Need Advice- non supportive SO

Published

Ok heres the thing, I have a BS in HR management and I don't like the field. I am currently taking pre- reqs to make a transition into the medical field. I really want to do nursing but my SO is so unsupportive. He tells me that nursing is a lowly career, that I will only wipe butts all day, and if I want to be in the field I should aim for the top of the field like becoming a dr or pharmacist. How do I convince him that Nurses are vital and it is a career that he should respect?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Care.

I don't know why you should have to convince him of anything. Assuming he can read, he can find out all by himself what nurses do and what nursing is all about. You might want to find some statistics illustrating what nurses in your state can expect to earn. That tends to open eyes. But I wouldn't worry too much about trying to convince anyone of anything.

If you want to be a nurse, then go to nursing school. If you don't, then don't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I'm curious to know what your boyfriend does for a living. Either way, you have to do what is best for yourself, not him. One thing for sure is that you should be able to find a position no matter what, because there will always be sick people. If this is a calling for you, he should either respect it or hit the road. Also, if he is acting like this while you are preparing, watch out when you actually start the nursing program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

your choice in a career will last a long time, a so sometimes becomes a memory but you will probably always need to work so do something that you really want to do

Up Vote Up Vote ×

my SO is an engineer. I can't say he's completley unsupportive, I am a stay at home mom to out 18 month old son. So financially he is supportive, but any other war, forget it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

You can provide information, give statistics and speak to friends, but he will believe what he wants to believe. Do you think that he would rather that you stay home? Some spouses are intimidated when a person becomes independent. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

I want to say just go for it anyway, but it is really hard to get through nursing school without support from your closest family. I had some family who had the same type of opinion of nurses as your SO does, but luckily my husband was fully supportive. I am an engineer turned nurse (graduate next week) and couldn't be happier. Many ask why I would give up a great career path for nursing and I have to say that it just wasn't a fit for me and I love nursing. It may seem strange to some but no one knows what you want more than you do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's funny! I'm dating an engineer, and one of the reasons he's attracted to me is because I'm becoming a nurse. His sister just became a nurse practitioner, and he says he's so proud of her because he says nurses have such a profound impact on peoples lives.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

if you want to do this, nothing will stop you, even your SO. but your second guessing...are you maybe just doing what he wants to make him happy?

not trying to be mean or accuse you of anything by any means. but if you want it, prove him wrong

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Surgical.

My husband didn't support me in any way except with general household finances and I made it through nursing school just fine. If you want to do it, don't worry about it. With me, it was just kind of like being single (with children) and getting through school. At least he brought home money from his job, even if I worked part-time too, so I was better off than many trying to get through school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro /Med-Surg.

Has he ever been in the hospital or has any of his family?? Do your homework, go to your local hospital find a floor with more nurses who are there because they care than because they want to make money, then take him and let him see how the nurse who just worked 13 hours without a break stays with a patient who keeps tring to put out their trach until the floor can find a sitter while her (the patient's) nurse clocks out on time. Or find out where the nurse works who will come in on her day off to start an IV just because the patient will not let anyone else do it even though she needs the IV meds if she ever hopes to leave the hospital. Find a home health or hospice nurse who stops the see that one patient who isn't on the list for today but she knows that the patient's family members either don't care too or lives to far away to do it. Or if he is more concerned about the money part of it you can bring him by my floor we have more than our share of nurses who would rather answer persol calls or email than the patients call light.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.

its hard for me to believe in this day and age that anyone , especially a professional like your SO, would think that "nurses just wipe butts". i would expect a teenager to say that but most adults have been to a hospital once or twice or to clinics. can't help but laugh at it. anyway, do what you want to do and i agree with another poster that stated maybe he is afraid of your potential to be independent. nurse salaries are good. i make over 60k every year and i know other nurses who work OT who make 80-100k and they are not advanced practioners. good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion