I could give a million reasons why I chose to become a nurse. Of course I became a nurse because I want to help people, but it is so much more than that. When you become a nurse, it becomes part of who you. That mentality is ingrained in you forever. I’ve always been a bit of a science and math nerd. As long as I can remember I enjoyed complex math and chemistry problems, looking in a microscope at cells and viruses, and learning about the human body. That in itself was a huge reason for wanting to be in the healthcare industry. By pursuing a career in healthcare I was able to expand my knowledge on those things and continue to apply it every single day. I always learn something new. It is quite fascinating really. There’s never a dull moment. Constantly observing and planning your next move based off what your knowledge, science, and intuition tell you. However, as much as I love that the world of healthcare is ever expanding research and development, even that wasn’t my biggest reason for becoming a nurse. My biggest reason is one word. Advocacy. Have you seen a patient with no resources and who is severely ill be denied treatment or coverage from a provider or insurance? Have you seen a provider blow off a patient or nurse’s concerns? Have you seen a nurse struggle because they know something is wrong but they don’t want to bother the doctor? I have seen all of these and more. I have watched nurses stand up to doctors and I’ve seen nurses put down by doctors. I have watched nurses put their foot down and demand something for their patients and the doctor apologize when the nurse is right. I have watched patients be treated differently because of their financial class or their ethnicity. I’ve seen patients discharged unsafely because insurance wouldn’t approve rehab or a doctor ignored the nurses concerns. I’ve watched patients be discharged from the hospital in tears because insurance would not approve the medication and resources they need. I’ve not only watched these things I have experienced them myself. If there is anything in this world that breaks my heart as a nurse, it is watching a patient be failed by the system that was initially designed to help them. And that is my biggest reason for becoming a nurse and getting into healthcare. I may only be one person, but from the moment I took on the title of “Nurse”, advocacy was my biggest goal. I have promised myself from day one and continue to promise myself every day that advocacy stays one of my top priorities in patient care. That I’d keep my patients safe and let them know I care. Even if you just want me to hold your hand, I will make time for you. No matter how hard or challenging I will always fight for my patients when they need me and when they can’t fight for themselves. I see so many nurses with this same passion. Maybe on our own nothing will happen, but can you imagine the roar we’d make if we could all stand together in one room. That is why I am a nurse. That is why I chose to be in the healthcare industry.