Why do nurses choose nursing as a lifelong career?
The reasons people choose nursing often begin with a personal story, but they grow into something much bigger.
For many, the answer begins with a deeply personal moment — a loved one’s illness, a life-changing experience, or the desire to make a difference when it matters most. Nursing is more than a career path. It’s a calling built on compassion, resilience, and the courage to show up for others during their most vulnerable moments.
Behind every shift worked, every hand held, and every life impacted, there is a story. Stories of quiet strength. Stories of advocacy. Stories of humanity in action.
In honor of Nurse Appreciation and the heart of what this profession represents, we asked members of our internal team to share their reflections on why nurses choose nursing and why supporting nurses continues to inspire them today. What follows are real nursing stories of compassion — moments that reaffirm why nursing matters and why this profession changes lives every single day.
When Nursing Becomes Personal
Chrissy Van Dillen, Clinical Nurse Liaison
I chose nursing because I wanted to do more to help others in a way that truly mattered. My decision to go back to school was deeply personal. When my dad became sick, I witnessed firsthand the lasting impact a nurse can have—not just on a patient, but on an entire family.
During one of his visits to the infusion center, a nurse remembered him from nearly ten years earlier. That moment stayed with me. Every nurse we encountered showed genuine kindness, compassion, and patience, bringing comfort to him during a difficult time. In doing so, they also supported us as his family.
Seeing that level of care inspired me to pursue nursing and shaped how I approach every interaction—to treat people the way I would want my own family treated: by listening, showing empathy, and meeting them where they are.
While I no longer work at the bedside, my connection to nursing is just as meaningful. I have the privilege of supporting nurses every day—guiding them through orientation, helping them navigate hard days, celebrating their wins, and providing education to support their growth. Watching nurses develop from their first days on assignment through contract completion is incredibly rewarding. Their resilience and compassion reaffirm why nursing matters so much to me.
Ashley Labombarda, NCLEX & Clinical Instructor II
My dad was my greatest inspiration for pursuing a career in healthcare. He was a firefighter paramedic who once responded to a child drowning—and he and his team saved that child’s life. I attended the recognition ceremony and witnessed the family’s overwhelming gratitude. In that moment, at a young age, I knew I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives the way he did.
Nursing has given me a sense of purpose by allowing me to touch lives during some of the most difficult moments families face. Now, in my role in education, I know I still play a significant part in someone’s American dream and their journey toward success. Supporting nurses as they come to the United States to create more opportunities for their families has a lifelong, positive impact. I’m truly grateful to be part of that journey.
The Quiet Moments That Change Everything
Julia Nguyen, Clinical Training Specialist
One story that sticks with me was about a young woman I cared for early in my nursing career.
She was admitted for alcohol poisoning and seemed exhausted—struggling on her own. Throughout her stay, she didn’t receive any visitors, so I made a point to spend extra time with her to help her feel less alone.
As we talked, she shared the challenges she had faced and how she was taking things one day at a time. When I asked about her interests, she mentioned she used to love drawing but hadn’t done it in years.
I found some extra paper and colored pens and brought them to her, hoping it would give her something positive to focus on. She spent the rest of the night working on a drawing.
Before my shift ended, she handed it to me—a mountain at sunset with the words, “Thank you for being so sweet.”
She told me she planned to pursue art again once discharged. That moment reaffirmed why I became a nurse. Sometimes presence and small acts of kindness make the greatest difference.
Drew Davies, Clinical Nurse Liaison
I chose nursing because I saw how much it matters to simply show up for people when they’re at their most vulnerable. Holding a hand when someone is scared or taking the time to explain things when everything feels overwhelming can mean more than we realize.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a patient once thanked me just for staying and listening—even as I was covered in PPE and being pressured to leave the room. That moment reminded me that nursing isn’t just about tasks or charting. It’s about compassion, presence, and advocating for patients when they need it most.
Brandy Rees, Clinical Nurse Liaison – Domestic Nursing & Allied
I chose nursing because I’m an empath. I’ve always felt people deeply, and I wanted to do something meaningful with that—to make a real difference when someone needed it most.
One moment from my career has stayed with me for years. I cared for an elderly woman nearing the end of her life. She didn’t have anyone there with her. No family. No loved one by her side. So I sat with her. I held her hand, spoke gently, and did everything I could to keep her comfortable and at peace.
