Why Did You Choose Nursing as a Career? Answers from Nurses

Every nurse has a story. And at the heart of that story is a powerful question: Why did you choose nursing? The answers are rarely simple but always deeply personal. For some, it started with holding a loved one’s hand during a hospital stay. For others, it was the memory of a nurse who made all the difference in their own recovery, inspiring them to do the same for others. We dove into the research and reached out to real nurses to hear their stories — and their answers are as powerful as the work they do.

Why Did You Choose Nursing? Overview

• Competitive salary: Many nurses earn a solid median salary, with many nearing six figures — and even more in specialized roles.
• Strong job security: The job growth for registered nurses (RNs) is projected at 6% (faster than the average for most careers).
• Many specialty options: From pediatrics to mental health, nursing provides the flexibility to pursue a wide range of specialties.
• Travel opportunities: For those seeking variety and adventure, travel nursing allows nurses to work in different states or regions, often with higher pay and housing benefits.
• Career growth opportunities: Nursing is a field with a clear path for advancement into roles like nurse practitioner (NP), certified nurse midwife (CNM), or certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), with higher pay and more responsibility.
• Fast entry: You can become an RN in as little as 2 years with an ADN degree.

Why Did You Choose Nursing? 8 Reasons

So, why choose nursing over another career in healthcare? According to one study, of the 1,351 nurses and 400 nursing students surveyed, the overwhelming majority shared deeply personal motivations that led them to the profession.

1. A Desire to Help Others

When asked, Why choose nursing as a career?, most students and nurses highlighted a desire “to help or serve others or their own family.” Half of the students (50%) and nearly 45% of nurses said this was what motivated them most. Another study supports this data, showing that many people choose nursing because they seek a fulfilling career that gives them a chance to connect with others and make a difference.

2. A Personal Calling

Coming in next was the idea of nursing as a personal decision or calling. About 32% of students and 22% of nurses said they were drawn to the profession for this reason. Many described it as something they’d felt since childhood — a dream, a purpose, or a deeply personal goal. Phrases like “childhood dream” and “personal reward” showed just how meaningful and individual this choice was for them.

3. Influence of Family

Around 22% of students and 15% of nurses mentioned they were influenced by family members, others around them, or their life situations. Having a parent or sibling in nursing, or being encouraged by someone they trusted, often played a key role in their decision.

4. Desire to Work in the Healthcare Field

Many also said they were motivated by a strong interest in healthcare and caring for the sick. When asked, Why did you choose nursing?, about 11% of nurses said they wanted to work in the health field or care for patients, and 18.5% of students shared the same reason. Nearly 17% of students also described nursing as a “caring, noble profession.” For them, it wasn’t just about having a stable job — it was also about joining a meaningful line of work where they could truly make a difference.

5. Service to God

For some students, their decision to pursue nursing was deeply rooted in faith. Nearly 10% said they saw nursing as a ministry or a way to serve God. Another 4% mentioned wanting to be a “blessing to others,” highlighting how their spiritual values inspired them to choose this career path.

6. Financial Reasons

While financial reasons weren’t the most common motivation, they still mattered for some. About 9% of students said they chose nursing for financial reasons, such as job stability or future earning potential. Just over 2% of nurses mentioned that receiving scholarships or financial assistance helped influence their decision.

7. No Clear Reason

Interestingly, about 4% of students weren’t able to identify a specific reason for choosing nursing. For some, the decision may have been influenced by a combination of subtle factors rather than a single defining moment.

8. Interaction With People

A smaller group — nearly 2% — said they were drawn to nursing because they wanted to interact with people and make a meaningful impact. They saw nursing as a way to “impact others’ lives,” not just through clinical care but through everyday human connection.

Why Did You Choose Nursing? Real Answers from Nurses

To go beyond the numbers, we asked nurses from different backgrounds to share their personal “why.” Some spoke of compassion and calling, while others mentioned job security and career growth. Here are their responses:

• “I chose nursing because I wanted to be a superhero like the ones I saw when I was a kid at the 9/11 site. I always thought they were the coolest.” — Juan M., MSN
• “We hear that nursing is a science and an art, and I think I was drawn more to the ‘art’ side of things. I’ve always liked listening to people and sharing energy. When I was in nursing school, I wrote in one of my papers that one of my interventions would be smiling at the patient — and my professor encouraged that. There’s a human side to nursing, the element of just being with a person during a tough time and sharing some energy, that can feel satisfying.” — Bonnie W., BSN
• “Lifeguarding at a city pool as a high schooler inspired me to join healthcare — it showed me that I loved the bustle of meeting new, incredibly different people each workday, learning their stories, and then having the opportunity to make profound impacts.” — Rachel S., BSN
• “I chose to pursue a nursing career after supporting my grandmother (we called her Nanny) through hospice. I was a senior in high school at the time, and while it was so hard to lose her, the experience showed me how much nursing staff can make a difference for patients.” — Marie H., BSN
• “I chose nursing because it was a fast-track into the medical field. I’ve always been fascinated by brain science and psychology, but the idea of going to medical school or getting another degree in psychology felt daunting. Nursing allowed me to work in the substance abuse field — what I was truly passionate about — in just two years.” — Anna T., BSN
• “I feel like I grew up in the hospital. My mom was a nurse, and I went to daycare there. As a teenager, I volunteered at the hospital too. My older brother was a nurse, and it just felt like something I was meant to do.” — Taylor C., BSN
• “Originally, I chose nursing because it gave me a quick path to start my healthcare journey. Then I discovered a love for making an impact and influencing the delivery of care. Now, I’m a nurse practitioner with a future focus on holistic health.” — Indira S., MSN
• “I chose nursing because I realized that this profession is completely different from what I’ve seen in my home country (Turkmenistan). I’ve come to understand that nursing in the U.S. is a respected profession with great prospects. A nurse is not a ‘doctor’s helper’ — a nurse in the U.S. is a licensed, educated member of the healthcare team, practicing both the craft and science of helping people.” — Nadezhda L., DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
• “I chose to become a nurse for many reasons, but the strongest one has always been my desire to help people become better — physically and mentally. That calling began in high school and has continued to grow. I earned my bachelor’s degree in nursing in Saudi Arabia and worked hard until I was nominated to receive a scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in public health in the U.S. This expanded my experience in a way I wasn’t expecting, especially when I started to work as a travel nurse in 2020. Today, I work as a renal dialysis nurse, caring for patients living with end-stage renal failure who require dialysis several times a week. The work can be challenging, but the rewards far outweigh the difficulties. More than 10 years into this career, I remain deeply committed to and passionate about the profession I chose.” Maher A., RN, BSN

Why Did You Choose Nursing as a Career Interview Question

If you’re applying to nursing school or preparing for a nursing job interview, you’ve probably come across the question, Why did you choose nursing as a career? Unlike questions about your strengths and weaknesses as a nurse, this one helps employers to understand your values and motivation.

The key to answering this question well is to think about what led you to this path — Was it a defining moment? A personal experience with illness or caregiving? A long-standing interest in science? Even if job security or income played a role, highlight what connects you to the heart of the profession.

Explore Meaningful Nursing Jobs on IntelyCare

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