My Daughter is Interested in Nursing

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Specializes in Intensive Care.

This is really an, off the LPN to RN nursing student, topic. I am currently a LPN to RN student and I FINALLY got one of my children to cross over and become interested in nursing. I fare pretty well when it comes to "tutoring" my daughter in her Mathematics, English, and Science courses but I have no idea where to begin to "introduce" her to nursing concepts. How much is too much when it comes to teaching nursing concepts? Should I keep it simple (ie basic medical terminology, simple A&P and microbiology concepts, and a little Fundamentals of Nursing)? Or should I go all the way (ie pretty much turn her into a professional nursing student before she enters high school)??

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

If she's not even in high school yet and you are pushing nursing on her- back off and let her make her own decisions. It seems from your phrasing (FINALLY got one to cross over) and her age that this is YOU and not HER.

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

She's not even in high school yet! Even if she is interested in nursing now she may well change her mind by the time she finishes high school. I'd say give her a solid background that she can take any direction (i.e.knowledge of and success in a wide variety of subjects) and allow her to pursue her own interests as they come to her. You force her to become a "professional nursing student" now and I can almost guarantee she'll be completely burnt out and have no interest by the time she graduates high school.

If nursing is something she is genuinely interested in she'll be asking questions and seeking knowledge on her own - provide answers and resources as different subjects arise naturally in conversation. Let her direct her own learning at this point.

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Umm, let her be a kid and find her own way. Parents that get this involved in their kid's choices have kids that end up with depression as freshman in college because they don't know how to think or make decisions for themselves.

Depression is at an all time high for college freshman. There have been several studies done on this and it has been traced back to helicopter parenting. She's in middle school for goodness sakes!!

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You should literally not do a thing besides help her with her homework IF SHE ASKS YOU TO. At this rate you are going to have her turned off to nursing and school in general while she's in high school and you'll be lucky if she even wants to go to college with a helicopter parent monitoring her every move academically. Let her find her own path and stop trying to create a mini me.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Maybe you should give her five minutes to decide what she wants to do in life without your pressure. She isn't even in High School and you say you "finally" convinced her. Did you start when she was five? No you shouldn't teach her to be a nurse. She needs to focus on her grades in high school and I don't know, maybe do some sports or afterschool club and enjoy her teenage years.

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Specializes in Intensive Care.

Maybe I used the wrong words...I am not pressing ANY of my children to go into the nursing field. I find there are FAR TOO MANY nurses out here who shouldn't even be nurses. Her decision to want to be a nurse is HER DECISION not mine. But thanks for your input.

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Specializes in Intensive Care.
If she's not even in high school yet and you are pushing nursing on her- back off and let her make her own decisions. It seems from your phrasing (FINALLY got one to cross over) and her age that this is YOU and not HER.

Maybe I used to wrong words...I did not PUSH HER into nursing. She has a mind of her own. My children decide for themselves what they want to do. What I should have said is that I set a great example of what a nurse should be and she likes what she sees in her mother. Thanks for you input!

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Specializes in Intensive Care.
She's not even in high school yet! Even if she is interested in nursing now she may well change her mind by the time she finishes high school. I'd say give her a solid background that she can take any direction (i.e.knowledge of and success in a wide variety of subjects) and allow her to pursue her own interests as they come to her. You force her to become a "professional nursing student" now and I can almost guarantee she'll be completely burnt out and have no interest by the time she graduates high school.

If nursing is something she is genuinely interested in she'll be asking questions and seeking knowledge on her own - provide answers and resources as different subjects arise naturally in conversation. Let her direct her own learning at this point.

First of all, I wanted to be a nurse since the age of 8 or 9, my daughter is 12. I see no harm in "introducing" nursing concepts to her if she's interested. I just wanted to know how much is too much. I also know that she could change her mind later on. I would NEVER pressure my children to do something they don't want to do. Thanks for your input.

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Specializes in Intensive Care.
Umm, let her be a kid and find her own way. Parents that get this involved in their kid's choices have kids that end up with depression as freshman in college because they don't know how to think or make decisions for themselves.

Depression is at an all time high for college freshman. There have been several studies done on this and it has been traced back to helicopter parenting. She's in middle school for goodness sakes!!

I don't know what "helicopter parenting" is but I doubt I am doing that! If she has an interest because she loves what she sees in me as a nurse, why not "introduce" her to it? I've loved nursing since I was 8 or 9. My daughter is 12 and she is NOT being pressured. Nursing is NOT for everyone.

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Specializes in Intensive Care.
You should literally not do a thing besides help her with her homework IF SHE ASKS YOU TO. At this rate you are going to have her turned off to nursing and school in general while she's in high school and you'll be lucky if she even wants to go to college with a helicopter parent monitoring her every move academically. Let her find her own path and stop trying to create a mini me.

Like I said I have no idea what "helicopter parenting" is. My children decide for themselves what they want to do. I would NEVER pressure them into doing something they don't truly have a love for. My daughter (as well as my three other children) our home educated, so I can't help but be involved in helping them with their "home" work. As for the "trying to create a mini me", that's not how I do things. Just because I have loved nursing since I was nine and couldn't see myself being anything but a nurse, doesn't mean she will follow the same path. You assumed I was influencing her decision, but you didn't really answer my question. Thanks for your input.

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Like I said I have no idea what "helicopter parenting" is. My children decide for themselves what they want to do. I would NEVER pressure them into doing something they don't truly have a love for. My daughter (as well as my three other children) our home educated, so I can't help but be involved in helping them with their "home" work. As for the "trying to create a mini me", that's not how I do things. Just because I have loved nursing since I was nine and couldn't see myself being anything but a nurse, doesn't mean she will follow the same path. You assumed I was influencing her decision, but you didn't really answer my question. Thanks for your input.

Not at all surprised that your children are home schooled. But I did answer your question. Leave her alone. Don't do anything related to nursing. If she actually wants it she will ask you questions or seek the information out herself. You shouldn't "keep it simple and introduce her to basics" or "turn her into a professional nursing student." None of the above.

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