Student Nurse and Family

[ali.marie123]

I really need advice. I’m a nursing student and I hate it. My mom who passed away when I was 3 was a nurse, so I was always expected to be a nurse by my controlling family. I’m and extreme introvert I’m not much of a people person (I don’t hate people I just like keeping to myself). My dream was to be a chemical engineer unfortunately my family still forced me to “try” nursing. A year and some months later I still don’t like it but my family won’t let me get a degree in anything else. My first clinical my patient who was an older male just made sexual comments and made me feel uncomfortable (that ruined it for me). There are few grateful patients out there they’re either mean cause I’m a student nurse or just mean people in general. This post makes me think it’ll never get better :(.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Hello, @ali.marie123, and welcome to Allnurses. We’ve moved your post into its own topic so that members can provide more specific responses for your situation.

Now, taking off the moderator hat to give my view on your situation:

As a nursing student, I think it’s safe to assume that you are of the age of majority. That means your family cannot truly force you to get a degree in a field of their choosing. Your are old enough to forge your own path, and unfortunately deal with the consequences of doing that. You may find your family unsupportive of you choosing your own path, but is that worth sacrificing your own dreams and interests? Can you, if your family is providing financial support, take on supporting yourself? Are you willing to delay completing a degree if you need to take time off from school to save money?

[speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

3 hours ago, ali.marie123 said:

I really need advice. I’m a nursing student and I hate it. My mom who passed away when I was 3 was a nurse, so I was always expected to be a nurse by my controlling family. I’m and extreme introvert I’m not much of a people person (I don’t hate people I just like keeping to myself). My dream was to be a chemical engineer unfortunately my family still forced me to “try” nursing. A year and some months later I still don’t like it but my family won’t let me get a degree in anything else. My first clinical my patient who was an older male just made sexual comments and made me feel uncomfortable (that ruined it for me). There are few grateful patients out there they’re either mean cause I’m a student nurse or just mean people in general. This post makes me think it’ll never get better :(.

Some patients are difficult and inappropriate, but many want help, need help, and are very thankful for it.

Having said that though - it’s OK if you truly just don’t want to be a nurse. However, you will need to be self-sufficient to pay for a degree of your choice. I understand how hard it can be - I paid for nursing school out of pocket (no loans at all) while attending fulltime nursing school commitments, working fulltime in the ER as a tech, and paying for other obligations (rent, etc.). It’s exhausting but possible.

[JKL33]

Get out if now if you thoroughly don't like the basics of the field. Continuing on with this when you truly don't like it and have some significant opposition to it is simply agreeing to misery.

I realize that it is easier said than done and don't envy you the possibility that you will have to make difficult choices that will only be harder if your family will not give you their (emotional) support.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

"Forced", "controlling". Your choice of words show that you give them too much power. Since you're in school, you may want to make use of the counseling services.

Live your own life. If they disown or shun you for doing so, well, with folks like that, it's no big loss.

[HiddencatBSN, BSN]

I would map out what it would take to become independent from your family and do that rather than waste time on a degree you don’t want.