career change

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A little about myself. I am an electrician of seven years in southeast michigan. I have been layed-off more times than I can count. I just fell into the trade sort of speak right out of high school. So I thought I had it pretty good, untill about three years ago when the layoffs came. So now three kids and a wife later I have to do something. I have been layed off for about a year and now I'm in a position that I cant go back to work because that would mean that my wife who is providing health insurense would have to stop. I have really continplated becoming a nurse. I have contacted the colleges around hear(Monroe) and most of them have a long wait list. So I applied at the toledo school of practical nursing for LPN. My wife who is a nursing aide described to me what the nurses do ware she works and it seems like something I would be quite interested in. I was concerned about being a male nurse until I found this site. Any insight would be greatly appreacated. Thank you Chris.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I think you should pursue nursing, and the LPN track would get you off to a wonderful start.

Male nurses are becoming increasingly common in today's society, so you'll blend right in. In addition, I have personally observed that male nurses tend to receive slightly more respect from doctors, physical therapists, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. While a male doctor may scream at a female nurse without a second thought, he usually won't bother the male nurse.

Good luck to you! Even though I'm a female, nursing is my second career, and I've been at it for less than 2 years. My first career was manufacturing, and I am glad to be away from the hard labor of the paper mill.

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Chris,

I think you should go for it.....

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN, ABLS.

Your plan makes sense. After you finish your LVN, you can transition to become a registered nurse if you have higher aspirations. Good luck with your plans. BTW, I suck at anything electrical, I could offer you a couple of small jobs but u have to come to NY, and with gas prices, it wouldn't be worth it!

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN, ABLS.

Forgot to tell you, men in nursing are becoming more common, though a lot of us gravitate towards ICU, ER, OR (adrenaline junkies, is what it is called), but there are plenty of exceptions to this rule. I recently went to a long term care facility (LTC) and the two RN's were males. Who would have thunk?

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Thank you everyone for the great advice. Its nice to have some encouragement. I just got my letter yesterday to take the NET. I have been studying my but off for the last to weeks so hopefully I'll do alright. I take it on dec 7. Chris

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Well I took my NET today. Overall I think I did okay. For me the math was easier then the reading. I was able to finish the math with ten minutes to spare, but the reading, I barley had enough time. Well they told us that we probebly wont hear anything until after the the first of the year. I will let everyone know how I did.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Psych, Derm,Eye,Ortho,Prison,Surg,Med,.

Nursing is a calling, but some use it just to pay bills.

If you are the former, I say GO FOR IT!

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Specializes in LTC.
I was concerned about being a male nurse until I found this site. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Chris.

Hi Chris,

I'm also pursuing Nursing as a second career (at the tender age of 45). :lol2: I am currently a few months into a private-school LVN program, much for the same reason you noted...all of the public colleges have waiting lists. I can honestly say that I love it...should have done this when I was twenty! lol.

Anyway, I plan to jump from LVN to RN as soon as I can.

Best of luck.

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Chris, Good luck to you!

For me nursing is also a second career. I worked in IT for over 10 years when I started in LPN school. Now I have a part time nursing job and going for my RN part time.

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Thank you everyone for the encouragement. I know for me the next few weeks are going to drag by. I have been told that there are not many people that pass it the first time around. I know my wife did, and I hope I do also. Again, thank you. Chris

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