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.

i just applied for the nursing program and since i received my emt cert. i was told that i was better off going into the nursing field instead since the field provides nurses an opportunity to choose their own path into what they feel would excite them as a career. i have worked the jobs that men are suppose to work (construction, delivering beer, whearhouse) and now im in a field that the majority of people that i work with are females. honestly i got tierd of working dead end jobs and i wanted my life to mean something and what a better thing than helping someones life.

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CICU, NeuroICU.

I was originally an engineering major, but was getting pretty disinterested in it by the time I hit Calc III. At that same time I was in the process of getting "sponsered" to go to Florida and take a crack at becoming a pro golfer.

So I dropped out of school to give it a shot, but a few weeks later my sponser dropped off the face of the earth and I was stuck with a job, no enrollment and no path, I started working hardcore at the hospital. I was working 100-120 hours every two weeks and while I was only making ~$13/hr, I made 4 of the biggest paychecks that I had ever made in succession. Also, I was being exposed to the hospital setting and what nurses did.

From there, I decided that nursing was for me. I started taking the pre-reqs and eventually got into school and I'm going to graduate this December.

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meet women :)

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CRNA stepping stone

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Specializes in Clinical Student.

After spending 29 years in the industrial enviroment, and reaching the end of my ladder, I was burned out. Got divorced, met a wonderful woman who said she always wanted to be a Nurse, so I gave her all the support she needed to go to school and get her degree. As I was supporting her in her endevior, helping her with homework, etc. I started to think this is not that bad, I could probably do this.

Never went to college in my life, and had D's in high school over 30 years ago, so I took the plunge and enrolled, not knowing what would happen. Well, I have been on the Dean's List for 4 semesters now, am a member of PTK, and still have a 3.68 GPA going into clinicals this Jan.

To sum it all up, don't waste time in a dead end rut. Take the plunge and give it all you have, and enjoy every minute of it. I know I have, and still am. I have met some really great people, made new friends, and am really looking forward to starting clinical in about 2 months.

Also I have 13 years experience as a waiter working full service at a very busy resturant, which proved my multi-tasking, organization, stress mangament, people skills. More than one of my nursing instructors have said that experience will be a big help in the future.

I am not sure where I will end up when it is all over, but there are a lot more greener branches to explore in the medical tree than the dying tree I was in.

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Specializes in ICU.

I have worked in EMS for the last four years. I have been a Paramedic for two of those years. I love EMS and enjoy every minute of it for the most part. The pay sucks and the hours get to you. I am at work more than I am home. I average 3-4 24 hours shifts a week. I am looking to get married and have a family and these hours just would not work.

Nursing pay is good and on the rise. The demand is high. Paramedic/RNs are sought after in my area. I will always have a job. I wanted a job with chances of advancement.

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In no particular order:

1. Job opportunities (got sick of constant layoffs in the tech sector)

2. Decent pay

3. Skills and knowledge (first aid, lifesaving, science, anatomy)

4. Opportunity to advance.

I will be looking at a variety of graduate-level medical careers as I continue through my nursing education and will work toward one as quickly as possible. I will be a bedside nurse for as short a time as I possibly can before moving up, most likely to PA or CRNA

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I started out doing Cardiac Rehab as an exercise physiologist for 3 years. It was a great warm and fuzzy kind of job. The kind of satisfaction you get from seeing the results of your work impact the patients over a 3 month rehab is huge. The problem was that I had to buy my groceries with a credit card...needless to say it didn't pay well. I left and went into the corporate world and became a commercial property adjuster. At first it was rewarding, despite popular belief my job is not to deny claims or lowball settlements, but after 7 years it has become extremely boring. And the corporate cubicle life is no fun.

I start an ADN program in January and will eventually go for a CRNA. I like the flexibility and pay. I also like the idea of being able to work anywhere I want and not be constrained to a corporation telling me where I would have to live and work.

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CICU, NeuroICU.
In no particular order:

1. Job opportunities

2. Decent pay/Job security

3. Skills and knowledge (first aid, lifesaving, science, anatomy)

4. Opportunity to advance.

Well put.

I hope to advance my career because my wife and mother don't think I'm destined to spend my years on a regular med/surg floor.

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Well put.

I hope to advance my career because my wife and mother don't think I'm destined to spend my years on a regular med/surg floor.

Don't get me wrong. If someone wants to work med/surg or any other kind of floor nursing job, I think that's great, and totally necessary. I just don't think it is where I need to be.

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I started out doing Cardiac Rehab as an exercise physiologist for 3 years. It was a great warm and fuzzy kind of job. The kind of satisfaction you get from seeing the results of your work impact the patients over a 3 month rehab is huge. The problem was that I had to buy my groceries with a credit card...needless to say it didn't pay well. I left and went into the corporate world and became a commercial property adjuster. At first it was rewarding, despite popular belief my job is not to deny claims or lowball settlements, but after 7 years it has become extremely boring. And the corporate cubicle life is no fun.

I start an ADN program in January and will eventually go for a CRNA. I like the flexibility and pay. I also like the idea of being able to work anywhere I want and not be constrained to a corporation telling me where I would have to live and work.

I totally agree with you

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My reasons.

1) I hit 25 and was seeing all my friends surpass me career wise, possessions wise, and all the other things people with professions acquire.

2) Human health interests me, a lot. I can talk and listen for hours about it (used to be a big exercise freak). Ironically, I never watched medical drama until AFTER I got into nursing school. House rules!

3) Money. Let's get real, if nursing didn't pay well, health care across the continent would be in serious jeopardy.

4) My ticket into the US. To be the best, one has to work with the best people and best technology. Also, the USA is a progressive proponent of continuing education and encourages their nurses to do so. You guys invest in health care (private and public) moreso than your northern neighbours, and it shows.

5) Mother. She is a nurse and makes a very good living at it. She can clock in as much OT as she can handle and her yearly gross (a DN, no less) is more than some newly minted MD residents. If she were putting these kind of hours in as a CRNA, she would have retired in her late 40's.

6) My GPA was brutal in my 1st degree. This is also a great opportunity to be competitive for post nursing school opportunities.

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