The conversation usually goes like this :

“What are you going to school for?”

“Nursing”

“Good for you, I could never do that. What specialty are you hoping for?”

“Pediatric Oncology”

*gasp* “How can you do that? But I guess someone has to do it.”

So, I decided that I am going to explain to these people why I want to be a nurse, and specialize in children who have cancer.

I’m not doing it because ‘someone has to do it’. I’m not doing it just because I want to help people. It’s so much more then that, and I can’t tell you the half of it in this short article.

1. Life is scary

Life is scary without a terminal illness at a young age, I couldn’t imagine adding that to the mix. I want to be a nurse so I can sit with my patient and their families and make them feel comfortable, to reassure that they aren’t alone, and I’m going to every thing in my will to make this as least scary as I can.

2. Love

I’m a CNA and nothing makes me feel like I’ve done my job better then when my residents tell me that they love me. They tell me that I’ve done my fair share of work and they wish they could repay me. But I reassure them that I’m honored to take care of someone who has lived such a great life. I know that if I can’t be a great CNA, I wouldn’t be able to be a good nurse. The lessons I learn from my residents, I will take with me for a lifetime.

3. Experience

I’ve heard too many horror stories about ‘mean nurses’ and how people did not have a good experience at a hospital. Even if I can make one person's bad experience into a good one, I will be happy.

4. Making a difference

A few people in the nursing home are usually the last of their family and friends and have no one left, and you soon become their family. Holding someone’s hand during the last days of their life is an experience I can’t even explain to you. When I become a nurse on a pediatric oncology unit, I will already know the value of life and how I can make the last days as comfortable and easy as I can.

5. Laughter is the best medicine

I had a resident that often told me I was cute or I was nice, and I always responded “I know”. Almost every time he would laugh until he cried, and for that split second he forgot about everything else that was happening. Plus, who doesn’t like to see someone laugh at their lame jokes?

Finally, I’m not doing this for myself. I’m not doing it because ‘someone has too’. I’m not doing this for the pay. I’m doing this because I know that this is what I was meant to do, and I’m going to work everyday to make sure that the people I take care of are in as good as spirits as possible. I’m doing this because they deserve to be cared for as if they were the king or queen of England, and nothing short of that.