Curious female here! :)

nu134 · Feb 4, 2008

Im concidering Nursing as my first career, but it definatly isnt my first degree haha. I got my BA in Psych in 07. I realized that i wasnt too passionate about it half way through my senior year unfortunatly. I worked in a group home for people with MR/DD and did alot of the work a nurses aide would do. I really enjoyed the job and decided Nursing could I applied to the local community college near my home, and got accepted. I dont know if i wasted time taking all that course work in Psych, but id like to think that it will be useful down the road. Im currently deploying to Afghanistan, so I had my admission deferred, and should start in summer/fall 09.

Wish me luck! :specs:

Matt

Stringer · Feb 4, 2008

I was just wondering how many gentlemen out there chose nursing as their first profession? I just graduated in May and in my nursing program of 85 people, there were eight men. All of them, but one chose nursing as a second career. I was just always wondering why not more wanting to be nurses as their first career? What changed your mind? Have you always wanted to be a nurse, if so why not your first career chose? Thanks, I have just always wondered-Laura :)

First profession for me. 32 years ago it was pretty rare. I was working nights as a janitor. I had dropped out of high school because I was living on my own and needed to support myself. Nurses on the surgical floor befriended me, convinced me I would be a good nurse, and went on to procure some funding to get me started. It wouldn't have been my first choice except for those fortuitous events. Although it has been difficult at times to stay with, I wouldn't do it any other way. There were those nurses in the early years that requested that no male nurse ever be assigned to work under them, or anywhere on their floor. I didn't let it bother me too much.

For men, nursing offers a very unique perspective on life, and allows for a different set of relationships with women than most careers--women have been my bosses, friends, colleagues, mentors, and counselors for most of my working life. It has been helpful that I've really never cared much about what people think about me. I'm married to a RN also. I also have a BS in Information Technology, but haven't found an offer yet that is attractive enough to pull me away from nursing.

Stringer

CANurse2B · Feb 8, 2008

I'm 49 and starting the RN program in Aug '08. Nursing was my first choice but 30 years ago it was not looked upon as a "manly" profession. I had worked as an "Orderly" as they were called then. My family discouraged it and I did not have the strength within myself to stand up to the criticism. I became a Chiropractor instead and have been practicing in different types of practice arrangements for several years. The billing issues of managed care and running of a practice, along with the inability to travel led me to go back to school last term for additional pre-reqs and go after the RN. Travel nursing is the plan after graduating and getting some solid nursing experience. I love patient care and making a difference in their lives. This is adding another level to my skills. Looking forward!

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2008

This is my first profession.

I actually started out with Bio-Technology in college. Did about a semester's worth before giving up on that idea (I'd rather shoot myself than ride a desk 12 hours a day!)

My cousin's wife suggested that I giving nursing a whirl and here I am :)

cheers,

organichombre, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

Dear curious,

Nursing could be considered my first career because all I did before was work in construction or on the farm! I came to nursing late at 30 and found it to be rewarding enough to pursue it from LPN to ADN, to BSN and to MSEd. I now teach in a BSN program and I find myself asking the same question you are asking. The lack of males in the profession is often, still r/t the image of a guy doing supposedly female work; that's just our culture. And in that vein, many men still find it difficult to reach out and touch another human being in pain. Men are often taught (mostly in the past) that showing pain is "sissified" and you should just suck it up and go on. I personally think that the relationship we have with our mothers will define the sort of man we will become. While my mother and I did not have a really close relationship, I understood the things that my mother did for me so I would have a chance to be a good person. Men and women are definitely hardwired differently so becoming a nurse, may be more of an environmentally influenced career choice. Just my observations...and GoodLuck with your career!

brockmmp · Feb 11, 2008

I feel much better after reading this thread. I am graduating with a Business degree, yet going back to Nursing school ASAP.

I'm glad I'm in the "normal" section of the population on this... at least for men. It makes me feel slightly more comfortable hopping into something that gives so many of my family members pause.

