Guys- what made you want to become a nurse?

Nurses Men

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Guys-

Just wondering why you decided to become a nurse? I just read a posting on the homepage by a male that said something along the lines of our hospital usually starts new grads off at $20/hour but since I am a male I was hoping on making $25.00/hour. And to be honest with you, it really made me angry. The nursing school I am in is very diverse, as a matter of fact I believe it's the most diverse associates nursing program in all of PA. I think they told us at orientation that 20% of our class are males (although that may be a little high!) A few of my classmates and I were having a dicussion about a few males in our class that act like "they're too good for the program" and "feel like this stuff if too easy for them" (they don't even do that well on the exams so I dont know where they get off acting the way they do!!) I'm not saying that all male nurses are like this, because there are some guys in my program that are going to be absolutely fantastic nurses and I realize that someone acting like "they're too good for a nursing program" isn't limited to males only, because some females are like that as well. I'm just finding it to occur more often in men (maybe it's just me, that's why I am curious to hear your opinion!) So after this long tangent I'm wondering.. What made you want to be a nurse??

And I didn't mean to offend anyone, I'm sorry if you take it the wrong way!:saint: Can't wait to hear your responses!

Specializes in RN.

I have always wanted to...now is my opportunity @ 46 years old. I have been a carpenter/construction worker, factory worker, gas station etc...I am at my best when working directly with people, I really enjoy people. The employment, pay, and such are a definite draw, but not my only motivation!! I wish I would have pursued this LONG ago!!! and I don't plan on retiring...but who knows what tomorrow may bring?

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I helped put out a village fire, when I was about 8 years old.

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I've always had a "calling" to work in healthcare and "save" people.

I've had experiences saving people from near-death (which actually resulted to me having to hang on to my own dear life).

I've injured myself and thought of "treating" myself.

I've had major illnesses that made me think about them more and more.

I was in medical school to become a MD before I went here to Canada. Having very limited funds, I chose to take the next logical (and most of the time, less traveled for males) profession which is a nurse.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I just read this whole thread and picked and chose some comments that stood out for me:

Personally I chose nursing after spending a number of years as a chiropractor, disliking the highly entrepreneurial nature of the business and constant political struggles within that profession. I wanted to stay in health care. I chose nursing because it's a field that values critical thinking and clinical knowledge over business savvy.

After dropping my pre-med major in favor of psychology back in undergrad, it was the beginning of the biggest detour of my life, ending up in law. After 9 years in practice, I found a shining light in chiropractic but once I made the geographic move to attend school, I hit the brakes and realized it is not where I should be, I had similar reasons that you stated above not to mention the need to avoid an exorbitant tuition bill. I knew I always wanted to go into health care, it just took me longer to find nursing.

After 9/11 happened in 2001 I came home from school in Boston completely confused about what I wanted to do with my life. I did know, however, that I wanted to be able to help people, and that I hated feeling totally helpless that September.

I was living in NYC on 9/11 and I also felt helpless. I had just lost my mom to renal failure less than 2 months earlier and amongst the mourning I had a desire to help and was frustrated that I could not. Having cared for my mom and my grandma during their illnesses, I was so consumed by the prospect of losing them and making sure they were comfortable that I did not have time to translate that all into my career choices. Took some time, but I'm glad it has all clicked now.

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I consider good salary, 3-day work weeks, and all the other benefits of a nursing job to be bonuses for the hard work I will eventually put in. The REAL reason I want to go into nursing is to have at the end of the day the satisfaction of knowing that someone's life and well-being was uniquely touched because of my care. As a lawyer, I never really got that satisfaction all that often (especially after 9/11) and I ultimately have come to realize that life is too short to keep working in a profession that makes your days on this earth miserable. I'm no stranger to 12-hour work days, but I rather do something dynamic and fulfilling for all that time and I could never find that sitting in a law firm office!

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I had a religious calling to enter Nursing. Some family members and my pastor got the same leading - all separately - we had never discussed it prior to my telling my pastor and my Mama that I was feeling like God wanted me to become a nurse. They both said, "I know. He told me the same thing." Now what could I say to that?!!

I do wish I could work in a religious setting, not secular, and that might come someday. We'll see.

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Specializes in Long Term Care; Skilled Nursing.

I am not a nurse yet, but hope to be after high school. I want to become a nurse to help people, the pay, nursing jobs are easy to find, it's never the same, you always learn something and there more degree types (diploma, associates, bachelors, masters and now doctorate) and there are teaching jobs and management jobs for when you get old and your back and legs start hurting worse then when you started.

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OK! I read every post on this link. This is my second career and I have learned not to take myself so seriously! So this is how I see things. YES I give my patients the best care I can because it makes them feel better and me feel good. I like the hours I like the money and I like the girls!!! If that offends anyone I really dont care! What ever your motivation is to be good at what you do is your business!

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I was a Military medic for 4 yrs. When i got out i became a construction equipment mechanic because of the difference in the way that the civilian side is allowed to do their job,its been 15 yrs since then and i have now enrolled in a BSN program at a private college because i still think about the work i used to do and the feeling of satisfaction it gave me.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Because I flunked out of Med School. JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!!!! Went into nursing to have variety, great pay, able to go to school while working full time, great benefits, and the list just keeps goin. I am young, but hope to stay at this for the rest of my life! Always some place different to go, great upward mobility, and always new people to meet!

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Im going into nursing due to many factors.

1. The pay. It is the main factor for most people now a daysa and I am not scared to say that. I need money, I have bills and kids to feed. I cant do that working for $13 an Hour anymore.

2. I spent 12 years in the Army, I have traveled all over the country and the World. I have had the need to help other my whole life. I like the feeling I get when I help someone.

3. Flexability, The hours give me time to continue my education. Gives me time with my loved ones. Gives me time to do the things I have not done in the last 13 years due to the routine of day to day grind of 12 hour days and 60= hours work weeks.

4. To follow my Mother path. I followed my Dads for the last 13 years and I have not alot to show for it. If I would have been smarter 13 years ago I would have chosen this path 1st.

5. I look darn good in scrubs LOL

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I've always wanted to do something that would benefit people and not just myself. Whether it be a firefighter, policeman, military, etc. I didn't discover the nursing career path until recently when my sister passed her boards and became a doctor. I was really interested in sciences already so I was naturally intrigued by the medical field; however, I wanted to have a life. She is always busy now and it's not what I want and I see nursing as a option for me, preferably in the ER. But that could change as I'm only a student.

Before I even decided on becoming a nurse, one of my female friends thought I was gay and now she's convinced I'm not a hetero. :down:

Thanks nursing stereotypes!

Jokes aside, it looks like a field for me as I'm helping others, interacting with scientific material, have some time off outside work, lots of women surround me day-to-day, and not have to be caged inside a cubicle typing on a computer 40 hours a week. Let's see how it goes. :p

Also, Scrubs are AWESOME. How can you complain about working in some of the most comfortable clothing known to mankind? :)

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Notwithstanding a lot of the comments here, I feel as though I am going to be redundant. I worked in the mortgage/financial industry for 15 years. I figured it was time to get into a field that will always be in demand. My goal is to become a traveling RN, with a significant bump in wage so my wife can stay home and not have to work. I may have to teach her how to cook first. :)

I like the idea of flexibility and wage, but I am finishing up pre-reqs now and will apply to several nursing schools in the spring. I do like helping people, even if it means cleaning up vomit/blood/feces....u get the idea. I need a career not a job....never too late to start!

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