Being a male nurse?

Nurses Men

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My name is Josh and I am currently a high school grad, class of 2011. I am a volunteer firefighter and a construction worker. The Emergency Medicine career field and emergency service has always been a passion of mine. However during high school I got sucked into and stuck doing welding and fabrication at our technical school. I am now regretting that and am thinking of going to college to get at least an associates degree in nursing and fulfilling my goal of being either a paramedic or getting into being an ER nurse. Some people tell me its too late to do it, but I say it's never too late. And if it's not, how should i go about fulfilling this dream?

Any guidance or information would be greatly appreciated, thank you for your time... :confused:

Specializes in Emergency.

It is never too late. I am inspired by my grandfather who went to medical school at 60! Became an Md and just stopped practicing at 96! I decided to go back to school at 40, just started Nursing school at 41, work as a CNA and am getting my EMT to start work in the hospital arena while in school...GO FOR IT!

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Plenty of time buddy. I graduated my ABSN program and turned 30 last year. My advice will be to look at what you really want to do. I too love the excitement of emergency services. However, I do believe that nurses have better long term career prospects. While doing my prerequisites I also beame an EMT. It is a good way to get your feet wet. Understand that you might not be able to start in an ER depending on where you are, the economy and luck when you graduate. Also, once you get your RN you can always get your EMT-P as well, which makes you a good candidate for such high adrenaline specialties such as flight nursing. Bottom line, you are young and have time to do whatever you want. Best of luck with your decision.

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You are right - it's never too late to start pursuing your dreams. If you want to go back to college to become a nurse, you should definitely do it without a thought to what others say or think. Getting an Associate's degree in Nursing sounds about right for your goals. If you are looking for suitable programs, you can start by exploring the Associate's degree in Nursing at CollegeAmerica. Here, you can get your degree in 20 months. Hope it helps!

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Josh,

Please don't listen to anyone who tells you it's too late to start on a career path in health care. Especially if you just graduated high school a year ago? You have so much time to do whatever you want still. No reason at all for you not to aim high. I recently started on the path to becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner myself after a long performing arts career. I still have a ways to go but it's all much more realistically achievable now that I have just started. There was a time when I first thought about doing this that I thought "there is no way". But once I started, everything flowed and I can't believe I ever doubted I could do this. Plus I am having a great time learning all of this new stuff.

There was a guy at my work who just got his BSN and he went part-time while working for most of it. And the hospital (he worked as an ER tech) paid for a lot his school through tuition assistance. If you don't already have a bachelors degree, why not get yourself into a BSN program? That way you have your bachelors degree (basic requirement in today's economy) and you wouldn't have to worry about not qualifying for nursing jobs that require the BSN.

You would also then be set up to go to a Masters program and become an ER Advanced Practice Nurse after working for a few years if you wanted to which you could also do while working. (Which pays REALLY well from what I've seen)

https://allnurses.com/student-nurse-practitioner/emergency-nurse-practitioner-189348.html

And do forget programs like the government National Health Service Corps that offer loan forgiveness and scholarship programs that could help you pay for your education. Home - NHSC

Your firefighter experience can only help you with all of this. Bottom line, there are a lot of options and the sky's the limit. You seem like the kind of person who is dedicated and driven. Stay focused, ignore those who want to discourage you, and you will get there! Maybe one day you can call me down to the ER for a psych consult.

:cheers:

Good Luck!

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

I was 49 when I graduated nursing school, so I can definitely attest to the fact that 20 is not too old! My advice is to find out what the prerequisites are for your local nursing schools (each school has slightly different prereq's, but there's a lot of overlap) and start taking classes. It's great that you're a volunteer firefighter, but if you can find time for an additional volunteer gig, consider volunteering in a hospital too -- this will give you an opportunity to observe nurses and what they do (just make sure you'll get to volunteer in patient care areas, not just the gift shop!). I also agree with previous advice that getting your EMT first might be a way to go, given your interest in emergency services.

Go for it -- you have nothing to lose!

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Josh,

I received my ADN when I was 36 after having a career as an Airborne Infantryman, Purchasing Agent, Production Manager then Waiter. I then went on to get my BSN and am currently getting my MSN as an FNP.

It is never too late.

"You can do anything you put your mind to."

-My Grandmother, Mary "Nana" Tranquillo.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.
josh,

i received my adn when i was 36 after having a career as an airborne infantryman, purchasing agent, production manager then waiter. i then went on to get my bsn and am currently getting my msn as an fnp.

it is never too late.

"you can do anything you put your mind to."

-my grandmother, mary "nana" tranquillo.

i couldn't agree more with your post, this is the reason why i chose my signature that goes as follows...nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and make a new ending~ ee maria robinson

our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.

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Hello. I just turned 24. I really want to become a nurse but i have no idea on whats the first step in becoming one. Can anyone help me in giving step by step on what classes to take. I am from Delano, a small town in California.

I used to be stationed in Lemoore. I did all of my prereqs at Westhills Lemoore. At the time they did not have a Nursing Program but they do now. COS in Visalia would be another option.

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It's never too late indeed. After 11 successful years on Wall Street, I suddenly came to the realization that I wish to do something more meaningful which can only be obtained by helping others. I start my journey in pursing an education in nursing next month.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.
i start my journey in pursing an education in nursing next month.

congratulations to you and to all that are seeking to advance and further their education... aloha~

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Just to throw my :twocents: worth in: I'm 49, more-or-less employed as a CNA (working very part-time), and doing the prereqs for entry into the LVN program at a local college. Figure I'll be 50-51 by the time I get those letters after my name; from there, bridge to an ADN (probably another year for that), and then off to get a BSN (another year for that) so I should be in the 52-53 age bracket before I get most of the way to where I'm headed, which is an NP (probably MSN; just can't see me going the full doctorate route when all I want to do is patient care).

As for you, Josh - sounds like you'd do fine as a flight/transport nurse, or maybe ER/ICU might be more your bag. Far as the prereqs/schooling - honestly, having been through some of this I found it to be less intimidating than it is typically portrayed. Big thing (for me, anyway) is time mamagement; you're going to be pushing pretty hard, so you can't let your schedule slip, which means you're gonna have to leave some of those salmon for the rest of us! ;)

In any case - take a good hard look at where you think you'd like to go, do some homework & decide if it's what you really want, lay out your game plan & make it happen.

Best of luck to you,

Dave

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Always move forward.

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