What does family/friends think of nursing?

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Most people just say, "oh you're a nurse. Where do you work? What type of patients do you get?" And more or less that's the end of subject.

I do get the discussion of bedpans and I would never be a nurse. (rare but comes up every so often)I usually don't care what people say but somethings come upon me--a girl from my playgroup--I've known her for 6 years--brought up her lack of interest in nursing.

She mentioned months and months ago about nursing--and bedpans. She mentioned it yesterday--she isn't trying to make feel bad. But the bedpans came up again--touching old people (which I love and I told her you'd love them if you spent a lot of time with them--actually over the years I prefer caring for elder over young people) --when I mentioned my prefered unit was ICU (since I'm a pool nurse) she said, "how can you handle constant death?" Knock on wood only one of my patients have died--and she was a DNR--hospice. I've had patients hearts stop but revive them. Last time I worked my patient went in Torsades--such things occasionally happen but I explained all and all most patients leave ICU ALIVE.

I didn't realize what she said would erk me. People have said negative stuff about nursing before and not once did it erk me. The goof I am just called her...I had to get it off my chest...well I wimped out and didn't mention it. I know I shouldn't get upset--I guess I'm a little emotional today.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

OH yes, get that all the time...especially since I am around paramedics and fire all the time, I am a "licensed pillow fluffer" or "licensed wiping tech"...LOL! I just shrug it off and say "yeah, and how much do you make again?!?!?" LOL!

With other folks I find them to be much more enthusiastic, saying "wow! You are a nurse!!!" then telling me all their latest medical information/probelms..LOL! That bugs me far more than someone calling me a wiping tech. I have to remind folks constantly that I am a person outside of work that would like to have NON medical discussions..LOL!

Just take it as a great learning experience for that person...tell them what it is a nurse is! If we all do that, maybe nursing will be understood by the general public much more, which would be a huge benifit to all! :)

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Specializes in M/S, OB, Ortho, ICU, Diabetes, QA/PI.

family-wise, I come from a very blue-collar family and I was the first in my family (my dad is one of 9, my mom is one of 6 - 30-some first cousins) to get a Bachelor's degree AND to do something in the medical profession so my family was totally in awe of me, even before I went to NP school and got a Masters - I'm currently considering doctoral work and know my mom is going to freak out at the thought of having the only "Dr" in the family, both sides.

so, family-wise, I rule...

friend and acquaintance-wise, it's no big deal - I don't mind when someone asks a medical question because in our group of friends, if you want some help buying a car, you call John, construction issues, call Jim, need office furniture, call Tim, need real estate advice, call Kenny, need medical advice, call me........I do draw the line at my mother-in-law's little old friends who ask weird questions and never take my recommendations anyway....... :chuckle

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Even though I am just now applying to nursing school, my family and friends are so supportive. With a few exceptions.

I am leaving a career at a major international donor agency --- I work with nurses, midwives and Doctors who are paper pushers and they couldn't be more supportive. Only one gal said I should go to be a nutrionist instead --- She is an PhD in public health from an ivy league and is very snobby... So I just smile and say no thanks and watch her walk back to this tiny grey cubical where she sits for 9 hours a day... and laugh -- I NEVER want to be like her!

The two family memebers who aren't - my dad and step mom. They are NYers. She is a big corporate executive. They see nuring as a "lowly" profession. they don't undertand why I don't just go and get my MD. They don't get it! I am CHOSING to be a nurse. They see international public health as more "productive". I just ignore the comments and say well it is my dream. I guess there is nothing glamourous about it to them!!! I guess he'll change his tune once he goes into the hosptial for some reason or another -- and sees what nurses really do...

K

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I truly belive that no one understands exactly what I do. My dad and hubby are Paramedics. Hubby used to think that only ER nurses do (hardly)anything, until I started working in BMT. I would tell him about situations, anf things I had to do, and he'd say 'you do that? You're allowed to do that?' (half joking, but I know, half serious).

Unless you've been in the hospital (or are a nurse), I assume no one can appreciate what we do. I think my parents (esp my mom) is still surprised at the things I tell her (maybe its just that I'm still her baby).

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Specializes in Medical.

Most of my friends are nurses, or former nurses, so no problems there :) My mother used to be a nurse and is now a naturopath - although things have changed since she left nursing in the mid 1960's, enough's the same that she can relate.

The rest of my family are wholly unmedical - well, dad's a dentist, but he has no concept of anything below the jaw, so I don't think that counts!