Mike

Future-Male-RN · Feb 11, 2008

I'm 49 and starting the RN program in Aug '08. Nursing was my first choice but 30 years ago it was not looked upon as a "manly" profession. I had worked as an "Orderly" as they were called then. My family discouraged it and I did not have the strength within myself to stand up to the criticism. I became a Chiropractor instead and have been practicing in different types of practice arrangements for several years. The billing issues of managed care and running of a practice, along with the inability to travel led me to go back to school last term for additional pre-reqs and go after the RN. Travel nursing is the plan after graduating and getting some solid nursing experience. I love patient care and making a difference in their lives. This is adding another level to my skills. Looking forward!

WOW!! I have MUCH respect for your DC2N:bowingpur You have given me hope in knowing that I am NOT too Old to start a NEW life at 36, and I say this with the utmost respect... It funny, this is the FIRST thread I have read and I have already found GREAT info and Reassurance... BTW I am new too, signed up today... GREAT FORUM!!!

As for me this is my first "REAL Corporate USA" career... Prior to this I was self employed; I have a few different business, but when I lost over $300K, that was it, I had nothing to fall back on... I did a few years as an ExPat working overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, Russia, just to name a few places, but nothing I could continue for a LIFE Career...

There are a few things that brought me to the Idea of getting my RN, sadly nothing aww inspiring, but none the less it got the Job done, lol, they were: St Jude's Children Hospital, the TV show HOUSE, lol, yeah I know, but he and I are a lot alike, again I know soooo pointless to choose my Career on, but hey, it did it... Oh, and my Mother is a RN, I don't talk to her much, but I recall growing up she enjoyed it... And finally the money is not Bad and you can Travel...

As for school, I am only in the Pre-req stages, I have ONE Semester in and 16 or 17 Crt done out of 72 needed... Once that is over and done with, well to be honest I am lost from that point on right now, lol, but I will figure it out... I am going into this BLINDLY, learning what I need and need to do and I go...

My Big personal issue is my age and starting over so late in life... I know what you are going to say, because EVERYONE ELSE says the SAMETHING, 36 ain't ****... Well it is to me and I have a hard time with it... But after reading the post from DC2N, I feel a little enlightened...

Thanks you DC2N!!!!

Oh BTW my first choice WAS Self-employment, Never seen it any other way...

Ciao,

Eddie

4XNURSE · Feb 12, 2008

Curious,

I'll shorten the story some.

I had been a firefighter and a EMT. I owned my own business, and I decided I wanted to go back to school and become a ER physician.

The counselor that I spoke with recommended that I get my bachelors degree in nursing, and try that field, on my way to a medical degree.

She was so right on! I liked nursing, and decided I didn't need/want the added years of school, and residency.

ken

Pacs, RN · Nov 18, 2011

When I was young, I had five career paths: a Doctor, a Lawyer, a Veterinarian, a Teacher and a Military Career. I was discouraged by my parents from pursuing a career in the military, teaching and in veterinary medicine because of low income associated with the said professions; that left me with a career in Law or a career in Medicine. Somehow along the way, I got disillusioned with being a lawyer so I decided to choose Medicine.

Now the thing is, I haven't really decided what my premed course will be. It was my mom who said I should go take up nursing as she thinks it will be a great premed course for me (And given the fact that she is a frustrated nurse).

Of course, being young and ignorant back then, I assumed that the nursing profession is far "too girly" and "feminine" for a guy like me. I wanted to take up BS in Biology or BS in Physical Therapy as my premed course instead. However, my mom has the final say regarding the matter (since my parents are the ones supporting my education). She said that BS in Biology is not a good fallback course in case you are unable to pursue your dream of being a physician. She didn't approve of me taking up BS in Physical Therapy either because she said hospitals do not need that many physical therapists unlike their need for nurses.

