Is it for me?

Nurses Men

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I have been considering a career change, and nursing appeals to me. However I have also found a few things in my research that have me questioning whether this is the right decision.

First, I have been successful in my field so money isn't a driving factor. When combined with my wife's income I could easily just walk away from working. The reason I mention this is because several of the nurses I have spoken with seem very income driven. Since nursing appears to be dependent upon a "bonding experience" with other nurses, I worry different goals could become a problem.

Second, men are less common and on at least one floor of the local hospital the nurses admit to seeing male nurses as somewhat of an intrusion. Is this actually a problem or just people acting silly?

Third, my wife is a physician. Is that something that could cause more than a little gossip?

Finally I have a somewhat strong gag reflex with smells. It wouldn't stop me Fram being able to do anything but it is also something that I've never found a way to control. While I assume over time that could change, initially it would happen. My concern isn't with me, but with patients. When another person is cleaning you after a bowel movement or the like I imagine some folks are uncomfortable. If the person cleaning you started gagging it seems that would be worse. So am I awful for considering putting them into that position?

I know that much of what I mentioned will seem insignificant to others. But the big issues don't intimidate me. I've always been very successful in the classroom and just for fun took enough biology courses to find myself needing only organic chemistry to have a biology degree as well when I got my bachelors degree. So in the classroom I'm confident. I've always connected with people easily and have worked with people from every imaginable background so that doesn't bother me. Performing under stress stopped being an issue long ago when I was in the Marines. The big things play to my strengths. It is the little things that have me trapped doing research at 2:00 AM... so any thoughts are appreciated.

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Wow and I'm the dumb newbie that posted in the wrong spot I believe. Skrry.

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I don't worry about "bonding" with other nurses. I come to work to do a job. I have a job to get paid so I can live. I don't live so I can nurse. I help co-workers out as I am able to make the day better. If they can help me out too, great. If not, fine. I come to work to work. I don't come to work to be your friend (but am very friendly to others). No, I will not hang out with you after work, I will not go to your kids birthday party, I will not call you or text you for whatever reason. If you do need help outside of work (I have let several coworkers borrow my truck for things), ask me, I will probably say yes.

Only floor I have seen issues with being a male is the OB/Gyn floor. Med/Surg, Tele, ICU, surgical, ER, radiology have not seen any issues. PACU where I am seems to be all females right now, but I know there used to be a few men there.

As far as your wife being a physician, I see no issue at all if she works at a different hospital. If at the same hospital, you will need to make sure management and HR know, and I would not work in the same area as her just to remove any issues that may arise.

As for gagging, you can try the old Vics under your nose, but all that did for me is made it smell like crap covered in Vics. I don' have an issue with smells though, so can't really tell you if you will "get over it" or not.

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Thanks for the answers.

With our area we would be at the same hospital. And as a hospitalist the only area she doesn't work is the ER. That's great except for me seeing over and over that new grads shouldn't work in an ER.

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Specializes in NICU.
I don't worry about "bonding" with other nurses. I come to work to do a job. I have a job to get paid so I can live. I don't live so I can nurse. I help co-workers out as I am able to make the day better. If they can help me out too, great. If not, fine. I come to work to work. I don't come to work to be your friend (but am very friendly to others). No, I will not hang out with you after work, I will not go to your kids birthday party, I will not call you or text you for whatever reason. If you do need help outside of work (I have let several coworkers borrow my truck for things), ask me, I will probably say yes.

Only floor I have seen issues with being a male is the OB/Gyn floor. Med/Surg, Tele, ICU, surgical, ER, radiology have not seen any issues. PACU where I am seems to be all females right now, but I know there used to be a few men there.

As far as your wife being a physician, I see no issue at all if she works at a different hospital. If at the same hospital, you will need to make sure management and HR know, and I would not work in the same area as her just to remove any issues that may arise.

I agree with all of this.

I am the only male staff nurse in the NICU (300 nurse unit). I haven't had an issue with any of my co-workers. If they had an issue with me, I am sure it would have gotten back to me fairly quickly.

I think the stigma of male nurses has decreased to being a non-factor. I have yet to have a parent of one of my patients give a derogatory comment about being a "male" nurse. They aren't expecting a male nurse in the NICU, but as long as I can do my job and treat their baby well, they could care less. I think the dad's prefer another male to talk to.

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Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
I agree with all of this.

I am the only male staff nurse in the NICU (300 nurse unit). I haven't had an issue with any of my co-workers. If they had an issue with me, I am sure it would have gotten back to me fairly quickly.

I think the stigma of male nurses has decreased to being a non-factor. I have yet to have a parent of one of my patients give a derogatory comment about being a "male" nurse. They aren't expecting a male nurse in the NICU, but as long as I can do my job and treat their baby well, they could care less. I think the dad's prefer another male to talk to.

300 nurse unit? I wanna work there!

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Specializes in TBI and SCI.

I don't work in a hospital so I can't tell you things I've seen. The main idea is that nursing is nursing and others should appreciate a new co worker when they get one. If female nurses see male nurses as a problem then they shouldn't be working there. I don't understand why it would even be a problem. People are stupid and we all know that. If you want to become a nurse become a nurse and be awesome.

I think with your wife working with you wont be a problem. It's not like you will be working with her directly every day? So what if people say something. I think it's nice a couple has the same interest in work.

go for it!!!!

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

Is becoming a physician assistant an option given your studies in bio? I initially wanted to go that route as a career changer but, there wasn't really a location available for me so I chose RN and then NP. Unfortunately, I can't ever recommend nursing to someone who has been independent, virtually autonomous, or rather successful in business. Nursing is very controlled and regimented which is hard for people, particularly men, to come to terms with. Nursing also doesn't cover the human -ologies with parity to a biology course. I feel our training is rather base as a RN.

I love what I do now and reflecting only on that I'd do it again and choose this career first. However, when I reflect on RN training and the time I spent working as a RN I think there's no way I'd ever do that again.

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Based on your experience, you will be amazed at how easy bedside nursing is. Don't count on many deep bonds with your coworkers, we are all there to just do a job. Also, most nurses are so money driven because they are the primary breadwinners in their household. I also see no reason to talk about your wife's job at work. If you want to be an RN, I say go for it.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Transplant ICU, Critical Care.

If you want a job where you can do so many different things (floor, ICU, dialysis, school, GI lab, PACU, informatics, research, clinic etc), make a good salary, have a job anywhere in the country, have good job security, and also feel like you make a difference in the world each and every shift you work, then nursing is the job for you!

The only area where I see being a male is not necessarily desired is in labor and delivery or post partum :barf02:, otherwise the world is your oyster. I just so happen to absolutely love my Cardiac/Transplant ICU!

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