Im a male and want to be a nurse

[Smith5]

Im a male and I'm currently working on the pre-requisites for BSN. Any advice?? I really would like to start off here and eventually get more experienced and go on to be a practitioner or PA. Has anybody done this?? How are the nursing conditions in Texas?

[workingharder]

It's a "sucky" time because there are far more nurses available than jobs. This is especially true if you're in one of the larger metro areas: DFW, San Antonio, Austin, Houston or the Gulf Coast area. Once you get a hundred miles out from one of these areas it gets a little better. And this glut of RNs doesn't appear to be going away any time soon. I agree with netglow, if you are considering PA, don't bother with nursing, it will gain you little and cost much time and money.

Do as much research on Nursing/NP and PA as you can, and make your decision from there.

Best wishes.

[Smith5]

Okay well for someone who is interested in the medical field, what would be a career that isn't "sucky"?

[workingharder]

Hard to say with the way things are going right now. My first impulse would be to look at what fields are the hardest to get into. A general rule of thumb is that the harder it is to get into a field, the better it will be once you're in it. Personal experience has been that Physical Therapy is difficult to crack but, once in there it's a pretty good job. There are others but, I haven't experience with them.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

If you want to be a PA, I wouldn't recommend starting with nursing. Nursing is not a stepping stone to becoming a PA, they're 2 separate professions.

[Smith5]

I feel so discouraged and worried, I really want to be able to be in a career where Im able to help people. I feel so stuck, I just don't know what to do....

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Well, at least you are not already stuck in so much debt as many of the posters on allnurses are. Hey you are taking a look before you leap - wise one! There are a few jobs for new nurses, of course. Look, you do know that for all grads of all fields it's tough now. Nursing in particular because the degree is highly specialized and only will gain you a nursing job. When those don't exist in any appreciable numbers, well you see that the situation gets dire for many.

Hang around and you will see posts like the one I read the other day of a Bio major was it? Who graduated and in fear of not finding a job, has been told that nursing jobs are everywhere. She could not be more incorrect. She wants to go straight into a nursing degree now, thinking a job is a sure thing. Well, what was it? She'd be looking at over $75,000 debt after all this and, very likely no nursing job. You see? You are way ahead of the game. There is no rush, take a time out and really read up on the forums, go ask to shadow and talk to actual nurses like you are here and some PAs and NPs. Make sure those you speak with are relatively new. The very experienced nurses never had the problems the newer nurses today have in starting their careers. Unless they like to keep the pulse on current things, they simply will lead you astray. Healthcare is changing.

[Smith5]

Thanks for the info and advice. I just don't know where Ill go if not this, its something I really wanted to pursue.

[Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN]

I agree with everyone about it being a very challenging time for new grads to find jobs. there are, however, jobs for new grads that have special qualifications or experiences. By that I mean, those new grads with experience with an organization in a lesser capacity (such as a patient care tech) very often get the few jobs that do become available. It is a case of not how good you are, but who you know (or are known by). I have seen this in my own recent graduating class. Those who worked for a hospital while in school got jobs almost to a person. You have to have something going for you that sets you apart form the crowd, and grades or prestigious schools aren't it. Good luck to you.

[Smith5]

I guess you can say that for a lot of markets, not just nursing??. Seems like teachers are also having a hard time

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

It's a bad time for any profession, not nursing in particular. By the time you finish, that may not be the case. There is no telling what the job market will look like when the ACA takes full effect. I will not pretend to know; others will.

Welcome, potential, future nurse.

[Smith5]

how are those jobs for people with a degree in medical technology?? How does that look?

[lovetheocean]

Hi Andy5, choosing a profession is not an easy decision. Since you know that you want something in the medical field, perhaps you can go to a career counselor and they can help you to decide. I think they have them at community colleges and the testing and counseling are free of charge. Best wishes!