Police officer or RN

Cmariehart · May 25, 2007

That sounds a lot like me!!!!!!! The only reason I became a nurse instead of a cop is because I hurt my knee in volleyball and I'm not supposed to run anymore..... So being a cop got put to the back burner... But there's always forensic nursing!!!!! I can't wait to go back to school for that!!!!!!!!

And no I don't regret being a nurse!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!!!

texas_lvn · May 25, 2007

Well, there are a few things here that you havent stated. How old is your son? and not to sound like a horrible person, Its not your option.

It is your sons. It is his life and he will be the one hating or loving his job.

You DO learn empathy and compassion in law enforcement also. I have a few years experience in both, and love both very much. There are many options in both fields.

Look at the apprehensions that MSNBC has made with the child predetors, look at forensic "CSI" components of being a peace officer.

Good luck to ya.

allnurses Guide · May 25, 2007

I would have to say leave the decision to your son. The more you push him in one direction the more than likely he is to rebel and go the other way.

clemmm78, RN · May 25, 2007

Since it's your son's life and the difference between being a nurse and a police officer is huge, I'd say this is not your business, really.

My two older kids are at the career/profession deciding ages now (18 and 20) and I'd never dream of trying to push them in one direction or another. When my 15-yr old gets to that phase, I'll have the same approach.

Be supportive of what your son chooses.

anonymurse · May 25, 2007

Or it may be that neither of you is perceiving his "best fit" future.

Gennaver, MSN · May 25, 2007

hi everyone, i have a question;
my son wants to be a police officer because he wants to aprehend the "bad guys", but i believe that he should become an rn to learn compassion and emphaty.... am i wrong?

uh,

how old is your son?

if he is old enough to already apply for positions then why not encourage his natural talents and make him feel accepted, respected and encouraged?

sure beats having him spend 20 years miserable or in therapy saying "mom never understood i wanted to be a police officer" or "i hate my job as a nurse but, my family 'made' me do it". right?

best,

gen

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · May 25, 2007

As others have said, it's not your decision.

You definitely don't want him to paint himself into a corner. He might do that, if you push.

Encourage him to do the best he can at whatever he does, and to follow his heart. Also remind him, and yourself, that people can and do change careers. That includes people in their 40's and 50's.

It's awfully hard sometimes to do the "letting go" as they grow up. That's especially so when what they choose to do is something you perceive as dangerous or risky. One of my sons is currently a correctional officer in a maximum security prison. That's pretty low on the list of things I would've chosen for him. However, it wasn't my choice to make, so I deal with it, because I have to.

Aside from that, becoming a nurse "to learn compassion and empathy" strikes me as a really bad idea.

Hoozdo, ADN · May 25, 2007

Aside from that, becoming a nurse "to learn compassion and empathy" strikes me as a really bad idea.

He doesn't need to become a nurse to learn that lesson. That lesson is more easily learned being a patient!

:monkeydance:

bigsyis · May 25, 2007

I would have to say leave the decision to your son. The more you push him in one direction the more than likely he is to rebel and go the other way.

How about EMS? That way, he could learn both sides of the fence.

oneLoneNurse · May 25, 2007

hi everyone, i have a question;
my son wants to be a police officer because he wants to aprehend the "bad guys", but i believe that he should become an rn to learn compassion and emphaty.... am i wrong?

i think becoming a nurse then a police officer would be the best of both worlds. but, your son has to learn his own lessons.

when i was young my dad wanted me to become a post master in a small rural community. would i have been happy? i don't know, but i do know i most likely could have been retired by now.

luvmy3kids · May 25, 2007

I went to school to be a police officer (or possibly a probation officer). Here I am now... working on my ADN. The stuff I learned during school as a Criminal Justice major was really great. I always knew I wanted to work with people, help people, and try to make peoples lives better. I just didn't know that I wanted to do it by being an RN... So once I got through school and realized I didn't want to actually do the work of a police officer, I thought I was stuck.

Now that I've had about 10 more years of life experience... I've figured out that nursing is for me. I still get to do all the things I wanted to do (helping people... etc)... but I get to do it how I see myself doing those things.

Believe me... a police officer learns compassion and empathy real quick! The stuff they see on a daily basis is more than most could handle in a year. And it's not all fighting the "bad guys". A lot of it is sitting there...doing paper work... bored out of your mind ... waiting for something... anything at all to happen...

I don't know how old your son is. But if he is old enough to decide what he wants to do, then I think you should just support that and let him follow his heart. If in the end, like I did, he finds that police work isn't for him, he will move on. (and you should support that too and what it is he wants to move on to) But until then you really just need to let him know that are there.

(((You didn't say if nursing is an interest of his at all... or more yours???)))