Does anybody else get this from family or friends.....

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"I cant picture you being a nurse"

I've heard it so many times im begining to question myself . Needless to say i have already finished my pre-req's and have been accepted to start summer term 2011 ...I'v heard this from my mother, a couple of friends, co-workers ..one even went as far as to tell me "dont sell yourself short, become a doctor". I dont see how nursing would be "selling myself short". .. it seemes the only suportive person seems to be my father ..It really makes me wanna cry everytime i hear someone say "i cant picture you being a nurse" becuase i have worked so hard to get this far :confused: at first i was just brushing it off, but how could so many people think the same thing . I find myself to be a very compassionate person . i love meeting new people. I love to keep busy; i could never work a desk job. i want to go into peds or geriatrics. .. but idk anymore, lately im REALLY starting to have some doubts...i mean, for all of you outthere in nursing school or in the acceptance process, how did you kno nursing was right for you?

After changing diapers and cleaning up barf from/for my 8 children, I'm ready for anything. :) After you have children, that kind of stuff doesn't bother you nearly as much as you think it will. Don't worry about being squeamish -- you can conquer bodily fluids/smells if sufficiently motivated. Think of how grateful your patients and their families will be for your care and expertise.

For me it was not the gross stuff - before kids I was ok with it, at least with the thought - it was touching people. I actually dropped from the second term of an LPN program not because the work at the nursing home doing baths and diapers and feeding tubes grossed me out, it was the thought of having to be what I considered physically intimate all day long with people. Especially since I was in an LPN program, I figured I would be very hands on in my job as an LPN. Now, after 4 kids, and getting all kinds of body fluids from pee to poop to vomit to blood to snot all over me, in my hair, etc..., I am definitely used to the gross stuff, and you know how kids are, constantly on top of you, I have gotten over my touch aversion.

Also, like the OP, waaaay back in college the first time, I was pre-BSN track and set to finish up and apply the next semester and my family kept pushing me to go be a doctor "because I was getting As in my pre-BSN track classes". So I switched to pre-med and hated it, got off track, and graduated with a degree in community health education.

Hm oh and let's see, one more family example is another family member has an opinion that all nurses are whiny and the word that rhymes with witchy. Her husband was in medical services in the Army Reserve and was the head of a unit that had a bunch of nurses in it and apparently they used to call him up and complain and at least once or twice came by the house to meet with him in person to complain about something. So now, based on that, this person thinks all nurses are like that and same person seems to have no respect for the profession.

Oh wait, one more, I mentioned to my husband nursing as a possible option and he said "well, as long as you don't turn into one of those (again word that rhymes with witchy) nurses".

Sometimes its like you mentioned joining the circus or something!

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I have had a lot of people ask me why I want to be a nurse rather than a doctor...and it makes me mad every time! I usually give a short and sweet, polite answer that basically says, doctors and nurses are two different things, and I like the patient contact that comes with nursing.

The people who look down on nursing don't understand nursing. If they did, then they would realize that nursing is a lot more than "wiping butts" and they would see how great it is because of the flexibility and mobility and opportunities for advancement within the profession.

Thankfully the doctor vs. nurse questioning has really died down since I left high school (I went to a very academically competitive high school where the question game was who was going to what Ivy). Most people now say that they can see me as a nurse which really helps boost my confidence.

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My family (aunts, uncle, cousins) don't really comment on decisions I make.

My mom is incredibly supportive, she is actually in school with me for nursing. She's also supportive on the fact that she won't be having grandchildren until I have my MSN. She wants me to be happy and whatever dream I pursue that makes me happy, makes her happy.

I have a friend that I've known for a while that laughed when I said I was going to nursing school. Mainly because of my gag reflex to puke and poo. I'm not the type of person to let obstacles get in my way. She thinks she knows it all as a new grad LPN (BTW, she BARELY passed that Nclex and barely passed school with her horrible grades) Needless to say, we don't talk much anymore. I don't need people in my life who don't support me.

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What I get from my family isn't "I can't picture you as a nurse" but "When are you going to hurry and finish so you can become something?" Which in my eyes is just as bad. It really tugs on the heart strings, especially coming from the people who are supposed to support you to the fullest, my mom being the main one to bring me down. Just recently when I told my mothers cousin about my dream of becoming a nurse she rooted me on which is something I was never used to and it felt really good to hear. She even told me how proud she was of me for coming so far with school knowing the tiny distractions I have in my life (ages 5, 4 and 8 months, lol). I've come to realize that you have to be your own cheerleader. Only you know what you are able to achieve and only you can do it. Keep your head up and don't let anyone tear you down ; ) We're all in the same boat you are so we're always around to listen.

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What I get from my family isn't "I can't picture you as a nurse" but "When are you going to hurry and finish so you can become something?" Which in my eyes is just as bad. It really tugs on the heart strings, especially coming from the people who are supposed to support you to the fullest, my mom being the main one to bring me down. Just recently when I told my mothers cousin about my dream of becoming a nurse she rooted me on which is something I was never used to and it felt really good to hear. She even told me how proud she was of me for coming so far with school knowing the tiny distractions I have in my life (ages 5, 4 and 8 months, lol). I've come to realize that you have to be your own cheerleader. Only you know what you are able to achieve and only you can do it. Keep your head up and don't let anyone tear you down ; ) We're all in the same boat you are so we're always around to listen.

You already ARE "something": a mother to 3 little ones AND a determined student to boot! Life is not a race, so try to enjoy the journey.

I admire you -- it is very hard to do school with little ones around. Jump on this nursing board ANY TIME you need encouragement -- we're all here to cheer each other on! :):anpom:

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You already ARE "something": a mother to 3 little ones AND a determined student to boot! Life is not a race, so try to enjoy the journey.

I admire you -- it is very hard to do school with little ones around. Jump on this nursing board ANY TIME you need encouragement -- we're all here to cheer each other on! :):anpom:

That is so sweet! Thank you :)

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When I first told my family that I wanted to go to nursing school they were all very surprised. They said that they would never have thought I would want to be a nurse. I must admit after hearing this from my family and my best friend I was pretty discouraged. Now, I think of myself as an extremely compassionate and caring person so I couldn't believe that everyone was so surprised. I figured maybe they were seeing some part of me that I didn't. Luckily, my family is very supportive of me and said that although they were surprised, they were sure that I would do well as long as that was what I really wanted to do. I'm starting school in the fall and while I'm still a little bit nervous and at times unsure, I'm motivated to do well. As long as this is something you're committed to, don't mind what anyone else says. Only you know what works for you and only you can make yourself happy. :redbeathe

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aww thankss for the support everyone !! it really helps to see im not the only one who has had negetetivity from family/friends about their career choices . I do find myself to be very nuturing and compasstionate.....i will admit to being unpleasent and sometimes a bit of a bit5ch at home to my younger sisters, but heck, i LIVE with them and they are annoying at times. maybe thats why they think that i wouldnt be such a good nurse .

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