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.
Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.
Both my parents had 2 children from first marriages, but I'm the firstborn of their 12 children together. My dad didn't drink, but mom's father and brother were probably alcoholic. I did grow up doing a lot of babysitting for my brothers & sisters.
this is a theory b/c of the codependent association with women and nursing. codependent woman like to "fix" people and make things better. codependency comes from alcoholic relationships, first born may mean you try harder to be the "parent" and make things ok. that is probably where the LSW got the idea from
Freaky. I am the first born and both of my fathers (my parents are divorced) had trouble with alcoholism at one time or another in their lives. I've also always been the family caretaker.
I share the title of first born with my twin sister. I am technically the second born, but I don't recognize the 4 minute difference in our age. My father was and still is an alcoholic. He was verbally and emotionally abusive. We have a good relationship now. My twin sister is NOT a nurse.
1st born;father commited suicide; stepfather abusive alcoholic; have been a caregiver role my whole life as have most of the nurse i have known in 20 plus yrs of practice. ive had this discussion with others before, & i think there's a lot of validity to the theory
Myxel67
463 Posts
Both my parents had 2 children from first marriages, but I'm the firstborn of their 12 children together. My dad didn't drink, but mom's father and brother were probably alcoholic. I did grow up doing a lot of babysitting for my brothers & sisters.