Most RN's first borns?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everybody,

I have a question and PLEASE dont anybody blast me for typecasting, this was not MY statement, it was a LCSW I was friends with. She claims that a huge % of nurses are first born females of alcoholic fathers. Something to do with the fact that as the first born in dysfunction family of origin you are a caregiver from the get-go. Now my father was not an alcoholic, but I am a first born. I was wondering how many of us are first-borns. (Also, she said this to me a long time ago, and I have lost touch with her, so I cannot ask her where the heck she got her information was) I was just starting school at the time and didnt really fight with her about it, just kind of gave her one of the Hmmm, thats an interesting opinion.... answers. Also, she meant it as a compliment, that we take a difficult beginning and build on our strengths and turn them into a career.

So, how many first borns are out there?

KristyBRN

Specializes in ER.

Getting on his bandwagon late, but here goes....first born , very functional family, 2 siblings, parents married to each other, no ETOH, our family was the fun place to be in the neighborhood. I patterned my parenting skills by the way I was raised ,and I have two wonderful adult children who are quite well adjusted, married, one has 2 grandbabies for me, and they all love their mama. And that is all that counts. No interest in nursing tho. I made sure of that.

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I am first born. My was first born. We are not alcoholic.

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I am a first born. My family made growing up a wonderful experience. There was no alcohol abuse in our family.

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Specializes in Emergency room, Flight, Pre-hospital.

First Born, no ETOH, however fater verbally abusive and mental illness.

RN friend is youngest however 12yrs between so grew up like only child, her father was alcoholic:idea:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehabiliation Nursing.

I am fascinated by this, and I do want to do the math, (may not happen til after xmas though, lol) I think dysfunctional family problems without the alcohol would produce the same effect, what do you think? As I said in my opening link, I am a first born with no etoh, but definate dysfunction. After all, alcoholism is a dysfunction, and I think its the caregiver role which may lead us in this direction, which may or not be the firstborns role. Great responses. Still trying to get in touch with my lcsw about this. Just wanted to let her know! I would like to see that study that has been mentioned more than once on the thread. Anybody know where to access it?

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Here is a link to a quantitative poll so we can get some numbers:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f118/rns-mostly-first-born-alcoholic-fathers-194487.html

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Ok - I don't know what etoh is - there, I admitted it. Now I feel better.

I need a list of all the abbreviations.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
Ok - I don't know what etoh is - there, I admitted it. Now I feel better.

I need a list of all the abbreviations.

etoh = alcohol

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ETOH= ethyl alcohol.....the chemical symbol for alcohol is -oh, plus the et- to indicate what kind of -oh.....lol

hm 6 younger than 1/2 sib....etoh abuse in parental unit, but not father...more the peace maker than the caretaker

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Specializes in peds, OB/L&D, ER and peds ER.

Hi there: first born in Catholic family with a father who was a "dry drunk" depressive w/ ETOH personality. After he retired he began Zoloft and noone could believe the diff. Mom was a nurse; her father was alcoholic and mother was orphaned at age 13---very hypervigilant. Her mother was a nurse, too but no ETOH in the picture. She had a mother who never recovered from an infant's death and was certifiable as well as brilliant. Grandmother used to tell her girls she never knew a well mother. Sad.

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1st born male 1 younger brother , etoh single mother who wasnt around much.

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Specializes in PCA in Med/Surg.

First born of my parents...First born grandchild...First yep, that's me...have always taken charge of whatever and yet feel the need to take care of everyone....I come from a whole family of nurses Aunt (last born), Brother (last born), 2nd cuz (last born), Aunt (3rd born), Grandmother (6th born), GGrandmother (last born), GGGrandmother (last born), GGGGrandmother (last born)....and there are five more cuz's....anyway they are all last borns and there is only on alcholic husband (of my grandmother) I am the only first born and my dad is not an alcoholic...so mmmm.....not sure I could say she is on the right track. But...my brother 2nd born is an alcoholic and I do go round and round with him well me and my other brother (nurse)....maybe we are nurses b/c we had to take care of him

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