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.

Well.. main reason of why I wanna be a nurse is because I wanna give back to my parents. They helped me when I was sick, and now it's my turn to help them take care of themselves when they grow old.

I love giving customer service. My current job made me realize that I really do wanna make a better change in someone's life.

Specializes in Post-Interventional Cardiology.

Tops on my list are prestige, money, and a sense of fulfillment from helping others.

I've always loved helping others. But, three ruptured disks ended my government job in law enforcement.

Nursing gets me back in service to others... and for better pay. (I just hate it when that happens!)

Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

The main reason that i am becoming a nurse is because i Like to at least try to make someone's life at least a tiny bit better! and just by having the feeling that you actually helped some body that was in need of care, and make their recovery as better as it could be!

I really love that feeling, much better than doing what i am doing now, or being a graph/web designer!

it makes me feel more useful!!!

but then again, there is all the capitalism reasons involved, job security/ expansion/ career development and such!

!!!

Hey Fellas (and girls),

It's been an interesting road for me. I started out wanting to be a pharmacist BUT once I shadowed one, I quickly lost interest. Then I fell in love with research....particularly public health research. And I've been in the field for slightly more than 10 years but unfortunately, most of the none administrative positions are soft money (grant funded). And I got tired of being let go because the grant money was no longer available....so there went the job.

Then I volunteered on a research project with a BSN nursing student. After numerous discussions and seeing her transform from a 2nd career nursing student into a FNP, I was hooked. There's so many opportunities available worldwide for RNs that it just seemed right. Secondly, the mission statement of the nurse (treating the well-being of the patient) overlapped with public health (treating the well-being of populations) and not just fixing problems. This just felt like the right field. Oh, and I'm used to a predominantly female workforce because in public health the ratios are more like 7:1 (female to male).

Not to be too sentimental, but I chose nursing because I wanted to minister to patients. I got married and then left the service. I tried aviation and other jobs, but found no satisfaction. My wife and I went to some meetings and then we were faced with the great controversy of our lives. We chose to be baptized and serve the Lord. I soon went to a mission dental school and learned how to do remote restoration of teeth. I then went to Guatemala with a dentist friend relieved massive amounts of pain by pulling teeth. It was only a matter of time before I realized that I can pull teeth any day, but what about adding some medical training to my aviation. My father was a CRNA and my mother an RN. So, the choice was easy and now I have 6 months left before my BSN is complete. I look forward to having a decent income and pursuing my CRNA in a couple of years. I appreciate having a career that allows me financial compensation and the ability to work with others in need.

I got scared, and then I got mad.

The chest pains were a sudden surprise. I was referred to a cardiologist in a week's time; but just for giggles, they ordered the test for troponin after I'd already passed it once. That night ended with them shoving a garden hose up my groin, and leaving a stent as a memento (kinda like I'd leave a beer can in a National Park).

So, I was dealing with issues like fear, my own mortality, guilt, etc, and trying to hide my concerns from the Nurses when they'd come by. Unfortunately, this hospital didn't hire stupid Nurses. One of them stopped to "chat" and told me that, while I may have helped the disease, I didn't cause it. I got attacked.

Mom is a member of Cancer Survivors, and I have always detested that name. I have no intention of "surviving" anything. I win or I lose; "draw" is not an option.

I decided to fight back, and chase this thing out of me. And then I thought of the next person who would be in that hospital bed, and what they'd be going through.

I once read that fighting for the defenseless was the highest calling of a man. A Nurse fights on behalf of a patient who can't. When the patient is able, the Nurse teaches them how to fight back. I'm not going to get into class warfare about Doctors and Nurses, but the Nurse is the one who stands guard during the night shift and tells the enemy, "Not on MY watch, you don't."

I'm going to be a Nurse because that's what a man does.

Specializes in ED.

"Chicks ! man"Copy%20of%20wink.gif

Actually, I love being a Paramedic, but the opportunities are limited. I'm in EMS right now with a great job and great company, but the chances of promotion are nonexistent. I dont want to be a firefighter.

In nursing there are many roles, and many opportunities for change, advancement, travel, etc. Initially the pay is less, but im looking longterm.

Specializes in ED.
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.

For what its worth... I dont really see the negative for a guy wanting to become a Nurse. Maybe because i am a Paramedic and several of the guys are in, finished, or starting a nursing program. Also there are quite a few male nurses in the ERs we frequent. Also being ex-army there were always plenty of male nurses.

I graduated from high school in 2006 and had no idea what I wanted to do--and to this day I still don't. I managed to get through three years of college, working on a bachleors in biology, and to say the least i hate it.

Throughout my high school career I was in health science technology 1, 2, and 3, band, swimming, and scouts. Well, know I have a sparked interest in nursing, primary because the pay is not bad, they are needed BADLY, and their is oppertunity for growth. Even with a associates in nursing you can get your bachlors later in life to teach/or go on for a masters etc. to be a practisionar. Yes, even with the market tanking any job is on the line, I like economics too but lets not get into that, so with that said I am looking into getting my adn shortly and going from there. Life is life, do what you enjoy and what makes you happy. Even if yo have to change your mind a 1000 times.

Because, in the end ITS YOU that can make a difference in someones lifeor in yours--no tellin' what it maybe.

Enjoy, and thanks to all those excellent nurses out there, leep on doin' what you are doin'

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