title: Called to nursing: perceptions of student nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study uncovers reasons students report for wanting to become nurses, to quantify those who feel that they are called to nursing, and to learn what "being called" means to them.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted with all students enrolled in nursing courses at one program in a private, faith-based university.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most students decided to go to nursing school while in high school or college and chose nursing because they had a desire to help others. The most common personal characteristics they identified that will be helpful in nursing were being caring or compassionate. Almost two thirds of the students indicated they were "called" by God to become nurses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings can help nursing educators and leaders determine how to better recruit and retain individuals into the nursing profession and how to support and encourage caring and compassionate qualities in all nurses.
authors.affiliation: Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Baylor University, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prater
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McEwen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033262:Narration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires