Male going into nursing (hopefully)

jollydogg_RN, ADN, BSN · Apr 1, 2011

I think my posts "have made it evidently clear" that you lost me when you rushed to make it clear that you don't like affirmative action while hoping it benefits you. It's the "ok for me but they can''t have it" attitude people have when complaining about affirmative action that bothers me.
I think, depending on the school, that there's a good chance your gender will be taken in to consideration. I also think that your gender wouldn't matter a whole lot if you didn't have the competitive grades to get your application attention.

He never said t was ok for him, he's wondering since there is affirmative action that applies to many workplaces (even though be disagrees with it), that if it would apply to him or not. Its a legit question.

You obviously have hotbutton issues with affirmative action.

Batman25 · Apr 1, 2011

I think you will be accepted because you have good grades and do very well in the sciences. That will serve you well. You are also an active CNA so you have experience with baths, toileting, etc. which will help you in clinicals. You have an idea of how things work and will know more than those not currently in healthcare. This will help calm your nerves which is a plus in NS. And while I do think many schools like having males in their programs in addition to it being good for patients, I don't think your gender will be the deciding factor here. It will be your grades and experience. Best of luck to you.

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2011

Because we're all a bunch of women and that's how we do!

:lol2: :lol2: :yeah:

RLeeRN · Apr 1, 2011

Edwindelahiggins,

I came into the nursing field after serving most of my young adult years in the Marine Corps Infantry, needless to say the demographics of nursing was quite different. As a male applicant I remember specifically being offered to be bumped to the front of the list for one nursing program that I considered attending, because the faculty wanted some more "diversity" in the program. Female nurses and traditional minority nurses were abundant and they wanted to round out the program with male (not just white males). That was their stance on it. I am sure it was not an open policy, but it was clear, given the chance they would pull qualified males into the program over an equally qualified female or what are traditionally considered minorities in other professions. The fact of the matter is that male nurses are the minority, whether one likes it or not. I didn't agree with that offer and chose not to attend that school. Though I was equally qualified, I would have been placed in front of another strong applicant (female) who had been waiting to get in the program longer than me. That is so wrong on many levels! No thanks! She worked hard to get their before me, and did not deserve to have someone take that away.

One poster said that she agreed with affirmative action, just not for "white males". Obviously that is hypocritical and to be frowned upon in this day and age. True equality is to be based on "Merit". Nothing is more degrading then to be allowed into a position because of your gender or race or whatever, especially when someone "more" qualified was turned away in the name of diversity.

I ended up being accepted to a different program in which I was only one of four male students. As a non-traditional student with a wife and four little girls I no doubt had to stay very focused during the program, and ended up graduating with honors. Thankfully my faculty did a wonderful job on making every student feel welcome and encouraged drawing off one another's strength's. However, there were times when I felt as if I was being seen as simply more muscle by some RN's working the floor, but those situations rarely happened. Also, I found that my overall experience was outstanding with the vast majority of nurses, faculty, and fellow students very accepting, and treating the male students with professionalism and respect.

Furthermore, you will find it difficult to find merit based scholarships that are open to "White Males" as on poster put it, though there are many for female, and traditional minority students. It is what it is. Thankfully, I had my GI Bill to help get us through most of the program. Eventually I just stopped looking for scholarships altogether.

Whether male or female, it should not matter. We both have our different strengths and weaknesses, and can learn from one another in the professional workplace. Regardless of your gender, race or whatever, you should be looked at as nothing more than a nurse, having earned your license without special favor or discrimination of others along the way, being judged soley on you performance. Enjoy nursing if you indeed continue down that path. I am sure you will do great. God bless.

Guest717236 · Apr 1, 2011

I think this is a great idea, we need more male nurses.

Wishing you the best of luck in nursing school and with your nursing journey.

I worked on a team where the ratio was split, 1/2 of the team male nurses and 1/2 female nurses.

The field is wide open for you to select what specialty interests you. I wish for you and all the new and continuing nurses who are currently

studying including new grads that the economy improves so you can have your choice of jobs.

Keep us posted on your progress.

