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.

Hi all, I will be graduating in Dec 07, What I find crazy about the whole thing is that, we men are called The male nurse by many people, women are not called the female nurse, their just nurses, we are always the male nurse, like we did a different course? If your a female Dr, your a Dr, if your male they done say see the male Dr, Crazy world we live in

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I'm a second semester ADN student and have NO problems admitting to anyone that I'm studying nursing. Many people admit that nurses are often one of the most trusted professionals in the country. And as a man, you stick out when interviewing.

The downside is that you are "hypervisible"- When I first started working on a nursing floor, I felt like everyone was paying attention to everything I was doing. Somedays, I still feel that way, but I do my job well and impress patients and give good care. Have confidence in what you do, and know that you are a smart RN in training!

(personally, many of my classmates have husbands/boyfriends/etc..., and there are few singles. Many are doing it for the family, or a second career, etc...) Ratios just depend on the single market at the time, but it never hurts when someone gets hurt at the pickup softball game and you can help them ;)

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I too had to come to terms with telling people I was a nurse. I think our society has perpetuated the sterotypes so much that even those of us who chose the career feel like we have to constantly defend our career choice. I have noticed that when people find out I am a nurse rather than a doctor there reactions are different now then when I was first a nursing student. My wife commented that it is the way I tell them, I am proud to be a nurse and if someone has a problem with it that is too bad. I have to say I have had many more positive responses working in direct patient contact ( I work in an ICU not a floor) than negative ones.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.,Onc,Tele, Rehab,LTC..

I think first and foremost I'm a nurse,I've never felt the need to qualify

that by saying i'm an ER nurse or what ever area I might have been

at the time.

I also don't believe i've been "looked down on" because I'm a male

in a female dominated field. If believe in yourself and your abilities

it shouldn't make any difference.

I don't agree with considering the male/female ratio as a bonus for

anything other than work or friendships. makes for a difficult situation

if dating a co-worker and things go bad, from my experience it wasn't

an amiable situation. IMHO

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Specializes in Accepted...Master's Entry Program, 2008!.

I know exactly the discomfort you're talking about. ESPECIALLY those of us who are career changers. I think the majority of nurses on the board may forget about the response you get when you tell the corporate world that you're going to school to be a nurse.

You get met with jeers and comments about Greg Focker (and by the way, that joke gets REALLY old, REALLY fast). Naturally the male dominated world of I/T doesn't get nursing.

It is tough. For the strictly corporate I/T types, I just tell them I'm going into heathcare. That's all they need to know. Easier than trying to explain things to them.

Does it really matter what those types think anyway? I have a huge group of non-corporate friends that have never, ever made a negative comment about it. In fact, many of those ARE nurses.

So just put it behind you and pursue your dream. That's what I'm doing.

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Just had to chime in again :biere:

Even on my best day as an engineer I did not save a life or make a death less painfull. Some people will never understand that. THAT is why we "get" nursing and they do not.

In a small sidebar, I have heard it proposed that we male nurses start to call ourselves "Medics". I think that I would be cool with that.

Any thoughts?

Peace all!

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Specializes in Neuro, Cardiology, ICU, Med/Surg.

Just had to say hello to my fellow second-career men! I too have had a long (~20 year) software career and am finishing up my first semester at an accelerated BSN program. In my social circles, my decision is always well-received. I also get a lot of encouragement from some former colleagues who are also weary of the corporate software world.

I still do software consulting part-time to help pay bills while I'm going to school... among the people I still work with, the idea of my going into nursing is often met with some raised eyebrows and such, but I guess these people still identify me only professionally, while people who know me better are less surprised by my choice.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Just had to chime in again :biere:

Even on my best day as an engineer I did not save a life or make a death less painfull. Some people will never understand that. THAT is why we "get" nursing and they do not.

In a small sidebar, I have heard it proposed that we male nurses start to call ourselves "Medics". I think that I would be cool with that.

Any thoughts?

Peace all!

I served as a Hospital Corpsman, aka Medic in other branches 1968 to 1972

I dont want to go back to that.

And medic is taken also by the paramedic, and I dont want to be confused with them.

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Specializes in CVICU.

I'm a second career student, and second (5 more days) semister nursing student. I have only receive 1 neg comment since I started my prereq 1 1/2 years ago. The nursing staff and everyone I have met in the hospital setting have been great. and my friends and family are hoping I can get a better paying job. As u all can tell by my nickname I'm hopeing for a CRNA career but I look forward to being a CCU nurse for a few years before then. and maybe flighting a little.

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

Confidence is sexy!

I don't admit to being a male nursing student; I flaunt it at times :) Used well, it can even be an effective pickup line. :D

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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.

As a good friend (a female nurse co-worker) said to me over lunch one day as I voiced the same concern.

"Listen, Mike. You are a forty-year old male nurse surrounded by a mob of young twenty-somethings who laugh at all your dumb jokes. And you drive a Vette. What's to complain about?"

Ahh, wisdom from the all-knowing! :lol2:

Mike

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I don't admit to being a male nursing student; I flaunt it at times :) Used well, it can even be an effective pickup line. :D

I can see how it would be. I sometimes wish my husband had gone into nursing. I think it's a great career choice for people who have an aptitude for it. He is not a fan of hospitals though -- turns really pale and all that... But really, if it's a good fit for you then I think it's definitely an attractive career choice and I can imagine that a lot of women would be impressed by it.

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