I want to be a nurse BUT

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi!

I guess I'm in need of a self-esteem booster. This is my first semester of nursing school, and until recently, I've been really excited about my decision to join the health care field. However, as soon as my father discovered my chosen vocation, he flipped! He told me that I'd make a terrible nurse! He told me that I was far too brainless, awkward, shy and impersonal to make a good nurse. I am NOT at all upset that my father was so malicious. His skepticism of my abilities is serial in nature. As it is, he's talked me out of going to college twice, moving out once, and tried his da**est to keep me from getting a high school diploma. However, I wondered if there was SOME truth to his words. I AM soft-spoken and my feelings CAN get hurt quite easily. Does this put me as a disadvantage entering the nursing field? What are your opinions?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sarah

:p

Is there any reason why you should listen to this man.? honestly get away from such a negative impact. Do what you want and desire and remember who you are as an individual. Family is a little part of who you are not all of it and most of all, it is better to get away from what prevent you to be happy in life. Even if it means not having as much contact with your Dad. By the way nursing as a lot to offer and there is space for a wide variety of personnality.......

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.
Originally posted by finness

Hi!

I guess I'm in need of a self-esteem booster. This is my first semester of nursing school, and until recently, I've been really excited about my decision to join the health care field. However, as soon as my father discovered my chosen vocation, he flipped! He told me that I'd make a terrible nurse! He told me that I was far too brainless, awkward, shy and impersonal to make a good nurse. I am NOT at all upset that my father was so malicious. His skepticism of my abilities is serial in nature. As it is, he's talked me out of going to college twice, moving out once, and tried his da**est to keep me from getting a high school diploma. However, I wondered if there was SOME truth to his words. I AM soft-spoken and my feelings CAN get hurt quite easily. Does this put me as a disadvantage entering the nursing field? What are your opinions?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sarah

:p

Nothing personal but the only brainless thing out of the whole scenerio you told us about is your father's ridiculous childish behavior and comments! DO NOT let ANYONE talk you out of your dream, I'm a shy person whose feelings can get hurt easily too, but yet I do very well at work. You will do great in nursing school!! Take care, Dawn ((((HUGS))))

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Sarah,

I was touched by your letter and just had to respond! Family relationships can be very confusing. They have known you your whole life and therefore it is easy to assume they know everything about you- not true- yet it is very likely they know how to push your buttons, take your deepest insecurities and use them against you. As many have already said, your dad is projecting his own insecurities unto you. I have grown up with similar emotional abuse. I am very shy, sensitive and not good at making small talk, and for a long time felt that these were draw backs to my personality that I needed to change. It is good to challenge yourself beyond your comfort level at times, but I have also learned that all parts of yourself are there for a reason and though they may seem negative to you usually there is a lesson to be learned from them or should I say a way to mold them into a good use. -sometimes things you think are weaknesses are actually the seeds of your biggest strengths, you just need to figure out where to plant them. Let me give you an example. I am a C.N.A. and recently got a job doing in-home hospice care. I had six weeks of training and was still feeling very insecure about my work abilities. It is nerve racking to go into a strangers home at a very intimate time for the patient and the whole family and say - here i am, you don't know me but I am here to give you a bed bath. WOw, that is personal. I thought I had to break the ice by being a talker, always having something to say. After my training period my boss had to go out with me in the field and just watch me work with patients. I was very nervious but at the end of the day she said to me- "you have a very special way with patients, a comforting persence and that is something very valuble that cannot be taught." I have also had patients tell me that appreciate my silence, for they are sick and don't want to put out the energy to talk. It is more about rather or not you are a caring person then trying to evaluate if you are smart enough, or anything else- with love, determination and hard work, the rest will fall in place.

Also- note that it may be good try and keep a balance with your father. Boundaries. Know when it is not healthy for you to be around him, listen to the tape recorder in your head that starts playing when he says these harsh things to you and try to distance yourself from that recording- remember they are only words, not truth.

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

(((((sarah)))))

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Originally posted by finness

Hi!

This is my first semester of nursing school, and until recently, I've been really excited about my decision to join the health care field.

Sarah

:p

You would not have even made it into the first semester of nursing school if you didn't have the brains! The pre-reqs and entrance exams would be enough to weed you out had you not had what your school feels is necessary to be in the program.

And if the program accepted you, to hell with whatever misconceptions your father has about you. Because you obviously DO have what it takes!

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Sarah, Parents are supposed to encourage and support their children in whatever they choose to do in life...Go for it girl because I know that you will make a wonderful nurse. My personality is similar to yourself and I've been a nurse for 15 years..So follow your dreams and your heart.. Linda

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Originally posted by finness

I AM soft-spoken and my feelings CAN get hurt quite easily.

Me too...but I'm a nurse and I do JUST fine...

Some people cannot bear to see others succeed (because then they look smaller). You go right ahead and follow your heart, no matter what anyone else says.

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Your dad sounds rather emotinally abusive.

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You go for your dream girl!

I had to fight tooth and nail to get to where I am now and I am d*** proud of myself! I am soft spoken also, but I'm learning to be a bear when it comes to something I've wanted for so long....and you will too!

I am looking forward to hearing of your graduation!

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Sarah, I am sure you will make a great nurse. I also am a very soft-spoken person and it has been a really great asset. As one nurse manager told me when he hired me, "You are very soft-spoken, a perfect night nurse." It really comes in handy when you are trying to sooth ruffled feathers or express sympathy. :nurse:

I also used to get my feelings hurt easily, and I had a very difficult time speaking up to people. It just took time, and I am so over that now! You will do great, I'm sure. I didn't have the greatest brains - I had to study really hard, but if I had to have a nurse, I would want one like me, haha! ;)

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Don't you hate it when parents put you down like that!! It took me over twenty years to finally pursue what my mother said I could never do. I'm working on my pre-requesites (sp?) and I'm sole income, so I must work. It will take me a while, but by dang, I WILL make it happen.

So, here's a hug and a pat on the back too.

"Reach out and Touch a hand, make a friend where you can..."

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

soft spoken people are the BEST labor and delivery nurses. just a hint...........:-)

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