Do men and women go into nursing for different reasons?

Nurses Men

Published

Just curious. When I speak with female nurses the main idea is that they are compassionate and want to be there for people blah blah blah and they seem to have the perfect story that they knew from childhood that nursing was for them and it was a calling....I am compassionate too but at the same time I enjoy the science and technology behind nursing and the critical thinking as well and become interested in this profession in my 30's...Please share your thoughts, thanks.

I have just recently been accepted into a nursing program at a community college. I decided to go into nursing when my marriage was falling apart about 2 years ago. Just recently divorced and a single mom, I knew I would need some skills to be able to have a reliable job to provide for my daughter and I. I didn't want to have to bounce from one minimum wage job to another and barely scrape by. The next 2 years will be hard because I am not going to work while attending school. Thankfully I have an amazing support system and will not have to pay for babysitting. So my reasons for choosing to be a nurse were purely financial. However, this past summer I worked as a caregiver for 6 elderly patients, which gave me some insight into the field. I absolutely loved working with these elderly women and look forward to being a nurse. I do plan on making a difference in people's lives but I am also aware that I may never know the extent of the impact that I have on these people. I believe that for the most part nursing is a thankless profession, simply because people don't often have the opportunity to thank you. I feel that it takes a lot of heart AND brains to be a good nurse not just one or the other. I am not disillusioned with the idea that I will be sitting with patients and holding their hands. Nurses simply do not have time for that. The aides are the ones that spend the most time with patients. I am excited for the many opportunities the nursing field has to offer!

Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice Care.

I enjoy both aspects of nursing....caring for others is personally satisfying, but I enjoy the mental challenge of the medicine behind it....I love learning, and do so on a daily basis....I am lucky as an LPN to be in an ER type of setting, so each day is a new adventure....I am continuing my education in pursuit of my BSN and have thought that ER Nursing my be where I fit the best....we will see...

Well I can talk from my experience I was a cna for 6 years prior to becoming an lpn but just by doing that I knew that I wanted to become a nurse. I knew that helping people was for me. I loved the way it made me feel to know that I was helping someone in need. Just by getting a thank you before my shift was over made a world of a difference. So I decided to further my education. I plan on going back to be an rn in the near future. I've been in the nursing field since I was 18 so back then my guy friends would be like there's plenty of females to date and whatnot but that was not my reasoning for it. I just knew I wanted to help people on a different level.

‎"to help people" or "i was called to it" really is a trite answer..if you wanted to help someone you could volunteer at a soup kitchen or start a charity or help an old lady cross the street...what about the broad generalist education we get on so many medical specialties and diseases? the pathophysiology? the human response? all the psychology and sociology? it truly combines so many disciplines into its own unique profession.......plus theres lots of chicks. :-P

Specializes in Forensic Psych.
‎"to help people" or "i was called to it" really is a trite answer..if you wanted to help someone you could volunteer at a soup kitchen or start a charity or help an old lady cross the street...what about the broad generalist education we get on so many medical specialties and diseases? the pathophysiology? the human response? all the psychology and sociology? it truly combines so many disciplines into its own unique profession.......plus theres lots of chicks. :-P

Volunteering does not pay. Regardless of any other criteria, most people like their jobs to end with a paycheck.

What I do know is that I love what I do and I wouldn't change it for the world. I learn different things on a daily basis from experienced nurses, doctors and even patients. Yes the medicine, disease processes, pathophysiology and everything else is interesting as well.

Volunteering does not pay. Regardless of any other criteria, most people like their jobs to end with a paycheck.
how can you say your motivation is an altruistic desire to help people if you won't do it unless your paid? it is a rewarding job on many levels and it is nice to get paid for it. I was really just playing devils advocate. Didn't mean to offend anyone!
Specializes in Forensic Psych.
how can you say your motivation is an altruistic desire to help people if you won't do it unless your paid? it is a rewarding job on many levels and it is nice to get paid for it. I was really just playing devils advocate. Didn't mean to offend anyone!

Mmmm, I don't know about altruistic, but I think the idea that we work to get paid goes without saying. If you love math and science, you could find lots of free reading at home as well, no?

Of course some people do work JUST because they love what they do and like to help people (like volunteer doctors and nurses), but I don't think that's usually the case. I think most people work because they want/need money AND _____.

Personally, while I do enjoy helping people, I wouldn't list it as a reason I chose nursing. I love the science, education, and prior-orientated aspects of things. I prefer to be on my feet all all day interacting with people rather than sitting around in an isolation cubicle. I don't like getting dressed up every day, so scrubs are great. An frankly. I really enjoy the freedom of my dated off, so 3 12s is great. And I'd also like a decent wage and something intellectually stimulating.

I'm a female, and I think I'm a compassionate person. However, my interest in nursing is more of the science and medicine behind the profession as well just like you.

Specializes in ER,Surgical ICU,Neuro ICU, OR.

Bottom line there are more females than males in the men in nursing forum lol...

This is the first time I post here, but I had to give my own opinion.

Having been toying with the idea for the last year or so about pursuing a career in nursing, I believe the

main factors driving my decision ( in no particular order) are job security, decent pay, critical thinking, technology, and a desire to do

something meaningful in life like care for others.

This fall I will begin to work on my prerequisites to be accepted into my local community college's Nursing Program,

and I couldn't be more motivated. I will make this happen no matter how much work I need to put in.

Oh, and I'm a 23 year old male.

Specializes in ER,Surgical ICU,Neuro ICU, OR.
This is the first time I post here, but I had to give my own opinion.Having been toying with the idea for the last year or so about pursuing a career in nursing, I believe themain factors driving my decision ( in no particular order) are job security, decent pay, critical thinking, technology, and a desire to dosomething meaningful in life like care for others.This fall I will begin to work on my prerequisites to be accepted into my local community college's Nursing Program,and I couldn't be more motivated. I will make this happen no matter how much work I need to put in.Oh, and I'm a 23 year old male.
Good luck Luke, welcome to nursing
+ Add a Comment