical training or patient care
• Character traits aligned to being a nurse
• How you are prepared to become a successful nurse
• Academic, personal, and career interests
• Any other reasons to convince the admissions committee to approve your admission

In some quarters, a nursing school application essay might be a statement of purpose, personal essay, or letter of intent. It is a chance to plead with the admissions committee to accept you into your dream nursing college or program. Having looked at what goes into it, it is also essential to cover the steps to writing a perfect and comprehensive admission essay for nursing school.

Structure of a Nursing School Essay

A nursing essay for admission into a nursing program or school follows the typical format of an academic essay. It is organized into three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction

• This is the opening paragraph that has to impress your readers (admissions officers)
• It can make or break your admission essay or personal statement
• It should be direct to the point
• It is a roadmap that helps the readers to know what to expect as your story grows.
• Open it using an enticing quote, event, anecdote, or statement
• You are allowed to use personal pronouns such as I in the introduction and the rest of the essay
• It has 2- 3 and sometimes five paragraphs
• Elaborates the introduction
• Every paragraph has a unique opening sentence that is a mini-thesis statement.
• Bears the best ideas yielded in your brainstorming session
• It can be as long as your word limit allows but contributes to at least 70-80% of the word count
• Focuses on quality over quantity
• Has one idea or experience per paragraph
• You should mention the skills you intend to develop and how they will help you become a successful nurse
• Connect the skills and experiences to the program and your future career
• Summarize and emphasize the main ideas
• It should be captivating and insightful
• Conveys a sense of closure to the readers
• Invites the readers to reflect on the ideas in your essay
• Creates one last lasting impression on the readers

Outline for a Nursing School Essay

A good nursing school essay outline should give you directions that help you visualize what the essay will look like in its final draft.

If you are writing a nursing essay, having the outline is the first thing you do after brainstorming (as shown in the steps).

It helps you to figure out how to arrange the ideas and points in the essay for a better flow. You can develop each section independently, regardless of the sequence, and still have a quality essay. 

In most cases, the outline is meant for personal consumption, especially when writing a personal statement. However, if you are writing a nursing essay on a given nursing topic , you might be required to write an outline, annotated bibliography , and the nursing essay , and each will be graded separately.

Given the structure, you can outline your nursing school essay as follows:

    Introduction paragraph

• Hook (quote, statement, or anecdote)
• Background information
• Thesis statement
• Transition sentence

    Body paragraph 1

• Topic sentence
• Evidence, data, and facts
• Transition to the second body paragraph

    Body paragraph 2

• Transition to the third body paragraph

    Body paragraph 3

• Transition to the conclusion

    Conclusion

• Summary of the main ideas
• Restate the thesis statement
• Last impression (call to action to the admissions committee)

Steps for Writing a Nursing School Essay

Optimizing your application essay increases your chance of getting accepted into the nursing program or nursing school. The essay should elaborate on your person (who you are as an individual) by providing a comprehensive perspective of your career ambitions, goals, and plans related to your passion for nursing. You should elaborate to the admissions committee why you are a good fit for their nursing program. Students at the ADN, BSN, ABSN (Accelerated BSN), MSN, DNP, or Ph.D. might be required to write an admission or personal essay, and here are the five steps to make it successful.

• Read the prompt
• Brainstorm for ideas
• Plan your essay
• Write the first draft
• Edit and Polish your Essay

Let's explore all these steps before delving into the tips to help you write the essay better.

Read the Prompt

If you are considering applying to a specific nursing school, you need to begin by researching the application process to know when you will be expected to submit your application essay.

In most cases, the nursing schools have essay prompts and instructions for the potential nursing candidates published on their websites. The prompts might vary depending on the programs you are interested in pursuing and the institutional preferences. Therefore, it is vital to begin by locating the nursing school essay guidelines. A quick search online can help, or you will also find it enclosed in the email sent to you by the school's admissions committee.

Read the instructions thoroughly with a specific focus on the essay question, word limit, and topics you must cover. If you apply to many nursing schools, you should locate and read each prompt before moving to the next steps.

Reading and understanding the instructions is the first step in writing an excellent application essay. Besides, it helps you to customize the essay to the requirements and not the other way around.

Brainstorm for Ideas

Now that you know what is expected of you, you need to decide what to include in your nursing essay to make it stand out. For this, get into an idea-generation marathon where you brainstorm ideas based on the prompt and the requirements.

Give every idea a thoughtful consideration and make shorthand notes so that you have all the ideas condensed. Consider your ambitions, accomplishments, drive, passion, preferences, strengths, weaknesses, character traits, and other attributes that might relate to your urge to pursue nursing as a career.

Also, research the nursing program and relate it to your personal ambitions and desires. Such information will help you spot the specific things you like about it. You can then tailor your experiences and encounters to the requirements. Look at the program's website and examine 2-3 aspects that stand out. This will help you focus on what you have that makes you the best pick for the program. You can also reference experiences, events, or traits related to the program.

Consider the environment and people around you and relate them to your desire to become a nurse.

Experiences, encounters, and events can inspire ideas to pen into your nursing school essay.

You can also research some well-written examples of nursing personal statements and essays to get inspired when brainstorming ideas for yours. Besides, you can also ask people in your network, such as family, friends, or peers, for ideas that can stand out and then choose the best.

To get the most robust ideas, rate them depending on how best they answer the prompt; this is the fodder for the entire application essay. Choose 3-5 strongest points and make them the central focus of your essay.

Plan your Essay

As a nurse, planning is everything, even when it comes to clinical decision-making. And because you are destined for this noble career, planning your personal essay won't hurt. Instead, it helps you know what to put and where to engage the admission officers from the beginning to the end of your nursing school essay.

With the ideas in mind, create a rough outline and adjust it until you are fully satisfied that your thoughts, facts, and opinions are well-organized. The outline will help you to structure your essay, avoid derailing it, and write a draft that bears all the quality ideas.

A good step is to organize the essay into paragraphs that align with the word count (often given as the minimum or maximum number of words, exact number of words, or characters).

Include an introduction to give your readers a clear understanding of the focus of your essay. Yes, a good nursing essay has a thesis statement that shows your central claim or the main idea you are focusing on the entire essay.

You should include the body paragraphs, each with a topic sentence supporting the thesis and a series of supporting facts such as examples, evidence, and illustration.

Finally, include a conclusion as the last paragraph that reverberates the thesis, summarizes the essay, and has a call to action to the admissions committee.

Write the First Draft

After the outline, you must begin writing your essay sentence by sentence and paragraph after paragraph. Whatever approach you take, ensure that every detail covered in the outline ends up in your essay as long as it is valid.

Write the introduction paragraph by giving a hook or attention grabber. You can begin with a quote from a famous nurse or a scholarly nursing article. You can also state facts or give statistics if they matter to your application. You should also elaborate on your selected topic, especially if the prompt provides options. End your first paragraph with a thesis statement that describes the focus of your nursing school essay. The introduction should account for 10-15% of the word count.

Each body paragraph has a unique, unmistakable, and concise topic sentence followed by supporting details and a concluding sentence that transitions to the next paragraph. Ensure that you have at least two body paragraphs considering that you can write either a three-paragraph or a five-paragraph nursing essay. Collectively, the body section should be 70-80% of the essay's word count. The body paragraphs should outline your encounters, experiences, and events and how they relate to the specific nursing program.

The final part is the conclusion, where you summarize the main ideas in the essay. for this, avoid the clich� conclusion starters such as "in conclusion," "to sum up," or "in summary." Instead, use conclusion opening sentences that demonstrate to your reader that the essay has ended � it gives the best closure and helps close the information loop in your essay. Rephrase your thesis and summarize the main ideas before appealing to the admissions committee to accept you into their nursing program. It should be 10-15% of the word count, like the introduction paragraph.

Edit and Polish the Essay

Now that you are done with your first draft, it is only the beginning, and you are far from being done. You need to take a break to cool down your frustrations, anxiety, and adrenaline developed when writing. It is a chance to establish an objective mind to look at things from a broader perspective when you settle for editing and proofreading.

If you are not good with editing and proofreading, you can hire a professional proofreading and editing expert to look at your essay and suggest changes to make. You can also use friends and family as a second and third eye to see what you cannot see. Using their feedback will help you optimize the essay for better results. You can incorporate the suggestions and proceed to editing and proofreading.

As for editing and proofreading, you can take advantage of tools such as Grammarly, Ginger, Hemingway Editor, and other editing and proofreading tools available by students and professionals. Revise the essay until it meets the requirements and addresses the prompt. If anything, do not be afraid to do away with an entire paragraph or a few paragraphs that don't make sense.

It is better to start over again than submit a subpar nursing school essay that will be a laughingstock of the admissions committee. The only way to entertain the admissions officers is to write an outstanding nursing school essay that will automatically dial you into the nursing program of your choice. Best of luck!

Example of Nursing School Essay Prompts

• Discuss your interest and understanding of the clinical nurse leader role. What's your story? And what experiences have contributed to your interest?
• The DNP program aims to prepare nurse leaders at the highest level of nursing practice to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice. Describe experiences that exhibit your formal leadership role or informal leadership skills.
• How will the program help you achieve your academic and career goals?
• What experiences have influenced your interest in pursuing a clinical specialty you have chosen?
• The DNP program aims to prepare nurse leaders at the highest level of nursing practice to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice. Describe experiences that exhibit your leadership skills.
• Why have you chosen to pursue a nursing research doctorate?
• How does becoming a nurse fulfill your ambitions?
• What does becoming a nurse mean to you?
• What drives you to become a nurse?
• Why do you want to become a nurse?
• What is your nursing philosophy?
• What was your reason for choosing nursing as a career? Do you have any additional information that you would like the admissions committee to know about you that has not been previously considered in the application?
• What are your professional goals? How will this accelerated nursing program help you materialize those goals?
• Discuss a specific leadership position (e.g., manager, director, associate dean) you wish to attain within three to five years after completing the DNP program.

Note: Some of these prompts have been rephrased from the Rush University Website . They keep changing depending on the preferences of the admissions committee. Inquire with your university or college of nursing to get specific directions on the most current prompts and instructions.

Related Reading: Ideas for a nursing capstone project.

Tips for Writing an Effective Nursing School Admission Essay

When grades, test scores, and other material entries don't count , a nursing school essay, referred to as a personal statement, suffices. In this case, a great nursing school can only be your hope for getting into nursing school. If you want to get ahead of the competition, these proven tips will significantly help you.

