RNs- Mostly first born? Alcoholic fathers?

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. RNs- first born of alcoholic fathers or ?

    • 309
      RN, first born or only child of alcoholic father
    • 56
      RN, first born or only child of alcoholic mother
    • 62
      RN, first born or only child, both parents alcoholic
    • 327
      RN, first born or only child, neither parent alcoholic
    • 162
      RN, not first born, alcoholic father
    • 22
      RN, not first born, alcoholic mother
    • 30
      RN, not first born, both parents alcoholic
    • 261
      RN, not first born, neither parent alcoholic
    • 42
      Other- not listed (please explain)

1,271 members have participated

KristyBRN's thread on this topic is very interesting. She has heard that many RNs are first borns of alcoholic fathers. I thought we could use a quantitative poll on the subject.- *Please add any comment you wish, i.e. tell us if you are an only or first born.

Please choose the option that best describes you-

Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

Pedi-Gree---- You are so right, that is exactly what we strive to do for our children....we give them roots but we must also allow them wings...

I know you are so proud of your daughters as I am my son...this is just the tough part now..the beginning of him being away...but he called today and sounded great, getting involved in activities and I am so relieved that he isn't too homesick.....Thank you for your input...

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

Oh, and on another note, Pedi-Gree---you overcame alot growing up it seems...I, too, was a latchkey kid when I was 6 yrs. old..before the saying also.....Brother was a drinker, died of pancreatic cancer....

I didn't drink (rarely) but did marry 2 of them....how insane must I have been...!!!! I don't think my son will drink after seeing the problems caused by his father's drinking...I prey not.....

Seems like you must be the strongest of your siblings to have overcome what you have...God Bless and take care....

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I am a LPN with a seriously crazy, drug addicted, alcoholic mother and a dad that was basically absent. I was the second child of two.

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right...

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

RN. Oldest of 3 kids. Neither parent was alcoholic, but 1 is deeply depressed, and the other is an extremely religious hoarder. They split up when I was in my teens. When Dad left, I picked up a lot of slack.

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First Born

Bio Father (Alcoholic/Junkie)

Mommy Dearest (Functional Alcoholic)

Have 1 brother (Also a junkie)

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Most nurses I know have some codependency issues. That is part of the reason we do what we do. It fills that need for us.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, OB, Home Health/Hospice.

I am 1st Born LPN with alcoholic mother. Yea, how to survive a mad women is RIGHT ON. I learned to pray through the horrors of verbal threats of death and terror of nights. I was 22 when I became a Christian and the WORD of God healed my hatred for her. I was a very good mother to my children and dispise abuse. She died and I was free from the burden of her insanity. Sounds harsh, but what she could put her family through was sheer Hell. My father stayed with her 33 years before he divorsed her. THEN she QUIT drinking. I never went for my RN because I was determined to raise my own children and be home and have a close family. I am not saying others are wrong in having a full time carreer, but it wasn't what I wanted.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

1st born (well have 4 half sisters from Dad's 1st marriage)

Dad was an alcoholic, however became sober when I was 5, so I really don't remember much. My older half sisters have told me stories of Dad's drinking days and I am glad I didn't witness it. I went through my own hard drinking days when I was younger (late teens) and came through it through Christ and his grace. I am sure it was related to my upbringing too. Although Mom is not alcoholic or an abuser, I did suffer much emotional abuse growing up. It still clouds my perceptions of self today at 40.

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I am 1st Born LPN with alcoholic mother. Yea, how to survive a mad women is RIGHT ON. I learned to pray through the horrors of verbal threats of death and terror of nights. I was 22 when I became a Christian and the WORD of God healed my hatred for her. I was a very good mother to my children and dispise abuse. She died and I was free from the burden of her insanity. Sounds harsh, but what she could put her family through was sheer Hell. My father stayed with her 33 years before he divorsed her. THEN she QUIT drinking. I never went for my RN because I was determined to raise my own children and be home and have a close family. I am not saying others are wrong in having a full time carreer, but it wasn't what I wanted.

good for you !! I did the same thing, I always worked part time/PRN so I could raise my son.....now he is away at College for his first year and I am still PRN.....never did like that full time work ....I want to be home when he comes home..!!!:loveya: BTW, I had alc. father (abusive) alc. mother (loving, functional) and I went through a period of drinking when I was young but when my son was born, I quit, completely...he saved my life...

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.

RN not first born

Neither parent were alcoholics. But both smoked pot all the time.

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First born (LPN, can I still play in the poll?) but I do have older sisters and a brother from my dads 1st marriage, but I am the oldest of my mom and dads marriage.

Father-non alcoholic, no drugs, no issues (died at 42)

Mother-non alcoholic but came from a family full of them. My mom rarely drank, a glass of wine every now and again. The last 3 years, I've noticed she ALWAYS has a glass of wine in her hand.

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