Dealing with family members that are nurses

[malkieh]

Ever since I applied to nursing school I feel like I am constantly trying to prove to my family that I will make a good nurse, and that it's something I want.

It seems generations of nurses in my family, has lead them to believe that there are too many people out there that should not be nurses.

So on my grandfather (OBM) - mother's side. I have cousins that are nurses, and when I applied they told me to do xyz and then call them to tell them what I had learned. So I called to tell them what I had learned, and thanks to that they decided that I would make a good nurse.

Today on my father's side, my grandfather (obm)'s sister came by to visit and discuss my desire to become a nurse. B"H it was not so much of a fight that I thought it would be.
Because I told her about my first course, I am taking sort of a pre course, and how we had been given a scenario to see if we could figure out what was off or wrong. Luckily the manner that I was explaining it in must have impressed them.

For some reason my mother's generation is not seen as so great, and it's like they skipped to me. They keep confusing me as if I am my mother's sister and they treat her (my mother) like a child sometimes.

It's not as if I need their approval to be a nurse it's something I have wanted for a really long time.

sorry for all my ramblings, just sometimes family makes me nutz.

[medic09]

I guess every family is different. It sounds like you feel like you're being critiqued at every turn by the family's nurses.

My father's youngest sister was a nurse. Now in her 80s, she hasn't done patient care for many many years. Nonetheless, I always refer to her as 'my senior colleague'. She thinks it is a blast that I'm a nurse, and always enjoys a few minutes talking shop and how things have changed. What's more, I do more work with high risk patients and she finds that exciting.

The medical professional I want to most impress is my lovely wife. Baruch Hashem, she nearly always expresses pride in me; but she isn't beyond a word of legitimate criticism if I have it coming.

[mypprincess]

Be strong! Don't let anyone dissuade you from doing what you want. Don't let anyone make you feel that you are not good at it. Just work hard and do your best.
When I was just out of school I wanted to be a teacher. I was offered a job as a preschool teacher, but my mother told me, "You won't be good at it. Don't do it." I took in all the negative comments I received on a daily basis and it almost ruined my life.
After I had my youngest child I decided that I will stop listening to others and that I will show them that I can.
It is unbelievable how everyone's attitude to me changed.
So, the moral of the story is to be respectful, but then do what you feel is best.

[achot]

I think we all get both positive and negative messages from people who mean well, Myp is right, be respectful but do what you feel is best. We do not have to defend the profession, just do our best with it.
Malkie, I am proud of you, it sounds like you love your family very much, thats special in it of itself