1. Plan Well

To pen an excellent nursing school essay that gets you accepted, you need to plan the essay.

Read the instructions, brainstorm as you take notes, research widely, and create an outline.

And even when done, the purpose is to have a reverse outline to help you score the essay against the requirements. Planning helps you to know what attention-grabbing statement to begin the essay with, the sequence of the body paragraph ideas for a logical flow, and what specifics to include in the conclusion.

Having an outline will help you save time when writing the first draft and help you to stay focused when writing.

2. Show, Don't Tell!

All effective nursing school essays express your personality, experiences, and encounters while convincing the admissions officers that you are the best fit for the program.

You should not focus on telling your story alone. Instead, show how your account relates to the prompt.

Discuss experiences, encounters, and events but show how they have impacted your choice of the program and desire to become a nurse.

If you are applying to a specific program, enlighten your readers on why you are specifically interested in the program and what that means.

It could be the hybrid learning model that entails both online and classroom learning or the history or reputation the school has, parental preferences (if they were a graduate), mentor recommendation, etc.

3. Choose Information Wisely

Ensure that every idea or information in your essay is unique, authentic, and original. Don't just write fictitiously.

If you have no past experiences directly related to nursing, you can introduce them and twist them to fit the context.

Impress the admissions committee with your wits, not just a summary of what others have written online.

Standing out in your presentation of facts will always carry the day. Genuinely share your story about what made you want to become a nurse.

4. Avoid Excuses

Even if you don't have appealing past encounters with medicine, hospitals, or anything related to nursing, tell your story as it is.

Do not excuse yourself for telling the truth. After all, you are on your journey to becoming a nurse; all you are seeking is training to develop the knowledge and skills.

If you have cared for your family members at home, babysat your siblings, or have compassion for the suffering, these are the most authentic stories you have, and they can spell meaning on your ambition. Therefore, prove your strong candidature by stating things as they are without clutching at things that do not matter.

5. Let it Flow!

Instead of forcing things such as humor or stories, write plainly about your experiences, encounters, and past events that made you want to become a nurse.

Most "why I want to be a nurse" essays don't have to have any humor. If it clicks well and is good, if it doesn't, don't force it.

As well, avoid exaggerating things when writing your nursing school essay. You should focus on making it as interesting, engaging, and convincing as can be but be truthful.

Avoid mixing up stories. A good way is to focus each paragraph on the main point that relates to your thesis.

6. Show you care about People and Yourself

Nursing is a noble career that entails caring for oneself as you care for others. Your full-time attention and job will be to care for people to help them achieve better health outcomes.

You must show empathy, selflessness, and determination to be a nurse. You can bring examples of when you took care of others and yourself.

Let the committee know that even when training as a nurse, you understand self-care as much as you understand caring for others.

7. Bring in Current Issues

If there is a chance that you can introduce nursing concepts or ideas from current events, it will beef up your nursing school essays.

Get facts from well-established nursing organization websites such as the American Nurses Association, National League of Nursing, Emergency Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, or National Black Nurses Association, etc.

Intrigue your readers by understanding the challenges and opportunities in the nursing field.

You can relate your application to nursing shortages, medical errors, nursing burnout, continuing education, evidence-based practice, etc.

8. Briefly Explain your Qualifications

Since you have already provided material such as transcripts, resumes, and test scores, it is imperative to briefly expound on the qualifications without going into details. Tell them about your experiences, your education, and how you have set yourself up for success in nursing school . For instance, elaborate on how volunteering and internships helped you develop a sense of becoming a nurse or how they developed skills you will apply in nursing school.

9. Share your plans

Everybody has plans. You have short, medium, and long-term goals as you prepare to enter nursing school. You should include them in your essay and demonstrate how the program or school will help you achieve them. Admission officers are always wowed by hearing about goals, especially if they relate to their schools or programs. As you do this, be very specific with the goals and how you intend to achieve them.

All set, but before You Go �

As you contemplate entering nursing school, you must understand that it will never be a walk in the park. There is so much to learn within the specified time frame, and you must show your preparedness. A nursing school personal essay is one of the ways to do so.

Related Article:

• Writing a nursing philosophy ( a student's guide)
• Writing a nursing student resume (a guide)

Lucky for you, our nursing admission essay writers have shared insights, tips, and steps that can help you write an exceptional application essay for any nursing school or program. If you follow them, you will write a seamless admission essay that increases your chances of getting into the nursing school of your dreams.

We wish you luck in your endeavors and promise that were available in case you need a well-written, organized, and plagiarism-free admission essay tailored to your experiences and the specific nursing school or program requirements.

Struggling with

Related Articles

Why you should Get a Doctorate in Nursing (DNP) Degree

Accelerated BSN vs. Traditional BSN (Know the Difference and Choose Wisely)

Drug Calculations: Using Math Skills for Patient Care

NurseMyGrades is being relied upon by thousands of students worldwide to ace their nursing studies. We offer high quality sample papers that help students in their revision as well as helping them remain abreast of what is expected of them.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

Tips for Writing Your Nursing Program College Essays

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Giebien Na in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

The importance of your college essays, general advice for writing your nursing essays.

If you know you want to be a nurse, you probably have quite a few reasons for that. Instead of merely relying on your academic and test performances to tell your story, you get the opportunity in your essays to share exactly why you’re so passionate about nursing. Writing about this can be a clarifying and even exciting process. This article explains why college application essays matter and how you should write about why you want to become a nurse.

Grades and test scores matter when you’re applying to college, but your essays can help improve your chances of admission. They’re how you can express your experiences and make your desire to become a nurse clear and personal.

If your prospective school doesn’t have supplemental essays, it’s a good idea to include your interest in nursing in your Common App essay . This could mean that you end up with two different drafts of the essay: one for if there are supplemental essays where you can discuss your interests in nursing and one for if there are not. You’ll change them out depending on whether you also have to respond to specific prompts about why you want to pursue nursing. This may not sound like much fun, but it will help you be admitted to your school of choice.

It might seem exciting to apply to a place where you don’t have to write extra essays—it’s less work! If you don’t do that additional work, though, you’ll have fewer chances to explain yourself. You might not be able to share exactly why you think that you’re the right fit for a certain college or program. 

If you are writing supplemental essays for the colleges that you’re interested in, you can include more details about your passion for nursing. You’ll often be asked, “why this major?” or “why this school?” When you have those opportunities to share your specific reasons, you can let yourself get personal and go deep into your passion. Use that space to share important details about who you are.

Start Broad

When writing essays entirely about why you want to pursue nursing , try to start from a broad interest, then slowly work your way to telling specific personal stories and goals. 

When first thinking about your general interest in nursing, ask yourself what attracts you to the work of being a nurse. This can lead to powerful potential responses. Maybe you like taking care of people in the community. Perhaps you’ve always known that you wanted to make a difference in the healthcare profession, but you don’t want to be a doctor. You’d rather make patients’ healthcare experiences as comfortable and pleasant as possible. 

After you’ve described these broad, overarching motivations for wanting to go into nursing, consider any personal experiences that have made you want to be a nurse. Think about moments you’ve had during hospital visits or checkups or an anecdote from a time that you decided to volunteer in a healthcare role. Once you’ve written these stories, you can end the essay by discussing your planned major and career goals.

Discuss Your Future Goals

If you know what your end goal is, be sure to include it. You can write about becoming a registered nurse or maybe a nurse practitioner. It doesn’t have to be set in stone , but sharing a final ambition can help anchor your personal narrative. Writing about the future that you want can help the admissions officer reading your essay see how you view yourself. If they can do this, they’ll better understand your values and motivations and see you as a real candidate for their school. 

You don’t have to follow this pattern exactly. For example, it can be powerful to begin your essay in the middle of the action—you can dive right into an anecdote and get the reader interested in your story from the jump. 

While you should avoid dramatization, starting with a few clear, memorable scenes or a line or two of dialogue can make for an instantly interesting essay. All of this helps you show your passion, rather than simply explaining what intrigues you about a nursing career. 

Once you’ve led with your narrative, though, remember to ground it in clear reasons for your intended career and what you want your future to look like. A good essay will be balanced between the past, present, and future. It’s how a college will see who you are and everything that you have to offer.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Why Do You Want To Be a Nurse? 15 Reasons to Choose a Career in Nursing

If you’ve started submitting applications to nursing schools or told people that you want to be a nurse, you’re probably hearing the question, “Why do you want to be a nurse?” a lot.  

To be honest, it’s a fair question, and each person has their own reasons for wanting to become a nurse. If you’re reading this blog post and wondering if a nursing career is for you, here are the 15 top reasons to choose a career in nursing .

Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs

Enrollment: Nationwide

As a working RN, you need a flexible, transfer-friendly program to help you save time and money as you take the next step in your nursing career. In our CCNE-accredited4 RN to BSN program, you can transfer in up to 134 credits—which is nearly 75% of program requirements. Your transfer credits can be reviewed in one business day (on average).

Enrollment: FL

WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.

• RN to BSN - Global Studies

Why Do You Want to Be a Nurse? 15 Reasons

Becoming a nurse is a great career choice with many advantages, including plenty of opportunities for growth and development. Here are the top 15 reasons why you should consider a career in nursing:

1. High Demand for Nurses

Nursing is an increasingly relevant and sought-after career path in today's world. With the aging population, there’s an increasing demand for nursing professionals due to the increased need for both medical and assisted living services. 

On top of this, a shortage of physicians has also increased the demand for primary care providers putting nurse practitioners in much higher demand as well.

2. Ability to Start Working Fast

Nursing is an amazing career choice for many reasons, one of them being that you don't necessarily need an extensive education in order to get started. 

Becoming a CNA or LPN only requires a 1-2 year associate degree and the starting pay is decent too. 

Even if your goal is to become an RN, there are now accelerated BSN programs available at most universities that offer nurses the opportunity to obtain their Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) quickly so they can begin their careers. 

And most of these programs can be completed online (except for some lab and/or clinical components).

3. Great Pay and Benefits

Another awesome advantage of being a nurse is that most nurses earn a really good salary and have excellent benefits. Although nursing salaries vary widely from state to state, the median annual registered nurse salary in 2022 was $81,220, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Licensed practical nurses earn an average salary of $94,538 a year in 2023 , according to Glassdoor.com.

Nurses also receive a number of benefits that can’t be found in other occupations, such as access to excellent health insurance options, retirement savings plans, flexible hours or shifts, paid vacation time, and even educational assistance programs that can help make continuing your education more affordable. 

