4 Unique challenges first-generation nursing students face

In addition to the everyday stressors of college, and specifically a program as intensive as nursing, first-generation college students face many challenges as they navigate their academic journey. 

These challenges can often be made even more difficult if you are a first-generation college student who does not come from money. In other words, if you are non-affluent, you may face struggles that are different than those of your more affluent peers. 

While scholarship opportunities do exist and schools are making strides to support first-gen students, the added pressure to make ends meet and pay your way through school can impact your academic experience in many ways. 

While these challenges listed don’t account for every first-gen nursing student experience, they are some of the most common. 

Unclear Guidance or Models to Follow

The very definition of first-gen tells us that many students are often tasked with applying - and navigating college - alone and without any support from family. Let’s be clear - there are many ways families can be supportive, and we’re not in any way saying that one form of support is better than another. 

However, college is a big turning point for many adults and it can be hard to make it through 4+ years when your family can’t relate or help with your troubles. This can create additional strains on families that want to do what they can to support and understand, but don’t know how.

Without a parent or guardian’s guidance, or someone to show you the ropes, it’s up to the first-gen student to really pick themselves up and start from scratch in an unfamiliar setting. As a result, it is a very different nursing school experience than a classmate who is a legacy nursing student (as an example). 

Isolation/Lack of Belonging

There are many situations that can create feelings of isolation or make one feel like a fish out of water. As a first-gen you deal with things that your peers may never understand or experience themselves. Maybe that means skipping out on spring break because the tuition is not going to pay itself. Maybe that means commuting to school because the cost of living on campus is how much?? 

At times you may feel like you just can’t relate to your peers and you find that you may not be a part of the many social circles around you. This feeling is especially powerful if you are a first-gen who is not surrounded by a diverse student body. 

Cultural and Social Differences

As a first-gen, attending nursing school may have required a lot of sacrifices from your or your families’ behalf. Sacrifices that your peers and their families may not have had to make. Depending on your culture, your parents or family members may have worked overtime and then some in an effort to secure your academic future. 

If you are a first-gen who came from a different country, you may be dealing with the culture shock of living in an unfamiliar place. You may have come from a collectivist society, where everyone looked out for their neighbor and there was a sense of community. 

Cultural and social norms make up a big part of our identities and learning how to show up as your best self may not be something that comes easily. This is especially true when you are trying to assimilate into a culture that is not your own. Whether it’s a literal culture or the academic/professional workplace culture that you are being exposed to.

The Burden of Being “The First”

If you are a first-generation nursing student, you are one the first people in your family to go to college. Sometimes, you may be the only one. The list of firsts does not end there! You could also be the first to launch a career, the first to have “made it”, the first to work in a profession that is respected and admired, etc. etc.

For many first-gen nursing students, studying medicine and entering the field is like a gold star. A career in medicine is highly respected in many cultures. In fact, the only “viable” career options of first-gen students (in their families' eyes) are accounting, engineering, law and medicine. IYKYK… 

Life looks a lot different when you are working your way into a different tax bracket! The added pressure to provide for your family, at the expense of yourself, is something that is easily overlooked but cannot be overstated. After all, how could you not pay your family back (literally and figuratively) for everything they have done to help you reach this milestone? 

We know it’s hard out here! The truth is that we need students like you to create a nursing world that is more inclusive and diverse. Your challenges may feel like the worst thing right now, and we’re not sugarcoating it - it sucks! 

In the meantime, you can always lean on communities like ours to help you through it. We hope that you get to a point where you can look back at these challenges and know that they are shaping you to enter the field and bring your experience and unique viewpoints.