Fellow Nursing DUDES

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Hello all,

I am 23, and have just been accepted to University of Southern Nevada's accelerated BSN program. I will be done in 18 months. Because of work and all of the schooling I have not had time to volunteer in the hospital. I was wondering what areas does the male nurse prefer. I am really interested in the human body and the way it works. I was thinking the OR or the ER. I just wanted to get the oppinion of some fellow male nurses. Thank you.

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I think the ED is best. It's fast, very exciting, and at times dramatically bloody. The best part is that there is (usually) no poop.

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Ultimately I think that the best answer to this question will hit you as you progress through your studies and gain clinical exposure. You'll find that there are probably high percentages of men in certain departments like ER and ICU, but that doesn't mean that those will be best suited for you.

I work in an area with a very small number of males (NICU), but I can't imagine working anywhere else. While it's good to get lots of opinions, I would have missed out on my niche if I listened too carefully to stats about where men were supposed to work.

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Sorry don't know what ED means.

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Thanks for the info.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry/PCU, SNF.

You just have to find your niche, like someone stated above. Don't go into the experience with pre-conceived notions of where you want to work - you may be surprised where you end up. I thought for sure I was going into the ED (emergency department) but instead am working on a Progressive Care Unit and loving it. Sure, there are many guys in the ED and ICU, but that might not be where you're truly happy.

Good luck,

Tom

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Specializes in Cardiac/ED.

I work on a cardiac floor but have dreams of working in the ED one day. What I suggest is for new grads to make sure that you get your 1 year of experience in Medical surgical floor. This experience will prepare you for whatever specialty that you may want. I also recognize the value of the advice already given to you, to not make those decisions prior to school as you may discover that you may want something else. I actually considered post partum following school, as I thoroughly enjoyed the joy that is felt as a child is brought into the world. Keep an open mind and enjoy nursing school.

P2

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

As other users have mentioned I think that's only a question that you can answer for yourself. While its true that many guys like working in an ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and ED (Emergency Department) there are guys in all areas of nursing. It depends on what areas and aspects of nursing really interest you, I forgot exactly what study it was but it compared what parts of nursing that men reported be interested in versus their female counterparts. The study stated that men reported being interested in the "fast paced intensity" of the ED and the "highly technical skills" required in ICUs but as I said you will men in all areas of nursing so don't limit yourself to just being in the ED/ICU. Personally, I am interested in working in the ED but I intend of being a Med/Surg. nurse for a few years before I move to the ED because I feel that I need to have the foundational of Med/Surg. before I can move onto the ED even if its just for the experience.

!Chris :specs:

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Specializes in Emergency, MCCU, Surgical/ENT, Hep Trans.

ED...took me 15 years to discover this! Great for guys. Kinda reminds me of sports in a weird way. Team, fast(er) paced, quarterback-Charge, refs-docs, nobody is there for more than 4-6hrs, never know what's going to hit you, etc. In/out/in/out, etc. Meds have more meaning, looking for a response. The pace can be very fast. Hmmm...and you get paid!

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thank you for the advise fellow nursing dudes. I start volunteering in the ED this week. I hope I like it.

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Specializes in developmentally disabled.

i'm a level 1 nursing student and find it interesting where my peers hope to end up (one hospice, one psych). i think you'll just have to wait after you've done your rounds at rotations and decide from there. back in the day, you applied as a nurse and was placed where needed. luckily now you're able to choose.

i originally studied radiation therapy (just shy of clinicals), and switched to nursing (moved, thus easier to find position - i hope). mind you, my wife always professed i'd be a nicu nurse well before i even studied medicine and it's looking more like that every day... and yes, a relative rarity (i'm a dad of twins, the nicu they were born in only had two male nurses - and it was a huge unit - 54 "beds" i believe).

gl,

dino

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