what are the guys' reasons to become a nurse?

Nursing Students Male Students

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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.

surprised at the initial post, since my classes are half filled (or at least 40% filled) with guys (in Baguio).

Anyway, I chose nursing for a variety of reasons, mostly as many have stated, career dissatisfaction, rather than "I always knew"...... I was in a job that was killing me in several of malsow's needs, so I jumped out before it sucked out my soul. Looking back after 3 years, I can't believe I lasted there as long as I did. I don't know what kind of nurse I will be, but I am as passionate, caring, responsible and hard working as I will need to be. I gagged the other day when a patient expectorated into a bag, while I tried to "assess" the quality of it. But I will hang in there. (she didn't notice, I would have been pissed at myself, of course)

Looking at the phlegm of a LOL seems 10,000X better than listening to one more 40 year old child make another excuse as to why he can't come into work that Monday morning after being an hour late already and getting my A$# chewed out at the same time by 3 people, the unhappy customer, our salesman and my regional manager for the project not finishing in a time that they promised it would. (you gotta love it when people promise that YOU will get something done)..... Ouch, I just had a construction manager's flashback. Gotta ease the pain by reviewing generic drug names.... AHHHH... heaven.......

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Specializes in Green.

Okay, before I begin, I don't want anyone to take offense as this is just on my personal experience, and understand it is just something that comes with being a minority in the profession.

I am starting my second junior semester in my B.S.N. program next week, my program is very typical in it's sexual diversity (6) males in a class of 60 students. Something that has peeved me throughout my schooling is all of the extra explaining that is required of the men as opposed to women. Professors and peers constantly throw out the question "what makes you want to become a nurse?" or "why do you want to be a nurse?" Are our motivators truly any different than our counterparts? I don't think so. It has been the worst with really old school professors, their tones and expression sometimes imply an unwelcome attitude-- this is really disheartening for motivated and interested male students.

The most interesting part of all of this, is I feel I get whacked with the question, however, the rude, unprepared, and uninterested females never get the interrogation that we undergo.

I may be alone, and it might be restricted to my school and area, but I am doubtful. I will continue to emphasize my interest in helping others, versatile and wide ranging opportunities, and making positive differences in the lives of others, however, I can see how easily intimidated guys could get steered away from a profession they could truly benefit.

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I've always wanted a career where I could make enough money that my wife could stay home with our children if she chose to. Also I needed a job 4 years ago and became a CNA, and when I saw what nurses did I decided that was my calling

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The on-going learning experience, The stability, The pay, Travel, Women, Attention....I look sexy in scrubs "from what i hear", Also The smell of all those women is intoxicating.......summer's eve and FDS drives me wild...lol.

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Specializes in Neuro, Cardiology, ICU, Med/Surg.

Seriously though, in my previous career, jobs started to get outsourced to the Philippines or India - the writing was on the wall and my job wasn't safe.

Hey, Reno, what did you do before you decided to go into Nursing? I have been a software engineer for 20 years and what you say is one of my reasons as well.

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now I'm helping four other guys at my church through the whole process

I hope to do likewise someday I find myself looking at some of my friends and wondering if they could go through the process. I dont think alot would to be able to be honest. Not that this current ratio is natural occuring but I think it is somewhat. As a whole women probably are more compassionate but I dont think its an overwhelming difference. After my Summer as a PCA I reflected on some of the ugly behavior I'd seen from RN's and there were only a few men but I didnt see any of this from the heterosexual men. RN's Are Kinda like women in that way dont piss them off. THats were the bad behavior would come in but the men would just tend to brush it off their shoulder "Wow you all must got me with one" referring to a loogy a lady shot at him wehn we came in. Just my thoughts BTW my moms a RN and think shes great.

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The reasons the OP stated is the main reason why I chose nursing. I have been a medical corpsman in the Coast Guard for 11 years with a total of 18 years in the military, I'm currently working on my masters degree in health care management. I spoke with a pre-admission advisor at an accelerated BSN program and she said I only need to complete 4 pre-reqs. I plan to do 30 years in the military and right before I retire I will apply to the accelerated BSN program. You can thank my ex-wife who is a BSN nurse who showed me the inside of this field. I also want to serve my community. There is always going to be a shortage of nurses. Nursing is a great second carreer. Nurses are the backbone of the hospitals. Here is an interesting article:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/mostread/s_498320.html

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Specializes in SRNA.
Hey, Reno, what did you do before you decided to go into Nursing? I have been a software engineer for 20 years and what you say is one of my reasons as well.

Sorry for the late response, but I was in management at a call center that provided customer service for telecom customers.

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i worked as a pharmaceutical representative for 15 years. i was exposed to clinics and hospitals mainly for pharmaceutical promotions. never in my life did i have in mind of actually becoming a frontline healthcare worker.

4 years ago i rushed my mom to the hospital for severe asthma. the hospital was a 45 minute drive from our home. by the time we got there my mom was no longer breathing and the e.r. staff had to resuscitate her. i really didn't know what else happened there that night. probably i was overwhelmed at the sight of all the e.r. staff frantically moving to revive my mom. a guy from the staff escorted me and told me to wait outside.

after several hours (it seemed as such) one of the staff told me that my mom was transferred to the icu. much as i wanted to to help my mom and make her well again, i didn't know how. i also couldn't bear the sight of her being stuck in a mechanical ventilator along with all the other tubing. after 5 days in the icu, my mom died.

a year later, my wife was complaining of severe abdominal pains (ruq radiating to the back). after a thorough examination from her obgyne and after a confirmatory ultrasound, she was diagnosed

with cholelithiasis and with uterine myoma. she was scheduled for cholecystectomy and hysterectomy.

the operation went through successfully but, during her recovery, still groggy with anesthesia, she had a delayed allergic reaction to morphine and had generalized rashes and pruritus. it was dejavu for me of again seeing someone very dear to you needing of your help but unable to do so because of ignorance of actual nursing/medical intervention. she was administered with antamine and finally was discharged 1 week later.

it was when my wife was still in the hospital when a one of her friends visited and said that she was about to go to nursing school. i don't know if it was just a matter of chance or fate that she mentioned her intention of taking up nursing. i enrolled along with the friend for a bsn course and i currently am at my third year.

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Specializes in SRNA.

It was part of getting into anesthesia school.

-S

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Specializes in Anesthesia, CCRN, SRNA.
It was part of getting into anesthesia school.

-S

Ditto to that. My ex girlfriend was a CRNA who only did cosmetics, boobs, face lifts, lipo cases but mostly boobs. I did a lot of shadowing with her....go figure...I looked at new boobies every day. She worked 30 some odd hours a week and had a W2 of $189k when we were dating. I decided then CRNA was for me. Hopefully I'll be there in a program within 18 months. I'm not afraid to say it is all about the money to me.

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.

For me it's about job security anymore. I became an EMT 20:eek: years ago, a paramedic 13 years ago and all the while felt I could do more. Working in the field as a paramedic was fun but it just doesn't make the ends meet without sacrificing major time with the family. That's why I decided to get busy and become an RN.

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