It felt like more than a job—it felt like purpose. Like I was placed in that room for a reason: to ensure she wasn’t alone in her most vulnerable moment.
That’s why I’m proud to support nurses every day. They show up when it’s hard, messy, and heartbreaking—and they bring strength and compassion into spaces where it matters most.
Shared Strength in Difficult Seasons
Joely Carrillo, Senior Manager, International Testing
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare teams faced unprecedented challenges—physical exhaustion, rapidly changing clinical guidance, and emotional strain.
To recognize moments of hope, hospital leadership introduced a new overhead announcement: “Code Survivor,” created to celebrate patients recovering from COVID-19 and being discharged home. The first Code Survivor was especially meaningful—a fellow hospital employee.
As she was wheeled through the main hallway, staff gathered to applaud and offer encouragement. It was simple but powerful. In the midst of fear and fatigue, it reminded everyone why they chose healthcare in the first place. It was a shared victory—honoring resilience, community, and the strength found in standing together.
Today, those same values guide my work supporting internationally educated healthcare professionals. Healthcare is built on people. When we lead with humanity, we create stronger teams and lasting impact.
Nursing Shapes Who We Become
Astin Mathews, Senior Clinical Nurse Liaison
Before nursing, I knew I enjoyed helping others. But becoming a nurse showed me just how much compassion and empathy I was capable of giving.
Nursing places you in moments that matter—when people are scared, hurting, or unsure—and asks you to meet them there with skill, patience, and heart. Not every day is easy, but the days when you ease someone’s pain or make a meaningful difference far outweigh the difficult ones.
Those moments shaped who I am today. They’re why I’m proud to have chosen nursing—and why I’m equally proud to now support nurses by advocating for their needs and helping them grow in their careers.
Emmi Sosa, Director, Clinical Services
When people ask why nurses choose nursing, the answer isn’t always about dramatic moments or high-adrenaline situations. For many of us, it’s about something quieter — something deeply human.
Even though I’m not at the bedside every day anymore, nursing has never been “just a job” to me. What drew me in — and what still keeps me grounded — is the privilege of showing up with both skill and compassion in moments that can feel scary, painful, or uncertain. That calling is at the heart of why nurses choose nursing in the first place.
The moments that stay with me most aren’t always the ones you’d expect. They’re the quiet ones:
A patient who relaxes because you took the time to explain what’s happening.
A family member who feels overwhelmed, and you pause long enough to listen and bring calm.
A teammate running on fumes, and you step in without being asked.
That’s where nursing becomes more than tasks. It becomes trust.
For me, those small acts of presence and advocacy explain why nurses choose nursing over other career paths. Nursing offers the opportunity to stand steady in someone else’s storm — to provide dignity, reassurance, and clarity when it matters most.
Today, in my role supporting clinicians, I’m proud I still get to stand behind nurses and healthcare professionals in a meaningful way. I’ve seen what it takes — especially for those coming from overseas — to begin again in a new country and meet high expectations. The courage and resilience required only deepen my respect for this profession.
When we support nurses well, we’re protecting patients, strengthening teams, and honoring the heart that led them to choose nursing in the first place.
That’s why nursing matters to me. Nurses hold the room steady. They advocate when it would be easier to stay quiet. They offer dignity when people feel most vulnerable.
And ultimately, that’s why nurses choose nursing.
Because it isn’t just a career. It’s compassion with backbone — lived out every single day.
Why Nurses Choose Nursing — And Why It Still Matters
While each story is unique, they all reflect a shared truth about the nursing profession.
Every story shared here reflects something deeper than a career choice. It reflects heart, resilience, and the courage to care when it matters most.
Why nurses choose nursing isn’t about recognition or routine. It’s about presence. It’s about advocating for someone who feels unheard, offering calm in the middle of chaos, and showing dignity to patients in their most vulnerable moments. It’s about stepping into hard spaces and choosing compassion anyway.
Nursing changes lives — not only for patients and families, but for the nurses themselves. And behind every great nurse is a support system that helps them grow, adapt, and continue answering that call with confidence.
If you’re a nurse who feels called to make a difference, explore our travel nursing opportunities and find your next assignment with a team that truly supports you.
Because when you understand why nurses choose nursing, you understand this: it’s never just a job. It’s purpose in action.