I want to be a nurse. As a nurse, I will be able to use my profession anywhere in the world. I can work with many people every day, both patients and staff. Furthermore, nursing will allow me the flexibility to have a family.

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I have shared these reasons with many people when asked why I switched from pre-med to nursing. These are all good reasons to choose a profession, but I have learned more reasons to be a nurse. I will be able to give to and receive from nursing much more than I ever imagined.

What do I want my nursing future to hold? I have set five goals for my nursing career.

First, I want people to feel God's love when they are under my care. I know I can never love everyone on my own; I definitely will have to rely on Christ as an example and a source of strength. I want people to feel loved because they are created in God's image, and he loves them.

Second, I want people in my care to feel heard-to know that I am listening. By listening, I mean active listening. I want to understand their desires and concerns. I want to read the feelings behind their words.

Third, I want them to feel cared for in every situation, as a spiritual person, a suffering person or a dying person. I want to be able to assess where they are spiritually and ask God how I should help each person to come to know him. I want to be able to pray with them and share God's Word in a sensitive, knowledgeable way.

I want suffering patients to feel the comfort of a compassionate presence. If they need to talk to someone, I want to be able to help them think of the things that bring meaning to their lives.

Fourth, I want my patients to feel that I am a competent nurse. When I come into the room, I don't want them to wish it were someone else. I want them to feel they are in good hands. I want to give them a sense of hope that the other staff and I will do everything we can and do it well.

Fifth, I want to have good relationships with my colleagues. I want to be known as a hard worker and someone the patients like. I want my work to be an example of the servanthood of Christ.

I know I can't accomplish these goals on my own. I will need to call upon God constantly. Even with his help, I will not be able to accomplish them all the time. I need to remember that, because I get discouraged when things do not go as planned.

I will have to keep myself healthy if I want to have the energy to attempt these goals. I want to keep God as my motivation for nursing-as an offering of myself to him.