Would you want your children to go into nursing?

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I have a child that will soon graduate from HS. The topic of carrer choices came up at work...most of my co-workers were suprised that I would not encourage nursing for my child. I will support them 100% if that is what they really want to do. What will you do?

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wow. i must be in a different rn world because for the most part, i like my job. i work for a flexible manager, in a critical care unit that works as a team, and get paid a decent wage for what i do. i've been here long enough to realize that we have our problems but what unit doesn't? no matter what you do in life, there will always be problems to be noticed. i have a 25 yo daughter in nursing school, a 19 yo daughterinlaw doing her pre-reqs to get in. and i'm happy to say i've been an influence in these decisions. i don't tell them everything is hunky-dory but where will it be? your job is what you make it.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

It was my mother that suggested that I could be a nurse. She has been a nurse for 23 years. After I got accepted into nursing school, both of my parents supported my choice and helped me in school. I would not have been able to complete school if had not been the unconditional support of my parents.

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When the topic of career choices came up with my daughter, I told her, in no uncertain terms, that she would NOT be going into nursing. I've worked in other areas and know that the nursing field is not one I'd ever encourage anyone to enter. It has had its good points, but they are too few and far between. I don't really believe that your job is what you make it - when you have outrageous patient loads and know that these poor sick folks are not getting the care they need, mandatory overtime, have to ignore the phone cause it is always work wanting you to come in, get little respect from too many physicians, have to always worry about someone suing you, routinely work surrounded by all manner of nasty diseases, and get no support from management - how can you possibly be happy at work? I stayed in it cause I lived in a tiny town, too far to go back to school, and had a family to support. Now I hope to retire in a few years. I am very happy for the folks who love their jobs, but personally have known only one nurse (in my entire career!!) who wasn't looking at the want ads every Sunday in hopes of finding a better position. O.K. - enough of my rant :chuckle This is just my humble little opinion.

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No.

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I will support my son in whatever field he chooses...however, I don't think he'd even think of nursing as a career seeing all the stress and BS I have to put up with.

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Not a chance. I have put in too many 14 hr days with no break, working for less than the people at the Honda plant make. You are exposed to too many nasty things on too many levels. When I started out 20+ years ago, I felt appreciated..but the "business" of health care invaded and the entire "nightengale" ideal got bastardized. The whole push from our administration is nice little charts and graphs and surveys for Joint Commission, They have completely lost sight of patient care. We currently have a dept. manager who is a known thief ("little" stuff) she stays, God knows why, other that she can talk the talk, she sure as hell can't walk the walk. I know that no career is perfect, but nursing in my opinion is sliding, I don't want my children to have to work like dogs and get little reward.

I have a child that will soon graduate from HS. The topic of carrer choices came up at work...most of my co-workers were suprised that I would not encourage nursing for my child. I will support them 100% if that is what they really want to do. What will you do?
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:)

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

I don't have kids, but if I did I'd want them to know how to handle their cranky mother in her demented years ;).

Seriously, nursing is still a profession I would recommend, with caveats based on the individual.

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No, for all of the reasons given by others who expanded on their "no" answers.

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no way!

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Nope!

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