>> Show Me Online RN-to-BSN Programs

4. Incentives to Work in Many Different Areas

Besides a great salary and benefits, nurses are also offered special incentives such as higher pay, relocation assistance, hefty sign-on bonuses, and nursing tuition reimbursement to work in high-need areas. 

And there are many places offering these incentives for nurses, from busy urban medical centers to under-served rural and remote communities.

5. Job Security

When it comes to job security, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a job that is more secure and in higher demand. 

Currently, there is a nursing shortage , and this shortage is expected to increase over the next decade due to the aging population of Baby Boomers and a growing need for healthcare services related to chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

6. Professional Respect 

An important part of having a great career is knowing that you’re respected for your skills and the work you do. And when it comes to respect and trust, there is no one more trusted than nurses. 

For the last 20 years, Gallup has found that the public ranks nurses the highest in terms of their honesty and ethics of any occupation or profession, even higher than physicians. Nursing is an incredible career choice due to the tremendous respect you receive from patients, family, peers, and other medical professionals. 

7. Growing Opportunity for Flexible Scheduling

Another important factor when it comes to having a great job and career is a flexible schedule. In fact, a whopping 9 out of 10 employees surveyed said offering flexible scheduling is one of the most important things employers can do to retain employees. And 47.8% said a flexible schedule is even more important than salary.

With an ever-growing demand for healthcare professionals, employers are placing greater emphasis on accommodating remote workers or those who are interested in part-time work. 

In addition to regular hospital or clinic settings, nurses can now take advantage of more per-diem nursing opportunities that fit into their busy lives as well. 

This opens up the field to those who don’t have the necessary time to commit to a full-time nursing position while still allowing them to contribute meaningful work. 

8. Opportunity for Student Loan Forgiveness

Going to school costs a lot of money, even if you go the community college route. Tuition, books, transportation, nursing uniforms and equipment, accommodation, meals, healthcare expenses—the list goes on of the expenses a student has. However, the good news is, many nurses may be eligible for student loan forgiveness programs for nurses . 

9. Job Options Across Various Fields

Unlike many other professional fields, nursing offers a huge amount of variety in terms of the type of work you can do and the types of settings you can work in. 

If you’d like to work with kids, you can be a school nurse , a pediatric nurse , or work in a PICU with sick children. 

Prefer to work with people of all ages for even more variety? Then you can work in a community clinic, emergency department, or as a home care nurse .

And if you have the travel bug and want more adventure, you can be a travel nurse and work almost anywhere you can imagine from large cities to extremely remote locations once you gain some initial nursing experience.

10. Opportunities for Career Advancement

If you’re wondering about opportunities for career advancement, nursing is an excellent career choice for that as well. 

As a nurse, there are many ways to work your way up the career ladder through advanced education in Master’s in Nursing and DNP programs. 

These programs prepare you to specialize as a nurse—which means a nice boost in salary (usually into the 6-figure category)—and often more autonomy. 

And the good news is, there’s high demand for nurse practitioners in a number of different specialties. There are also career paths for nurses who want to pursue healthcare or nursing management, nursing informatics , research or teaching as well.

11. Ability to Make a Difference

If you want a career where you can help people and change their lives, nursing definitely fits the bill. In fact, nursing is an incredibly rewarding career choice because you have the privilege of supporting people when they need your help the most. 

As an example, a nurse may help bring a life into the world for new parents or assist someone in managing a chronic condition who would otherwise be lost without a nurse’s teaching and expertise. 

In the eyes of those they help, nurses truly are everyday heroes.

12. Transferable Skill Set 

The nursing profession is highly marketable and transferable. So those entering the field can expect their experience and training to be valuable from job to job. 

For example, the fundamental medical knowledge and expertise that goes hand-in-hand with being a nurse applies no matter where you go or work. 

Although certain local regulations, technology, and even cultural norms may have slight variations, having a background as a nurse will still apply no matter where you go.

13. Opportunity for Entrepreneurship

The dream of owning your own business is also a real possibility when you become a nurse. Whether it’s starting your own private practice as a nurse practitioner or consultant, publishing medical research, freelance writing, launching a medical-based app or blog, or developing a new medical product, nurses can capitalize on their expertise and hard work by starting their own company.

Ownership over your career and the ability to create lasting change makes nursing an extremely attractive option for those seeking more than a traditional employment position.

14. Opportunity for Autonomy and Independence

One of the best aspects of nursing as a career is that it encourages autonomy and independence, allowing you to make many decisions on your own. 

This is because nurses are given various levels of responsibility depending on their experience and skill level. As a result, this makes nursing an ideal job for those looking for autonomy and independence while still having access to support from their peers, supervisors, and managers. 

15. Highly Satisfying Career

Last but not least, nursing is an extremely satisfying career. Despite how difficult the recent pandemic was for nurses, a 2021 career satisfaction survey of 10,788 nurses (including LPNs, RNs, and NPs) found that more than 90% of the nurses surveyed said they were “glad they chose” to be a nurse.

As you can see, there are many great reasons to choose a career in nursing. So what are you waiting for? Jump online and start applying today!

Leona Werezak BSN, MN, RN is the Director of Business Development at NCLEX Education. She began her nursing career in a small rural hospital in northern Canada where she worked as a new staff nurse doing everything from helping deliver babies to medevacing critically ill patients. Learning much from her patients and colleagues at the bedside for 15 years, she also taught in baccalaureate nursing programs for almost 20 years as a nursing adjunct faculty member (yes! Some of those years she did both!). As a freelance writer online, she writes content for nursing schools and colleges, healthcare and medical businesses, as well as various nursing sites.

Plus, get exclusive access to discounts for nurses, stay informed on the latest nurse news, and learn how to take the next steps in your career.

By clicking “Join Now”, you agree to receive email newsletters and special offers from Nurse.org. You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email.

• Nursing School

“Why Do You Want to Be a Nurse?” Nursing School Interview Question

Preparing your “Why do you want to be a nurse” answer for an interview is key. The question will always be asked in a nursing school interview, which is why you must strategically plan out your answer, and take some time to reflect on this difficult question.

Not everybody puts thought into the “why” behind this question. Some people seem to act entirely on instinct, but you can’t afford to do so with your career – your future. Not to mention the fact that you need to have a professional, snappy, and thoughtful response to any (and every) question brought forward in an admissions interview.

Some nursing school interview questions are a chore to get through, but with some careful consideration, the question of why will be so foundational that you’ll never regret having explored it. This isn’t just something you have to answer, this is a question you want – even need – to answer.

In this article, you will find different answer samples to the “Why do you want to be a nurse” question, how to find a personal answer unique to you, and how to structure your answer to create an amazing impression on the interview day. 

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Article Contents 10 min read

Why are you asked this question.

Having an answer to this question is more than important, it’s necessary. It’s necessary for your interview, but it’s also necessary for yourself.

Imagine being the interviewer for a moment and seeing a candidate who looks great on paper, with strong academic record, a great nursing school personal statement , good letters of reference, and a demonstrable track record of excellence all-around demonstrated in their nursing school application resume . But in the interview, that candidate responds with, “I don’t know,” to the question of why they are selecting the career that they are. The interviewer’s likeliest response? Complete dismissal. If this question isn’t answered properly, it will corrupt the entire interview, and possibly even destroy the application altogether.

That’s why they ask the question. Would you select a candidate who didn’t know why they were even applying to nursing?

Of course not. If you were generous, you’d take the candidate aside and advise them to take more time to think about their future.

Which presents another reason why you need to answer the question: you owe it to yourself. This is who you want to be, after all. Make sure you put some thought into it. What the interviewer is asking of you is to not just explain why you’re a good candidate, but why nursing is important to you. So the main thing is to put your connection to the profession on display.

This question really is for the admissions committee to understand whether you fit with this career path. Your “why” will demonstrate whether you will be a positive addition to this profession.

Before you start composing your answer to this question, it’s important to reflect on your own reasons for pursuing this career. There are thousands of potential reasons and each one is legitimate in its own way. We have compiled a list of suggestions that may help you pinpoint your own “why” behind your decision.

Patient Care

One of the most common reasons that nurses give for “why nursing?” is to care for patients. Nurses spend more time with patients than any other medical professionals . They spend close to twice as long with patients as personal visitors (more than friends and family) and almost three times as many minutes with patients as other medical staff (physicians, physician assistants, and medical students).

Directly caring for patients is the biggest part of nursing, and an excellent potential aspect of your answer to the question of “why” you want to be a nurse. If you love working with patients, it could be an ideal entry into your answer to this question.

\u201cHuman connection has always been important to me. Nursing is an opportunity for me to help people at their most vulnerable.\u201d  ","label":"Example statement","title":"Example statement"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Heat of a Team

Nurses work together as a team to care for their patients. Although each nurse is assigned certain patients, they will help each other out. Being part of a team is exciting for a lot of people, and perhaps this is one aspect of the profession that excites you. Knowing that somebody has your back, and you have theirs, is a big plus in any career.

Not just part of a nursing team, healthcare requires many specialists across disciplines, and nurses are a part of that team.

\u201cI love working with other people and knowing that I\u2019m part of a work-family. Nurses come together to share their workload in a way that I find encouraging. I would love to be the kind of person who can be counted on by my colleagues, and who has a good support network as part of the job.\u201d ","label":"Example Statement","title":"Example Statement"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Physically, mentally, and emotionally, nursing is a challenge. The profession demands excellence and endurance from all aspects of life. Many people find challenges exciting and rewarding, and it might be beneficial to let an interviewer see that hardworking, never-back-down side to your character.

\u201cI am someone who rises to a challenge, who doesn\u2019t quit, and who won\u2019t back down from hardship. If I fail, I try again. I know that nursing is tough, but that toughness is something I admire in others and in the profession, and I think I would be ideally suited for a place where I can be challenged. ","label":"Example Statement","title":"Example Statement"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

Constant Learning

You’re a curious mind who loves to experience new things? Nursing is perfect.

Nursing is a multi-facetted profession, and there is always more to learn and explore. Whether travel nursing, working with children, or with the elderly, you can find something (or everything) within the field.

One of the most interesting areas to learn is in pure medical knowledge. Nurses have to deal with many different areas of medical science, so the opportunities for educational growth are exponential.

Although less altruistic than some other answers, it can be beneficial to let an interviewer know that you will love a career in nursing for these rewarding aspects as well. 

