Survey: Would you encourage your child to become a nurse?

mattcastens · Sep 19, 2001

Yes I would encourage them to go into nursing. In fact, my fiancee is going into nursing on my recomendation.

BUT ...

It defintiely takes a certain type to do it well, and to enjoy it. Certainly not everybody is that type. It takes someone with a lot of intelligence and self confidence. People skills are a must -- not just liking people, but being an expert negotiator and manager. You need to love the science involved as well.

The nice thing about nursing is that it is extremely flexible -- you can find a field to match just about any interest and lifestyle. I love my job in CVICU!

Are we underpaid? Yes! Are we under-respected? Yes! However, I see changes on the horizon. With the shortage increasing the way it is, soon our salaries will explode and we'll be in high, high demand. Now is a great time to get into the field.

Walter R. Hobbs · Sep 19, 2001

Greetings,

This is so much more than a yes or no question. Each individual will have to see if this job will fit into their life.

I'm male and have been a Critical Care staff nurse for almost 20 years. Most of that time I have worked an evening shift form 4 to Midnight. I work with a great crew of people on my shift who generally really like what they do.

The evening shift worked very well for me when my two older children were pre schoolers. My wife could work a day job and I could take care of my kids. It is very important to us that we take care of our own kids and not place them in day care.

Five years ago our youngest one was born and again I am able to take care of him during the day. However now that my elder children , age 15 and 17, have many activities in the evening I find that I have to miss these times. I wish I could be in two places at once.

I've also become tired of working every other weekend and many of the holidays. I don't want to leave the bedside but it looks like if I want a 9-5, 5 day per week job I may have to get into administration. (shudder!!)

So from the family aspect, I cannot reccomend nursing.

From the worthwhile and even the fun aspect, it's a great job.

There's nothing like a full code at the change of shift! (you Critical Care nurses know what I mean)

Li'l abner · Sep 22, 2001

Both my wife and I have been nurses since 1977. When my 18 year old daughter stated she wanted to be a nurse, both my wife and I said " NO ". She stated " I can be one if I want ". ( She has a bit of an attitude). We told her she had to shadow a nurse for a 4 12 hr shift rotation before we would register her. She shadowed a nurse on a Med/Surg floor for only 6 hrs and came home and said " You guys have to work to hard for your money ". She shadowed a Dr in the EDR for a week and is now in UBC Medical School. What does that say about nursing?: :confused:

tiger · Sep 22, 2001

smart kid!!!!!

nur20 · Sep 23, 2001

Originally posted by Li'l abner
Both my wife and I have been nurses since 1977. When my 18 year old daughter stated she wanted to be a nurse, both my wife and I said " NO ". She stated " I can be one if I want ". ( She has a bit of an attitude). We told her she had to shadow a nurse for a 4 12 hr shift rotation before we would register her. She shadowed a nurse on a Med/Surg floor for only 6 hrs and came home and said " You guys have to work to hard for your money ". She shadowed a Dr in the EDR for a week and is now in UBC Medical School. What does that say about nursing?:

My 2 daughters want nothing to do with nursing, however i would not discourage anyone from going into the profession.I would say that if they are going into it for the money or recognition "forget about it" If you are not self confident,a people person and get a good feeling through helping others, and if you don't know if nursing is for you, you'll find out soon enough. We had people that couldn't even make it through the course

st4304 · Sep 23, 2001

My oldest daughter (I have three) has been taking health occupation classes all through high school and plans to take nursing in college. Her long term goals, though, are to be a NP or nurse anesthesist. I did not encourage her at all. She just sprung this on me her freshman year. I was very surprised, too, because she is the one who seemed most upset when I missed a holiday or school event because of my job.

It makes me feel good to think she wants to be a nurse and decided this on her own without my encouragement or discouragement. She is so assertive I like to think that she and other young future nurses like her just may be the ones to effect the changes in nursing that we all dream about.

Sherri

night owl · Sep 24, 2001

I wouldn't discourage it nor would I encourage it. My kids have seen me dead some days from a tough night at work. They know I've been in nursing 24 years now, have worked every shift possible, every holiday possible, missed out on alot of family gatherings, (my in-laws think I hate them) But my residents depend on me and need me, so on to work I go. Now the kids see me limping around alot-hips are going, always looking for my Motrin. It does take a toll on you after many years of running the halls and being on your feet. If my daughter wanted to go into nursing, I'd be shocked first of all because she already said she's not going to be a nurse. BUT and a big one at that, I'd support her anyway I could. Maybe get her to lean more towards the administration of nursing. My son, well, he's going to be a automotive engineer and there is nothing that's going to change his mind! If he's not greasy, He's not happy!

Jenny P · Sep 24, 2001

I've encouraged my kids to become nurses, but so far, they haven't chosen to listen or follow my advice (so what else is new?). Both kids are quite smart, ADHD (I sometimes think that this might help in nursing in the future! )and also have the potential to be terrific nurses- they are both caring and sensitive, and are also the ones who have taken care of friends in need. However, neither one of them has chosen this path.

nsmith_rn · Sep 24, 2001

Never

I would encourage soemthing like computers or engineering

not enough pay and respect.

In fact I so much as would not even halep them attend college for nursing.

SusieQ1243 · Sep 26, 2001

In August I completed an 8 wk refresher course to make my LPN license active after being out for 6 years. I had such high hopes about returning to nursing. Then, in my second week for my clinical rotation I worked with my instructor for 5 hours on a post-op unit, took an hour break, then went to class for 4 hours. On the 2 hour drive home I cried I was in such physical pain. My neck, back, knees, feet... you name it, it HURT. In five hours I sat down once for about 5 minutes. My instructor walked a mile-a-minute and I once joked to her and asked if we could stop for fluids. I had to steal away just to grab a sip of water! Mind you, I am no couch potato... I run a very busy and demanding assisted living facility and sometimes work 16+ hours there, plus singlehandedly raise two very active boys! I grudgingly finished the course knowing that there was no way I was going back into hospital nursing.

rosy · Sep 26, 2001

As much as I hate nursing for myself, I would encourage my daughters to become nurses if they showed an interest. The profession does have problems-true, but don't they all. I was told by many people as a child the 'it takes a special person to be a nurse' I believed this then and i still do, and if the two special people I've had the privledge of raising wanted to be nurses, I say we will be a better profession because of them and 'God bless us every one'

newnurse72 · Sep 27, 2001

My mother is a nurse, and discouraged me for years from going into the proffession. After several false starts in college pursuing other degrees and a few dead end jobs later, I'm everything she wished I wouldn't be, an RN! Admittedly I'm very new to the field, but loved most of my clinicals, and am looking foward to a long career in nursing. I think it's just in some people's blood. My mother is beginning to realize this, and is now O.K. with it. And yes, I would encourage my children to be anything they wanted to be.:)