A little anxiety applying for Nursing school as an older male

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First off I want to say I'm so happy there's a section for male nurses on here! It's nice to know there's a community like this.

So, went to school for IT in my younger years, didn't finish and wasted away most of my twenties but at 26 I joined the Air Force Reserves because I wanted to go to school and have some type of help paying for it. I have a really great job in IT but I've had a really higher calling to nursing. During my tech school I had to do a detail in which I assisted nurses for the day with minor tasks throughout the day. And I've really wanted to go to school for Nursing. I finished my pre-reqs Anatomy & Physiology I, II, and Microbiology all with A's. I know finding a job is hard and I don't mind continuing in the IT field until I can find adequate employment sometime in the future after finishing my degree. However, my dream is to become an officer.

However, I've told my family & friends my plans to go to nursing school and I'm met with being told I'm too old to go. I'm not a woman, nursing is for females nobody wants to be serviced by a male, etc. So much so that I've began to wonder if it makes sense at my age to go back to school and go into a way different field. I am still very serious about wanting to go but other people's comments are always making me question my decision. I'm just wondering, did any of you have to deal with any of these issues and if so how did you deal with them?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

How old are you?

Female nurse here. Don't listen to them. It doesn't matter how old you are.Nursing isn't just for women and generally patients don't care if their nurse is male. I work with a handful of male nurses and they are awesome. Follow your heart. It takes a special person to be a nurse.You can do it. I was 38 when I went back.

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Specializes in Home Care.

I wish there were more men in nursing. Go for it

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I just ignored any such issues and pressed on, including my age. I've had no problems. If you are still in the reserve, stay in and commision once you complete your RN degree. Ignore the naysayers. Fly, fight, and win! ;)

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How old are you? I was 43 when I graduated with my associates, will be around 47 when I get my BSN. I have found no issues from my co-workers with being a little older (about 2/3 of my coworkers are in their mid 20's), and minimal issues with being a male (have had 2 female patients that would not let me change and clean them, one of those being a religious/cultural preference). On the other hand I have had quite a few male patients that are very happy to have a male nurse taking care of them, they don't feel embarrassed talking to me about things they would with a female nurse. I have been able to get them to tell me stuff they had not told anyone else.

Also, having the IT background would help you greatly in nursing. Get a few years of patient care under your belt then go into the IT side of nursing (if IT still interests you). Great job security, still involved in nursing, and having had a few years "in the trenches" would help you to do great work on the IT part. A big problem now days is everyone has gone or is going into electronic charting, and many times it is being done by the "old school" nurses (nothing wrong with them) that don't fully know how to take advantage of technology (some do).

My plan is to get my BSN in the next few years while I get experience and then look into the IT side. One of my co-workers is doing it on the side and loves it, she is planning to move over full time to it. Better hours, better pay and actually helping other nurses doing their job better.

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I'm 29 I'll be turning 30 going into my first year of nursing school this fall. I'm applying for the fall semester assuming I get into it. @nurse2033 I'm still in the reserves right now I still have another three years. The plan is to finish up my nursing hopefully before the end of my six year enlistment and attempt to commission over.

@Nalon1 RN/EMT-P I must say, that does feel very comforting to know that people still go back at the non-traditional student age. Wow, that really inspires me to see that you decided to go back at 43. I never knew nursing had an IT side to it. Thanks for explaining this to me as I never, ever thought of that. I understand exactly where you're coming from as I used to work in medical IT for dentists and when they were going to paperless charting many of the "old school" dental assistants were having issues transitioning. I used to work for a company that provided medical IT software and services to dentists. But reading these comments from other males and females in the industry is very comforting. I appreciate all the comments here and I am going to put in my application today.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I was 40 when I finished school, and a couple of my classmates were well into their fifties. You can still have a lengthy career in the field entering at your age.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

However, I've told my family & friends my plans to go to nursing school and I'm met with being told I'm too old to go. I'm not a woman, nursing is for females nobody wants to be serviced by a male, etc. So much so that I've began to wonder if it makes sense at my age to go back to school and go into a way different field. I am still very serious about wanting to go but other people's comments are always making me question my decision. I'm just wondering, did any of you have to deal with any of these issues and if so how did you deal with them?

Are you going to get any younger? Most of us aren't. Are you going to change genders? Most of us aren't. You aren't too old to go back to school for a different career unless you convince yourself that you are. These days, there are a lot of men in nursing. My unit is about half male, and I've yet to hear of a complaint by a patient about having a male nurse -- except from the guy who loved to sexually harass female nurses and ended up being assigned a male nurse every single shift. His complaint wasn't so much about being cared for (not "serviced") by a male as it was about how we spoiled his fun.

Think about what you really want to do. Where do you want to be in five years, and what do you want to be doing? If it's nursing, then don't let anyone else's notions of what is proper or correct change your mind. But if your mind is so easily swayed that the comments of others is making you question your decision, perhaps you need to give it more thought.

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I was in finance and sales for twenty years. Guys guy. Ex military. Graduated ADN at 40. Will have BSN @ 42 this May. Nothing but opportunity lies ahead. Being a guy has advantages in nursing. Be respectful and you'll be respected. My only regret is not starting earlier. Nursing Informatics is growing exponentially. You'll have NO ISSUES finding work with your background unless you're a total dufus and interview with a beer in your hand or something. Six figure income is very realistic once you get some experience. Lots of variety in work as well. Be true to you. PM me if you wanna talk more.

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Absolutely and I'll message on on what Nursing Informatics is. Lastly, I put in my application to my nursing course and I will be going this fall! I appreciate all the comments and yes, this is definitely what I want to do for my future absolutely.

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You have made a wise decision.In 1965 I told my Dad I was going to be a male nurse and started that year despite my dad saying it would never last.Well still going strong.NO REGRETS

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If you want to do it then DO IT:yes:! To think that only females are good nurses is bizarre.

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