I am seeking adice from anyone who is willing to provide it.
My husband is 42 yrs old and is thinking about fulfilling his dream of a nursing career. He has been in his same job for the last 20 yrs and always wanted to be a nurse but never followed through. He is not currently in the medical field. He is in good health and I think he would be great at it. We are financially stable and ready to take the next step.
Honestly, what are your thoughts? I would think it would take him about 3 yrs to complete (is that realistic). Would anyone hire a man in his mid 40's to be a nurse? Or should he just stay put and think about retirement in 15 yrs. in a job he doesn't enjoy.
He has always dreaded going back to school because he doesn't want to take all the GE requirements but just wants to get to the medical part but he knows he must do it to be an RN.
Are there any online classes just to get some of the basics out of the way? What are the suggestions out there? I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK YOU CAN PROVIDE.
I have been a nurse for over 2 years working LTC. Right after taking my NCLEX, I was at my facility visiting a friend of mine who was a male nurse. The DON walked up, I was introduced and was offered a job on the spot. I wasn't looking for a job and had not applied (and did not intend too). There were 4 males in my class, I was the oldest at age 50. None of us had a problem finding work. I am aware of the gender thing, but can honestly say I don't think I was ever subjected to any of those type remarks. If I was, I probably didn't realize it as I don't care what people think in those terms. I like what I do and do it to the best of my ability. For sure, if he is to be a nurse and can afford it, become an RN. LPNs like myself are very much limited to where we can work. If he is going to get his education at a community college, most likely there are quite a few classes he can take online to get his prereqs out of the way. One thing I have learned is it is sometimes difficult to take prereqs at one place and then go another school to try and get into the nursing program. Most colleges will take care of those students who started the prereqs at their institution first. Meaning they will get a spot in the always crowded nursing classes before an outsider.
I'm new to this board, but have been a nurse for 9 years, and a male all my life; 43 years. Nursing school took me 4 full years and is a major commitment. I love being a nurse and have never looked back. True, some days it sucks, but that's every job I've ever had. If your husband really wants it, don't let age or gender issues scare him. Jobs for new, middle aged male nurses are not a problem in my area.
Larry
I don't know anything about the study Demonstheses refers to, but it is not consistent with my experience
Wow..........thanks so much for all the great responses. My husband will definitely be reading this tonight.
I hope its not going to be a problem taking prereqs one place and the other stuff somewhere else. He wants to take as many GE and prereqs online as possible.
Anyone know of a GOOD / Credible Online school to start with? or are the local colleges the best place to start?
Such being the case, I would encourage your husband and all men to avoid nursing and all of the traditionally female professions as the social, political, cultural, and economic context which is now present within our society is inimical to those egalitarian priniciples which are requisite for employment within the same by men, especially if self respect is important.:)
Wow, what self-respecting man would back down and wimp out by not going after his dream just because there might be obstacles?
Then the other side wins.
How wimpy is that Demonsthenes? How "Metrosexual" is that?
You can never go wrong when choosing Nursing as your career. i am 39 yrs old turning 40 on april and taking my pre-req now , am i too late for it?,nah, never.Education is not for young people only, i am not doing this to go school for myself only, i'm doing this for my kids to follow, to give them a good choices when they grow up.Like father like son or daughter.
It has been my experience so far in Nursing that men are frequently able to fast track to the top. They are considered a "minority" and are actively sought out by a lot of healthcare facilities. My son has been a Nurse for 14 years and has also found this to be true. If he has become "effeminate", his wife & son & the football team he coaches, haven't noticed. Neither have I!.
As for being 40, I hope that wouldn't deter a man or a woman from following their dream. Initially, I would suggest that he contact the Nursing program of his choice to speak with a guidance counselor and to find out what courses are pre-requisites. I'd then sign up for those as quickly as possible at your local community college to get a feel for being back in school, and to satisfy any application requirements.
Good Luck!
I hopt that is true! My husband is 45 and doing his prereqs after 20 years as a computer programmer. He is a big burly hairy manly guy, as far from effeminate as possible. Just the thought of him being effeminate makes me laugh.
To the OP: I have noticed male nurses tend to work in the ICU, ER, cardiac/tele, cath lab, but there are a few in med-surg-ortho-oncology floors. We don't have male nurses any in L&D, postpartum, NICU or Peds at our hospital (to my knowledge) but I guess it's possible. Don't know about OR/PACU or Psych but I imagine men would feel comfortable there as well.
I get kinda bummed when I think about going through school all over again with him as he's just starting and how old he'll be when he's done but you know it's common for career military to start a second career in their late 30's/early 40's as that's way too early to retire. You only live once - I don't think you should ever say you are too old or it's too late if you want to do something. If he is serious, he should try it. He will soon know by taking the prereqs and nursing classes if it's something he wants to pursue and will get an idea from clinicals where his interests lie. Good luck to him!
Wow..........thanks so much for all the great responses. My husband will definitely be reading this tonight.
I hope its not going to be a problem taking prereqs one place and the other stuff somewhere else. He wants to take as many GE and prereqs online as possible.