And so, I (grudgingly) took up a course on BS in Nursing. Surprisingly as time goes by in my studies, I began to like nursing and my respect for the profession grew. I really loved how we are taught about the disease processes and clinical aspects, and how we get to interact with patients. My mom was right. Nursing is a great premedical course. Before I officially entered med school, I first took up my licensure exam, passed it and became a registered nurse. And I'm very proud of being a nurse. It is only now that I am in med school that I realize that I REALLY LOVE NURSING!!!!! :nurse:

In med school, I can plainly see my advantage as a nurse compared to my non-nursing classmates. (The BS Bio graduates who entered med school have it rough though). There are thing being taught to me here in med school that I have already learned back when I was in nursing school so the load of studying already became much lighter for me. Nurses are among the most respected medical students here in med school (along with medical technologists and physical therapists). I hope I don't look like I am degrading our profession but know that my background will allow me to see things in a nurse's and a doctor's perspective. I hope that when I finally do get to become a physician, I won't be arrogant and condescending as some of the doctors are because I have a heart of nurse. :[anb]:

Thujone · Nov 18, 2011

After I first graduated from HS my first major was Biology, I wanted to be a Physician. I was not prepared for the college life at that time, so I dropped out after a semester and took a year off from school. Sometime between then and a year later I figured out that I wanted to do nursing. I didn't know why then, and I don't know why now what exactly was the force that propelled me to sign up for pre-reqs. I guess you could say it was a divine intervention. However, after becoming a mature student, I know exactly why I want to be a nurse. There are many reasons, but mainly for the technical skills, helping people, job security, and a great salary. I am still working toward getting my ADN, but I definitely know what I want to be when I grow up.

I think most guys simply don't consider nursing as a profession. Simply put, they don't think about it. Most people think of nursing as a female profession because it has always been dominated by women. Therefore, it just doesn't come up to most males. Recently a lot of male nurses have been shown on television thus an increase in the number of males have risen, and I believe it will continue to rise. Another theory is that some guys don't want to be a nurse because they are scarred of being stereotyped as a gay or as an overly feminine male because they think it will affect their social status. Males used to be seen as primary providers for their family in the past, but standards of today's living makes it nearly impossible for males to provide for the entire family by themselves. This has prompted a lot of women into working thus reducing the male's social role as a primary provider thus increasing the number of males in a profession that is seen as a sub-dominant.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Nov 19, 2011

"I was just always wondering why not more wanting to be nurses as their first career?"

Another engineer here. Funny, when I decided to change careers to nursing, I thought I would be a rarity. But man there are a lot of us ex-engineers.

I could simply not have been a nurse as a first career. At 18-21 could not find my butt with both hands if you gave me a map. I lacked the maturity, attitude, and discipline to even get into nursing school. I can't remember specifically, but I probably thought of nursing as a "woman's profession" (this was the mid-80's) and never considered it.

"What changed your mind?"

I grew up. (Well, a little anyway). I also just stopped enjoying engineering as a profession. The only part of it I liked was working with people and I was good at it. Outsourcing played a large role too. Seeing the human toll of downsizing and outsourcing really let me know that my first concern was always people. My first job is now being done in Shanghai. My career was at a stage where I had to get an advanced engineering degree or an MBA and I just didn't want to do that.

I looked at my boss, then I looked at his boss and said, "Geez. I don't wanna be either of those guys!"

I was so tired of corporate BS and I no longer hid it. I began acting like the main character in "Office Space" at work. Which was kind of fun for a while, but really not sustainable.

I had also realized that engineering simply did not represent my values and who I was as a person. I became a secular humanist somewhere along the line and a big part of me wanted a career more in line with that philosophy.

Knee surgery in 2004 left me very impressed by all the members of my healthcare team and began thinking about a career in nursing. In 2007 I finally decided to go for it. I went to an information session at the school I wanted to attend, got the lowdown, then quit my job.

4 grueling and expensive years later, I was busting my butt on a hospital med surg floor.

My new job is demanding and difficult and I absolutely love it. I was even pleasantly surprised to learn how well it pays. I am making more now than my last year in engineering. Far more important, though, I really like what I do and I am pretty dang good at it for a beginner.

Thanks for asking.

jason2234 · Nov 20, 2011

I've always was to be a nurse. It's Reqard