What's take to be a NURSE Have you ever wonder, why you choose to be a nurse and I mean a professional nurse? We all know not everyone has what it take to be a nurse. Being a nurse takes a special person with some unique gifts, talents and qualities. Being a nurse not only implies years of preparations in a college or university, lack of sleep but lots of dreams, patience and self-determination. Deep and within a nurse you find a great wish to serve, help others whom are lacking of empowerment to maintain their health, dignity to choose care and lost of independence. A nurse is that special person who standby side by side with their patients and their families in time of needs and in many cases life and death situations. A nurse is a recipient of many emotions in all kind of situation and scenarios but after all, a nurse is great human being ready to listen and offer comfort when it most needed. Probable in your life as a nurse, you question yourself, why I became a nurse? Only you, a dedicated nurse know the answer to this question. Please allow me to share my reasons, why I became a nurse, I mean a professional nurse and very proud to be.  I grew up in the island of Puerto Rico, in the country side, some time ago. I was born from a family with very little to none resources. No much money for higher education (college or university). I was a kid with high hopes and big dreams. One of them was to become an excellent veterinarian (I grew up in a farm). I knew that I had the potential and the talent to be the best veterinarian, I love animals!  When I was 18 years old my life drastically changed forever. I had an automobile accident, which put me in the hospital with a coma that lasted several days. Little that I know, there was a nurse from my neibourhood working on the same unit. She knew my parents and was a friend of my family. I was very young lying on a hospital bed, in a coma with massive internal injuries and bleeding profusely. My injuries were so severe that my life expectancy was little to none. My doctors have lost their hope for my survival. Just only one nurse, the friend of my family did not loose her faith. She stays at my bedside, caring for me even after her shift ended. She did this every time she was on duty. One night I took the turn for the worst, decreasing all vital signs and I was dying. This nurse against all odd   asked the doctors to allow her do everything she learned thru her years of nursing to keep me alive and she did. The next day I woke up from my coma and I was back to live. It is because  what she did , giving me a second chance, I promise myself to be someone like her, helping those in need. So, I choose not to be any other professional but to be a nurse, a professional nurse. When ever you have doubt or question about, why I am a nurse? Keep in mind that there is someone out there who appreciates you very much for being a nurse. Without nurses will be no compassion, no dedication, no honor and no hospitals. So be proud for what you are, proud for what you do and the many lives you have touched since you dedicate your life as nurse, that is a professional nurse. Please don't let the frustration, the stress and disappointment taking away the special person that you are. I'm your fellow nurse and I like to say to you, thank you very much for all you do and specially to be a NURSE.   Manny Guzman RN BSN