RLeeRN · Apr 1, 2011

You are going along a good route. Those classes plus the CNA = a great idea.
I really hope that my sex has nothing to do with me getting into school. I hope that my school, and everyother one out there (other than those crazy lottery schools)admits soley on basis of merit without considering race, sex, citizenship, military service, age or disability.
That being said I do know of some schools (one of them just got ranked really really high in the latest ranking) that are trying to improve their enrollment of men. However being male does not make admittance easier, its just a tie breaker.

Most schools are a reflection of thier community and have some criteria to sort through the mass amount of applicants. Schools who have a large military community will give Veterans pref to those who sacrificed most of their young adult life in service to the nation, while the majority of other young men and women go off to college right after high school. It is a very small benefit given that our men and women in uniform only represent 1% of the nations population. There is a growing number of prior military coming into nursing. They bring alot to the profession.

Also, most schools will give pref to local residents over an out of town student so that the local community is being supported, which is the main financial support of the college itself. With all things equal these are common criteria used to reflect the community at large. :cool:

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2011

One poster said that she agreed with affirmative action, just not for "white males".

That's actually not what I said at all.

JTworoger · Apr 1, 2011

To be quite honest, I am a male nurse and there was 3 male nurses in a class of 21. At the end of my program it dropped down to 2, another guy and myself. It doesn't really matter if the nursing programs allow more "diversity" into their program, if they are not ment to be in the program they will soon find that out when they go and take their boards, because that test doesn't give you questions based off your race, gender, religion, or any other topic that could scream discrimination. If you fail boards, you fail boards.

I also agree with the statement that true diversity is based off merit and not race, gender, or religion. I worked hard to get into nursing school and actually attended right out of high school, so I continued my education to year 14 and 15, so yeah... I was ready to quit going to school after 15 years of non-stop schooling, but you know what I pushed and deserved to be there.

Student4_life · Apr 1, 2011

Most schools are a reflection of thier community and have some criteria to sort through the mass amount of applicants. Schools who have a large military community will give Veterans pref to those who sacrificed most of their young adult life in service to the nation, while the majority of other young men and women go off to college right after high school. It is a very small benefit given that our men and women in uniform only represent 1% of the nations population. There is a growing number of prior military coming into nursing. They bring alot to the profession.
Also, most schools will give pref to local residents over an out of town student so that the local community is being supported, which is the main financial support of the college itself. With all things equal these are common criteria used to reflect the community at large.

Well I am glad to hear that Veterans bring alot to the profession, the experience gained in service surely gives veterans a unique perspective. However, I still don't think an applicant should be chosen over another on any basis other than merit unless all other things are equal.

patriksc · Apr 1, 2011

I've been a nurse for almost 40 yrs. When I applied it never entered my mind about being a male. Think of it as walking through a field of flowers. :smokin:

LACA, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 1, 2011

Ya know, males in the nursing field wouldn't be such an issue if people wouldn't MAKE it an issue...I don't understand why lawyers and teachers and every other profession that started as predominantly one gender have integrated to having both, but nursing still holds on to the whole "male nurse" mindset...a nurse is a nurse is a nurse, I don't care if they are male or female. Don't make a big deal of it, and it eventually won't be a big deal anymore. Just my :twocents: ...take it, leave it, or completely ignore it

taalyn_1, CNA · Apr 1, 2011

I think you will do well in nursing. Nursing needs men, but the thing is, gender will not be a factor in admission. They go by grades, entrance tests and if you have the scores above their cut-off.

Also be prepared and dont be surprised if your A's turn into C's once u get into the program. I have seen so many of my peers who were str8 A students in pre-reqs (including myself), get into med surg and struggle to maintain a C. The tests in nursing are a different animal than the pre-req tests. BUT, u can do it and a C isnt bad. You just have to prepare yourself to get over the "I HAVE to get an A in everything" thing. My Med surg instructor told us first thing, don't expect to get a lot of As in here, be happy with passing and you will do fine. If you pass great, if you get an A even better, just make sure you pass the test and dont stress the small stuff.