\u201cLife is a journey, and an adventure, and nursing provides a place to be a kind of adventurer. There is so much this profession offers, so many different ways to learn and grow, and I look forward to a life of, not just helping people, but exploration.\u201d ","label":"Example Statement","title":"Example Statement"}]" code="tab4" template="BlogArticle">

Nursing exposes a person to a wide variety of medical experiences, and that can lead to excellent insights into the field at large and lead to other, perhaps unexpected, career paths.

There are a lot of growth opportunities within the nursing field. A nurse might strive to become a nurse practitioner – very similar to an R.N. or R.P.N., but with some powers granted and further responsibilities. They can diagnose illnesses, order tests, or give prescriptions, for example. It’s like a halfway point between nurse and doctor. If this is your ambition, do not hesitate to express that you want a career where you will be able to grow, learn, and advance as a professional!

Nurses may also explore other medical professions. While you may be hesitant to express your desire to go from nurse to doctor , you should know that these kinds of transitions are not rare. Nurses who transition to being physicians or other medical professional have a huge advantage in terms of experience and clinical knowledge! You should feel free to express your dedication and commitment to nursing, as well as your aspirations for other professional avenues. Whether you want to grow within nursing or beyond, admissions committees like applicants who show ambition.

\u201cI want to experience the medical field in its fullest, and I believe there is no better first step on that journey than nursing.\u201d ","label":"Example Statement","title":"Example Statement"}]" code="tab5" template="BlogArticle">

Want help preparing for your nursing school application and interview?

How to Plan Your Answer

All of the reasons we list above are good. But you need more than just a parroted reason. Reason without passion is just an excuse.

There is a deeper reason for entering this field. Use this question to display that depth and your passion for nursing.

The personal why is about how the profession connects with you. There was a point in your life when you knew you wanted this for yourself. Maybe a family member was a nurse? Maybe somebody you knew was hospitalized, but the nursing staff at their hospital made their recovery infinitely better. Maybe that person was you: sick or injured, your life and health, improved by the nurses who cared for you.

Start with a good, captivating opening statement. Make it short, to the point, and formulate it in such a way that you will set up the rest of your answer. A good attention-grabbing statement might be a cataclysmic life event, a profound quote, or a statement that generates intrigue. Think of the beginnings of your favorite books or films. They start with something that grabs attention (“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” for instance). You want to ensnare an audience, not just say, “I always wanted to be a nurse.”

For example: “We were miles from help, cell phones dead or no bars, and blood was everywhere. I was holding onto my belt, pulling it tight enough to stop the flow, talking my friend back to a state of calmness, and hoping like heck that my lack of belt wouldn’t mean my pants would fall down imminently. I didn’t know it at the time, but being the calm one in a crisis, remembering my first aid knowledge, and making it through all that trauma was what would lead me to become a nurse.”

Keep to one or two main examples as to why you are pursuing nursing, show your connection to nursing beyond just, “it’s a job”, and throw in personal flair to accent your statement. Outlining one or two examples or reasons will allow you to include interesting details and expand on these reasons in more depth.

The personal connection is a good place to start. When did you realize you wanted to be a nurse? Why do you love it? Those catalyst points in your life that made you choose nursing are a great start.

A concluding statement – as short and punchy as your opening line – is the best way to wrap things up. You might let the interviewer know your career goals and how their program will help you get to where you want to go.

Make sure to keep your answer to 1 or 2 minutes long. You do not want to ramble on and on, thus losing the attention of your interviewers.

How to Practice Your “Why Do You Want to Be a Nurse?” Answer

Once you have an experience or two to focus on, spend some time thinking about how you want to present these talking points. Once you have an idea, start practicing. Remember, you do not want to memorize your answer, but you also want to have a clearly laid out format for your response. One of the worst things you can do is come to the interview unprepared, saying something like this, for example:

“I like helping people. I was once hurt and the nurses at the hospital helped me.”

That’s no good. Put effort, details, stories, and energy into the answer. This is the reason why you’re entering your next stage of life, so allow your excitement to shine through. Make a mini-story out of it.

It will help you a lot to practice your answer in mock interviews, making sure that your answer sounds natural, thorough, and professional.

“Why Do You Wat to Be a Nurse?” Sample Answer #1

“I have always needed to help people. As a kid, if my younger siblings got a scrape on the knee, I was right there with my mom, helping to bandage them up. I think I was just mostly in the way.

But that need to care and heal never went away. When I was older, I took first-aid classes and loved it. I loved learning how to help, knowing that if there was a problem I could be right there making things better.

The day that I knew specifically I wanted to be a nurse was after applying my first-aid knowledge directly. A friend of mine got hurt at school, slipped and had a bad fall down some stairs. I used my first-aid to keep them calm and check for any breaks or other issues before helping get them to the school nurse. While I was in the nurse's office, I felt like I was part of something already. Later, I spoke with the school nurse about my career path, and she was helpful, thoughtful, and encouraging.

Nursing is perfect for me. More than any other profession, nursing will give me an opportunity to care for people. It lets me do more than just give medicine, it connects me to people, and make a real difference in their lives.

That human element, making small differences day-to-day, and really helping people – all of that is deeply connected to who I am, who I want to be, and to nursing. Nursing and me are a perfect fit.”

“Nursing is a one-hundred percent career, and I am a one-hundred percent person.

Challenge is exciting to me. Rock climbing is a hobby of mine, and I love it because it’s active and requires commitment. I’ve always been passionate like that.

Another thing I’m deeply passionate about is going where I’m needed. I remember my aunt talking one time about being a nurse, and about the struggles that she and the other nurses went through. I remember her being really upset about it, but I also remember thinking, ‘Oh, they need people.’ And, as I said, I go where I’m needed.

From there I started learning as much as I could about nursing, taking elective classes in school, reading about the profession, and talking to my aunt about the job. The more I learned, the more I knew this was my path.

Nursing is a place where I can make a difference, be needed, and be challenged, and I am looking forward to all of that – one-hundred percent.”

The answer to this question is as personal as it is imperative. Really think about why you want to be a nurse above all else, and you’ll have your answer. Once you know the “why”, you might get thrashed a lot on your journey, but you will always have sight of your destination.

You also have the perfect answer for your interview. But with all that incredible insight into your life and who you want to be, that’s almost a by-product, isn’t it?

An in-depth answer, one that properly communicates your connection to nursing, is going to take up more than a couple sentences. Keep your answer to 1 or 2 minutes long.

No, and in fact, we strongly discourage memorization. Memorizing your answer comes off as disingenuous. Additionally, you run the risk of messing up your script and freezing in the middle of your answer. Instead, just focus on remembering your talking points.

Do plan out your answer carefully before your interview, practice it, but from that point on, just worry about holding the main points in your head. You don’t need to memorize the whole thing.

Everybody has a different approach to their writing processes, but one fast, fairly simple way to deal with writer’s block is to give yourself permission to take five minutes and free associate. You could use pen and paper, word processors, or record yourself talking aloud, but through whichever method you choose, just start getting out ideas about nursing and why you’re interested in it.

Another approach would be to think about the first time you considered nursing as a career and why. Those memories will give you excellent insight and a good starting place to plan your answer.

We recommend sticking to one or two events or reasons that led to your decision.

Since you don’t have time to get into every facet of every aspect of why you want to be a nurse, you’re going to want to stick to one or two primary reasons. You will weaken your statement if you have too many points.

To have a strong answer, you need to incorporate personal or professional events or experiences that led you to pursue nursing. Why did you decide to pursue this career? What interests you about it? What events took place to lead you to apply to nursing school? These events do not necessarily need to be related to nursing directly, but you can connect them to nursing. For example, maybe your volunteer or work experiences demonstrate exceptional communication and interpersonal skills? Whatever it is, make sure you can connect your passion for nursing, and your experiences in your answer.

Chronologically is probably clearest. It will let you, and the interviewer, track the story better.

Keep in mind classical story structure, with a beginning, middle, and end, and use that as a rough guide.

Just pause, take a breath, and remember the first thing your wanted to say. Since you’ll have practiced beforehand, the rest will come back to you. Since you’ve arranged your answer as a small story, the structure helps with remembering as well, and because you haven’t scripted anything, it doesn’t need to be exactly as you’ve rehearsed it.

You need to go back to your story and really look at it with a critical eye. Ask yourself if there are any details you’re including that aren’t really necessary. Try to weed it out.

What is extraneous to your story will pop out if you reconsider that story structure of beginning-middle-end. If you’ve started talking about a certain event in childhood that led to another event that led to your deciding to be a nurse, are you taking any digressions along the way? Including any anecdotes that, while nice, don’t support your main story?

If you’re having trouble sticking to two minutes, be ruthless in your editing.

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

1.Why you want nursing? 2.what is customer service important

BeMo Academic Consulting

Thanks for your contribution, Rylie!

Get Started Now

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webclass: 

How to improve your nursing school interview practice score by 27% , using the proven strategies they don’t want you to know.

• InterviewPenguin.com – Your best job interview coach since 2011

Nursing Interview – Why do you want to be a nurse? 7 sample answers

Whether you interview for a place at a nursing school , or for a job of a nurse (in a hospital, in a school, in a community center, or in any other setting), one thing is certain: they will ask you about your career choice . The question has several variations, such as “Why nursing? “, “ Why do you want to work as a nurse? “, or “ Why do want to become a nurse? “, or “Why did you become a nurse? ” but the meaning is always the same.

You have several options for a good answer. Maybe you feel a calling to help , or you have a role model in some nurse who helped you when you were young and battling some disease. Or perhaps your father runs a small clinic or medical practice, and you simply want to work in the place. Let’s have a look at 7 sample answers to the question. Do not forget to read also the section below the answers, where I explain some common mistakes people make while answering the question.

