Attention Gaylord Focker...

oso · May 28, 2007

Go ahead and make the switch. I am 34, just graduated and will begin working in a local ED soon. I have worked as an EMT and ER tech for the past 8 years and never once felt out of place among all the women.

gitterbug · May 28, 2007

Go for it. You will be glad you did in the end. Women are the other half of the human race, so at the age of 32, you have managed to gain some expertize in dealing with them. LOL! Really, give it a try. I wish you the best of luck.

KckStrt · Jun 1, 2007

Go for it. I started nursing school at age 38 and now I am 42 and have graduated... I worked pretty much full time and started a new family second semester. I start my new job Monday 6/5.

I definitely feel as there is something to be said about being a male in this profession. Not saying we have advantages women don't have, I always feel welcome and have never experienced anything negative from the other staff be it Drs or RNs, not yet anyway.

Good luck.

Dabuggy · Jun 4, 2007

I worked as a carpenter/floor layer & wish I had gotten into nursing after high school. I wish I would have worked as a CNA for a while before getting my LPN tho. I am working on my RN at this time. It was hard getting my foot on the door as a new LPN with no experience, however, now people want me. Just switched 6 weeks ago from the nursing home to home care and got a 66% raise.

If I can make it thro school anyone can. Good luck.

Dabuggy

Gurmo · Jun 4, 2007

I'm 32 and considering a career change into nursing.
Did anyone else switch careers into nursing? I'm considering it because I've just hated the work I've done the past 5 years or so and with all of the good paying jobs in high tech and manufacturing leaving, I'm looking for something where I feel like I can contribute something positive while earning a nice income at the same time. Do you feel being a guy in the profession is more of an advantage or a disadvantage? Having been discriminated against being a white male in the workforce before, I'd think it would be nice to be on the other end of the spectrum for once.

Seems to be a common thing that is happening lately (or is it because I've been reading this forum lately? ). I've been in a good paying job now and am just sick of being a desk jockey. At age 33 I am taking my pre-reqs and hoping to get into an Accelerated BSN program by next December.

I too wish I would have jumped ship a long time ago and got into something I've been wanting to do for awhile now. Its just when I was growing up all I heard from family was: 'You want a good job behind a desk in some office building....'. The funny thing is that none of them have that kind of job so why was it pushed on me? :trout:

Haha, I can't wait to start school again, starting this Wednesday! Biology! Wow!

insa · Jun 5, 2007

Seems to be a common thing that is happening lately (or is it because I've been reading this forum lately? ). I've been in a good paying job now and am just sick of being a desk jockey. At age 33 I am taking my pre-reqs and hoping to get into an Accelerated BSN program by next December.
I too wish I would have jumped ship a long time ago and got into something I've been wanting to do for awhile now. Its just when I was growing up all I heard from family was: 'You want a good job behind a desk in some office building....'. The funny thing is that none of them have that kind of job so why was it pushed on me? :trout:
Haha, I can't wait to start school again, starting this Wednesday! Biology! Wow!

I'm in exactly the same boat at 35. I had what many people would consider to be a great desk job. I got the job that I wanted to go for, but I guess what I wanted changed. Sometimes I get that "If only I'd started sooner!" feeling, but I'm also glad to have had the experiences and opportunities I've had. I'll still have plenty of time to practise nursing, and I'll really know, maybe for the first time, why I'm in the job I'm in.

Ekklesia · Jun 7, 2007

Attention Gaylord Focker...

Gaylord Focker here...

Did anyone else switch careers into nursing?

Yes, I did/am. I worked in an auto factory for 15 years and was making $28.00 per hour in middle management. I decided I couldn't do 15 more, and that I needed something a bit more...rewarding so I quit and enrolled in nursing school.

Do you feel being a guy in the profession is more of an advantage or a disadvantage? Having been discriminated against being a white male in the workforce before, I'd think it would be nice to be on the other end of the spectrum for once.

Thus far, I have had a very positive experience. I have found nurses to be quite encouraging and professional concerning my entry into this new career. Every once in a while I pick up some negative vibes, but you'll have that in any profession.

As far as being advantageous...I don't really know if that's the proper outlook. Personally, I am sick of pigeon-holing people based on gender or color or whatever. If you want to be a nurse and you can get the proper credentials, then it's for you regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, political affiliation, et cetera et cetera...

Best wishes to you in your career change if you choose to do it!!

juliegrednuk · Jun 10, 2007

Male nurses rock and I wish there were more of them. I have been in the medical profession for over 20 years now (both as a CNA and now as a soon to be nurse) and I have never met a male nurse who I didn't love. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for all my female coworkers. Oh, by the way, I am female!!!!!!!

CSHRN · Jun 13, 2007

Go ahead and switch. I see you already have a sense of humor which will come in handy in this career. Good luck to you.

SOCALRACERX911_RN · Jul 28, 2007

My goal in life was to become a Physician Assistant and when I could not get into a program a friend of mine who was doing the same thing told me to "settle" for nursing. Man..it was the best thing I've ever done at age 32(things happen for a reason), no regrets at all. Cant complain about making $19hr in 2002 as a new grad to making about $42-45hr registry part-time and my other part-time job close to that. I just happened to do my ER new grad training with the medical director for the AMA supercross medical team and he invited me to cover a race one day and I 've traveled around the US working the races, taking care of the likes of Bubba. I could go on......bottom line is, Im doing or have done things that I could not have done as PA....Nursing has been very very good to me and Im not embarassed to tell others I am one.......although i've noticed my kids are embarrassed to tell their friends I'm a nurse, I ve heard them say Iam a doctor.....go figure, we still have a long ways to go i guess.

JerseyGuy · Jul 28, 2007

Hey bud----go ahead, and make the switch. I'm a male career-changer, now a 2nd semester nursing student in an Accelerated Second Degree BSN program, a tough (well, intense) 15-month program for those already with a Bach degree, who wish to become nurses.

Before this student gig, and I'm old, 50!!!....I was a VP/Director of Human Resources at some large hospitals in my State of NJ. And I can tell ya, from years of working with nurses/nursing execs, etc.....as a general rule, males "do well" in nursing-----AS LONG AS YOU'RE GOOD. No one will hand you anything, but let's face it....males are (still) a minority in nursing, but folks like to have us around for lots of reasons: the diversity, sometimes for "heavy lifting"...ha ha, and just because----meaning, no reason at all. But also, we do kinda "break up the estrogen a bit", with our "testosterone". And btw, there are 13 men in my 65 person nursing class....and by far, all the guys are hetero, except 2 that I know of----if that's a concern to you. It's not to me....but the old 'sterotype' of all males in nursing being "gay"----well, it's just not so anymore. Folks are WAY more educated about stereotypes, etc.

Contact me via private message, ifyou wish to discuss further....bkz this website is a little confusing to me. Send me a private message. I have 20+ years of healthcare (hospital) HR experience, including career counseling, and I'd be glad to answer any questions I can---about pre-reqs, etc.. Reason I'm saying "outside" email, is that I only look at this website once every 3-4 weeks. I even forget I'm a member sometimes. All the best!!