Another post for the blogging carnival hosted by Scrubs Magazine. This is excellent news for me- and for you, the reader. You will be able to collaborate and connect with so many more nurses. When we gather in this way, as one collective unit, we are empowered and supported. Enjoy!

As a nurse coach I have the pleasure of hearing nursing “stories” from around the globe. Heck, in my book, Learning through Experience: An Inspirational Resource of Expert Interviews, I asked the nurse contributors: why did you go into nursing?

This is a question that is often answered with:

• “I felt called to do it…”
• “I had an experience as a child that…”
• “My (family member) was a nurse…”

Not me. I didn’t want to be a nurse; in fact I was resentful of my mother for a long time for the following.

It was the first day of my senior year at college. My roommates and I were moving all of our stuff in to a great apartment right on the “Main Street” of our campus. This was going to be a great year- in the middle of all of the action, my own apartment, and tons of fun ahead of me with an easy schedule (I had most of my credits already done).

But oh no… that was not the luxury that was awaiting me. My roommates, my mother, and a nursing professor had a different plan.

Standing around in our new living room the nursing professor (one of the other girl’s mothers) said to me/my mom: “So what are you going to do after graduation?” At the time I didn’t have a very good response ready. I had a few graduate level programs in mind, but no real “career goals”.

Somehow, some way the 4 of them came up with the idea that I would go through the accelerated nursing program and graduate with my BSN in 18 months’ time. Alrighty… I guess so. I didn’t have a better rebuttal.

So I went. And hated every moment of it. Rather than share all of the gory details here, fast-forward about ten years’ time and know this: now I thank my mother every time we talk about that story and my nursing career.

Yes I

• Didn’t feel called to be a nurse;
• Sort of “fell into it”;
• Still don’t see myself as a “nursey nurse”…

But guess what? I love it! I am proud to be a nurse.

And why is this? Because the profession of nursing is such a beautiful one that allows us to grow, change, learn, and heal. We are constantly evolving into our best self.

I’d like to share with you 3 secrets to a successful career:

• Follow your energy. Do what enthuses you, not what makes you money. When you follow your heart and live your life passion/purpose the abundant bliss follows. If you’re not happy in your current role, change it. But make those decisions from the heart, not the head. “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” (Confucius).
• Open yourself up. Go with the flow and allow opportunities to come towards you. Sometimes we get so “stuck” on what we want we miss the blessings that are being presented to us. Instead of trying to force your way, open yourself up to receiving whatever it is that you need in this moment.
• Be You. The beauty of nursing is that there are so many different types. There is no way in heck I’d work on a medical-surgical floor or in an operating room- I might pass out from all of the blood and guts (I told you I’m not a “nursey nurse”). We can all help and give our best when we come from our authenticity. Find out what your skills are. Continue to grow. Shift your career over time. Do what you were put on this earth to carry forth.

Continue to evolve and grow. Life is a beautiful cycle of space and time. You may not be exactly “there yet” but constantly enjoy your ride. This is the beauty of nursing and our ability to evolve.

This post is part of the Scrubs Magazine Blog Carnival. If you’re a nurse blogger and would like to participate, then what are you waiting for? Supporting each other and collaborating has never been this easy. Check out the second round of nurse bloggers hosted over at RNEvolution.