Relieved my daughter decided against nursing

[Emergent, RN]

My college aged daughter told me today that she's thinking of physical therapy as a major, instead of nursing. I told her, good, because nursing is going downhill, along with our medical system.

She is a shining academic star and will do fine with the requirements of a PT degree. She wants to do something more holistic, and doesn't like the amount of drugs nursing pushes.

I agree. I don't think modern nursing is at all holistic. We just click on boxes to fulfill government mandates, many of which are nonsensical. We have to cater to patient whims, outlandish behavior, demanding families, all in the name of customer service and positive surveys. If we dare open our mouths with the truth, then it might not be acceptable to the paying public.

We are asked to do more with less by our corporate masters, who treat us like widgets on a spread sheet. Nursing is an unfortunate and costly, difficult to manage necessity to them. They would like government to fund more training programs, so a larger labor pool can drive the costs down.

The medical system has created a population dependent on pharmaceutical answers to all of life's ailments. Corporate interests control healthcare in America. We nurses serve those economic realities.

Sorry for my cynicism today

[Dranger]

PT is a good route but I would only consider it if I did sports/athletic PT. I have no desire to work inpatient or in areas where people have little motivation to even get up and grab the remote. Those areas are soul sucking from what I hear via my PT buddies. DPT is kind of a pain though, just like the DNP.

[Riawahine, BSN, MSN]

If that is truly what your daughter wants to pursue, more power to her. My husband and I taught our kids to go after their dreams, not money. I have a son that is a teacher and the other on the way to become a vet.

It's their life and they need to find what makes them happy. I wish your daughter all the best!!

[PinayUSA]

IT would also be a good career path for a child now of days, USA is importing IT people right and left and the pay is very good.

I don't believe in letting a child choose what they want to do in school, you end up with a child with a degree in art or marketing.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

No need to apologize for your cynicism, Emergent...

I advise young people who are unsure of which healthcare career they want, to take a close look at PT, OT or SLP (speech language pathology). These careers are generally respected because they generate billable income for healthcare facilities. They also pay competitively and their salaries aren't being driven downward due to the high barriers to entry.

Meanwhile, nurses are becoming a dime a dozen because schools crank so many of us out annually. It's reached the point that a nurse's career might be in trouble without specialized experience or specialty certification.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I don't believe in letting a child choose what they want to do in school, you end up with a child with a degree in art or marketing.

1) Not all parents are equipped with the knowledge about careers and labor market trends to effectively help their children choose their college majors.

2) Not all parents are proponents of college attendance. Some parents, especially those who are undereducated, are alienated by the system of higher education and cannot see the benefits of having a college degree.

3) Marketing majors earn good salaries and are needed by virtually every industry (healthcare, hospitality, tourism, fast food, retail, manufacturing, etc). The marketing staff at the company where I work earns a killing.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I don't believe in living *vicariously* through my kids. It's their life; if they are over 18, they get to choose their path. IF they ask advice, I give it, otherwise I BUTT OUT.

IT would also be a good career path for a child now of days, USA is importing IT people right and left and the pay is very good.

I don't believe in letting a child choose what they want to do in school, you end up with a child with a degree in art or marketing.

[OCNRN63, RN]

IT would also be a good career path for a child now of days, USA is importing IT people right and left and the pay is very good.

I don't believe in letting a child choose what they want to do in school, you end up with a child with a degree in art or marketing.

Maybe this is true for people of certain cultures living here in the US, but not all. Are you going to pick your child's marriage mate?

[Dogen]

Maybe this is true for people of certain cultures living here in the US, but not all. Are you going to pick your child's marriage mate?

Based on my experience with Filipinos... she may not pick them, but she'll definitely have an opinion her kids will know about. It's one thing I love about my Filipino friends. They say, "Hey, Dogen, you look like you've gained weight." Usually followed with, "You must be dating a Filipino."

[RainMom]

I have given my son free reign over his career choices & watched as he evolved from one path to another thru HS & college. I haven't tried to influence him to a great extent other than to say he'll be happiest doing something he enjoys & is good at but remember that not all hobbies can result in a good paying job (the idea of a being a theater major had me sweating for a few months).

My second son...we may have to get creative. He's a very poor student & I don't see him doing yrs of higher level classes. However his biggest interest & what he is most enthusiastic about is biology & conservation/outdoors type activities (as in, he used to say he was going to have his own tv show like Steve Irwin & others, many who have multiple degrees). Maybe after a yr or 2 out of HS in the real world, he'll buckle down & take some responsibility for his future.

[ambr46]

IT would also be a good career path for a child now of days, USA is importing IT people right and left and the pay is very good.

I don't believe in letting a child choose what they want to do in school, you end up with a child with a degree in art or marketing.

Ha ha that is so true. My niece wanted to go to school to be a food photographer. Are there classes for such a thing. She finally settled on Journalism. I hope she will be able to find a job sigh.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I think that we can guide our children, but I would never tell my daughter "You cannot do this" (unless of course it was camming..). For most kids telling them you forbid it only pushes them into doing whatever it is you didn't want them to do. Plus our mistakes are what teach us.. I would prefer if my child picked something other than nursing, but I'll allow her to make her own choices.