Most RN's first borns?

[lvs2nrs3535]

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

[UNCNurseWannaB]

I'm first born with an alcoholic father (as well as drug addict)

But... I'm male!

[SecondGenRN]

My mom was the eldest but no alcoholic father... I am the youngest of four and again... no alcoholism around here

[AussieTina]

2nd born child, but I am the first born daughter.

Dad was an alcoholic.

Interesting theory.

[imenid37]

Second daughter. I have a sister 9 years older. No ETOH w/parents and sib, but many mental issues and ETOH in grandfather. My firstborn daughter is studying nursing now.

Wasn't this the "family" situation of the Abby character on ER w/ Etoh/mentally ill mom and Abby cared for mom and brother all of her childhood? Wonder how they researched that character?

[cisco]

First born here. Father not ETOH but, he was a RAGEAHOLIC and abusive. Whole family is dysfunctional, mother co-dependant, manipulative etc.

PS: I finally got over my own co-dependence by recognizing all this and

separating myself from the whole family. Life is much better now and

even nursing is much improved because now I know how to say no!

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

I am the eldest of three, father alcoholic, mother just distracted and cold and occasionally mean. None of my sibs is in a helping profession.

Mother was/is (she says you never retire from nursing) an RN--#7 of 10, and the fifth daughter, but raised as an only child by friends of the family, so that could probably be considered "eldest." She is the only nurse in her family of origin. Her father was "a drinker," I don't know about the "foster" father.

Interesting idea, maybe someone wants to research it?

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Second born with one older brother.

Parent's neither drink nor smoke.

[scholar]

2rd year nursing student

I have 2 sisters & 2 brothers. I was the baby boy for about 12 years but now im the middle.

My brother was so crazy & immateur that my family treated me like the oldest and gave me the most responsibility b/c they couldn't not trust my brother to do anything.

No alcoholics in my family.

[mamalle]

firstborn with a family history of etoh abuse. mom and grandfather

[AlwysLrning]

2nd born but 1st born daughter. No etoh or dysfunction but many friends who had those kind of families when we were growing up. They gravitated towards my family and I always felt that since I had it so good I could give something back. Second career option for me. First was 13 years in the Air Force. I feel very service oriented.

[JennInColumbus]

I am a first born with no alcoholism in my family, my Mom, also an RN, was 5th of 6.

[txusrn1979]

First born of 4 but father not alcoholic. Brother 1 - computer software engineer, Sister - CPA/Accounting Fraud, Brother 2 - Architect.