I am a male nursing student - What Did I Get Myself Into?!?!?

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I said it. I am a male nursing student. I am scared. At times, mostly all the time, constantly ask myself: WHAT DID I JUST GET MYSELF INTO?!?!?

I am currently working on finishing my Biology courses. I just finished an 8 week A&P-1 class,  I am starting another 8 week A&P-2 course and currently taking a 16 week Microbiology class. It is a lot of work especially with working full-time, being a husband, and a father to 3 kids.  

With these 3 biology courses taken in one semester, it feels overwhelming at times but certainly doable. How would this semester's workload compare to a normal semester in nursing school with the nursing classes?

I am starting a 2nd degree BSN program this Spring that is 5 semesters long. luckily the program is a hybrid online, evenings, and weekends and I can keep my full-time job while doing the program. 

Males nurses out there, what have your experiences been as being a male in a female-dominated profession? I am already surrounded by girls at home and that doesn't bother me. I honestly prefer to sometimes work with females over males as I find they have better work ethics than most men do. 

Not trying to be a betch, but unless you've already been accepted into a formal nursing program, you are a pre-nursing student, not a nursing student.

At my school, nursing classes are double the contact hours of normal courses. So a three credit nursing class is like taking a 6 credit hour normal course. If you think you're busy now, it'll only get worse.

Specializes in Battlefield/Critical Care.
1 hour ago, Purple_Clover said:

Not trying to be a betch, but unless you've already been accepted into a formal nursing program, you are a pre-nursing student, not a nursing student.

At my school, nursing classes are double the contact hours of normal courses. So a three credit nursing class is like taking a 6 credit hour normal course. If you think you're busy now, it'll only get worse.

Settle down, Francis. We’re policing the term used by undergrads now? My undergrad admitted freshmen and they were nursing students, but still taking pre-reqs. Also, nursing classes weren’t that bad or that much more intensive. It’s mostly people who never had responsibility or accountability who acted like the sky was falling. 

On 1/21/2021 at 1:51 PM, AF2BSN said:

Settle down, Francis. We’re policing the term used by undergrads now? My undergrad admitted freshmen and they were nursing students, but still taking pre-reqs. Also, nursing classes weren’t that bad or that much more intensive. It’s mostly people who never had responsibility or accountability who acted like the sky was falling. 

I mean... I'm not necessarily worked up about it. I'm just being a bit technical, though. Plenty of people can take nursing prerequisites, but not all of those people formally enter a nursing program

Specializes in CMSRN.

I agree @Purple_Clover - it's really weird to say you're in nursing school when you aren't in nursing school yet. It's not gatekeeping, it's just correcting a mistake.

Specializes in Battlefield/Critical Care.

 But plenty of people are in nursing school not technically taking nursing classes. It’s program specific. Nurses are always trying to rank and order each other. Guess what? Who cares. 
 

 

12 hours ago, AF2BSN said:

 But plenty of people are in nursing school not technically taking nursing classes. It’s program specific. Nurses are always trying to rank and order each other. Guess what? Who cares. 
 

 

But did I say "taking nursing classes?" No. If you have gained admission to a nursing program, you are a nursing student. If you are taking prereqs and not not gained formal admission, then you are not.

It's really not about rank and order, but simple definitions and clarifications. No one bats an eye at correcting someone saying they are in "medical school" when they're not. It's the same thing. 

It's great that you don't care. Whoopie! But this is a matter of professionalism, and with professionalism comes clear definitions and delineations.

Specializes in Battlefield/Critical Care.
4 hours ago, Purple_Clover said:

But did I say "taking nursing classes?" No. If you have gained admission to a nursing program, you are a nursing student. If you are taking prereqs and not not gained formal admission, then you are not.

It's really not about rank and order, but simple definitions and clarifications. No one bats an eye at correcting someone saying they are in "medical school" when they're not. It's the same thing. 

It's great that you don't care. Whoopie! But this is a matter of professionalism, and with professionalism comes clear definitions and delineations.

You really flexin’, huh? Yeah! Tell ‘em LOL. 

Specializes in NICU.
On 1/21/2021 at 1:51 PM, AF2BSN said:

Settle down, Francis

A child of the 80s. I liked the obscure "Stripes" reference. Although, the quote is "Lighten Up Francis"

Specializes in Battlefield/Critical Care.
4 minutes ago, NICU Guy said:

A child of the 80s. I liked the obscure "Stripes" reference. Although, the quote is "Lighten Up Francis"

You get me! I usually fire off the .gif, but you’re absolutely correct. 

Specializes in NICU.
On 1/21/2021 at 1:51 PM, AF2BSN said:

Also, nursing classes weren’t that bad or that much more intensive. It’s mostly people who never had responsibility or accountability who acted like the sky was falling.

There are several differences with nursing major versus other majors in a university. Nursing classes build on each other. Knowledge from Fundamentals class is built upon in Med/Surg I. The infomation in Med/Surg I is continued into Med/Surg II (Critical Care). Also, nursing tests questions require critical thinking skills ("{Scenario} What is the nurse's top priority?") instead of "The definition of XXX is?" Many students are accustomed to cram for a test, take the test and then forget everything and start studying content for the next test.

Some students struggle to remember content that was taught 1-2 semesters prior or have difficulty comprehending how to answer critical thinking questions in which you need to choose the "best" answer instead of the "correct" answer.

Specializes in Battlefield/Critical Care.
1 hour ago, NICU Guy said:

There are several differences with nursing major versus other majors in a university. Nursing classes build on each other. Knowledge from Fundamentals class is built upon in Med/Surg I. The infomation in Med/Surg I is continued into Med/Surg II (Critical Care). Also, nursing tests questions require critical thinking skills ("{Scenario} What is the nurse's top priority?") instead of "The definition of XXX is?" Many students are accustomed to cram for a test, take the test and then forget everything and start studying content for the next test.

Some students struggle to remember content that was taught 1-2 semesters prior or have difficulty comprehending how to answer critical thinking questions in which you need to choose the "best" answer instead of the "correct" answer.

How is this different than engineering, physics, applied mathematics (or any STEM) pathway? Course sequencing and concept building exists to solve real world problems. I have to reject the notion that critical thinking is the domain of nursing. There’s also not a lot of fluff in other STEM undergrad degrees. How many papers do we need on Orem, or entertaining “esoteric” techniques like reiki healing in a BSN program? I guess I feel the arrogance of nursing students is largely unearned. It’s not the hardest or most grueling. Time intensive? Sure. 

 

On 11/6/2020 at 11:10 AM, SpaceCowgirl said:

Male nurses get made charge nurse and nurse manager earlier/faster than females, therefore they make more money just like every other profession. ? You'll be fine.

Where? I want to know to take advantage of this.

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