Changing Careers to Nursing as 35 year old man

[DB7721]

I am currently employed in IT but hate it. I've been considering a career change. My wife is a nurse and I am 35 with two young children. There is a local tech school that has an ADN program. I already have a Bachelors in Healthcare Management from a reputable school and have several questions about my possible career change?

Is there still a stigma toward male nurses?

Would my bachelors in Healthcare Management combined with an ADN put me on equal ground with new BSN grads as far as the job market for new nurses?

Do male nurses tend to specialize in certain areas? I know one thing I absolutely am not interested in is long term care.

Any other advice for someone in my situation? All advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Jasano said:

I'm a male nurse who's actively been seeking employment for several months in my home province of Ontario, Canada. It's been extremely difficult and discouraging. I would not recommend the nursing field to other men, as I have always had a more difficult time than my female counterparts, in finding work.

With the economy in the state that it is, career change would be ill-advised; even if your job entails watching paint dry - keep it.

Don't despair everyone is going through the same situation, however, have you tried placing an application to a correctional facility? they are always looking for help, or a Temporary Nursing Agency or Health Insurance Co., or even private duty cases until something else comes along... Wishing you the best in all of your future endeavors...Aloha~

[NursingCareers]

Mid-40s, male, 3 kids, IT 20+ years and making the same switch into nursing as my wife. We were "warned" about how difficult Anatomy, Chem, Physio, etc. would be. Laughably easy compared to having to relearn everything in IT every 6-12 months. My wife went through an ABSN after her industry was destroyed by outsourcing and her class was full of career changers of all ages coming from business, law, engineering, etc. People that have been in healthcare 10+ years simply don't realize what is happening in other industries. I hear nurses complain that they have to compete against 200 people for a job. That sounds like heaven from where we sit. It's all relative I suppose.

Go for it. Though if I was your age I'd be gunning for medical school.

[Thdrwil]

I am a 31 year old, I was laid off from my job as a correctional officer due to the realignment AB109 in California and decided to go into nursing, I have 7 months to go in my LVN program. It's been a grind but it will be well worth it come next summer...

[KbmRN, ADN]

Depending on your long term goal, i would recommend doing the ADN program, work for a year or two then apply for an FNP program. Many of my friends that had current BS in chem, health admin. etc, were able to bridge right into the FNP program and surpass the BSN, depending on what kind of classes you have and how old they are. I am based out of Tampa. hope this helps!