I am starting nursing school this fall.

iliel · Jul 24, 2003

Welcome!

memphispanda, RN · Jul 25, 2003

Welcome to the world of the student nurse! Prepare to have no life outside of school! LOL

We have one male student in my class...there were several others but for various reasons they are no longer in my class.

I haven't seen that male nurses are discriminated against. I extern on a floor that has a male Nurse Manager and several male nurses on most shifts. We also had a class graduate with several male nurses in December, and none of them had difficulty finding employment in the area they preferred.

The best advice I can give...

First, stay on top of the assignments and reading. If you have a project due, try to get it done before it's crunch time.

Second, don't be afraid to ask for help if you don't understand things. That's what the teachers are there for (although there are some who don't seem to feel that way).

Third, play the game, don't fight it. Come on the board and rant if you need to, but don't lose your cool at school just because they make you jump through 77 stupid hoops to accomplish a relatively easy task.

redwinggirlie · Jul 25, 2003

I think it's great you're up for the big career change. Exciting!

No, among nurses, I don't think male nurses are viewed differently. Even society is slooooooooly accepting males in the nursing field better. It's a good thing.

Prepare yourself to make school your life for a while, though. In the end, it will all pay off.

Good luck to you!

hobbes · Jul 26, 2003

Originally posted by bob007cat
I am male and have decided to change careers. I have been an Industrial Engineer for 10 years and have worked for 2 plants that have shut down due to off shore competition. I decided to try to get in to the medical feild and decided to become an RN I was just accepted to nursing school. I have a few questions.
1. Do male nurses have a hard time finding jobs. and are they discriminated against due to the fact that it is a predominantly female feild of work?
2. Any advice for a new student?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I'm in the same boat you are - 10 years as a computer programmer/analyst and am in the process of making the change. I've completed most of my prereqs and am about to apply to schools now. Although I can't answer you question directly as I have no first hand experience, in the past year or so that I've been active on this board, there have been numerous threads on men in nursing so you may want to do a search. Good luck to you.

ERtraumanurse · Jul 26, 2003

Hi, Just wanted to jump in and say I am starting school this fall also. I am currently a registered practical nurse in canada and I am going for my RN and degree :) Thne if all goes well this girl is going to live in FL from October until May :D Can you tell I can hardly wait!!!!

RNIAM, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2003

Hi. I just wanted to say welcome. I have enjoyed most of my experience so far. I know I still have a long way to go but it will be worth it. My best advice is always be prepared for clinical. It shows you really want to learn.

SirJohnny · Jul 26, 2003

Bob007cat:

- I too am a software engineer, like "Hobbes" above.

- I hold an MS-Computer Science degree and am making the switch from software to nursing. Am currently wrapping up my first semester of A&P.

- About 1/2 of the folks in my class were 35ish or older. I am 39.

- We had 35 students in the class - I was one of 5 males.

- I made a trip (back in March) to visit a nursing school up in New York, and was treated with total respect. No one cared that I was a guy.

- So far, no one at school (granted it's only pre-reqs at a local community college), cares whether I am a guy or not. Personally, I don't think anyone cares if I am breathing or not. I guess they would complain if I were to die in class and they would have to step over me.

- In reality, no one cares. Right now, I am too busy with work, hitting the books, and everything else to really care about the guy-girl ratio in class. I am here to score an 'A" in this class and keep my focus on my overall objective.

-----------

- You would think the opposite would occur in my profession (computers). We average about 75% guys and 25% women. No one cares about the ratio. Am hoping the same occurs in nursing.

- Also, no one "harasses" the ladies at work (computers). So I am assuming no one is going to harras the guys in nursing.

- Gotta run, got A&P 101 finals next week.

John Coxey

ERtraumanurse · Jul 26, 2003

Just wanted to input also. As I said before I am a RPN in canada, and I like to work with the guys sometimes better than the gals. I had one male nurse whom I looked up to and the utmost respect for - he was patient and funny and didn't really give a crap what the other nurses thought of him. He does his job well and that is what is all about. We need more guys in nursing and it's about time that "stigma" about male nurses goes away. Enjoy your entry into nursing - besides if your single it's a great way to meet a gal!!!

NurseDixie · Jul 26, 2003

Welcome guys!

There are 6 guys in my nursing class and I know some male RN's. They are not discriminated against in my area (WV) Each semester there are 2 guys in my clinical groups and they are just there to learn as everyone else is. Good luck.

RNIAM, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2003

We started with 8 men in our class we have three left. Good luck to all of you. Just so none of you think that the guys were in any way discriminated against. We had 55 studnets to start by the end of the first semster was over we were down to 45. Then we gained 10 new students. Now at the end of the third semester we are down to 42 students for a net loss of 23 right? So I think the guys are doing really well incomparison to us poor women! There dropping us like flies.