Man with Law Degree Considering Nursing

[JSBes]

So, you wanna be a nurse? Yes. But, I have a few concerns. Here is a quick synopsis of my background:

• Union Ironworker, got injured on the job, started college while recovering from a couple knee surgeries
  
• Recovered nicely from surgery :)
  
• Began educational career as physics major
  
• Switched to Political Science, earned BA
  
• Went to law school, because it seemed like there was the possibility of making money while helping people (wanted to be civil rights attorney)....unfortunately I simply drank the law school recruiting cool aid and didn't do enough research beforehand
  
• Graduate law school May 2011
  
• Legal field tanked with economy, law school soured me on the practice of law, there are no remotely remunerative jobs available for would be civil rights attorneys, and working 80-100 hours per week is unsustainable if I actually want to be a present father and husband
  
• Wife & I decided I'd stay home with our daughter (7 mos) because she has a great career already as a......NURSE
  
• Re-evaluate career choices, my wife and some other friends (nurses) suggest nursing school
  

For the past few months, in an attempt to get a feel for what it's like being a man in the nursing profession, I've been trolling around the internet, asking questions of my sister (a nurse for 20 years), my wife, and my friends. The questions I've answered positively for myself are the following: do I really want to be a nurse, i.e., do I really know what it entails? Yes. Do I understand that I may have to work somewhere I don't want to work initially just to get my foot in the door (i.e, I'm fascinated by ICU & ER nursing, but understand that MedSurg may be the only work available)? Yes. Do I understand that my law degree will not be immediately applicable? Yes.

But, these are the questions I have not answered, which I'm hoping the individuals on this site may be able to help with:

1. For men with professional degrees other than nursing who have entered the nursing field, are/were you questioned about why you did not pursue/continue your other career path? If so, how did you deal with those questions, and what was the general response? And, have you been able to incorporate your previous education into your new professional life?
   
2. For family men, how did you handle going to nursing school, being a father and a husband, and coordinating all of your various responsibilities?
   
3. For other "big guys" out there (I'm 6'11" and 320 lbs), have you ever encountered patients or fellow medical professionals who have been intimidated by you and have treated you differently because of your size? And is your size generally a boon or detriment to you professionally?
   
4. And, finally, probably the most practical question here, do they make really big scrubs???
   

I apologize for the length of the post, but look forward to any and all responses. Thank you all in advance for your time and help.

Jim.

[HonestRN]

One option you may want to consider - legal nurse consultant.

I read about this specialty in nursing magazines.

From what I've learned, there is a demand for this type of nurse

I'm glad you mentioned this option stargazer88 because I was just going to mention it myself. I have a friend who is an attorney and suggested I go to law school because having a background in nursing and having a law degree would lead to some lucrative job opportunities.

[Nolander]

For men with professional degrees other than nursing who have entered the nursing field, are/were you questioned about why you did not pursue/continue your other career path?

All the time; I was an engineer.

If so, how did you deal with those questions, and what was the general response?

It actually makes for very good conversation and interview banter. People are intensely interested. You get asked a lot, so I have a few canned responses I pull out for different situations. The general response is overwhelmingly positive, especially within healthcare. There are a few people in my family who still don't understand why I left engineering, but they still think I was Tony Stark. Seriously.

And, have you been able to incorporate your previous education into your new professional life?

All the time. I was a Project Manager so juggling/prioritizing multiple tasks at once while dealing with people from varying backgrounds across a spectrum of personalities was indeed very helpful experience. Not to mention regularly running into situations that I had to learn quickly on the job.

For family men, how did you handle going to nursing school, being a father and a husband, and coordinating all of your various responsibilities?

Got nothing for you here. I just got two cats and we are not on all that good of terms.

For other "big guys" out there (I'm 6'11" and 320 lbs), have you ever encountered patients or fellow medical professionals who have been intimidated by you and have treated you differently because of your size? And is your size generally a boon or detriment to you professionally?

I know some other male nurses who are large individuals. If they are treated differently due to their size, this first impression quickly fades away after you get to know them. Your coworkers will react to how you behave.

And, finally, probably the most practical question here, do they make really big scrubs???

They sure do.

why in blazes did you give up engineering for nursing???

[jtmarcy12, BSN, RN]

I agree with "Chicago 898". His message is very important and on point. If I were you since you have a 7 month old baby at home I will at least wait until that baby is school age before attempting to go to nursing school. If you return now you will have to borrow more money, pay babysitters and the stress will cause you more weight gain(trust me). Like some of the posts said an ADN degree is just not "cutting it" now because the market is saturated with those degrees so now the recruiters are taking the BSN's or MSN's degrees.

It seems at one point that everyone you talk to was going into nursing and now look what we have on our hands. Many were going into nursing because they thought it was a "guranteed job" with excellent pay. Nothing in this life is, except death and taxes.

Most of the hospitals here in CA still hire travel nurses because they do not have to train them, no benefits, no sick time, no vacation, the agency will provide those benefits to the nurse sometimes. Certain hospitals still have strikes and nurses from all over come to work those strikes because the pay is excellent. But you have to have experience to be a travel nurse. I think as someone suggested maybe a Physician Assistant will be a good opportunity, but I don't know if all colleges offer this course and you may have to move if your hometown college does not offer this course. It is unfortunate that nursing is not what it use to be and I don't see it improving in the future. Best wishes to you.

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't wait until the 7month old is in school at all. Many of us went to school while raising a family and you have your wife to help out! Time marches on no matter what so why wait? 3-4 yrs is going to go by quickly. At the very least go part time and pluck away. I'm telling you that if I can do it, most people out there can. Jobs are scarce so selling yourself is important.

Many colleges insist of you being cna certified before being allowed into the nursing program so maybe check it out and see how the shoe seems to fit. Please keep us posted and I wish you the best!

[hoplite07]

" your could have a real fulfilling career in nursing but its not going to happen overnight"

while this might be true, with an undergrad degree, he might be able to knock out prereqs and take an accelerated bsn course in 12-24 months depending on availability and free time. no need to get an adn unless that route works better for him. if he was like me and was a pre-med major for a while in his undergrad work, then he might have most of his prereqs done already. he could start a 12 mo. accelerated bsn next summer and graduate the following summer.

edit: haven't commented much here yet. meant this as a reply to a comment further up the thread. further down, i see he clarifies things.

best of luck!