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?

Specializes in Med-Surg.

My mom begged me not to go into nursing. Refused to support me unless I spent at least 6 months working as a tech at the hospital she works at. And, a year after school I see where she is coming from. I love it, but it is stressful. You are exposed to things most parents would not want their children to be exposed to. I luckly work with a great bunch of nurses, great nurse managers, and most of the doctors are very leveled headed. But, I have seen some places that would make it a different experience. I would most definitly encourage the kiddies to follow after daddy the Physical therapist ;)

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Specializes in Women's health & post-partum.

Yes--or some other related field. However, neither of them (now both in their 40s) has chosen to do so.

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no, i would not for all the reasons others have mentioned and the one i find the most telling: after 40 years of nursing, i have retired with no pension, no benefits, no medical insurance, and lots of physical pain from all those years of moving, lifting, bending, etc. in my job. i was able to do alot because of my nursing profession but my teacher friends have retired with full pensions and medical care, my doctor friends have retired with lots of money and a secure future, my business friends have retired with full pensions and money for security. see where i am going. the least retired nurses should have guaranteed to them is health care. nursing just does not have the future benefits that many other professions have.

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Specializes in Breast Cancer, Arterial, General Surgery.

Right now I would be happy to know that my daughter has at least some idea of what she wants to do. She hasn't a clue - and she is 28! :smackingf

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NO, I would not encourage my daughter; who is a senior and asked me about nursing. I was truthful and explained to her, if you feel you should want to be a nurse O.K. but do not pattern yourself after me. Nursing is something that you have to feel, and is not for everyone, forget the fringe benefits and I as I have told her it is not glamarous like on television. This career honestly takes a special person.

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Absolutly Not.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

No. I say this for many of the reasons described above. I have been offered a seat in a BSN program and I am really having doubts for all the reasons as described above. My one son is doing very well in school so I will encourage him toward another field like teaching or perhaps he can be a chartered accountant like my father. These jobs may at least provide sane hours and a pension.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

NO, OH NO NO NO!!!!

On top of the holidays, weekends, nights, call time, mandatory OT... I know more nurses who have been crippled by patient care than construction workers. I don't want my child to be 45 with chronic back pain, fallen arches, and a couple of hernia repairs for the money they pay us. Our vocation peeked out about 10years ago from what I can see in my area of the country. Since then it's been shorter staffing, less benifits, more regulations an paperwork, less support staff, and NO HOPE for improvment. I'd rather see my kids dig ditches than go into nursing.

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Specializes in NICU level III.

I surely wouldn't discourage my child (if I had any) from becoming a nurse. I think this field has many good qualities as well as bad. I believe this field has many opportunities to travel as well as stay at home, gain experience in many different areas, learn about about people if you are willing to listen, & you are able to meet a lot of nice people in this field. I think some of the not so great qualities is that sometimes we are over worked because we are short staffed, depending upon the area of work we can have a high staff to patient ratio which in turn leads to burn out, & sometimes this field can be harsh. Sometimes nurses take a lot of crap. . .literally!!

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Specializes in CNA, EMT.

My nurse mother cried when I told her I was going to go in to nursing. No, seriously. She cried.

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Specializes in OB, Med-Surg.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!! Oh, and NO!!! I want my children to be successful and happy but nursing is not something I really want them to be. I also don't want them to ever join the military.

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My son thought he wanted to become a RN right out of high school...then he saw all the crap I had to put up with. After he married and started a family, he decided to go back to school. He has been a RN for about 3 years and he seems to be happy. I didn't encourage him to become a RN...I wouldn't wish it on anybody! :D However, he knew what he was getting into and handles it well. Much better than I do...

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