7 sample answers to “Why do you want to be a nurse?” interview question

• It is the most fitting job for my personality . I’ve always enjoyed helping others, and I’ve always wanted to work in a hospital. It is extremely fulfilling to see how you helped someone get through a difficult time, be it with a treatment , attention , or even just with some words of encouragement you gave them in the right moment. Of course, I know that the job isn’t easy . You work night shifts, overtime, and you may see things that are difficult to bear with emotionally –for example when a child dies on your shift. But these things do not discourage me from applying. I still feel that nursing is my calling.
• I’ve made this decision many years ago . When I was a child, I experienced severe problems with my lungs, and had to spent prolonged time in hospitals each year . As you can imagine, it is extremely difficult for a nine or ten year old to stay alone in the hospital, not even seeing parents every day. But I was extremely fortunate with nurses who cared for me . They were very sensitive to my feelings , spent time in my room whenever situation allowed it, and basically they tried their best to improve my experience in the hospital. My condition eventually improved in my teenage years, and I did not have to return to hospital every year. But I never forgot how the nurses treated me, and decided to pay back the favor , with my service to other children. That’s the reason why I pursued a career in nursing, become a nurse, and why I am applying for a job with this clinic today…
• To be honest, I am disturbed with the current state of affairs in our society . It is hard to find healthy adults—everyone has some issues. High blood pressure, heart condition, severe allergy, cancer. And the fact that three out of four adults are either obese or overweight does not help the issue. In my opinion, it poses a huge problem for the entire society and our economy, and unless we do something about it, the consequences can be fatal . And the way I see it, everything starts with children. Working with children and treating them, we still have a chance to educate them, to show them the right path, the importance of physical activity and healthy diet. We can make a difference and contribute to a healthier society of the future. At least that’s what I believe in, and it motivates me strongly to pursue career in pediatric nursing.
• I’ve been always surrounded by doctors and nurses , since half of my family works in the field. My father runs a small medical practice , and it would be a dream come true to work there with him, and, perhaps, one day run the entire place. Of course, I could pursue different careers, going to med school, or pursuing a career in medical management. But from all career paths in the field I am most attracted to nursing. I find it the best match for both my skills and personality.
• It is simple– I want to make a positive difference in someone’s life. But I do not dream about changing the world , though I am aware of the problems we face as humanity. My goal is to simply have a job in which I can help someone overcome adversity , to get back on track, or to bare with a difficult medical condition or with a painful treatment. It is something that will make me happy in my daily life, and help me find a meaningful purpose in my everyday existence.
• I follow a specific goal—to work as a nurse for an NGO which operates in the Middle East . I have roots in Syria, and I am very distressed by the situation in the region. I would love to go there and help directly on site. Many children are dying each day and in my view it’s unacceptable. But I am no politician to change the big scope of things. What I can do, however, is going there and working as a nurse, helping to save lives and give hope to people. Nursing school is an important step on my journey.
• I volunteered in a nursing home for six months, and I really enjoyed the experience, with everything that belonged to it–including the less popular tasks, such as helping the clients with personal hygiene. It met my expectations and what is more, I felt that I was doing a really good job , and clients enjoyed my company. On the top of that, I look up to my father, who’s been working as a nurse for twenty years. All things combined, I can’t really imagine a better career to pursue…

Try to be specific in your answer

Perhaps you already have your dream place of work –be it a psychiatric ward, children hospital, or the clinic your father runs.

Or you have chosen your specialization –maybe you want to work as a pediatric nurse, mental health nurse, ER nurse, or even as a correctional nurse. As long as they see that you have some vision for your future , something that will drive you forward in the difficult times (be it at school or already in the job), they will incline to give you the spot in their study program, or the job.

On the contrary, if you talk vaguely about your future, or there is no enthusiasm in your voice , they may easily get an impression that you follow a dream of someone else , or apply for a job of a nurse just because you’ve already invested a lot of time and money into your studies…

Ensure them that you see the complexity of the job

Perfect jobs do not exist , either in nursing, or in any other field. You will certainly experience moments and days that will make you feel grateful for life , and for the opportunity to work as a nurse. But you will also experience days when you will feel terrible , struggle to cope emotionally with the reality of the job, or simply be exhausted after a series of long shifts. On such days one wishes that they had become something else than a nurse…

It is important to ensure the hiring managers that you are aware of this reality, and expect to experience some difficulties as a nurse (regardless of your place of work).

Your dream, not a dream of your parents

When we talk about nursing school admission interviews , it is pivotal to ensure the admission committee members that pursuing a career of a nurse is your decision , and you do not just follow the dreams or expectations of your parents, peers , or of anyone else.

Remember that your non-verbal communication plays a crucial role here. Unless they hear some enthusiasm in your voice, unless you look pumped for this opportunity , they will find it hard to believe your words about a meaningful purpose, and a dream career you follow…

Final thoughts, next steps

“Why do you want to become a nurse?” is one of the questions you will face in almost every nursing school and nursing job interview . Think about your strengths, goals, expectations, and priorities.

Try to come up with a specific answer- -clearly explaining what motivated you to pursue the career, and where you see yourself working in the future. Last but not least, do not forget that non-verbal communication (your body language) makes for 85% of the message you send over…

Ready to answer this one? I hope so! Do not forget to check also 7 sample answers to other tricky nursing interview questions:

• Nursing interview – Why do you want to work here?
• Nursing interview – Tell me about yourself .
• What are your strengths and weaknesses as a nurse?
• Nursing interview – Why should we hire you?
• What does nursing mean to you?
• Recent Posts

© InterviewPenguin.com

Privacy Policy

• Intraoperative Neuromonitoring
• Neurodiagnostic Technology
• Health Science
• Radiation Therapy
• Respiratory Care
• Healthcare Administration
• Nursing Options
• Healthcare Options
• Admissions Overview
• Application Requirements
• Transferring Credit
• MA Guarantee
• For Veterans
• Financial Aid Overview
• Tuition & Fees
• Scholarships & Grants
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Information Sessions
• Request More Information
• Talk with Admissions
• Student Success Center
• HR Overview, Employment & Policies
• COVID-19 Information
• Student Health Insurance
• Campus Security
• IT Help Desk

Description

• Share this blog post on Facebook
• Share this blog post on Twitter
• Share this blog post on LinkedIn

How to Write The Perfect Nursing Scholarship Essay

Writing a strong essay is one of the best ways to put yourself in the running to land a nursing scholarship .  

But what does a strong essay look like?  What does it include? 

Continue reading to learn how to write a scholarship essay your reader won't be able to put down!

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

Essential tips for writing your essay 

The dos and don'ts of essay writing

A foolproof essay template you can have for free

Essential tips for writing your nursing essay

1. fully understand the requirements and criteria.

Before you write a single word, you must examine the application requirements and criteria. 

First, you need to make sure that you meet all of the minimum requirements to avoid wasting any time. 

If you do meet all of the requirements, you should go through the application with a fine tooth comb, making a note of the experience, skills, and qualifications required. Doing so will ensure you know what to focus on in your essay.

2. Create a solid essay outline

Armed with your notes, the next step is creating a working essay outline. Studies show that stories resonate well with humans and tend to be more impactful than facts or statistics alone in writing.

So, when you’re creating your outline, you should mark out a definitive beginning, middle, and end to keep your essay readers engaged and invested throughout. Here’s a basic outline structure for your reference:

• Beginning: Summarize why you’re applying for the scholarship and what you’re going to cover in your essay.
• Middle: Explain exactly why you want to be a nurse, and why you’re the ideal candidate. Cover the skills and experience requirements from the application brief and back them up with real-life examples.
• End: Finish strong by communicating why the institution offering the scholarship is the right fit for you, reiterate your passion for nursing, and finish with an impactful line that sticks in the memory.

3. Study the essays of past scholarship winners

Want to know the most overlooked, yet impactful, piece of advice for writing a great scholarship essay?

Read the essays of past scholarship winners if you can!  

Doing so will give you an idea of what your reader is looking for in the essay. 

Do they talk about their future nursing plans a lot? Do they share a very specific and personal story that led them to choose this career path?

Identifying the trends in previous winners’ essays will provide you with invaluable insight that you can use to write your own. In addition, pay attention to the following: 

• How the essay is formatted
• How the essay is structured
• How the winning applicant communicated their skills and experience
• How the winning applicant approached their writing style in terms of language and sentence structure.

While you want to make sure you write your essay in your own words and your own voice, taking note of the elements other writers have included can help you craft your essay. 

4. Be clear and concise

While you probably have a lot to write about, there is (generally) a word limit, typically 500 to 1000 words. This means that you must be extremely clear and concise with the words you choose. 

To create the biggest  possible impact with the fewest words, you should aim to use the active tense as much as possible. Not only will this make you sound confident but it will also prevent you from going off course and rambling. 

Use action words where appropriate and be as ruthless as possible with your edits, chopping out any words, information or phrases that seem like fluff and filler words.

"One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple."— Jack Kerouac

5.  Describe why you want to become a nurse

In the middle—or heart—of your essay, you will need to explain precisely why you want to become a nurse. 

To get this essential element of your nursing scholarship essay just right, you will need to:

• Dig deep and consider your personal motivations for becoming a nurse
• Communicate which aspects of the job or vocation appeal to you most
• State the professional & personal challenges you want to overcome
• Offer a brief insight into your ultimate aims, goals or dreams as a nurse

Condensing this level of personal detail and passion into a paragraph or two is no easy feat, but by working through the above four exercises and leaving yourself enough time to create, arrange, and edit, you can do it.

Looking for scholarship examples online for inspiration is a good idea, but remember, this is about you and your motivations. If you simply copy & paste a template from the web, you will fail to make an impact. Don’t do it.

6. Share your plans for the future

Following on from your ‘why I want to become a nurse statement’, you should offer a deeper insight into your plans for the future.

Sharing your future plans and aspirations will showcase your passion as well as your long term commitment—so including this information in your nursing scholarship essay is essential.

Do you want to become head of a hospital department? Do you want to ultimately specialize in a particular area of nursing? Do you want to serve your local area and create community-driven nursing initiatives? Perhaps you want to make your mark in the education sector? 

Only you know what your ultimate aspirations are, but the point is—make sure you include them in your essay.

7. Have a friend proofread your essay

Last but certainly not least in our nursing essay writing tips is proofreading.

A fresh set of eyes is always helpful when it comes to proofreading your essay, because you want it to be near perfect from start to finish. Having a trusted friend or mentor proofread your essay provides an opportunity to get  feedback on your content and  any potential errors or typos you may have missed.

Nursing scholarships essays: the dos and don’ts

To summarize our essential nursing scholarship essay writing tips, here some definitive dos and don’ts for your reference:

• Check the requirements and brief before you start writing.
• Make logical notes and create a working outline.
• Be clear, concise, and confident.
• Explain why you want to become a nurse and share your future aspirations.
• Carefully proof and edit your work. Have a trusted friend proofread your essay for you.
• Start writing until you’ve taken the time to absorb every piece of relevant information.
• Rush the process and submit your application without editing, redrafting and proofing.
• Forget that the essay is about your specific skills and experience. Don’t be too generic.
• Copy or plagiarize word for word. Using examples for inspiration is fine, copying is not. 

A Basic template for nursing scholarship essays

For your guidance and inspiration, here’s a basic nursing scholarship essay template/outline to follow:

Dear, ___________,

Summarize your intent for your application and what attracts you to the nursing profession.

