How I Was Led to A Career as a Practical Nurse

• One practical nurse shares her experience finding a passion for the nursing field. 
• She chose to pursue a schooling for practical degree rather than registered nursing to have adequate entry-level experience. 
• Choosing a practical nurse career opened more job opportunities that she wasn’t able to perform in previous roles as a personal care assistant. 

Have you struggled to find your career path after high school? From personal experience, it can be difficult to watch your fellow classmates know what they want to do with their lives while you remain confused. I want to share my story to inspire others and remind them it’s never too late to find the career that sets your heart on fire. For me, this ended up being a career in nursing!  

If you’re passionate about caring for others and have considered a nursing career but worried you’re too old or that it’s too late, I hope my personal story inspires you to think twice and go for it. 

Why I Became a Practical Nurse

It was 2011, and I had been out of high school for some time. I had already dabbled in college a few times and the career fields I explored neither inspired nor excited me. At this point, I had been working as a personal care assistant for a few years. I had two personal care positions, one that involved working with developmentally disabled adults, and the other working with the elderly population.  

Although I loved both positions, I found my passion working with the elderly and decided to pursue nursing school. And it was a specific patient who spurred me in that direction. 

I was working the overnight shift at an assisted living facility, and I had a patient who was receiving hospice care. I spent a large amount of my shift with them during their final days, making sure they had everything they needed and aiding in their comfort.  

Watching someone who is actively passing away is not easy, but at the same time, it can be rewarding to help make their last days less miserable. I remember holding their hand, moistening their mouth with water sponges, and talking to them to calm them. 

This was my first experience caring for someone who was passing away, which is why they were such a monumental part of my decision to pursue a nursing degree. Being able to provide comfort to them at a time of transition was extremely rewarding and fulfilling. End-of-life care is one of the most important parts of nursing. Sometimes the patients can be fearful and anxious, and just being there can be helpful during this transition.  

I will always be grateful for my first hospice patient experience and how they impacted my decision to pursue a nursing career. 

Practical Nursing vs. Registered Nursing

I enrolled in a practical nursing program versus a registered nursing program because I wanted to have adequate entry-level experience in case I decided to further my education in the future. Practical nursing allows you to perform a variety of nursing skills, while not being overwhelmed by the added responsibilities of a registered nurse. Practical nursing is a fantastic way to “get your feet wet” and see how you feel about the field of nursing before going further. According to recent labor statistics, LPN growth is expected to continue over the next several years. With the nursing shortage, there is still a substantial need for nurses of all kinds.  

On my 10-year anniversary of graduating nursing school, I found myself reminiscing about the experiences I’ve had throughout my career. I still cannot believe it has been that long! It is fun to reflect on where you were when you started, being new and scared but also excited. Compared to now, I am more experienced, less scared, and still excited to learn new skills.  

If I wouldn’t have taken the chance on myself, I would have missed all those wonderful life-changing and positive experiences.  

My Growth as a Practical Nurse

Pursuing a career in practical nursing opened more job opportunities and allowed me to perform advanced skills that I couldn’t as a personal care assistant. It also gave me (a single woman at the time) the ability to more easily support myself financially. Another positive to pursuing a degree in nursing has been the positive changes to my personality. I used to be more reserved and quieter. Nursing helped me find my voice and taught me to speak up. Nursing requires you to advocate for your patients and yourself in certain situations, which forces you out of your comfort zone in a great way. For all these reasons, I am still confident in my decision to become a nurse. 

The Bottom Line

Aside from the many patients who have inspired me and reinforced why I chose this career since becoming licensed, sharing my nursing knowledge on Nursing CE Central is another reason I’m proud to have chosen a career in nursing. I am able to work a bedside nursing position, while at the same time providing educational content to other nurses based on my career experience thus far.  

Nursing is a field full of career opportunities and a wide variety of specialties. There will always be a need for healthcare workers, and nurses are an important part of the healthcare workforce. It has been one of the most rewarding fields to work in and a true gift to play such a significant role in patients’ lives. 

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