Support from family/friends?

juji fruit · Jul 14, 2003

I had to overcome the blatent disaproval of my best freind to get this far in my training. When I was taking my prereq's, she told me my one-year old was "sad" because of me going to school because she cried when I had to leave her with a babysitter. To this day, she does not encourage me at all. Every once in a while she will remind me that her mom, an RN, hated her job and quit it to be a checker at a grocery store. I do have a tolerant husband, who is not overtly encouraging, but has not complained about the financial burden and a dirty house. My dad and sister on the other hand are very encouraging. It just depends on everybody's opinion how encouraging they will be. I am glad I listened to my heart and got out of a dead end job into something that has benefits beyond an hourly wage...

Court

P.S. nursing school is the hardest and most rewarding thing I have done, second to being a parent, of course :0)

caligirl · Jul 14, 2003

I have had nothing but support from my close friends/family. My husband is extremely happy considering my original plan was to be a social worker. I would have had to get my masters and make WAAAY less money than I would with my BSN. He supports me financially and emotionally. He is in a masters program right now (as well as being in the military) so he knows what it is like to be a student. I am blessed that I don't have to work and my daughter is in full time daycare. If I was not in the situation I was in right now, I would not be able to do it. I would still be working. My mom is excited for me and since she is a social worker, she is always sending me job updates for nurses needed in social work!

I have heard a lot of negative comments from others that are in the medical field! In one of my nursing classes, I heard that is common.

Catherine's mom · Jul 14, 2003

My husband is incredibly supportive of me, I gave up a full time job to go to nursing school full time so he is the sole moneymaker of the family. On top of that his job is very stressful and he travels a lot.

My kids are divided--the girls (20 and 6) are excited, but my son (16) sees no benefit at all as we graduate the same year-he from high school and me from nursing! Oh well. My in laws are a huge help also, they get my daughter on the bus and watch her when I have classes.

Friends basically say "oh really?" with a blank expression, as others have said they have no clue what is going on in nursing.

fnimat1 · Jul 14, 2003

Echo*echo,

You have to do what's best for YOU...yeah, I understand that things would go a little better if you had the support of loved ones but that's just not how life goes. As far as my family and friends go...I have wonderful support from most of my relatives....a few are questioning my desire to be a nurse..mainly because I wanted to be a teacher for so long. My parents were shocked....lol. As long as you know that you have a passion for this profession and it's going to make you fulfilled and happy...then go for it!!!!! In the end, when you finish nursing school they will be sooooo proud of you they will not be able to contain themselves....:)

Hugs,

Fatima

Tarian · Jul 14, 2003

I've found that overall friends and family have been immensely supportive of me. Of course not everyone agrees that THEY would want to be a nurse (I get a lot of "yucks" and "icks" on the topic), but they see me as being a good one myself.

If people are concerned about you supporting yourself, there's ALWAYS loans to get you through the next few years (if you need them) and then you've got your choice of jobs once you graduate! Not many other fields right now can offer you the ability to really be able to choose exactly where you want to move, and yet still be able to get a job after the fact... often with sign-on bonuses! It's really such a great idea, financially, to be in nursing now. Maybe you can get those close to you to focus on THAT instead?

giggles66 · Jul 15, 2003

I really do not have much support. I have no family both of my parents passed way and everyone went there own seperate ways. I try to rely on my friends they say that they are supportive of me I do not know. I guess I'll have to keep pressing on to try and get my Nursing degree.

Carmen

echo*echo · Jul 15, 2003

Hi Carmen,

We are in the same boat. My mother passed away five years ago and my father and I have basically not spoken for 15 years--and he lives thirty minutes away. My older sister, the only college graduate in my family, is extremely critical of my decision. She is very successful (the only one in my family who is) and has always looked down on me, or anyone else not as successful as her. She doesn't consider nurses to be professionals like her. The only relative I am really close to is my Aunt.

One thing I am considering once I start my ADN program is seeking out other singles in the program for support. Maybe if I find two or three in a similar situation we can rent a house or something. That way we will not only have mutual support and study buddies, but we can save some money as well! Not everyone has a spouse or BF/GF to lean on. Just a thought!

FutureNurse2005 · Jul 15, 2003

my husband will be paying my way, but other than that, it seems I am on my own! lol He just doesnt seem interested in hearing about it, and he actually tells me I am "nuts" when I start talking about just how much work is involved in the program. He thinks it will be an hour or two of homework each night! :rolleyes: Yeah, whatever...

My parents just want me to graduate from something. I dont think they care either! lol

Oh well, i'm determined and I am going to make it!

rnnurse2be · Jul 15, 2003

Originally posted by Jen2
What upsets me is that I have done pre-reqs for two years, and when I recieved my acceptance letter it was my biggest accomplishment so far. My mom just said "I thought you were already in nursing school." God love her, she has no clue.

Now that is Funny! My DH is somewhat the same way... I keep retelling him... and retelling him... I finally said When I scream because of happiness ... Be happy... if I cry... hug me... LOL!

I figured since they arn't there at school, hearing the inns and outs all the time, they really are outta the loop.

Ya just gotta love um!:kiss

rnnurse2be · Jul 15, 2003

Originally posted by iliel
Funny how people can be. I have found that my TRUE friends are supportive. Half my family thinks I'm "not book smart enough" (my grandmother actually said that to me!)
The weirest reaction I got was from a high school teacher, she was a pt at the dental office I worked in, she told me the pay is bad, the hours suck, and you should go into a feild where other people will respect you. How can a high school teacher, who should support kids dreams of becoming what ever they want, tell me that I shouldn't do this!
All the negative, just makes me work that much harder. :)

Iliel, it makes you wonder if they cant hear what they say, you know? I mean, "helloo, anyone home" Not book smart, now that had to hurt. I agree, when someone tells me I cant, or its to hard... I try all the harder to prove them WRONG!

dosamigos76, RN · Jul 16, 2003

My husband is wonderful. He's proud of me and extremely supportive. I couldn't do this without him. My mother is more proud of the fact that I took a "walking and conditioning" class than my microbiology class this summer. Go figure.

I found that I have made friends at school of people that I think have something on the ball and aren't the complainers. I hate negativity and don't want it to rub off on me.

You'll love Albuquerque Echo! Take your time choosing friends and you'll have more support than you ever imagined.

Cheryl

maire, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2003

Originally posted by echo*echo
Out of curiosity, how supportive have family and friends been with your decision to enter Nursing School? Are they offering encouragement? Emotional, financial, or any other type of positive support? Or are they indifferent? Or are they trying to discourage your dreams of becoming a nurse?

My family and friends are behind me 110%. My aunt is a nurse, one of my cousins is a nurse, my best friend is a nurse, and 2 of my parents' neighbors are nurses, so the profession is highly regarded in my little section of the planet. My husband is proud of me, tells everyone that he married "the smart one." My friends and acquaintances all think it's great that I will be doing something so "noble" and "fulfilling." My parents have already said that they will be in the first row when I graduate, and have made it a point to buy all of my school supplies (uniforms, stethoscope, shoes, etc.). They are proud and thrilled that I chose to go into this profession, and I think my being the only one of the 4 spawn to graduate from college might have had something else to do with it. Oh, and my daughters think I'm "cool." :rolleyes:

The only negativity I've heard was from nurses who were burned out, hated their jobs, hated their coworkers, thought doctors sucked, etc. That negativity wasn't aimed at me going into nursing, just about working in general. I've never been discouraged from doing this, just warned about what can be out there.