Following paragraph:

Talk about your existing skills and experience based on the application brief, backing up your statements with an example or two.

Talk about activities or events you’ve participated in as well as practical skills that make you an excellent candidate. Again, use examples here.

Move onto your ‘why I want to become a nurse’ statement, followed by an insight into your career-based goals, aims, and aspirations.

State why you have the personal attributes to be a successful candidate, explain why you make an excellent fit for this particular scholarship and end with an impactful, emotive line that showcases your passion for nursing.

Best of luck…

Follow these guidelines and you’ll no doubt write an amazing essay that lands you the perfect nursing scholarship. If you need some more tips, feel free to reach out to our admission team at Labouré College.

We wish you the very best of luck and if you’re looking for more inspiration, read all about the 30 types of nurses employers are hiring right now .

Marketing Team

• Follow my website

Read more like this

Nursing Student Wins NERBNA Scholarship

Nursing student Marissa Freedman wins New England Regional Black Nurses Association scholarship award for 2019.

Honoring a Beloved Dorchester Nurse

Labouré College of Healthcare announces a scholarship in honor of local Dorchester nurse to help other single mothers in their pursuit of a nursing career.

34 Awesome RN to BSN Scholarships For Nursing Students (2021)

Cut costs on your nursing education with this impressive list of 25+ RN to BSN scholarships. We've done the research so you don't have to.

• CARES Act 30-Day Fund Report
• Consumer Information

© 2023 Labouré College of Healthcare. All Rights Reserved.

Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay

• April 10, 2020
• Essay Guides and Topics

Here's What We'll Cover

Every year, thousands of students try their luck in the medical field. Why I want to be a nurse essay is written to convince and persuade the admission committee that you are the best candidate for the course. You have to state in detail why you love nursing and why It suits you. The examiners, in this case, are looking for unique stories which show why you love the profession. Moreover, it is a typical essay question in the US that students can expect in exams and various applications. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to write your essay; remember, you can get legit online writers to help you write a perfect essay.

This post will guide you on how to write why I want to be a nurse essay.

The Difference Between Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay and Other Papers

Essays, in general, have a standard structure . The following are the key points that make nursing school essay different from other papers;

A nursing college admission essay should give the admission officer an accurate picture of who you are and how you will contribute to the nursing profession. In short, the purpose is to tell them about your strengths, weaknesses, and future plans as a nurse.

Tone and Voice

Your nursing personal statement should speak the nursing language. It gives it more credibility. Also, remember to use a professional tone and avoid grammatical errors.

A nursing school personal statement should explain why you are interested in nursing, reasons for choosing nursing as your career, your dedication, and your commitment to nursing.

What To Include In Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay

For a good essay that resonates well with your topic of interest, you have to consider the following; 

Reasons You Want To Be A Nurse 

If you want to convince the board that you have the potential of being the world’s best nurse , you need to give compelling reasons. Your reasons might be; you’ve always been passionate about nursing, or you’ve found it rewarding because it involves helping people. You might also state that you find nursing a vocation, a way of life, or you want to make a difference in people’s lives one patient at a time. Bringing happiness to individuals, their families and comforting those in need might also be another reason. 

What Inspired You?

Certain events in our lives motivate us to pursue certain careers. In the why I want to be a nurse essay, you can use personal experiences to explain why you want to pursue the career . For example, suppose your relative was misdiagnosed, which led to another medical condition that put her life in danger; this can be the reason behind your inspiration. Your main aim might be helping people get quality and effective care. Sharing personal stories will help you connect with whoever will read your paper and make you stand out. These stories don’t have to be negative experiences; they can also be positive.

Academic Interests

Talk about which area in medicine you are specifically interested in, previous experience in medicine, and your future aspirations. You can also talk about how you’ll keep up to date with medical trends. 

Fascinating Points About Nursing 

In your essay, you can highlight interesting points in nursing that make you want to delve into nursing more. You can talk about things like you love that nurses can be doctors and don’t necessarily need to work in hospitals; they can work at military bases, private health care, home healthcare, or even in schools. You can also talk about the fact that there are 100 nursing professions, including advanced nursing degrees. These options allow more flexibility in the profession.

What Makes You A Good Nurse?

Nursing isn’t a profession for everyone. Some people can’t stand the sight of blood and syringes, sick people, or even the smell of hospitals. Cite what attributes you have made you a good nurse. You can say you are loving, caring, compassionate, gentle, and show empathy to people. You might also possess certain attributes like great communication skills, a sense of humor, problem-solving skills, patience, and the ability to cope with stress. 

What Motivates You To Be A Nurse? 

Motivation can be defined as a pulling force. Something that makes you get out of bed. For example, if you want to start running in the morning, your motivation could be to lose weight or attain a healthy lifestyle. In Why I want to be a nurse essay, your motivation could be to help others or the need to attain financial freedom.

Strategies For Writing A Good Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay

1. create an outline .

Before you start writing your essay, you need to identify the main points you’ll discuss in the paper to make it more clear and organized to read. Having an outline gives you a clear map of what you want to write and discuss. An outline is like a draft; this way, you will know what to discuss in your introduction, the body, and the conclusion. 

2. Use a Powerful Hook and Thesis Statement

Your introduction is the ‘starter’ to the main course ‘body’ of your essay. It should give the essay rationale and tell the reader what to expect in your essay to make them want to continue reading. For this purpose, it should be like a hook. Start with a statement from medical experts a proven data.

The last sentence of the essay’s introduction should contain a general statement about the idea of the essay.

3. Use Personal Anecdotes and Stories

There is no better way to keep the reader interested than to use an interesting personal anecdote. An anecdote is a short amusing story about an event or person. If you have lived in this place called earth, you sure have plenty of those. Use them to your advantage. For example, you can narrate an encounter that made you want to be a nurse or a touching story that significantly impacted your life. Remember, honesty is very important. Be personal but avoid crèche.  

4. Make Your Essay Short

Because this is a type of college admission essay, such requires a short personal essay that mainly expresses your interests and motivations. You want to convince the board that you are a worthy applicant. They can have a word limit of 200 to 650 words or an average of 500 words. However, some college websites provide a word count. You can use that to guide you, but do not exceed the given range by too much because the board has to go through many admission letters. 

5. Provide Supportive Materials

An effective essay needs strong supporting information within the paragraphs. These could be links to articles or even books. When you have evidence to back up your statement, it makes your essay more credible and stronger. 

6. Use Sandwich Rule 

You have probably already heard of the hamburger rule of writing . In an essay, this mainly applies to the body of the essay. The main rule presents one idea in a single paragraph and does not mix up ideas. The flow of each section should be like this;

• Your paragraph’s main argument is the top bun’ and should state what the topic is about.
• Your evidence, statistics, and quotes are the condiments.
• The juicy central part of your paragraph is your arguments, analysis, and thoughts. So this is the part that requires the most attention. If you do not back up your first two parts with clear arguments or analysis, the quotes or whatever else you wrote on part two will be meaningless.
• The bottom bun should hold everything in the paragraph together and seamlessly transition the information to the next paragraph.
• Body Paragraphs – Discuss the recommended no. of paragraphs

7. Highlight Your Strengths 

When you write why I want to be a nurse essay, the admission committee will scrutinize your strengths. The nursing profession demands people that are warm by nature, good at communicating, caring, and empathetic. If you possess these skills and have any other that you feel will help advance your case, it is important to highlight them. The admission board will want to accept into nursing school a person they feel has the right soft skills that will help improve service delivery. 

8. Choose A Structure That Works Well For You 

A typical why I want to be a nurse essay will be a five-paragraph essay. You need to make the most of this structure to ensure the admission committee considers your application. Additionally, you will need to pay attention to the individual sections of the essay to make it stand out among other applicants. Below is the outline.

Introduction

The introduction of your why I want to be a nurse essay needs to be short and captivating. Additionally, you need to make the most of a hook. It will not only ensure the reader wants to read more but also offer a moving story. Anecdotes work best for such introductions, but you can also experiment with other types of hooks as well. 

The Body 

The body of your essay will form the basis on which the admission committee will judge a vast chunk of your essay. The key to writing a good body for this type of essay is focusing on telling your truth. Tell a personal story that makes you want to be a nurse and elaborate on how this story relates to all you have been doing to get to where you are. For the body also, including practical examples that help to support the argument you make here. Depending on the type of research you did and the angle you are writing your story, you can also make the story more outstanding. 

Nursing school application essays should be two or four paragraphs. Each paragraph should discuss a different idea and connect to the main idea of the essay. The recommended number of paragraphs in the body of a nursing school essay is four.

The first paragraph in your essay’s body should discuss why you want to be a nurse. You are required to support your argument with evidence. Ensure that the reason comes out very clear and don’t leave the admission officers guessing. Explain why these reasons are important and conclude with a final idea for this paragraph.

2. Academic Experience

In the second paragraph, discuss in detail your academic experience. Provide examples of academic experience from your own life. Explain how this academic experience relates to a nursing program and then finish with a claim that connects academic experience with the nursing program.

Tell them how this experience led you to your decision.

3 . Personal Characteristics

In the third paragraph, discuss your personal characteristics, provide specific examples and link them to nursing. Tell them what makes you different and how this best suits nursing as a career.

The last paragraph of your essay’s body should explain your personal goals. State how these goals can be achieved by studying a nursing program and how will they help you contribute positively to the nursing field?

Conclusion 

The conclusion of this type of essay will refer back to the unique story that you put forward in the body of the essay. Additionally, the conclusion needs to sum up the main points that make your claim worth the committee’s consideration. Leave the last impression in one sentence that sums up the purpose of the paper.

9. Proofread Your Essay 

Your essay must be error-free. The reason for this is that a poorly edited essay will result in your chance of approval lowering. It is, therefore, necessary to use all resources available at your disposal to ensure that you proofread your essay and submit it error-free for review by the admission board. 

A good practice for proofreading your essay is taking time off the computer before returning later to edit your essay. This pause in between allows you to review the essay without bias. Additionally, it comes in handy if you can read your essay aloud as you proofread it. This proofing method improves your chances of spotting a mistake that you may miss if you read silently. 

The process of writing why I want to be a nurse essay is one that many students dread. However, with the right preparation and research, you can write an essay that gains you entry into the career of your choice. Focus on telling your personal story to give you an edge over other applicants. Below is an example of such an essay. And if you have any trouble writing your essay, our Bright Writers experts are ready to help you.

