My college aged daughter told me today that she's thinking of physical therapy as a major, instead of nursing. I told her, good, because nursing is going downhill, along with our medical system.
She is a shining academic star and will do fine with the requirements of a PT degree. She wants to do something more holistic, and doesn't like the amount of drugs nursing pushes.
I agree. I don't think modern nursing is at all holistic. We just click on boxes to fulfill government mandates, many of which are nonsensical. We have to cater to patient whims, outlandish behavior, demanding families, all in the name of customer service and positive surveys. If we dare open our mouths with the truth, then it might not be acceptable to the paying public.
We are asked to do more with less by our corporate masters, who treat us like widgets on a spread sheet. Nursing is an unfortunate and costly, difficult to manage necessity to them. They would like government to fund more training programs, so a larger labor pool can drive the costs down.
The medical system has created a population dependent on pharmaceutical answers to all of life's ailments. Corporate interests control healthcare in America. We nurses serve those economic realities.
I'm not so sure I'm sold on totally letting kids make their own choices without some input. Look at all the second degree students here with $50,000 in debt who now have found their calling and are applying for more financial aid so they can become a nurse.
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
Second degree student here.
I don't think most of us are getting a second degree in nursing because our parents didn't give us enough direction.
I had a satisfying career as a stay at home mom and then as a small business owner. My path and life experience led me to nursing, it isn't something I could have even imagined 15 years ago when I got my first degree. I have evolved to this point and so has the field of nursing.
My dad was concerned about my career choice but that was because he was worried about the abusive patients. ?.... yet I worked in hospitality as a high school student. My brother was not academic but dad's criteria was a qualification of some sort. He is a master carpenter so I think he met that :) I think setting the expectation of a qualification is a good start rather than pushing a career on your kid.
Hey, getting a qualification in one of the trades is a good way to keep a career going. Even a nursing license is a qualification of sorts. And with nursing, you get a degree too, associates or bachelors.
Even so, if I have children, I would steer them away from nursing or anything healthcare related. That goes for medicine too. It's just not worth it.
.thumb.jpg.e7b5bd336d518053002d5b4dbeef882b.jpg){kind=small}
VANurse2010
1,526 Posts
Those drugs save lives.