Another male idiot, asking stupid questions.....

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I'm over fifty, and am just beginning the arduous journey to RN-dom.... It's such a well worn path, with few creative branches, for the first few years.... given that, here are my questions:

1. How "in shape" do you need to be to perform all the stepping and fetching that will be demanded of you

2. How much "eye candy" do you have to be?

3. I guess we can reduce 1 and 2 to "is there endemic ageism?"

4. How much of a requirement is a flexible, stainless steel spine, because I hear all males are automatically movers of beastly patients, even if your back doesn't tremble at the thought of lifting a 400 lb, semi-conscious combative ex pro-wrestler....?

5. Do you have to have a unnaturally happy expression on your kisser all the time....?

6. Are there some who come from the office world, who just can't make the change, with all the bodily realities, I know you desensitize to bad things, but I run when my dog farts....(or cat, so as not to discriminate)

7. Will I need a nurse before I get to a point where I will have some career latitude?

8. Why am I asking all these stupid questions......I am a male!!!

Thanks in advance (don't ya hate that phrase?) :yawn:

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A quick edit to the above note.......I want to go into Nursing, I've always wanted to......it was the stigma 25 years ago that kept me from it....

Also, my back is fair, I can strengthen it with exercise...but it never will be 18 again...

Edit over.

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Specializes in Trauma/Burn ICU, Neuro ICU.

Wow. So many inaccurate (and a little hostile) assumptions. I am older than you, just finished, got a job before I graduated, b/c many places really prefer older, more experienced people. There are lift techniques and devices - so no need to ruin your back, whether you're male or female.

Whether you like your new job or not is up to you. It's not about the poop.

You can advance as quickly as you'd like - and have the chops for.

One last thing - if you really want some serious advice or thoughts on the profession, why all the vitriol about "older post-menopausal man-haters poisoning the well" - Holy Crap!

Best wishes to you in your career change.

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilities, LTC.

i honestly can't tell if you meant to or not, but i think that you just blatantly insulted the profession i worked very hard to be a part of and am very proud to be a part of.

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Specializes in NICU.

Get ready... I have a weird feeling everyone is about to jump all over you.. That is what people do in these forums when they feel threatened.

My advice...

Hard work gets you to the top.

Good luck!

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I quickly edited that tongue in cheek assertion out!!!!:yeah:..and into the another string theory membrane....Many apologies!!!! You are right to be insulted, and this gives me hope that it will be different in nursing.

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Specializes in ICU, ED, PACU.

Don't go into this thinking you will be a male nurse, go into it thinking you will be a nurse. There is no degree for male nursing. Best advice I can give. Kill that ideation right away.

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1. How "in shape" do you need to be to perform all the stepping and fetching that will be demanded of you

Reasonably.

2. How much "eye candy" do you have to be?

Not so much. Even the edited-outs like me don't care.

3. I guess we can reduce 1 and 2 to "is there endemic ageism?"

No.

4. How much of a requirement is a flexible, stainless steel spine, because I hear all males are automatically movers of beastly patients, even if your back doesn't tremble at the thought of lifting a 400 lb, semi-conscious combative ex pro-wrestler....?

Even a small woman who knows how to do it can reposition a person solo. The obese take two. The 400-pound combative exwrestler takes Haldol and a hoist.

5. Do you have to have a unnaturally happy expression on your kisser all the time....?

It's all unicorns and rainbows all the time.

6. Are there some who come from the office world, who just can't make the change, with all the bodily realities, I know you desensitize to bad things, but I run when my dog farts....(or cat, so as not to discriminate)

The only change I have trouble with is communication via sticky-note.

7. Will I need a nurse before I get to a point where I will have some career latitude?

Not if you don't try to lift ex-wrestlers alone.

8. Why am I asking all these stupid questions......I am a male!!!

Yes, dear, that's nice. ;)

Good luck! Keep your sense of humor alive and you'll be just fine.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med-Surg.
I'm over fifty, and am just beginning the arduous journey to RN-dom.... It's such a well worn path, with few creative branches, for the first few years.... given that, here are my questions:

1. How "in shape" do you need to be to perform all the stepping and fetching that will be demanded of you

2. How much "eye candy" do you have to be?

3. I guess we can reduce 1 and 2 to "is there endemic ageism?"

4. How much of a requirement is a flexible, stainless steel spine, because I hear all males are automatically movers of beastly patients, even if your back doesn't tremble at the thought of lifting a 400 lb, semi-conscious combative ex pro-wrestler....?

5. Do you have to have a unnaturally happy expression on your kisser all the time....?

6. Are there some who come from the office world, who just can't make the change, with all the bodily realities, I know you desensitize to bad things, but I run when my dog farts....(or cat, so as not to discriminate)

7. Will I need a nurse before I get to a point where I will have some career latitude?

8. Why am I asking all these stupid questions......I am a male!!!

Thanks in advance (don't ya hate that phrase?) :yawn:

I for one am not going to jump all over you, it is so important to have a sense of humor in this profession and until you are a nurse there is a certain amount of ignorance to what we do. Also I don't think you can have full respect for the nursing profession until you walk in our clogs ;). When I first started nursing school I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I also held on to various stereotypes of nursing. I will tell you after you become a nurse all of those stereotypes melt away and you will have tremendous respect for the profession. It really is not about being a smiling attractive robot who looks dreamy eyed at physicians as they write their orders and yell at you to implement them. We are capable clinicians who spend way more time with the patients than physicians do so they trust and count on our judgement to report what is going on with the patient and give input on treatments and to stand up for our patients if we think the doc is wrong which happens from time to time. Also if you have a 400lb wrestler to turn I hope you will grab 3 or 4 of your collegues to help and then no one will herniate anything. Good luck in becoming a nurse I think you will find it enlightening.

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You are letting the stigma take over. Please don't pool the rest of us males into the category of "idiots". I let the show Cops take care of that list. Your questions are not stupid they are ignorant and inane. As DuluthMike stated you are wanting to become a nurse, not just a "male" nurse.

:D FYI...this is the year 2009 and we live in the 21st Century now.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

I wasnt offended by his post at all. Actually I got tickled while reading it. We all need some sense of humor in life. And in the workplace, it makes things go by easier.

I think you will do fine. Never lift a heavy person alone, I did and damaged my back.

Being eye candy is not a requirement. If so, then i wouldnt have made it far. lol

When I was in nursing school there was a man in my class who was way over 50 and did well. He was an inspiration to us all, he had a great sense of humor, like you. He has a wonderful job now and like I said, is doing very well from the last I heard.

I do try not to have a bitter/aggrivated look on my kisser. I try to be compassionate and caring at all times...even when they get on my nerves.

Dont let anything stop you if being a nurse is truely what you want in life.

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Yeah, you will be expected to lift beyond your call of duty, especially if you are the brawny type. It helps to be jolly sort even when you feel like screaming (which you will frequently!) I have been a man for 54 years and an RN for 15 years. Its a good job, but it is rough. You got to have confidence, thick skin, and ability to withstand lots of negative attitudes and stress by the bucket. And no matter how you handle it, you are a different breed, a minority creature in a female dominated profession. Can be good, and can often be bad. Good luck to you!

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