An Example Of Why I Want To Be A Nurse

Share This Infographic With Your Audience

Nurses make a positive impact on people’s lives and have a variety of work environments. They are also high in demand and have a flexible work schedule. Additionally, nursing is a rewarding career that has a solid earning potential hence giving you the stability you need.

A high level of emotional intelligence makes you stand out above the rest. This allows you to read people and situations appropriately. Good communications skills are also critical in getting into a nursing school. Other qualities like self-discipline, passion for nursing, compassion, and organizational skills qualify you to get into a nursing school.

Being honest and vulnerable in telling your personal story gives you a better chance of getting an admission. Consequently, using short, clear sentences, adding support evidence to your claims, and keeping your essay short makes an informative essay.

If you are caring, compassionate, courageous, competent, and committed, you will definitely make a good nurse. Other attributes include; 1. The nurses need to have high standards of professionalism in their line of work. 2. Diligence is an attribute a nurse needs to possess. 3. A good nurse should have outstanding communication skills. 4. Nurses also need to have remarkable interpersonal skills. 5. An effective nurse needs to pay attention to detail very carefully and ensure that no step is missed. 6. Should be able to solve problems quickly.

Let Us Help You Get Better Grades

Achieve academic success with Bright Writers

Unlocking A+ Essays

Insider Tips Your Professor Won't Share

Don't leave before you grab this deal!!

Get 20% OFF your first order. Professional essays at $10 a page

Do you need better

Let us handle your essays today

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Life

Essay Samples on Why I Want To Be A Nurse

Nursing statement: why i want to be a nurse professional.

In my 500-word essay on why I want to be a nurse, I will shortly discuss my passion for helping others, my dedication to healthcare, and my long-term career aspirations in the field. I want to be a nurse because I really want to take...

• Dream Career
• Why I Want To Be A Nurse

My Desire About Why I Want to Be a Nurse Practitioner

Sample Essay “Why I Want to Be a Nurse Practitioner” For the past years of practicing, I have been working in the caring profession. Throughout this time I have gained various caring skills working in a hospital and community setting, which have also improved my...

• Career Goals

Career Goals: Why I Want To Be A Pediatric Nurse

Do you remember that thrilling feeling of “being good” at the doctor’s office and your nurse handing you the basket full of stickers to choose from when you were younger? Well I do, and that is part of the reason that I would like to...

Why Choose Nursing As A Career

Do we ever stop to look at who we are, what we do, how we do it, what manner we do it in, or who we impact daily when taking care of or doing for others? Today, nursing is looked at by a lot of...

Why I Want To Be A Nurse And My Future Plans

A family nurse practitioner is a trained person in the field of nursing that majors in looking at the wellbeing of a patient either a child or adult based on family context. The aim of this research is to focus on seven main key points,...

• Personal Growth and Development

Stressed out with your paper?

Consider using writing assistance:

• 100% unique papers
• 3 hrs deadline option

Nursing Portfolio: Reasons Why I Chose Nursing

Nursing Portfolio During the part-time Nursing Program at DMACC, the students are required to develop a portfolio to understand what it takes to become a professional nurse. The portfolio will help students’ competency of the nursing profession by identifying the Global Concepts/ADN Student Learning Outcomes,...

Practical Nursing Education: Why I Chose Nursing

Abstract I do not have a magical story on why I chose nursing school. I did not have the privilege of working in the healthcare field prior to this journey nor do I have anyone in my family who is a nurse or doctor that...

• Personal Life

Why I Want to Be a Neonatal Nurse

“I’m pregnant,” my mom whispered to me one evening over dinner. I sat there speechless, trying to process what I had just heard. ”What?' “What do mean my life will change forever?” “ Is this really happening?” “Why me?” All of these things screamed inside...

Why I Chose Being a Nurse As A Dream Career

September 26, 2003 was the hardest and most impactful day of my life. I was in the second grade when a close family friend suddenly pulled me out of class. I can remember being confused, partly because my mother would never let me skip a...

On the Mission to Help People: Motivation on Becoming a Nurse

I plan on pursuing the profession of nursing. I do not know what specific field I want to go into, but I know what values and beliefs I want to hold myself to. I want to pursue this profession because I enjoy helping people and...

• Personal Philosophy

Struggles and Opportunities of Being a Nurse, and What Nursing Means to Me

Nursing is not always having the greatest days, in fact, it rarely is from what I have witnessed. Nurses are the ones given the task of caring for individuals at their most vulnerable and patients are not always grateful for the help, but nurses still...

Becoming A Children’s Nurse – The Right Path For Me

Being a nurse is about giving and caring for a patient and their loved ones and being their advocate. Holding someone’s hand and being there for every low but also every high. Working long hours to ensure that you are that difference between a life...

• Personal Experience

My Desire To Become A Healthcare Professional

Growing up alongside my grandmother who suffered from COPD, has made me more inquisitive about finding out the primary cause of different diagnoses. I began by reading information from a wide range of sources on COPD, which compelled me to choose science-based subjects for A-Level....

Why Are You Pursuing A Nursing Career

Nurse. A five letter word that means so much more than just taking care of the needs of a sick person. Nursing isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life. I believe that the best nurses are ones who were born to become them....

Best topics on Why I Want To Be A Nurse

1. Nursing Statement: Why I Want to Be a Nurse Professional

2. My Desire About Why I Want to Be a Nurse Practitioner

3. Career Goals: Why I Want To Be A Pediatric Nurse

4. Why Choose Nursing As A Career

5. Why I Want To Be A Nurse And My Future Plans

6. Nursing Portfolio: Reasons Why I Chose Nursing

7. Practical Nursing Education: Why I Chose Nursing

8. Why I Want to Be a Neonatal Nurse

9. Why I Chose Being a Nurse As A Dream Career

10. On the Mission to Help People: Motivation on Becoming a Nurse

11. Struggles and Opportunities of Being a Nurse, and What Nursing Means to Me

12. Becoming A Children’s Nurse – The Right Path For Me

13. My Desire To Become A Healthcare Professional

14. Why Are You Pursuing A Nursing Career

• Perseverance
• Personality

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

Essay on Why I want to be Nurse

Essay generator.

In a world where career choices are often influenced by trends and financial prospects, aspiring to be a nurse is a testament to one’s dedication to service, empathy, and the betterment of society. Nursing is not just a profession; it’s a vocation that demands a unique blend of science and compassion, of technical skill and emotional support. This essay delves into the multifaceted reasons behind my aspiration to join the noble ranks of nursing.

A Calling Driven by Compassion

My desire to become a nurse stems primarily from a deep-rooted sense of compassion and empathy. Nurses are often the primary caregivers for patients, providing not just medical care but also emotional support. The ability to ease someone’s pain, to bring comfort in times of distress, and to be a beacon of hope during their most vulnerable moments is both a powerful motivator and a profound responsibility that I am eager to embrace.

Inspired by Personal Experiences

Like many, my choice is significantly influenced by personal experiences. Witnessing a family member battle a chronic illness and observing the relentless, compassionate care provided by nurses was a turning point. It was then that I realized the impact of nursing on patient recovery and the unwavering support they provide not just to the patient but to the entire family.

The Science and Art of Nursing

Nursing perfectly amalgamates my love for science with the art of caring. It offers a unique opportunity to apply scientific knowledge to improve patient health directly. Nurses must understand complex medical conditions, administer treatments, and use technology – all while considering the holistic well-being of the patient. This blend of science and human touch is what makes nursing an intellectually and emotionally fulfilling career.

Lifelong Learning and Versatility

Nursing is a field of continuous learning. The rapid advancements in medical science demand that nurses constantly update their knowledge and skills. This prospect of lifelong learning is incredibly appealing to me. Additionally, nursing is a versatile profession, offering various specialties – from pediatric to geriatric care, public health to critical care. This diversity means a career full of opportunities to grow, learn, and explore different aspects of healthcare.

The Impact on Public Health

Nurses play a crucial role in public health. They are educators and advocates for healthy living and disease prevention. My aspiration to be a nurse includes a commitment to contribute to public health, to educate communities, and to be a part of larger health initiatives. This role of nurses in shaping healthier societies is both empowering and inspiring.

Emotional Resilience and Personal Growth

Nursing is not without its challenges. It requires emotional resilience to cope with human suffering, ethical dilemmas, and high-pressure situations. I am drawn to this challenge as it aligns with my personal goal of continual emotional and professional growth. Developing the ability to stay composed and effective in challenging situations is a skill that transcends professional boundaries, shaping one’s character and life approach.

Advocacy and Patient Empowerment

Nurses are patient advocates. They ensure that the patient’s voice is heard and their rights are respected. This aspect of nursing, where one stands to empower and advocate for others, is particularly appealing to me. It is about being part of a system that upholds dignity, respect, and empathy at its core.

The Human Connection

At the heart of nursing is the human connection. It is about building trust and relationships, often in a short period. The ability to connect, understand, and comfort individuals from diverse backgrounds is a unique aspect of nursing that draws me to the profession. It’s not just about treating a disease; it’s about treating a person.

Preparing for the Future

In preparing for a career in nursing, I am aware of the need for a strong foundation in both the theoretical and practical aspects of healthcare. Pursuing nursing education is just the beginning. It involves not only mastering medical procedures and protocols but also developing soft skills like communication, empathy, and teamwork.

In conclusion, To be a nurse is to embark on a journey of endless learning, challenges, and profound personal and professional fulfillment. It is a path that demands dedication, compassion, and resilience. My aspiration to become a nurse is fueled by a desire to make a tangible difference in people’s lives, to be part of a profession that is at the forefront of healthcare, and to embrace the immense personal growth that comes with it. In a world where care is as vital as cure, nursing stands as a beacon of hope and humanity, a field I am eagerly looking forward to contributing to.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Generate an essay on the importance of extracurricular activities for student development

Write an essay discussing the role of technology in modern education.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Nurse — The Case for Nursing: Why I Want to Pursue a Career in Healthcare

The Case for Nursing: Why I Want to Pursue a Career in Healthcare

• Categories: Dream Job Nurse

About this sample

Words: 525 |

Published: Jan 28, 2021

Words: 525 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

• Expert in: Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 1105 words

2 pages / 1121 words

2 pages / 739 words

2 pages / 684 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Nurse

Many times, we are inspired by the people we are surrounded by. When I was quite young, my aunt who is a nurse, changed the bandages on my injured hand, taking care of me. I admired her for it and from the age of eight I [...]

