A Kind Word

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Hi. I am new here and need a little friendly advice and a kind word.

I started RN school a couple of years ago and bombed out (med math got me)

I have since been working as a CNA to learn more and keep my skills, etc. on the upswing.

Now, I really want to go back to school and maybe start out a little slower and go for my LVN degree and go from there.

I only have a couple of problems that seem to be blocking me.

First, I am a male and have come up against all kinds of prejudice (only women should be nurses, are you gay, etc.) and second, I will be 50 this year.

Both of those things combined keep telling me that I should stay where I am in life and not reach for my dreams.

Quite a few of the nurses I work with keep telling me that I would make a heck of a nurse and to go for it.

I know my problems seem simple, but they are really not to me.

Can anyone offer me some advice that would be applicable to my situation and that would help me to realize my dream of becoming a nurse.

It's all I think about.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I have nothing to say but hang in there and keep trying if this is what you want.If you don't you will regret it.Age and gender should be no problem.I have worked with a couple of terrific male nurses and fifty ain't what it used to be. (when you are creeping up in age you tell yourself that lol) Maybe you can find someone that could help you with the math, if that's what is holding you back.

Best of luck.:mnnnrsngrk:

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..

Don't let the dream die til the day you do! GO FOR IT!

I have heard of people in their 60's going to med school... just think of the women who went to med school when it was not popular, and the opposition they faced! There are a lot more men in nursing now. In fact there is a whole forum on allnurses dedicated to male nurses (and they aren't all gay, lol) See what you find!

Men in Nursing Forum - Nursing for Nurses

hang in there!

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Specializes in LTC/Subacute.

I've only been an LPN for 11 months now and am happy with my choice. I was a grunt in the Marines and then a social worker for 7+ years before I went to nursing school. I was 34 when I graduated and went straight into an ltc job right after nclex. I've had to put up a little with the stereotypes, usually an old guy askin me why Im a nurse, and I tell em cause thats where the women are! But my favorite is that a lot of my residents think I'm an MD! I can get things done. Haha. If thats what you wanna do and cant get it outta your head, then do it! Good Luck with whatever you decide. Semper Fi!

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Please don't give up your dream....do it inch by inch if you have to...just do it..

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

When I started school at 46, what seemed to make the most sense for me was going straight into an ASN program. I'm sort of naturally academically-oriented, and I'd been working five years in a healthcare position, mostly transporting patients to tests, but also often supplying muscle to assist aides and nurses. During school, and since then, I have seen an awful lot to favor in a route that goes from CNA to LPN/LVN to RN. From what I've seen of LPNs and heard of LPN school, there seems to be a lot of emphasis on practical nursing. My first and a lot of my second years as a working RN were spent learning to do practical nursing. My first med pass in nursing school clinicals, I could tell you almost anything you wanted to know about the meds I was giving--except how to get the freaking package open!

You mentioned math as a problem. ALL nursing math can be done on a $2 calculator. Instructors make you learn fancy formulas, but I have yet to encounter a problem much more difficult than if one Tylenol is 325mg, how many do you need to give 650mg. Calculating a drip rate based on weight may look harder, but it's still add, subtract, multiply and divide. When people struggle with nursing math, it isn't because the math is hard, but because it looks scary (and, well, people can die if you mess up). A year of working as an LVN will either kill you outright or give you a lot more confidence. As for the prejudices, in your very first year as an LVN, someone--probably several people--are going to thank God you were where you were, when you were. In my first year of practice, I made some incredible mistakes and looked like a total imbecile more times than I like to think about. But I also made a real difference in peoples' lives and maybe even saved one or two. If some dipstick wants to wonder whether that makes me a "real" man, whoop-dee-freakin-doo.

Good luck, and always remember: If there were more men in nursing, there would be a lot less stress, and only slightly higher patient mortality. Go for it!

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If it's any consolation I've seen plenty of your posts and I think you're a real man!! :)

When I started school at 46, what seemed to make the most sense for me was going straight into an ASN program. I'm sort of naturally academically-oriented, and I'd been working five years in a healthcare position, mostly transporting patients to tests, but also often supplying muscle to assist aides and nurses. During school, and since then, I have seen an awful lot to favor in a route that goes from CNA to LPN/LVN to RN. From what I've seen of LPNs and heard of LPN school, there seems to be a lot of emphasis on practical nursing. My first and a lot of my second years as a working RN were spent learning to do practical nursing. My first med pass in nursing school clinicals, I could tell you almost anything you wanted to know about the meds I was giving--except how to get the freaking package open!

You mentioned math as a problem. ALL nursing math can be done on a $2 calculator. Instructors make you learn fancy formulas, but I have yet to encounter a problem much more difficult than if one Tylenol is 325mg, how many do you need to give 650mg. Calculating a drip rate based on weight may look harder, but it's still add, subtract, multiply and divide. When people struggle with nursing math, it isn't because the math is hard, but because it looks scary (and, well, people can die if you mess up). A year of working as an LVN will either kill you outright or give you a lot more confidence. As for the prejudices, in your very first year as an LVN, someone--probably several people--are going to thank God you were where you were, when you were. In my first year of practice, I made some incredible boners and looked like a total imbecile more times than I like to think about. But I also made a real difference in peoples' lives and maybe even saved one or two. If some dipstick wants to wonder whether that makes me a "real" man, whoop-dee-freakin-doo.

Good luck, and always remember: If there were more men in nursing, there would be a lot less stress, and only slightly higher patient mortality. Go for it!

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Specializes in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes.

Go for it! My father is a nurse as well, he didn't start at 50 but he is still practicing nursing at 59. Don't let others dictate what you should do with your life, it's not theirs to live.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Ask if your school has a tutoring program, it helps alot! And Skip the LPN course, go for the RN program if you can. Pays better and you have more options. I know, I'm an LPN who wanted to go for RN and chose to start slowly. Still haven't made it back to school, and would now need to redo over 1/2 of my pre-req's. At this point it seems impossible, but, who knows, I just may decide to go for it!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Just to add this on, there are soooooo many times I wish there was a Male Nurse around! Like when a rotten patient decides to get violent cause "there's just women here, what are you going to do to me??" The rest of the time I don't care what your gender is, as long as your there I'm happy!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Go for it!

I too vote for the RN though over the LPN. I did the LPN to RN, etc stuff and there are many more opportunities for RNs than for LPNs.

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

My :twocents: is that you go for it! Do what makes you comfortable. If you really want to be a nurse then ignorant sterotypes and prejudices will not stop you. I'm 17 and I am a pre-nursing student and I have fought against the stereotypes a long time. When people try to demean me for wanting to be a male nurse it only makes me want to prove them wrong even more. Most are upset that they themselves aren't courageous enough to be nurses. Hope all goes well with you.

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