Feeling Uncertain

Gradius · Jul 29, 2012

Hi Everyone,
I recently spoke to a former male nurse (now med student) who strongly advised against going into nursing. He told me a number of things including nurses are nothing more than glorified CNAs, that do not have mentally challenging jobs, with a low ceiling and not much room to rise. He also said that males especially had it bad. I don't know if this is one case or if it is true.
I don't want to go into a field I'm going to hate. Everyone else has said it is a great field, but I feel like this man had a unique perspective. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance.

1) You're going to let ONE person sway you? Really?

2) If nothing, due to the rarity of us, males will have it easier to find a job. Scholarships too, I'm sure, since we're in the minority.

3) Not that this is my #1 reason for going into Nursing (it's because I want to join the military actually, and I'm too old to enlist)... the women. Need I say more?

chillax63 · Jul 29, 2012

Well the only reason this person had such an impact was due to his unique perspective. The other thing is that everything I'm being told about nursing just seems too good to be true. Anything that seems too good to be true, usually is.

ringmasterjdp · Jul 29, 2012

I am a fellow male nursing student and I wouldn't let one person sway me. Maybe the guy who told you all this is lying and is making up reasons on why he wouldn't want to be a nurse. He could be covering up the real reasons. As Gradius said, we are the minority. We are more than likely to get scholarships and jobs. I don't know where this guy supposedly went to school but I hear that nursing school is hard and challenging as well as rewarding.

dukefnord · Jul 31, 2012

Nursing isn't for everyone. It seems that it didn't agree with the fellow that you talked to. He also may not like baseball or apple pie. Try working as a CNA, that'll let you know quickley if Nursing is a career for you.

veggie530 · Jul 31, 2012

Hi Everyone,
I recently spoke to a former male nurse (now med student) who strongly advised against going into nursing. He told me a number of things including nurses are nothing more than glorified CNAs, that do not have mentally challenging jobs, with a low ceiling and not much room to rise. He also said that males especially had it bad. I don't know if this is one case or if it is true.
I don't want to go into a field I'm going to hate. Everyone else has said it is a great field, but I feel like this man had a unique perspective. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance.

CNA's change bed linens and diapers.

Nurses do MUCH more than that on the floor, obviously. But nursing is a highly diverse field -- you can work bedside, you can work in a suit and tie... you can work as an educator, in surgery, etc. etc. whoever this person is that told you this obviously had some bad experiences. Let him know when he finishes med school that a normal M.D. is nothing more than a glorified pharmacist, see how he likes that.

I have a contingent plan of going to med school one day, but only because I love education. Not because I think nursing has all of the pitfalls he mentioned.

canadiandude · Aug 2, 2012

Obviously this dude doesnt have slightest idea of what CNAs and nurses do. Saying that a nurse is a glorified CNA is like saying that a police officer is a glorified crossing guard. But I'm more saddened by the fact that we are going to have to work with some future MDs who are as ignorant and arrogant as your friend.

Hkroeck · Aug 2, 2012

I'm no longer a nursing student, nor am I male - but I can tell you that as a male in the field of nursing you definitely have an advantage. The school I attended would accept a male with a lower GPA and testing scores over a female who had much higher scores/GPA simply because male nurses are so rare. Not to mention it would probably be easier to get a job, especially in certain areas that are more male dominated (cardiac cath labs/OR, etc). My advice would be to at least shaddow a nurse at a local hospital so that you can get an idea of the type of situations you will be dealing with and work that you will be expected to do as a nurse (make sure you shaddow on the type of floor or area that you are interested in working in). If you like what you see then pursue nursing, afterall the last thing you want is to get into a career that you don't enjoy.

cecrn4 · Aug 8, 2012

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but personally, I am so happy I decided to become a nurse. All through high school I was sure I was going to go pre-med in college and eventually become an MD, but after I shadowed nurses in a local hospital, I knew nursing was where it's at. The reason I want to be in the healthcare field is the people. I have found that while the Dr. is the one "calling the shots", nurses are the ones who implement the orders and are in the action. In fact, because we're at the bedside, we're the ones who catch the smallest changes, have to piece together information and decide if the Dr. needs to get involved. I am constantly learning and I love nursing more and more every day.

As far as your being male in a female dominated profession, my male classmates have no complaints. One of them in particular was offered a job in the ICU near his home and he turned it down to work at an ICU in Chicago. I would kill for a call back for any nursing position, let alone one in the ICU. Recruiters love male nurses.

If you're on the fence and not sure if nursing is right for you, try to shadow a nurse in a local hospital. Any decision you make should be based on your own experience, not on someone else's.

Good luck!

chillax63 · Aug 8, 2012

Thank you all very much for the responses! I greatly appreciate your thoughts and opinions!