The topic of this essay is why I want to become a nurse. As just an only child from Canyon Lake, Texas, I have always been a helper. From taking out the trash to folding the laundry. This trait has followed me forever and I [...]

I have always been drawn to the field of nursing because of its unique combination of scientific knowledge and compassionate care. The ability to make a positive impact on someone's life during their most vulnerable moments is a [...]

Nursing is a noble profession that requires dedication, compassion, and a deep understanding of the human experience. The philosophy of being a nurse encompasses a commitment to providing holistic care, promoting health and [...]

American Nurse Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. 5-9. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2016.09.003

When you’re a kid, the number one question adults love to ask you is what you want to be when you grow up. I’m sure I said something like a princess or an astronaut, but I definitely didn’t say nurse. I figured that out in [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

The Nursing Blog

Why i want to be a nurse: my personal journey and motivation.

Why do I want to be a nurse? This question has been at the forefront of my mind for as long as I can remember. The desire to pursue a career in nursing has been deeply ingrained in me, stemming from a combination of personal experiences and a genuine passion for helping others.

Throughout my life, I have been inspired by the incredible work of nurses who have cared for me and my loved ones during times of illness and vulnerability. Their compassion, dedication, and ability to make a difference in the lives of others have left a lasting impression on me. I want to be a part of that impact, to provide comfort and support to patients and their families when they need it the most.

Moreover, my own journey of personal growth and development has further solidified my decision to become a nurse. I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of healthcare professionals who not only treat physical ailments but also address the emotional and psychological needs of patients. This holistic approach to care resonates with me deeply, and I am motivated to contribute to the well-being of individuals in a comprehensive and meaningful way.

Early Inspirations

Early on in my life, I was fortunate enough to witness the incredible impact that nurses had on the lives of those around me. It was through these experiences that my interest in nursing was sparked and my passion for helping others was ignited.

One of my earliest inspirations came from my grandmother who was a nurse. I remember listening to her stories about the lives she touched and the difference she made in the lives of her patients. Her dedication and compassion left a lasting impression on me, and I knew from a young age that I wanted to follow in her footsteps.

Additionally, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a local hospital during my high school years. This experience allowed me to witness firsthand the incredible strength and resilience of patients, as well as the compassion and skill of the nurses who cared for them. Seeing the impact that nurses had on the lives of these individuals further solidified my desire to pursue a career in nursing.

Overcoming Challenges

On the journey to becoming a nurse, I have encountered numerous challenges that have tested my determination and resilience. From the demanding coursework to the emotional toll of working with patients in difficult situations, each obstacle has presented an opportunity for growth and learning.

One of the major challenges I faced was balancing my academic pursuits with my personal responsibilities. As a full-time student, I had to juggle coursework, clinical rotations, and part-time work to support myself financially. It required careful time management and sacrifice, but I remained committed to my goal of becoming a nurse.

Additionally, the emotional challenges of working with patients in distressing situations can be overwhelming. Witnessing the pain and suffering of others can take a toll on one’s mental well-being. However, I have learned to cope with these challenges by seeking support from my colleagues, practicing self-care, and reminding myself of the positive impact I can make in the lives of patients.

Through perseverance and determination, I have overcome these challenges and emerged stronger and more resilient. Each obstacle has reinforced my passion for nursing and my commitment to providing compassionate care to those in need. I am confident that these experiences have prepared me to face any future challenges that may come my way as a nurse.

Academic Pursuits

When it comes to pursuing a career in nursing, education plays a crucial role in shaping one’s path. For me, the journey towards becoming a nurse has been filled with both challenges and rewards.

My academic pursuits began with enrolling in a reputable nursing program, where I gained a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. However, the road to success was not without its obstacles. The rigorous coursework and demanding clinical rotations tested my resilience and dedication. Yet, with each challenge I faced, I grew stronger and more determined to achieve my goals.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my academic journey has been the opportunity to learn from experienced nursing professionals. Through hands-on training and mentorship, I have gained invaluable insights into the complexities of patient care and the importance of compassionate communication.

In addition to classroom learning, I have also engaged in extracurricular activities and participated in research projects to expand my knowledge and contribute to the field of nursing. These experiences have not only enhanced my academic growth but also allowed me to explore different areas of healthcare and develop a well-rounded perspective.

In conclusion, my academic pursuits in nursing have been challenging yet immensely rewarding. The knowledge and skills I have gained, combined with my passion for patient care, have solidified my commitment to this noble profession. I am excited to continue my educational journey and contribute to the healthcare field in meaningful ways.

Personal Growth and Development

Personal growth and development have played a significant role in shaping my decision to become a nurse and have had a profound impact on my approach to patient care. Throughout my life, I have encountered various experiences that have shaped my understanding of empathy, compassion, and the importance of providing holistic care to individuals in need.

One of the key personal experiences that influenced my decision to pursue a career in nursing was witnessing the care and support provided by nurses during a family member’s illness. Their dedication, kindness, and ability to make a difference in someone’s life left a lasting impression on me. It made me realize the immense impact that nurses have on patients and their families, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that impactful profession.

Furthermore, my personal growth journey has taught me the value of resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning. These qualities have not only helped me overcome personal challenges but have also prepared me to face the demands of the nursing profession. I believe that personal growth is an ongoing process, and as a nurse, I am committed to continually developing my skills, knowledge, and understanding of patient care to provide the best possible outcomes for those under my care.

Financial Considerations

When considering a career in nursing, it is important to address the financial considerations that come along with pursuing this profession. While the rewards of being a nurse are immeasurable, it is essential to understand the potential costs and sacrifices involved.

One of the main financial considerations is the cost of education. Nursing programs can be expensive, requiring tuition fees, textbooks, and other educational materials. Additionally, students may need to invest in uniforms, clinical equipment, and licensing exams. It is important to carefully plan and budget for these expenses to ensure a smooth educational journey.

Furthermore, pursuing a nursing career often requires sacrifices in terms of time and income. Nursing programs can be rigorous and demanding, requiring students to dedicate a significant amount of time to their studies and clinical rotations. This may result in reduced work hours or even the need to quit a job temporarily, impacting one’s income.

Despite these financial considerations, many individuals find that the personal and professional rewards of a nursing career far outweigh the costs. The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families, the potential for career growth and advancement, and the job security that comes with being a nurse are all factors that make the financial sacrifices worthwhile.

Passion for Patient Care

As an aspiring nurse, my deep-seated passion lies in providing compassionate and quality care to patients. I believe that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, especially during their most vulnerable moments. The impact I hope to make in my nursing career is to be a source of comfort and support for patients and their families.

I firmly believe that patient care goes beyond just administering medications or performing medical procedures. It is about building meaningful connections with patients, listening to their concerns, and understanding their unique needs. By taking the time to truly connect with patients on a personal level, I aim to create a safe and trusting environment where they feel valued and cared for.

To ensure that I am able to provide the highest level of care, I am committed to continuously improving my knowledge and skills. I plan to stay updated with the latest advancements in healthcare and participate in professional development opportunities. By staying informed and continuously learning, I can adapt to the ever-changing healthcare landscape and provide the best possible care to my patients.

Future Goals

As a passionate and driven individual, my aspirations and long-term goals as a nurse extend far beyond the boundaries of the present. I envision myself not only providing exceptional patient care but also specializing in a particular area of healthcare that aligns with my interests and expertise.

One of my primary goals is to become a specialist in pediatric nursing. I have always had a natural affinity for working with children, and I believe that by focusing on this specific area, I can make a significant impact on the lives of young patients and their families. The joy and satisfaction of helping children overcome health challenges and witnessing their resilience is immeasurable.

In addition to specializing in pediatric nursing, I am also passionate about contributing to healthcare policy and advocacy. I believe that by actively participating in shaping healthcare policies, I can advocate for improved patient outcomes and access to quality care for all individuals. Whether it’s through research, community engagement, or collaboration with policymakers, I am determined to make a difference on a broader scale.

Continued Learning and Growth

The author’s commitment to lifelong learning and professional development in the nursing field is unwavering. They understand the importance of staying updated with the latest advancements and best practices in healthcare. To achieve this, they have plans to pursue advanced certifications and degrees that will enhance their knowledge and skills.

One of the author’s goals is to specialize in a specific area of healthcare. They believe that by gaining expertise in a particular field, they can provide even better care to their patients. Whether it’s becoming a nurse practitioner, a nurse educator, or a nurse researcher, they are determined to expand their horizons and contribute to the advancement of nursing as a whole.

In addition to formal education, the author also recognizes the value of continuous learning through professional development programs, workshops, and conferences. They understand that staying engaged in the nursing community and networking with other professionals can provide valuable insights and opportunities for growth.

Ultimately, the author’s commitment to continued learning and growth is driven by their desire to provide the highest quality of care to their patients. They believe that by staying current and expanding their knowledge, they can make a significant impact on the lives of those they serve.

Making a Difference

Making a difference in the lives of patients and their families is at the core of my desire to become a nurse. I am driven by the opportunity to provide comfort and support during challenging times, and to make a meaningful impact on those who are in need of care.

As a nurse, I believe in the power of compassion and empathy. I understand that patients and their families are often facing difficult situations, whether it be a serious illness, a life-changing diagnosis, or a challenging recovery process. I want to be there for them, to offer a listening ear, a comforting touch, and a sense of reassurance that they are not alone.

Through my nursing career, I hope to bring a sense of calm and understanding to those I care for. I want to be a source of support, not only for the physical needs of patients, but also for their emotional and mental well-being. I aim to create a safe and nurturing environment where patients feel heard, valued, and respected.

By being able to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families, I believe that I can truly contribute to the healing process. It is a privilege to be able to provide comfort and support during challenging times, and I am committed to doing so with compassion, dedication, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact.

• ← What Is an Aesthetic Nurse? A Comprehensive Guide
• Binge-Worthy: How Many Episodes of The Nurse are on Netflix? →

Marlene J. Shockley

My name is Marlene J. Shockley, and I am a Registered Nurse (RN). I have always been interested in helping people and Nursing seemed like the perfect career for me. After completing my Nursing Degree, I worked in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and home health care. I have also had the opportunity to work as a Travelling Nurse, which has allowed me to see different parts of the country and meet new people. No matter where I am working, I enjoy getting to know my patients and their families and helping them through whatever medical challenges they may be facing.

You May Also Like

What does a non-certified nursing assistant (cna) do exploring roles and responsibilities, what is a vocational nurse discover the duties and benefits, is being a nurse worth it unveiling the pros and cons.