I have trouble admitting that I will be a nurse

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I will be starting Accelerated BSN program in 2 months. I have some anxiety about starting school partly because I'm leaving a good career and also I feel a little embarassed about being a nurse. Actually, embarassed is not the right word, I'm little apprehensive about the nursing field due to the fact that I don't really know what it would be like working in an all female dominated field. Also, threads like "why male nurses are looked down on?" doesn't help elleviate my anxiety (which I have stayed away from). I keep asking myself if this is the right choice especially because I'm making a huge financial investment. I ultimately want to go onto a CRNA program. However, I still need to go through nursing school and be a bedside nurse for a while. Anyway, I'm mostly excited about starting school, but I little apprehensive too. Has anybody else felt like this before starting school? Please tell me that this is normal. Thanks.

i know what you guys mean. the way I see it is life is too short to care about what other people think, you are doing this for your own reasons and if anyone has a problem... they can shove it, those who make fun of you for being a nurse probably have more insecurities about their own lives. when it comes down to it, what does anyone really have to say about male nurses... they probably wouldn't even be strong enough to make it though nursing school but you ARE. I am struggling with the same thing, but it helps me to think of it this way.

I agree that being the minority is not always a bad thing, though it can be at times.

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As I tell my friends/family that I'm switching from music into nursing, I get this puzzled confused look - as though the sun is shining right in their eyes... Then they say something like "well, that's cool" or "what made you want to do that." The only "negative" comments were some of my kid sisters friends questioning my sexuality - but that was pure joking.

I think male nurses will have an advantage considering that we are the minority in the field. I wouldn't worry about what others think, though. Just say it and they should just accept you for being who you are! Besides, who else can have such a stable job with each day being so different?

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

I keep asking myself if this is the right choice especially because I'm making a huge financial investment. I ultimately want to go onto a CRNA program. However, I still need to go through nursing school and be a bedside nurse for a while. Anyway, I'm mostly excited about starting school, but I little apprehensive too. Has anybody else felt like this before starting school? Please tell me that this is normal. Thanks.

1. Everone's always anxious when embarking on a big career change. Completely normal.

I'm in transition myself at the moment.

2. People don't generally look down on Men in nursing.

People are used to seeing male caregivers on ambulances, in ERs, ICU, etc

You will be working in a female dominated profession, but since you'll likely work in critical care until becoming a CRNA, you'll be in an area where males are more common. If that's truly an issue, you need to work on that.

3. How to introduce yourself.

"I'm ----, I'm studying to be an RN with the goal of being a nurse anesthetist." Even if they don't know what that is, it's a big enough word that they'll be suitably impressed. :-)

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"I feel a little embarassed about being a nurse."

" When people ask I tell them

"'Im an Emergency Room R.N ...

it avoids possible embarrassment"

"I still have trouble saying that "N" word! (NURSING!)"

Jeebus people, quit being pansies and man up. Who gives a .. what other people think of your career choice? I mean it's one thing to be intimidated and questioning about a major career change, but getting wrapped up in what other people think of you??? Fer cryin' out loud, who's living your life?!? There are so many questions to answer in making such a change, why complicate things 'cause of what ppl will think?

Embarrassed about being a nurse...Embarrassed to be a caring, knowledgeable, hard working, professional who helps his fellow humans, makes the world a better place, and saves lives. Wow truly mortifying!

There are so many fantastic reasons NOT to go into nursing...Can't take poopie smells, can't stand blood, disgusted by old people, uncaring, not smart enough, desire for fame and power, passionate about something else.

What other people think of my motivations, choices, or sexuality never crossed my mind until I stared seeing those posts here. Frankly, I don't think it's very masculine to be whining about, "If I become a ________, then sometime-somewhere-somebody my think less of me"

Do you soul searching. If nursing is right for you, and you think you are man enough to be a nurse...then step up and welcome to the club. If something else is more to your liking then be man enough to chase that dream.

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Oh yeah, nearly forgot.

3. How to introduce yourself.

"I'm ----, I'm studying to be an RN with the goal of being a nurse anesthetist." Even if they don't know what that is, it's a big enough word that they'll be suitably impressed. :-)

I certainly don't have the goal of being a nurse anesthetist, am I less impressive because of that? Do med-surge specialists have something to be embarrassed about because they may not have any goal to continue to advanced practice so they can use big words to describe their job? If your goal is to impress people with big words then perhaps you should negotiate the procurement of a good thesaurus.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
Oh yeah, nearly forgot.

I certainly don't have the goal of being a nurse anesthetist,

am I less impressive because of that?

Do med-surge specialists have something to be embarrassed about because they may not have any goal to continue to advanced practice so they can use big words to describe their job?

Then I guess my response to the original poster doesn't apply to you does it? :trout:

If it's not your issue, it's not your issue. Being a med surg nurse is fine, why feel defensive?

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Sorry about that. I thought this was an open forum. I didn't realize you were exclusively addressing those who may find it necessary to display their impressiveness with their command of "big enough words".

I'll bow out of the discussion by asking who should be embarrassed:

1) The hard working professional nurse

2) The person who is too afraid to make a career choice based on what somebody may think.

or

3) The person who feels the need to justify an (embarrassing) career in nursing by making use of impressively big words.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

I'll bow out of the discussion by asking who should be embarrassed:

I fail to see why anyone here needs to be embarassed.

Have a good evening

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.

Its completely fine to be alittle apprehensive or nervous, somethings in life aren't black or white u know clear cut decisions. When u actually get into nursing you will see that it is neither a male or female field, the content of work that you do is strictly neutral. Of course you must care for people but no more than you should care for people outside of a hospital or outside of being a nurse. Nursing requires strength, skill, some speed, and knowledge! much more too! Good luck to you!

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Usually people who have issues with male nurses are ignorant to what nurses do. They seem to have some 'hollywood' image of a nurse with a cap and short white skirt. Knowledgeable people know that nursing is not that. I think that we all should take a bow for making a decision to help people. The word nurse will not define anything more than our position at work.

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Um, nurses are smart, hard-working, caring people who make pretty decent salaries. How embarrassing.

Confidence is sexy!

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I am (as of 2 days ago) a senior in a BSN program. In EVERY clinical I have been in I have been well received and pretty much offered a job at each one.

The thing is you sound as though you have gone into nursing for the money maybe? I say this because you mentioned going right into a CRNA program without ever having job-shadowed one, or even gone to a nursing class. My friend, at my school, University of Detroit, the program is so difficult that we have lost over half of our students by attrition. I think you should concentrate on just passing and getting through.

If (and I hope this is the case) you are going into nursing because you have a passion to help people then my suggestion to you is to leave your final decision till you graduate and pass your RN. I am not done with school yet and I am considering a few options CRNA being one of them, but I am looking at NP in the ED or other specialty. If you follow your passion the money will follow AND you will have happiness and peace.

I do not want to sound like a sappy downer, but I was an engineer for 18 years and HATED it. I took personality and job aptitude tests and nursing was one of the top 2. I walked out after completing my first clinical and new I had made the right choice. I hope you will have the same experience.

Good Luck! Let me know if I can help you along!

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