Anyone know of a GOOD / Credible Online school to start with? or are the local colleges the best place to start?
Regards,
Dear Sonya's husband,
Check out local colleges (both BSN and ADN programs) and all of their requirements. You may find that there are waiting lists to get into some of the programs (depending on your location). Apply as soon as possible -- you can always decline an acceptance, but you want to give yourself options. Take into consideration cost of the program as well as the amount of time it will take. For instance, if there is a great BSN program nearby but it costs $15,000/year it may not be worth it if a good ADN program is only $2,000/year. However, if the costs are comparable, you have more thinking to do.
Some of these 2nd degree programs only take 2 years, which is awesome, if you can find one that is affordable (these are for folks who have a bachelors already and want a BSN in nursing). If this is not a good option in your area, check out your local community college. You may be able to complete one of their programs in 2 years. ADN nurses get paid roughly the same amount as BSN nurses (or sometimes the exact same amount), but they don't have the option of working in management or going for a master's degree (two things many nurses don't care to do anyway). I have worked with hundreds of nurses and rarely even knew whether they had a BSN or ADN degree -- choose which works for you as far as end goals/cost/time. At the end of either route you'll be a nurse. 2 years would be a full-time fast paced rate for any program (probably would include summers). 3 years is a more realistic estimate, especially if you need to work while in school.
Once you are accepted into a program or a waiting list, you can use their requirement list and get to work before the program starts (if you have time). ALWAYS confirm that a school will accept the credits from another school before you take a class elsewhere (you usually have to get the department head to sign off on it before you take the class), but I personally have taken several classes at the local community college and had them transfered to my four year college for credit -- this has saved me time and money in several instances. My brother-in-law got several classes out of the way at the community college while he was on the waiting list for the nursing program. Many community colleges offer "distance learning" courses that you can complete online.
You asked about being an LPN first -- I recommend this only if an LPN program is open to students to start right away (and is affordable), but the RN program has a LONG wait list. LPN experience is great and you are a true nurse, but you are too limited in your options for work environments. You will probably read someone disagree with me in this thread -- take what they say into account, too. Many people have done the LPN thing with success.
I do recommend working as a tech or a nursing assistant (CNA) sooner rather than later. It looks good on your resume for applying both to nursing school and then later on for your first nursing job. More importantly, it's great real-world experience. Don't be suckered into a $600 CNA class -- most hospitals have training programs that don't cost an arm and a leg -- CNA's on the board can probably tell you more about them. Good luck!
I say go for it. 42 is still young! If it is his dream its better to do it now than after retirement! In 2003 when I graduated there was a 52 y/o man in my class. He was exceptional in clinical! The patients loved him! From what I hear, he isn't doing too well health wise, and the job is killing him. (the stress) So just be sure to tell him to take care of himself!
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Your husband should go for it. 42 years of age is still considerably young.
One of my classmates was 56 years of age when she started nursing school, and she is now a charge nurse at a nursing home. If a 56 year old woman can do it, so can your husband. :)
I finished my ASN at 48, have been a nurse for 7 months, and I love it. It's hard, but very fulfilling, and each obstacle overcome brings a sense of accomplishment. I've had no problems over being male, or middle-aged, though I will say that by the end of three 12s in a row, I'm pretty beat.
I had to work while I went to nursing school, so that was a bit of a grind. I may go back for my BSN, but I'm sure glad I didn't have to do it all in one bite.
I enjoy working on a unit with a variety of ages and genders. In some ways, I have more in common with the other guys, in some ways with the gals who are my age, and in some ways with the girls (well, very young women) who were hired at the same time I was. And while I don't think of myself as effeminate, or even metrosexual, I enjoy the company of strong, independent women, which nurses have a tendency to be.
Kindness, gentleness, and caring for others are not exclusively feminine traits, and I think any man can benefit from finding those qualities in himself.
tell him to go for his dream and i admire you for wanting him too. i became a nurse at age 41, the time was right for me. if i had started this 20 years ago, i wouldn't not have liked it or made it in nursing school.
there are lots of us "older" folks finially being able to fufill our dreams and that keeps us young at i think.
go for it dude!! as my 6 year old says all the time:d
Todd SPN
319 Posts
I have been a nurse for over 2 years working LTC. Right after taking my NCLEX, I was at my facility visiting a friend of mine who was a male nurse. The DON walked up, I was introduced and was offered a job on the spot. I wasn't looking for a job and had not applied (and did not intend too). There were 4 males in my class, I was the oldest at age 50. None of us had a problem finding work. I am aware of the gender thing, but can honestly say I don't think I was ever subjected to any of those type remarks. If I was, I probably didn't realize it as I don't care what people think in those terms. I like what I do and do it to the best of my ability. For sure, if he is to be a nurse and can afford it, become an RN. LPNs like myself are very much limited to where we can work. If he is going to get his education at a community college, most likely there are quite a few classes he can take online to get his prereqs out of the way. One thing I have learned is it is sometimes difficult to take prereqs at one place and then go another school to try and get into the nursing program. Most colleges will take care of those students who started the prereqs at their institution first. Meaning they will get a spot in the always crowded nursing classes before an outsider.