How did you convince your wife/significant other to support decision?

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Hey guys,

Just wondering if any of you had trouble telling your wife or significant other (for those in relationships of course) that you wanted to become a nurse? I'm sure for some of you, it may have been a natural progression, ie LPNs or other health care backgrounds, but for those of you coming from completely different backgrounds, how'd you do it?

My wife already knows I've been thinking about doing it and looking into CNA courses and figuring out the schematics of getting into nursing school, prereqs and how long it would take, but I think she's scared I might actually do it.

Thanks for any helpful input:rolleyes:

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Specializes in RN.

I have thought about nursing for many years. I lost my job in 2006, was able to secure 2 years of Gov't assistance to go to school for nursing, and went for it. She supports me fully. If she didn't I would have serious issues with that. Why woudl anyone not support someone going in to nursing?

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Specializes in ER.

I did not have to "convince" my wife. She thought it was a great idea. This is going to be a difficult change for all involved, but it will be well worth it in the end. I would hope there is not much "convincing" needed!

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

You just tell her, "Woman, I wear the pants in this family and this is what we are going to do"....LOL, my wife would laugh in my face!

In reality my wife was very supportive but it was a natural progression for me because I have worked in healthcare since highschool and my hospital actually helped pay for school so it was an easy decision.

What aspect is she "scared" of? The long hours studying and the expense or just the fact that you would be a "nurse"? Don't see how she could argue with good wages and job security...

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

I went by the school one day on the way home from my prior job and registered for my courses to start the following week. I came home and told my wife I was going to school...... She said ok.... im a nurse now, that was about 6 years ago and I have been working as an RN for 2.5 years now....

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Thanks for your replies guys. I think what has my wife concerned is that nursing is something I came across after considering Social Work for several years. I have read a lot of information about how nursing offers many opportunities for working closely with patients and offering psychosocial support to them and their families. So, I think she was pretty surprised when I told her about the idea of going into nursing as a career. I think she will be supportive of whatever path I take, as long as I believe it is what I want to do.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

For me it was largely economic. Either go into nursing or look at moving to another part of the country. She didn't want to move and she was tired of me job hopping from one failing enterprise to another.

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I'm new to the forums. For me, my family actually talked me into it. I also have several family members in the field, one of which is male. I guess there was no problems with me. It would interesting to see if anyone encountered any resistance choosing this field from friends and family because they are a male.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Nah. I think the stereotype is no longer about male nurses but instead that people actually care if a nurse is male. Nobody seems to bat an eye so far as I've seen.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

I had been thinking about it for years, mostly because of the opportunity and security. At the time I was a commisioned sales rep.

We kept discussing it and she was very supportinve. In fact she was more optimistic about the possibility than I was. She looked at area programs, created some pre-req pathways for each, checked local community colleges and did all the leg work.

She proved to me that it was doable. A couple of days later I was down at the CC registering for basic chem as a refresher for organic and an online nutrition class. 18 months later I started nursing school (about 7 months behind our forecast).

I passed my boards recently and am interviewing for a job I'd really like to get very soon.

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Congrats to you...hard work paid off

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I would love my husband to come into nursing I think he would make an awesome nurse-I did broach the subject but financially we cant afford it at this time but he is only 38 so we can play around with the idea for a little while.

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