How many nurses want their children to be nurses too?

[pumpkin1984]

It doesn't matter if they're boy or girl, how many want there children to follow in there footsteps? What department would you recommend they work in? What would you tell them to lookout for? Would you tell them to go into another career field? What are your thoughts?

[GilaRRT]

Just say no, that is how I put it when family members ask...

[MIA-RN]

I would love it if the younger members of my family grew up to become nurses. My MIL is a nurse, as is my SIL, and me. Another SIL is considering nursing. My son is working on his assoc. in business, and he and I are tossing around an idea of opening a health-care related business when I get tired of bedside.

My daughter is aimed at being a psychiatrist, but at 14, who knows if that will stick. (When I was 14 I was going to be a rock star!)

I have 9 nieces. If I convince them all to be nurses, I might be able to actually have an impact on the shortage lol.

Seriously, I think that at least some of them will end up nurses just by virtue of the examples in the family, and I will of course help and support them. And if they choose something else, I will help and support them in that choice as well.

[nici1978]

if my kids do decide to go in to the health field i will support them, but i will also tell them what it is really like to be a nurse or a doctor

nici

[ZootRN]

I am discouraging my daughter to become a nurse. She wants to be a doctor anyway. But if not a doctor, than there are other specialties, as others said, with much better working conditions and fair compensation. Pharmacists, physical therapists, radiography specialists are not exposed to usual abuses of nursing , still involve caring for the sick and make more money.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

My grandmother was a nurse supervisor in the OR, my mother was a CNA. I wanted to be a nurse since I was 5 years old, but never thought it would actually happen. Once, I did suggest to my son to become a CNA for a brief period, because he is compassionate, loves old people and the course is short. I felt it would have been good for him while he was in college for something else, but now, I am glad he didn't. My son has a social phobia and suffers from anxiety because of this. He hates to be scrutinized and criticized. He also hates cruelty of ANY kind towards anyone and animals. Nursing, unfortunately, is not a compassionate profession. Many nurses cut throat each other, eat their young and are abusive. He would not have faired well as a CNA. He is now in college for graphic arts and volunteers at a daycare center. This works better for him.

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

My stepmother followed in my foot steps, does that count? She went to LPN school about 5 years after I got my RN. My oldest daughter is a hospice NA, my youngest daughter is an EMT interested in something in the health care field, she says she wants to do flight nursing like I did at one time and I will certainly support that emotionally and financially I am sure. My son has no interest in health care, he does maintenance for a moderate size rental company in retail and housing.

[springing]

My mother's mother was an ER nurse for decades, and my mother strongly discouraged me from doing anything related to nursing when I expressed my interest, for the usual reasons (horrible patients, terrible doctors, bone-numbing hours, etc)...5 years later and I'm finally able to say screw it and try it anyway :) while I am not following in her footsteps just because she was a nurse, my grandmother was my hero, and I feel as though she would approve of this.

[generous]

Here is an interesting and related thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/would-you-recommend-nursing-your-daughter-213148.html

I donot have any kids as yet but when i do i will encourage them to become part of this noble profession,but the final decision will be theirs

[Ahhphoey]

I also don't have children yet, but as many others have stated, I would not encourage or discourage my children from pursuing nursing. I'd be happy with whatever choices they make and support them regardless, but if nursing is in their future, I will also be there to give them the good, bad and ugly about the profession. I love nursing and am happy I chose this career, however, it is not for everyone, and I'd rather give my children and any other young people considering it the low down truth without trying to discourage them from the field.

[jlcole45]

Well this is extremely interesting to me because my mother and grandmother are nurses and I NEVER thought I would go to nursing school. I honestly will:icon_wink::icon_wink: push my children to become doctors!!!!!!

Why in God's name would you do that? Don't you want them to have a life outside of work? Yes, the docs make more money and have more autonomy then us, but they pay a price for it.

We have it pretty darn good - we make decent pay, most hospital nurses only have to work 3 shifts a week, you actually get to interact with your patients for more then 5 minutes, and at the end of the day you turn the care over to someone else.

We all need to encourage smart young interested people to join the profession! Do we really want it to become a second choice profession? You all know what happens then -- we get folks who really shouldn't be in the profession taking care of patients and that's never good.

[PiPhi2004]

My mom is a nurse and she DISCOURAGED me to follow in her footsteps. She thought I wasnt the 'nursing type'. I honestly think anyone can be the nursing type, you just have to put up with a lot of crap on the way and find your niche. Im glad I proved her wrong. I love being somewhere I can learn something new everyday.

[Simplepleasures]

My daughter is an RN, I did discourage her from becoming a nurse, but when she became a nurse I actually was very proud.