I would like to be a nurse

[Anoetos, BSN, RN]

I lost my job of ten years in March so I decided it was time for a change and was accepted into the pre-health care program which will, hopefully end in an RN licensure.

I'm male which probably puts me in a minority but I don't mind. I've never minded being surrounded by intelligent women!

:)

I'm married, have 2 beautiful kids and want to not only make a good life for them but also would like to do something satisfying and rewarding. I've always had an interest in science and helping people so nursing seemed a natural fit.

A close friend of ours recently became an RN as did my sister, both in their late forties so I am not particularly discouraged by my age.

I have questions:

1. I have heard that male nurses seem to end up in Emergency and Trauma, is this true?

2. I have just started with the pre-requisite schooling, is there a normal career track? Being unemployed I want to get back to earning as soon as I can. Does anyone have any advice for getting employed in a healthcare setting now which can, hopefully, transition into an LPN and then an RN position as I earn these licenses?

3. Cake or Pie?

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Men still make up about 6 to 7% of all nurses in the country, so yes - we are still a minority in the field but considering recent trends I am sure that percentage will continue to swing upwards within 10 years.

Male nurses tend to gravitate more to critical care areas by choice, I don't think it's because they've been delegated to that area. It's probably because most men prefer the adrenaline rush and excitement that ER, ICU and trauma bring on. Many men do in fact enter other non-critical areas such as med/surg, psych and even OB. But don't feel you're limited to critical care if that's not your thing.

There is no normal career track to being an RN, everyone goes different routes (associates, bachelors, accelerated bachelors, LPN to RN, CNA to LPN to RN, etc). If you're looking to enter the health care field ASAP while you're preparing for nursing school, you might want to consider becoming a CNA. It may not make as much money as a nurse but the experience is valuable and gives you a great opportunity to see what nurses do on the frontline.

Not sure what you meant by cake or pie, but if you were trying to find out whether it's easy or not - I am sure it's not. I am still doing my prereqs and those can be tough on their own. I have yet to hear anyone proclaim becoming a nurse was an easy process.

Good luck to you!

[Anoetos, BSN, RN]

Thanks very much for your response, I appreciate it a lot.

Naw, the cake or pie thing was just a facetious question about which anyone preferred, you know, in keeping with the (fallacious) assumption that there are (any) two kinds of people in the world, etc.

It is interesting that it's usually one or the other. People who like both equally seem to be pretty rare, not that I have any studies to back that up...

Again, thanks for your comments; you've been very helpful.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Well, nice to know that I am definitely rare, and so is my significant other - we like both equally.

Glad I was able to help you out!

[Hoping2BeStudent2010]

Congrats on your decision!!! I'm also in the pre-nursing track, but I'm a female so I can't really answer your first question - no clue there. As for number two, you could possibly get a job in a healthcare setting in an administrative position, but I doubt you would find one as a healthcare worker, perse. I can't speak for everyone but for me, the plan is to take my pre-reqs, then take the CNA certification (which is required for my nursing program anyway) and while I wait for admission into the nursing program, I will be working as a CNA and getting some valuable patient care experience. Then while I am in nursing school, I do not plan to work, unless it's maybe part time on weekends or something. Most CNA courses last about 3 months, though some can be as short as one month and some as long as 5 months (usually the weekend only classes). My CNA course is 3 days per week for about 4-5 hours each day and it's a 12 week program (I'm in North Carolina and will be doing my CNA through a community college). Good luck to you, whatever you decide!!!

[Hoping2BeStudent2010]

OH I almost forgot to answer #3. Pie, definitely!

[Jessie88]

1. I think Paco is right about men tending to choose ER and Trauma over other units, probably because it's more interesting to them, and everything else being equal, men are real assets in ERs because you guys tend to be physically stronger than we are. Some patients are rather heavy and may have to be transferred quickly in case of an emergency. The stronger the nurse who helps you move that patient, the better.
   
2. The "normal" track to getting an RN license (in my area) is going through 2 or 4 years of full time schooling (2 for ADN, 4 for BSN). You could get an LPN license and work on the side. At the schools in my area, an LPN license waves 1 year of your ADN or BSN schooling, and it pays a little better than a CNA certification. However, the LPN training also takes longer than the CNA training. The CNA certification does not wave any time towards your ADN or BSN.
   
3. Cake!