[smit1989]

Hey folks, I have a few questions regarding advice on getting into Direct Entry to Master's programs, and what it is like to be a male in nursing and a male in nursing school.

First, I'm a senior at the University of Minnesota, and I am currently applying to programs at Yale, Columbia, U of Illinois-Chicago, Boston College, Northeastern, and U of Vermont, for the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty. I am a kinesiology major with a 3.3 overall gpa with a 3.7 gpa in my last 75 credit hours (i had some tough times freshman year, but that is no one's fault but my own), and I have A's or A-'s in all my prerequisite courses. I got a GRE score of 1150, with a 500 on verbal and 650 on quantitative, and a 5.5 on the analytical writing. I've got a lot of experience in a clinical setting and in research. I worked as a care manager at a senior living facility caring for seniors with advanced Alzheimer's disease, dementia, etc. It was hard as hell, but I absolutely loved it...finally a job where I was doing something that mattered. Although I don't have my CNA, I did EVERYTHING a CNA does (bathing, cleaning, bathroom help,...everything). I was the only care manager there who was a man, and I excelled in my position and earned the respect of all the female care managers and nurses. (Will it be this way down the line when I am an NP?) I also am participating in a research study at the U of MN's School of Nursing where we are determining the role of aerobic exercise in decreasing claudication pain in patients with peripheral arterial disease. I carry out the exercise with the patients, monitor their vitals, record their vitals, etc.

What do you think my chances are for acceptance? What else can I do to increase my chances (taking more classes won't increase my gpa much...i have so many credits earned already)?

Does it help my applications that I am a man?

What is it like as a male nursing student? What was it like walking into class the first day and being one of few men in a classroom full of women? Did the other students (female) and instructors take you seriously and give you the respect you deserved?

I am very passionate about nursing. I cannot imagine doing anything else. I have already done the "dirty" work in nursing, have no problem doing more of it, and was able to enjoy it because I care about helping people. Thanks!

p.s. I would love responses from both men and women!

[westcoastgirl]

You sound like a well qualified candidate and the school's graduate advisors should be able to help you determine what would make you stand out. Talking directly to the advisors or faculty would give you more valuable information than any generic opinion I can give here.

for what it's worth, my male classmates got treated well (to be honest at times it actually seemed to the rest of us that they received preferential treatment) so I didn't see being male as a drawback during school. We all got along fine.

[pinoyNP]

Just based on what you wrote in your post, I also think that you have strong qualifications should you decide to pursue a direct NP program anywhere. As far as being a man, in certain instances it does help to be male especially in institutions where there is a majority of women applicants and affirmative action is utilized by the institution in determining who gets in. My home state has passed a law removing the practice of affirmative action in determining admission to state universities and public service employment, however. A few other states have passed similar legislation.

As a male NP who had to go through NP school with 2 other male students and 9 other females, I would say my gender did not have any influence on how I was treated by both the faculty and fellow students. Clinicals was a different story though. I had a clinical rotation in an ER located in an area where there is a high concentration of Middle Eastern immigrants. Needless to say, I was getting kicked out of doing pelvic exams when a patient of this ethnic group presents with PID or any Gyn-related complaint. I was also being addressed as "doctor" more frequently because of my long lab coat. I just had to constantly explain that I am not a physician which isn't really a big deal, just an opportunity for me to educate the public on the NP profession.