How is it REALLY to be a Male Nurse?

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I am getting a lot of conflicting info. I am about to start an accelerated BSN and this involves quitting my job (I make about 75K a year but I am looking for greater job security and more money even if it means working OT). Does one really have to clean patients and the like? Do you feel respected? I notice that a lot of nurses complain about the lack of respect. Respect is a big deal for me. Are all the stories about nursing shortage really accurate? From what I am hearing it really depends on the state. Also, did anyone think about the implications of future changes in immigration law (importing foreign nurses) which is likely given the so called shortage (I would hate getting into so much debt and find out later that I will have to compete for jobs that pay less than my current job). I would really appreciate your comments.

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Hello,

If you make 75K a MONTH???? then I'd say nursing isn't for you. If you mean 75K a year, then yes go ahead. But don't do it for the money. Money is great, but no amount can keep you going if you are not truly dedicated to helping someone when they cannot help themselves.

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I meant 75K a year (with no OT possible). I am not doing it just for the money but I would not pretend either that it doesnt play an essential role here. I gather from your reply that I got the money part right. Thanx.

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.

wo, 75k a month, aww man, tell me what and where, 4get nrsg, just kiddin! you say respect is a big thing for you! listen, everyone has their own experiences and their own stories, that doesn't mean u'll go thru the same stuff, of course nurses deal with crazy stuff, but we deal with the public, so these things are inevitable. as far as the respect thing, if ..... if ppl disrespect u its not personal, your dealing with sick ppl who dont wanna be in a hosp, how do u expect them to feel. believe me they respect u cuz, your the one making um better, good luck

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I am getting a lot of conflicting info. I am about to start an accelerated BSN and this involves quitting my job (I make about 75K a month but I am looking for greater job security and more money even it means working OT). Does one really have to clean patients and the like?

I work in an ICU and you would not want an aide to clean the patients. Too many lines and machines. So yes - you will have to clean patients. On a non-ICU, you will do this when the NA calls in sick. Usually every other shift.

Do you feel respected? I notice that a lot of nurses complain about the lack of respect. Respect is a big deal for me.

I feel very respected by co-workers. I gravitated to the ICU because I found in my experience RNs get the most respect there (also in the ER). On med-surg, I felt nurses get a lot less respect - especially from MDs. On ICU, nope - docs ask nurses for their opinions. If you are looking for MD respect I would say overall, do not go into nursing. As a guy, though, you will receive a lot more respect from the docs than the ladies. IMHO. Perhaps they are afraid we will kick their butts.

Are all the stories about nursing shortage really accurate? From what I am hearing it really depends on the state.

Very true - varies by area. In AZ, they are crying for nurses.

Also, did anyone think about the implications of future changes in immigration law (importing foreign nurses) which is likely give the so called shortage (I would hate getting into so much debt and find out later that I will have to compete for jobs that pay less than my current job.

That is actually one of the issues that keeps me up at night. Sam Brownback, the moron Republican from Kansas tried to sneak an amendment into the last immigration bill lifting all quotas - essentially allowing unlimited foreign nurses admittance. My advice? Vote Democrat, join the ANA, and write your congressmen. I did all three.

I would really appreciate your comments.

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Specializes in Medical Surical Issues.

respect .... where are you ... nurses love you ???

it is the most important aspect of any work , and nurses may face or feel of respect is not enough in their profession ... semi- profession

usually respect is directed to md's rather than nurses action.

many of situations happened with me before graduation that makes me to agree with you riverhopper.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Respect yourself. Conduct yourself with integrity. Work with compassion and nonjudgement. Respect will come to you as an individual.

Honestly however, I don't always feel respected by the administration. They don't seem to have a clue. On the other hand they pay me a decent salary (we just got a 'market adjustment raise'), they've paid thousands for me to get a BSN and countless other workshops and courses, I could go on and on.

Nursing is what you make it. You can whine about the lack of respect and other aspects, or you can work with it and find a niche and be happy. It's not perfect. It's stressful and demanding. You can take each incident that insults you and scream "nurses are so catty", "nurses eat their young", "there's no respect in nursing" blah blah blah. Or you can take it and say "I'm stressed and tired and having a tough time right now, but the profession is still a good one for me"

If you go to the bedside, yes you are going to have to clean up patients.

The tide of importing nurses really isn't going to meet the increasing demand that the baby boomers are going to put on nursing. I'm not saying I support the idea, I'm just not overly concerned when the shortfall of needs for RNs in America is going to far outpace what foreign countries are supplying.

I'm not sure where you live but $75K may or may not be hard to get. I'm looking at $70K this year with 15 years experience and minimal overtime. I could easily with overtime make 75K. But new grads around here would have to work a lot of OT to get there.

Anyway, if you're willing to work very hard in a tough and demanding field, we need you.

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Specializes in geriatric,telemetry,medsurg.

What do you meen by cleaning patients?Are you for real,what do you think nursing is ,if someone is dirty of course you will have to clean them up,and as a nurse you should be more conserned about giving your sick and dying patients respect than getting it yourself,I think you should do some soul searching before you give up your 75k job,becouse if money and respect are what is important to you nursing might not be the right fit.

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN, ABLS.

Cleaning patients is where nursing care starts. If you are concerned that you have to clean someone, nursing may not be your field. The nurse always attends to the needs of the patient from the basic (Maslow's), to the complex. Whether the task is delegated or not to a tech or CNA, it is the nurses responsibility to make sure it is done. Would you leave a patient sitting in his/her own feces to go and look up morning lab values? That would be inhumane. Also, just because there is a tech on the floor, it does not mean that you are going to depend on them all the time. You are going to ask them if they can help you, meaning, you will have to pull your weight. Nurse aides are not our servants. They often have a well defined role, which is not cleaning the poop the RN does not want to clean.

BTW, during your first fundamentals class, you will be doing the nurses aide job, and you will get a feel about what nurses do, from the most basic tasks e.g. cleaning, bathing, providing dignified care- to the most complex tasks, as you progress through the program.

Yes, nurses can make some money, but you will never get rich. It is a job that you will have to get internal satisfaction in doing every day.

Good luck,

wayunderpaid

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Specializes in Trauma/E.R./ ICU.

I would suggest you shadow a nurse for a couple of days. For that matter check out a few different areas. Actually- cleaning your patient is a great time to assess for problems: ie: circulation, skin breakdown, crepitus, etc, etc..... Furthermore- when your patients are most feeble and need that kind of help is when you (not just a tech) need to be there. That is why Nursing schools require psyche classes. Don't do it for the money- believe me there are WAY easier ways to make money. (And I really hope that you are not one of those types that happened to come across a CRNA and decide- Hey I want to do that- Let me just skip all the other important stuff..... ah well)

Good luck to you.

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GenXNurse,

What do you think about CRNA's. Are they not like in the nursing world? My goal is to become a nurse and looking in from the outside my long term goal is to be a CRNA. Just need a liitle input. Thanks.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
GenXNurse,

What do you think about CRNA's. Are they not like in the nursing world? My goal is to become a nurse and looking in from the outside my long term goal is to be a CRNA. Just need a liitle input. Thanks.

Take a look at the pre-CRNA forum and the CRNA forum. It's under the tab "specialty" above. Good luck!

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