Male going into Nursing?

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Hi.

I'm currently having a dilemma. I am battling between going into the medical field, or pursing a career in law. I was originally thinking about becoming a doctor, but I believe that the responsibility might be too much. I thought that nursing would be a better choice, with the end goal getting my NP or DNP. One issue I have is going into a highly female dominated field as a male. Any input regarding this subject would be appreciated. Also, any ideas for how to make my choice between the Medical Field or Law?

Thank you in advance!

A High School Junior

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Do nursing. Less debt, far more jobs, smaller time commitment, and it’s not an over saturated, cutthroat job market like law. If you still want to pursue something law related I’m the future, some offices will hire nurses to help decipher medical records.

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Specializes in NICU.

Although it is still a female dominated profession, there are plenty of males. Most male nurses seek the high acuity specialties (ER, Trauma, Flight, ICU). The only specialties that very few males choose are Maternity and NICU. I am one of 2 male nurses (1 day shift, 1 night shift) out of 300 nurses on my unit (0.67% males). My coworkers, doctors, and parents do not treat me any different than any other nurse on the unit.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

The male part of it is a complete non-issue unless you make it an issue. If anything, being a male is helpful because it sets you apart. I've also heard from a hiring manager at a hospital near me that they are told to hire more males if they can.

It sounds like you need to figure out what you're passionate about first though. Even a basic RN degree is NOT an easy degree to obtain, and it's almost impossible if you aren't passionate about what you're doing. I can't imagine going through life cleaning up bottoms if I wasn't passionate about helping people.

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You're still in high school, you have the luxury of time. To help with your decision, volunteer at your local hospital and find part time work at a local law office as an administrative assistant. You will be able to see first-hand a day in the life of each profession.

I'll say this though- California has been oversaturated with new lawyer grads for a long time. Unless you graduate from a top law university, it will be very difficult to find a good position and pay off your student loans. Comparatively, doctors who get their degrees even from the easier Carribean schools are still pretty readily hired. On the other hand, after completing a med school program, you still have several years in a residency program that pays you close to minimum wage, considering your 12-16hr shifts and on call days.

Being male is not an issue as a nurse. If anything, it is a benefit.

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