[Smithbc1]

NO WAY! I would not want my child/friend/enemy to suffer the physical and mental abuse that is accepted as "normal" in the nursing profession.... Not to mention the low pay and poor benefits that is the standard in my part of the country.

[Nurse4years]

All three of my wonderful, compassionate, caring daughters were told I would disown them, tear my limbs off, and fling myself over a bridge if they even considered nursing.
Thank heaven, they are very happy in other professions.
Never would I want my children treated with the disrespect I have witnessed and been subject to at least 75% of my quarter of a century as a nurse.

as MattsMom said:
No.

[deidrasue]

you know, I've always said I would NOT encourage nursing as a choice of vocations for my children. But I have to revise that.
My DIL who has a psych degree is headed to LPN school and I'm very proud of what she's doing - didn't think I would be. However, she has 3 small sons and her hubby - my son - is getting ready to deploy. She needs something else to think about and do - and grow while she's waiting. AND she'll be done when he gets back. Now that there are LPN-AD programs - and she already has a degree - it should be an easy thing for her to do. In the meantime - she'll be working toward something.
I would just recommend that my kids - and others gain work experience in other fields first. Nurses - all out there does NOT glitter. My diesel mechanic son takes a lot of verbal abuse to do what he loves - and works 80+ hours/wk at it - and travels. SIL loves selling real estate - but he's pretty much 24/7 at his customer's beck and call. My son the soldier is an AGR for the Nat'l Guard Armory - and because his immediate superior is a "climber" who doesn't like my son - he's been assigned an armory an addit. 30 min away - at work at 0630 and home at 2000 hrs at night - and on call 24/7/365 - until he deploys.
My job is much better that all of these. I don't make a ton of money but more than most people in NW rural OK. I've paid my dues and now work 40 hrs M-F. Period. The most important thing I've learned - and my children are learning is "keep swimming". My mouth keeps me in trouble when it's open - so I'm focusing on letting my thoughts and feelings be known - not stuffing - so as not to cause the other person to lose face - or hurt them. Standing up WELL is a difficult thing to learn but it is important for your self-esteem.
And, when all else fails - consider the source - and think "here's your sign".
My soldier son has a motto - since his last Iraq deployment:
"With a smile on my face, and murder in my heart, I will just do my job".
How's that???? T-shirts anyone? LOL
Deidra

[springing]

My mother discouraged me from nursing and it was something that almost completely wrecked my future. I wanted to be a nurse for a long time and she told me all they ever do is get bossed around and clean bedpans for 12 hours a day and I should never become a nurse. I realize now that while she WAS right about the stress and burnout, her discouragement was a HUGE stumbling block for me. I didn't have any other career in mind and I ended up just floating around minimum wage jobs for awhile and only now, 4 years after I left high school, am deciding to go to school and do what I should have done before I let myself get bogged down in what OTHER people think I am capable of and not what I KNOW I am capable of. Before you go and discourage someone because you dislike your life, you need to realize you are going to be harming a lot more than their interest in one career path - you could be harming their ability to have an ambition, period. When you discourage them you are only being those coworkers you hate.

[NursesRmofun]

Not really what I would recommend first. But it's okay...a noble profession.

[happydays352]

My Mother is a nurse and began her career at 41. My Father is a MD and I entered college pre-med. When I changed to Nursing my Mom was very concerned because her experiences had been so awful. Now she's really excited because I'm always calling to share new nursing news and tell her about career options. We are planning to start a practice since I plan on being an NP. We're both so excited to work together!

[BeachBayNurse]

Yes and no, nursing so far, knock on wood has treated me pretty well. HOWEVER, I know that is definitely not the case for all. It just depends what the job market is like when it is time for my children to make that type of decision, and most importantly what nursing is like.

[LAZYDAISY]

Mine is only 3 but so long as he worked hard at school he can do whatever he wants with my blessing within reason.

[ladyluck091]

in response to weeziebat----amen sister

[RJMommy]

Absolutely NO WAY, for all the reasons already listed. Why would you encourage a loved one to go to school for 4 years, incur massive debt, work weekends, holidays and shift work to deal with unappreciative and rude patients and family. Yes there is the odd patient &/or family who sincerely appreciates the fact that your working your a@@ off, probably short staffed, possibly on a double, attempting to deal with doctors who's ego are so large you wonder how they made it through the front doors, and unrealistic expectations placed upon you by management who couldn't really care less that its your license on the line. Never mind the fact that they pay does not adequately reflect the responsibilities!