joy of nursing, The

Arizona Nurse, Jan 2001 by Quill, Elizabeth Ann

I wanted to be a nurse from the time I was a very small girl. I can't recall any particular inspiration-I wasn't ever in a hospital and never knew a nurse. Maybe I read about one of the many books I read as a child. However, when I was ready to choose a career, my lifetime pattern was either to pass out or throw up when I had to get a shot. So..I became a secretary instead of a nurse. I did not forget my dream though, and five years later I decided that my reaction to shots was "all in my head." I guess it was because I applied to Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Phoenix, was accepted and subsequently was injected with more vaccinations than I ever knew existed.

Three years and only $1,200 later (including room and board!), I was a graduate RN employed by Phelps Dodge Corporation in their hospital in Douglas, Arizona. That was the beginning of my 35 years of nursing.

Through the years I have been inspired by many nurses. Grace Middlebrook inspired me to become a nursing educator, which put me back in college to obtain a BSN within a year of becoming an RN. I never tired to learning and was encouraged to continue for my MS in nursing by nursing educators at University of Arizona. I traveled from Bisbee to UA to earn both of these degrees, working parttime in local hospitals as an RN. I then taught nursing at Cochise College for 20 years, and of the last three, I was chair of the nursing department. It was such a fun job and a great opportunity to influence the lives of the many nursing students I taught. Taking a sabbatical, I was able to further my education and obtain a post-Masters Family Nurse Practitioner degree. I was able to work half days as an FNP while teaching since nursing education enables flexible hours. With summers off, I obtained my doctorate in Educational Administration from NAU. I have used all of my education in my diverse career in one way or another.

A nurse I met while writing state board exam questions in California was a great inspiration to me. She was my age and had just joined the Army Nurse Corps Reserves the year before and was excited about it. It sounded like fun to me! Six months later, I was sworn in and and 18 years later I am still excited about it! Where else could you rappel from a helicopter 100 feet in the air for training, spend time in Hawaii, Denver or a foreign country with all expenses paid? All of that kept me in shape with the exercise and training that went with the job.

I am now retired from teaching and am working part time as an FNP in a family clinic. I still love nursing. The diversity of experiences has made my life exciting and challenging. Nursing remains a golden opportunity as a career. It's a great dream to spend your life fulfilling!