Dad just doesn't understand...

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Hello AN brothers and sisters!

I'm just having a little trouble getting my Dad to see things from my point of view....here's the story:

I'm 20 y/o, a pre-nursing student, and have worked as a CNA in my hospital for 2 years. I love my job and truly enjoy taking care of people (especially cute old people, you guys know the type), but I think my Dad still can't understand why I would chose nursing over medicine. He doesn't out and out say this to me, but implies it in talking about the benefits of being an MD, mainly the monetary benefits.

I'm not so much lacking confidence in my decision to go into nursing, but more of disappointing my Dad. He really cannot fathom why I would not choose medicine so I can make more money.

When we have visited some family in the past and discussed my career choice, he almost immediately told them that I'm going to be an NP, which is not necessarily true. I may become a NP later on in my career, but right now I'm looking forward to becoming an RN and proud of that! In fact, I'm darn proud of being a CNA!

I don't think I'm necessarily looking for advice or opinions, but I just needed some way to let all this out! Thanks for listening, everyone! :o

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Specializes in Emergency.

The how come you're being JUST a nurse attitude. I've gotten it before. The people who get it, get it. The people who don't, don't. I find that pretty much everyone has had an experience that was made drastically better due to not physician but nursing care for themselves or a loved one. These people get it. They love nurses. Others, well, they are still waiting to figure this out for themselves...

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

S'okay, we're listening!

I just told people I wanted to do hands on care, not in and out and run around, nor did I want to spend 12 years in college, nor be on call all the time; and I liked nursing not medicine.

Your dad just wants what he thinks is best for you in terms of what he considers important. Put him in that vast category of people who have no clue what nursing truly is, and let it go.

Oops! you got an opinion and advice!!:eek:My bad:lol2:

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Oops! you got an opinion and advice!!:eek:My bad:lol2:

How DARE you! lol Thanks, JBudd! :D

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First off, I've only been employed as an RN for a little over 2 months, but I KNOW, that a GOOD CNA can Make or Break your shift - so THANK YOU because you sound like you are a GREAT CNA!

I've always heard that the biggest difference between nurses and doctors is that doctors treat the disease - Nurses treat and CARE for the WHOLE person - not just a disease process.

I'm leery of people who get into nursing because of 'all the money' they can make. If you get into a nursing career 'just' for the money, you are IN THE WRONG CAREER (my humble opinion...). And there ARE people that are "nurses" that are only doing the job for the money, not because they really CARE for the patients. I believe that you can see the difference in the level of care (or lack of) that they provide...

You get so many rewards from being a nurse, but nursing also comes with a lot of heart ache (heart break...) that you cannot (also in my humble opinion) do 'it' and do it well, only for the money.

BackpackingRN is absolutely correct - some people get it and some people don't...

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Well tell your Dad that you are a great guy, lots of fun and funny and you have tons of friends on AN. Then say, "I guess you musta raised me right, Dad". Then hopefully he'll think to himself "ya know, maybe he's onto something there" and trust you to be the captain of the ship (while valuing his input at all times of course!).

Usually the cure for this is information and education. He probably has all sorts of preconceived notions based on a lifetime of input that doesn't really reflect how radically the face of nursing has changed in the last 20 years. I'd just let him tell people about the NP thing - it won't really do any harm and who knows? Maybe you will become an NP someday.

Anyway, I have sort of the opposite problem! Yeah. I know my son would be great as a CNA and as a nurse but he thinks of it as a "female only" profession and he is 24 years old. It's so frustrating!!

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

Considering my mother told me I was too stupid to be an ICU nurse, You are lucky someone even acknowlegded you wanted a career. My Dad and Granny had my back which was a good thing. and then I was a cardiology nurse for 35 yrs. I am glad no one told my patients how stupid I was.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

Tell your Dad that you love him and that you understand he is only looking out for his best interests, however, in order for you to be an adult, you have to make decisions of what will make YOU happy...not him, because you will have to work in this career long after he is gone.

It's a simple question: "Dad, why would you want me to spend my life doing something that I don't want to do rather than something that I would LOVE to do? Do you want me to be unhappy?"

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

My family and non-nursing friends don't understand about nursing either. I tell them things and say I don't make any of this up, but I don't think they believe me. They think I just exaggerate things. That is why it is better to come to a site like this.

He sounds like he's disappointed in you. Just smile and nod and don't worry about it. When all is said and done, you have to make yourself happy, not everyone else. It took me a long time to learn that.

BTW I often wonder what a 'pre-nursing student' is? Is it an American thing, where you have registered as a student or are you a nursing student?

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As a parent, I would say to at least hear your dad out. If he is willing to be there and support you through medical school, its worth taking a long, hard look at the situation. You just don't want to find yourself in 10 years saying "Ugh, I wish I had listened to my dad..." I'm hoping my own boys will take my advice when they get to college =)

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Nursing was never an easy journey, my Dad tried to talk me out of it

years ago. He stated it was my choice, but he saw first hand the

hard work including shifts that nurses work. My aunt was in nursing school,

when he went to college. I really felt nursing was my calling, so proceeded

ahead. I would listen to what your Dad has to say and step back

and weigh all of your options. If nursing is the right avenue , proceed

on course.. Dad wants the best for you and he will respect whatever

you select that makes you happy... JMO

Good luck!

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BTW I often wonder what a 'pre-nursing student' is? Is it an American thing, where you have registered as a student or are you a nursing student?

I haven't heard the term before but I would assume it's a student who is currently taking the prereq classes for a nursing program.

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