what are the guys' reasons to become a nurse?

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In the current institution that i am in, i've seen very few male nursing students. Some say they're just forced to by their mums; others go for the big salary...

the growing population of nurses today include mostly the females, as i see it.

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Specializes in MICU/SICU.

Started off as an EMT & ICU Tech, saw what the ER & ICU nurses did, decided to go back to school.

1) good pay

2) good hours

3) job security

4) respectable profession

5) inherent rewards in caring for people

6) lots of options as far as continuing education and job growth

I just graduated from nursing school, and now I'm helping four other guys at my church through the whole process (couple of whom I motivated to go back to school.) Basically, once a guy gets tired of his boring, unfulfilling, but "manly" job it doesn't take too much convincing to go into nursing. And sure there's still traces of the feminine stereotype, but 1) that stereotype is fading and 2) where else do you find a 10:1 (20:1??) female to male ratio? No complaints here!

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Originally, i wanted to be a surgeon (in 3rd grade) after my grandpa died, always kept that with me throughout my childhood, then when i looked at what the job entailed I realized i wanted 1. more pt contact and 2. to treat pts. not diseases, so now i want to do critical care and maybe eventually get my NP or CRNA.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

It still is indeed a female dominated profession. I work with a lot of males nurses and techs. Guess their interested in "trauma".

Basically I agree with JT's reasons, but for #2. I'd still prefer bankers hours. :)

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

The Hubster wants to 'give back' to society and feel like he has done something rewarding while he can still work.

Nursing is such a profession he feels he can do just that.

He starts the Program in less than two weeks.

Yayyyyyyyyy go hubby!

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Specializes in Emergency.

I spent 21 years in corporate America. It paid very well but was, for the most part, very unsatisfying. Always had an interest in medicine and I got into EMS (EMT in my town and ski patroller at very busy resort). I love the pre-hospital environment but it simply doesn't pay enough to do full time.

So, after being bought out/laid off/downsized/rightsized/force managed (pick your preferred term), I picked up a copy of "What Color Is Your Parachute" and did all the exercises to try and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. They basically guided me toward nursing. So, with my wife and family's support ("About time you became a nurse"), I've started down the road to RN.

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

My own reasons are several, but two stand out:

1. Many opportunities. I would hate having a job that pigeonholed me in some sort of narrowly-defined position. With nursing you can do a truly amazing number of career paths.

2. Because I care. Caring is risky, because if you care you can get hurt really bad. But it appears to be my destiny, so I'll have to take that chance. Other people have spouses and children to care for, but since I don't I need a caring career, and nursing is one of the best examples.

Actually there's a third reason; I was so impressed with the hospice nurses who cared for my mom that I wanted to do the same.

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.
I spent 21 years in corporate America. It paid very well but was, for the most part, very unsatisfying. Always had an interest in medicine and I got into EMS (EMT in my town and ski patroller at very busy resort). I love the pre-hospital environment but it simply doesn't pay enough to do full time.

So, after being bought out/laid off/downsized/rightsized/force managed (pick your preferred term), I picked up a copy of "What Color Is Your Parachute" and did all the exercises to try and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. They basically guided me toward nursing. So, with my wife and family's support ("About time you became a nurse"), I've started down the road to RN.

Awesome read and I wish you nothing but great success.

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I have been in a business position for 10 years, but I never thought it was right for me. Last summer it got really bad where I am, and I started having physical problems due to the conflict I was felling. So I bought a book called "Life's a Bithc, and Then You Change Careers" and it walks you through how to find out what career you'd be a good fit for. I've always like science and I like the hospital setting, and I am a caring person, so I wasn't that surprised when that's what I realized i wanted to do. My family and friends would all say the same thing when i told them what I was considering - that it made perfect sense.

I've spent the last year taking pre-reqs that I didn't have 10 years ago when I got my business degree, and now I'm starting the nursing ADN program in September.

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I'm compassionate.

I never really stopped to think of myself in that way, but when my sister told me she wasn't surprised I was becoming a nurse because I was compassionate, I was shocked to hear that word applied to me.

But, yeah, I hate to see people hurt, and I stand up for the underdog. I'm a hard worker and I pay attention to details. And I always liked helping people. And work is important to me. And I like expanding my horizons.

And due to spiritual factors that entered my life within the past 3 years, I've come to believe that a life not invested in the welfare of others is a life wasted.

So add all that up, and nurse sound pretty good.

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Started off as an EMT & ICU Tech, saw what the ER & ICU nurses did, decided to go back to school.

1) good pay

2) good hours

3) job security

4) respectable profession

5) inherent rewards in caring for people

6) lots of options as far as continuing education and job growth

Basically, once a guy gets tired of his boring, unfulfilling, but "manly" job it doesn't take too much convincing to go into nursing. And sure there's still traces of the feminine stereotype, but 1) that stereotype is fading and 2) where else do you find a 10:1 (20:1??) female to male ratio? No complaints here!

Ditto!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I have an incredible amount of compassion and caring and this is really the only field I could fully utilize those qualities. I too really questioned medicine (I still question it all the time) but I am reminded of why I did not choose that route everytime I come in contact with a resident. They spend absolutely no time with the patients, have very little compassion, and spend their days writing orders.

I think I will most likely pursue the glamorous life of academics (ha!) after spending a few years working as a staff nurse.

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