@bopper My parents aren’t paying for school. I have scholarships and financial aid to cover my tuition. He knows that the nurses are the ones that over see your care. However, he still thinks it’s for women. I have read everyone’s responses and am very grateful for everyone’s support. I’m just going to try to ignore him and not let what he says get to me, and continue to follow my dreams. It sucks to not have a parent’s support for something that can better your life, but hey at least I have my mom. Life is life.
Ugh - I am sorry he reacted that way - honestly as a male, your job opportunities may be even greater than the traditional female BSN
@carachel2 Yes My D has a long term plan to get her CRNA – when I had shoulder surgery last year a nice male CRNA (married with a young child) was working with me – I think he was still finishing up his schooling and he was loving it.
DH was criticized for his career choice (pharmacy) by various family members. They all came around eventually. I think your dad will too, but it will take some time and patience. Nursing is not “women’s work” it’s a needed, respected, difficult profession and plenty of men choose it. Dad will figure that out eventually.
It also allows you to live anywhere. My cousin’s wife went back to school in her 40s and got her nursing degree, and they were able to pursue their dream of moving to a small hobby farm in the South near her adult daughter because she could easily get a job there.
Also, it is a job that likely will still require a human being to do it for the foreseeable future. That isn’t true for a lot of careers.
He will likely come around. (Your mom could help with that, too.). Good luck, we are rooting for you!
I really like the idea of talking about it as a health care profession in front of him. I have friends who are nurses who became PAS and others who have had a variety of roles in a health care setting, none of them the kind of nursing job he’s thinking of. What they all have in common is that they really love their work and are very compassionate people.
You know, it’s really unfair that when women talked about wanting jobs that were in male-dominated fields, there were obstacles - very real ones - but not ones meant to shame them as your dad is trying to do with you. Stick to your guns and remember that this says way more about him.
Good for you for discerning a path for yourself that feels right.
For many people in their 50’s and 60’s “nursing” brings up the image of getting your polio vaccine at age 5, or the person who takes your blood pressure before the doctor walks in during your annual physical.
They are not aware of the dozens of career paths that nurses take; they are not aware of the advanced technical and technological training that nurses get in cardiac care, neurology, oncology, etc, and they are not aware of the non-patient care careers open to nurses (lots of $100K+ jobs at HMO’s and other insurance companies for nurses who manage large case review staffs). And a nurse with a Master’s in Public Health or hospital administration? Dynamite combination.
So time to rebrand. You are interested in health care right now; it represents a huge chunk of GDP around the globe a number which increases every day.
Leave it be for now.
You are right about the options available to RN’s, the field is ripe with opportunities.
My husband first became an RN, and now works as an engineer for a medical device company, a position offered due to his RN experience.
A male friend has been a CRNA(nesthetist) for many years now and is doing very well.
Go for it, I think you won’t regret it.
An adult lesson in life - you can not control someone else’s thoughts or actions. You can be a good role model, and over time, you might be a good influence and that influence could possibly change their mind.
Your main issue right now should be finances. Will your dad’s lack of enthusiasm cause him to withdraw financial support for your college expenses? For now, you should check in with your supportive mom and make sure that your parents will continue to pay for college.
Yes, having parental support and encouragement is important, and that encouragement does mean a lot to a child. Your feelings of disappointment are real, and you will have to wrestle with them until you find your way to a place where you can agree to disagree with him.
There is hope for a future where dad comes around, takes your nursing seriously, and gives you the approval you are looking for. But it might be at graduation, or it might be after 2 or 3 years of work in the nursing field. But his approval is not required for you to motivate yourself and do well in college.
If your dad is so negative that he pulls financial support for your nursing degree, then you have a struggle and should look to your mom to help convince dad. Otherwise, just let it go. Do your best to push it away and remain as neutral as possible. Don’t bring up nursing with your dad for now, and when he asks about school, be positive but brief, and change the subject.
Nurse anesthetists too.
Your Dad may not know the hierarchy of care these days. Nurses are not emptying bedpans but are professionally trained experts in patient care. There are CNA’s and other assistants who do the work your father may be thinking of. And among the CNA’s there are also many guys! (Strength is needed.)
The reality is that most health care is now delivered by nurses and PA’s. The salaries are very good, there is a lot of flexibility, you can work anywhere and there are so many career paths and opportunities for advancement.
It’s your decision. Major in nursing. It’s a good strong, honorable, well-paid profession that’s in high demand. If your mom supports you, your dad will likely come around.
@gardenstategal, you don’t think women were told that many professions were just for men, and were ridiculed by there parents for wanting to enter them? Let me introduce you to my dad…
My friend’s husband is an emergency room nurse. He went back to school for it AFTER he worked as an electrical engineer for 20 years. He loves it. He works three 12-hour shifts a week and has the rest of the week to pursue other interests and spend time with his kids. Pay and benefits are great. If you are an RN you will NEVER be out of a job. It is recession-proof.
My friend’s husband went back to school and became a nurse at age 50. He loves it. Caring for others. Flexibility. Great pay. Nurses do vital, important work and make such a difference in people’s lives. You do you OP!
@intparent , glad to not meet your dad! Just meant that while we were toLD we were ridiculous to want to be astronauts or whatever, we weren’t told we were an embarrassment to our sex. At least not in my circles. Kind of like how when our kids were young, it was fine for a girl to dress up like superman or a fireman, but parents did not want their sons dressing up in a tutu or as the little mermaid. Even the parents who said "anyone can be anything. But we digress…
Nursing is a wonderful, challenging and honorable profession. If you’re secure in what you want to do, show that by brushing off your father’s comments. I doubt he knows how hard nurses work and how much knowledge they need. I was an adult critical care nurse for ten years and I can say without a doubt that you will work hard, but find a great deal of fulfillment.
My daughter is a nursing student and there are several men in her classes. It’s a great field for anyone - male or female. There are so many different directions you can go with it. My daughter recently was accepted into the Navy Nurse Candidate Program - it’s an amazing opportunity for her. You don’t need your dad’s approval on this one. He’s the one who needs to get with the times.
Nurses of any gender occupy critical role and are stable jobs. You have to like people and be able to empathize. Tell your dad after you become a nurse, you will consider becoming a doctor or hospital administrative position just to make your dad feel better. Lol
Ever watched the TV show Heroes? Maybe you’ll end up saving the world some day.
The employment outlook for nurses is great. I’m sorry your father isn’t supportive but if you were my child I would be happy you had thought about what you want out of a career and researched to find one that suits you. See these statistics if he could be persuaded by data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm