Encourage son to steer clear of medical profession (4)
I believe the answer is:
urge
'encourage' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for urge that I've seen before include "Advise earnestly, spur" , "Advocate" , "Sudden inclination to do something" , "Encourage or entreat earnestly" , "Advise strongly to press forward" .)