I think my family, and my few non-nursing friends, have a composite picture of nursing work from TV programs and brief hospital visits (as patients or visitors). They have no idea at all what I do, how sick some of my patients are, or the kinds of responsibilities I have. And it doesn't really come up that often - I have three sibs, two with partners, and we hardly ever talk about work. I can't really complain when I have no idea what a post-doc astrophysicist, an office manager, an ad director, a conservation management graduate or senior policy adviser do!

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Specializes in L & D.

My husband is thrilled that I've decided to become a nurse. He knows I always regretted not going into medicine, so he's very supportive. Our daughters, ages 6 and 3, are very excited that their mommy is going to become a nurse! :nurse:

Most other people - family & friends - just look confused and ask why I would give up a career as a civil engineer to become a nurse. I've tried to explain that going to work each day can be torture if you don't love what you do. Even though I could make more money as an engineer, I'd be miserable. Honestly, a wildly busy twelve hour shift in a hospital will be a relief after sitting behind a desk for 8 hours a day. I was a good engineer, but it's not my "passion".

Beth

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My family is cautious about asking me questions, only because they know that I get testy if they ask me for advice, I expect them to follow it ("...why did you ask me if you weren't going to follow the advice?":uhoh21:)

Mostly I get weird looks from acquaintences because I don't do patient care. They say things like "oh...so what DO you do?"

I think most people outside of the profession don't have a clue to the opportunities that nursing offers...

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Specializes in surgical, emergency.

I have a great support system in my family.

I have been blessed to have a wonderful mother who is a RN (now retired), who got into the business in the early 50's.

I grew up around orderlies, LPN's, RN, OR techs, lab tech, docs and others related to our local medical community.

I literally learned to walk in the halls of our local hospital, waiting for mom, who was second shift supervisor, to get off work.

I volunteered at the hospital before I could drive, and nursing school, seemed a logical choice.

Mom and I "talk shop" all the time, especially over dinner, which is sometimes a problem with civilians at the table too!! :chuckle

And now, don't ask me why, my oldest daughter wants to be a nurse, and is actually fininishing up soon. We talk shop, and I try to support, but don't push, just the way mom did for me!!! Great times at the dinner table for the 3 of us anyway!!!

When she said, she wanted to be a nurse, the only thing I insisted on was that she became a nurses tech (or aid). Learn the job from the bottom up, and understand bedpans, Q2h turns, etc. On my suggestion she has also become a ED tech, and is learning blood draws, 12 lead EKGs, etc

My other daughter by the way, just the other way, she hates to touch raw hamburger!!!

So I'm very lucky. The rest of my family tolerates our conversations, and knows who to ask for medical help, in times of need.

Mike

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Specializes in NICU.

I don't recall what year all those real life ER trauma, labor/delivery and NICU shows started becoming popular, but I want to say it was toward the end of my time in nursing school. Prior to those shows becoming popular, I found that people weren't terribly impressed by my intent to become a nurse. But now, I find that when I tell people I'm a NICU nurse, they think it's so neat because they've seen those shows! Of course, then you have to explain that the content they put on the shows is usually the most exciting stuff and that there's so much more to nursing than all that. But at least some people are starting to realize that wiping up poop and throw up isn't all that we do!

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oh yes, get that all the time...especially since i am around paramedics and fire all the time, i am a "licensed pillow fluffer" or "licensed wiping tech"...lol! i just shrug it off and say "yeah, and how much do you make again?!?!?" lol!

with other folks i find them to be much more enthusiastic, saying "wow! you are a nurse!!!" then telling me all their latest medical information/probelms..lol! that bugs me far more than someone calling me a wiping tech. i have to remind folks constantly that i am a person outside of work that would like to have non medical discussions..lol!

just take it as a great learning experience for that person...tell them what it is a nurse is! if we all do that, maybe nursing will be understood by the general public much more, which would be a huge benifit to all! :)

well...maybe not in human eyes, but in godly eyes, i suspect there are few acts cherished by the almighty as much as the humility of wiping someone's behind, giving that person dignity, when they are unable to do so themselves. :saint: :redpinkhe

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Specializes in LTC, med-surg, critial care.
OH yes, get that all the time...especially since I am around paramedics and fire all the time, I am a "licensed pillow fluffer" or "licensed wiping tech"...LOL! I just shrug it off and say "yeah, and how much do you make again?!?!?" LOL!

My best friends husband is a fireman (seasonal because he's new). Last weekend he was teasing me saying "You work in a controled enviroment, how hard is that? I have to combat the elements.." I replied "At least I can work all year long.";) That shut him up real quick.

My family is totally supportive of my decision my mother's side is from Mexico and they all worked in the fields at one point in time so me becoming a nurse is a big deal. I'm the second youngest out of five girls and will be the only one to actually graduate college.

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