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.
I'm not a nurse yet, but I am entering my last year of nursing school in August. I am the oldest, and my father was an alcoholic, my mother suffered from clinical depression. I'm used to having to "take care" of others, I've been doing it since I was 10 years old, taking care of my younger brothers and sister.
Also, mental illness and addiction run on BOTH sides of the family, so yes, I come from a very dysfunctional family, but I've isolated myself to only my immediate family because I don't like the choas and drama my extended family brings. Although I function well in crisis, I prefer to live a peaceful life, so I avoid conflict, negative drama, and confortation when I can. I'd rather squash it and come with a solution before it gets to the point of dislike or distain for either person involved.
So, I guess it's some truth to this theory in my opinion.
2nd or 3rd born depending on how you look at it. Very dysfunctional family. Dumped on grandparents as a baby. Mom left the state and Dad was a junkie/alcoholic. No affection in our family at all and I was one that had to raise myself. Also first in the entire family to go to college and actually stick with it.
Youngest of two sisters. Maternal grandmother died of alcoholic cirrhosis at the age of 58 41 years ago this month. Her third husband (my Mother's Stepfather) was also an alcoholic who died nine years later and is currently barking in hell for molesting my sister when she was a child. :angryfire
I am the first born female. My father is not so much into alcohol as he is drugs. I wonder if that counts. I am a very caring person, and I am often the one who understand where people are coming from.
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
Interesting. First born female, alcoholic father here (taking my boards Tuesday!). However dad's alcoholism wasn't a pronounced problem until after I was already in nursing school. My aunt (an LPN, then an RN, dad's sis) is also the first born female of an alcoholic father. Interesting theory.
shoegalRN, RN
1,338 Posts
Interesing thread.
I'm not a nurse yet, but I am entering my last year of nursing school in August. I am the oldest, and my father was an alcoholic, my mother suffered from clinical depression. I'm used to having to "take care" of others, I've been doing it since I was 10 years old, taking care of my younger brothers and sister.
Also, mental illness and addiction run on BOTH sides of the family, so yes, I come from a very dysfunctional family, but I've isolated myself to only my immediate family because I don't like the choas and drama my extended family brings. Although I function well in crisis, I prefer to live a peaceful life, so I avoid conflict, negative drama, and confortation when I can. I'd rather squash it and come with a solution before it gets to the point of dislike or distain for either person involved.
So, I guess it's some truth to this theory in my opinion.