Negative feedback about going to nursing school

[LauraLou]

I am really excited about nursing school. I have been working full time and taking prereq's at night, but starting in January I will be going to school full time.

I naively thought everyone would be really happy for me and supportive of me changing careers to become a nurse. The reactions have been quite different.

When I told my mother, she didn't say anything for a moment and then said "That's the last thing I ever thought you would do. Why don't you become a travel agent instead?" Travel agent????

My dad said "You never did well in science in high school. Why do you want to study something you're not good at?"

My friends were really enthusiastic about me going back to school until they found out I was going to nursing school. They are saying things like "What about all the blood and nasty stuff you will have to touch. How gross!"

Luckily my husband is super supportive and really wants me to do this. But I am shocked and hurt that everyone else is so negative. What's wrong with being a nurse? It's not like I'm quitting my job to become a topless dancer!

Going back to school will be a challenge and I was hoping I would get lots of support from my friends and family. Instead, I have stopped talking about school with them because it makes me feel bad.

Has anyone else gotten a lot of negative feedback when they told people they want to be a nurse?

[Peeps Mcarthur]

By Babynurse

Peeps-You're so cute! Nothing like relevant insight!!!

Uh-oh:imbar :uhoh21:

[fourbirds4me]

I know what you mean... but the thing that gets me is the comments like...

"your not finished yet?"

"so and so is a nurse at a nursing home and it only took her 6 weeks"

" what do you do in class all day?"

"clinicals... what's that?"

"good choice... most nurses just sit on their a$$es all day"

and the assumption that every person wearing a set of scrubs is a nurse... ughhh

Feeling your pain,

Paula

[LauraLou]

Thank you so much for your support! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has gotten this response. It makes me feel that the negative reactions are less about me and more a reflection of people's misunderstanding of what nursing is today.

I have spent a lot of time researching nursing, so I really feel I am going in with my eyes open. I also read a lot of the threads on this discussion board to see what nurses do and don't like about their jobs.

From what I can see, people in critical care position (ED, ICU, NICU, etc) seem to be happier than those in more general positions such as Med/Surg.

The hospitals in my area will hire new grads for critical care positions, give you training and have you work with an experienced nurse for 3-6 months. I am very interested in NICU and at least 4 local hospitals have a new grad program for NICU.

I have decided if my family continues to be so negative I am going to say, "I am committed to starting school in January. I know this is the right decision for me. I hope I will have your support and encouragement even if nursing isn't what you would have chosen for me. "

Merry Christmas!

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by fourbirds4me

I know what you mean... but the thing that gets me is the comments like...

"your not finished yet?"

"so and so is a nurse at a nursing home and it only took her 6 weeks"

" what do you do in class all day?"

"clinicals... what's that?"

"good choice... most nurses just sit on their a$$es all day"

and the assumption that every person wearing a set of scrubs is a nurse... ughhh

Feeling your pain,

Paula

Paula,

What you write is so true! People just do not understand what we go through. I told one friend about the totally stressful week I was having and he says, "Why? It's just nursing school." I could not believe it...

Z

[tatianamik]

I got a lot of crap from my family too. I was pre med. Finished my degree in chemistry. Then a year after graduation when I still had not got in medical school. That made me sit down and think. I had been considering Emergency department physician or Trauma surgery so I wouldn't have to take call all the time. I realized I could be an ED nurse be in the middle of the action and not have all the responsibility. I know I'll eventually go for my masters. I'm acutally considering getting my emergency nurse praticioner.

[tatianamik]

Originally posted by LauraLou

From what I can see, people in critical care position (ED, ICU, NICU, etc) seem to be happier than those in more general positions such as Med/Surg.

I have found this to be true too.

Originally posted by LauraLou

The hospitals in my area will hire new grads for critical care positions, give you training and have you work with an experienced nurse for 3-6 months. I am very interested in NICU and at least 4 local hospitals have a new grad program for NICU.

NICU has new grads hires in your area? Our NICUs are well staffed. About a year ago they hired thier first nurse in 8 years. The ones who are in that field here love it so much that they don't leave. Even to get into L & D you have to have a few years experience as a nurse. Even the L & D at the charity hospital is well staffed. They have an OB ICU. I was talking to an OB/ER travel nurse and she said that this town doesn't take OB travel nurses because they are well staffed. I think NICU would be interesting but I will not do it because I'm not sure I can emotionally withstand losing a little one.

[hope2banurse]

I know how you feel. My dad and uncle are home builders and my mom and I are the realtors for their developements. My sister, uncles and cousins also work for my dad and uncles business as well. No one in my family really understands why I would want to give that up. It seems like everyone else points out the fact that I'll make better money in real estate than nursing. (money is nice, but happiness is much nicer) I know that nursing is my "calling" in life. Thrive on the support of your husband and continue to go with what your heart tells you to do....

[ucandoit]

NURSE CALL THE SHOTS!!!!!HE-HE-HE!!!

[TheBrainMusher]

After reading all these posts, this makes me feel like 10 times better about wanted to go to nursing school. As a previous pre-med thinker in college, I switched to business after my soph year. Now 23 and almost 2 years out of school, business isn't my thing and I"m looking to change into medicine. My mom and dad said ifyou want to go to school go to law school or med school:( I was looking at med school, but its so hard to get in and thats 7 years of my life in which I can't start my family or what not. I'm looking at either getting my RN then going on for my MSN or NP maybe even CNS or going into hopsital admin and getting my MBA in healthcare. POINT BEING I WILL HAVE SO MANY MORE OPTIONS. Everyone things i would be throwing away my business knowledge, how could that be, when I could USE my knowledge int he future? My boyfriend has no clue what he wants from his life and I keep changing my mind but nursing is something that I feel I could do to help people. I want to change the sterotypes since looking at the profession in a different light than I used to (I used to believe the sterotypes) I want a challenging job and show that nurses are one of the most EDUCATED positions. Thanks for listening all and good luck to everyone! Nurses CAN make a difference.

[Anna57]

I totally agree with everyone here and have found comfort it what they have said. I have 4 children and everyone has something negative to say instead of something encouraging. I am starting to learn to just ignore it. But it still is bothersome.

My main concern is daycare though. I have a full scholarship and have to take out student loans for daycare alone. I think that is awful!

Oh well, it will all be worth it in the end!

[Peeps Mcarthur]

Anna,

Good luck to you.

Your determination to get what you want is what is valuble.

The harder you work, the luckier you'll get.

[Tigger100S]

All I have to say is if I hear one more time "why don't you go to medical school"? I'm going to flip. I try to explain to people I really want to be a NURSE. I had someone respond to me, "well, you can at least become a physican's assistant, right?" AGH! It's like, the better grades you get, the less respect you get for your chosen field. Don't these people want smart people taking care of them someday??