Does being a guy have any affect on being accepted into your schools nursing program?

MikeMRN · Nov 21, 2008

IMO, I don't think that they discriminate, from my clinical experience, male nurses are desired due to the fact that they are better suited to lift and turn patients and I read a section in the Advanced Nursing Magazine that male nurses are very much needed in the nursing profession... :smokin:

NYC He-Nurse, LPN, LVN · Dec 11, 2008

Getting into a nursing school in NYC is extremely difficult (and painful). It is crazy competitive.

I believe I am a solid student. So, the heck with tokenism. I'll take any benefits I can for being a guy. Hope I get into the school I want. :yeah:

jetfuel · Dec 15, 2008

Wouldn't make any difference here. Oh, 'here' is the Sacramento, CA area.

They are so concerned with 'not discriminating' that they don't even discriminate against...ready for this?...students with poor grades! That's right, the student barely squeaking by has the same chance as the straight-A student in the nursing program's lottery selection.

I was gearing up to start a push to get that changed until I found out that there is some unbelievable law mandating such an insane policy. Gotta love California... :bugeyes:

mcubed45 · Dec 15, 2008

Wouldn't make any difference here. Oh, 'here' is the Sacramento, CA area.
They are so concerned with 'not discriminating' that they don't even discriminate against...ready for this?...students with poor grades! That's right, the student barely squeaking by has the same chance as the straight-A student in the nursing program's lottery selection.
I was gearing up to start a push to get that changed until I found out that there is some unbelievable law mandating such an insane policy. Gotta love California...

WOW. that's so ass-backwards i don't know what to say. maybe they should push for the NCLEX to have more affirmative action. it's not fair to hurt the feelings of those that don't pass. they should be awarded licenses for trying!!

bluemalibu · Dec 30, 2008

We're just an hour north of you there in Sacramento... (Chico) Our BSN admittance through Chico State is GPA driven (weighted 80% for GPA in the required Sciences, 10% overall GPA, and 10% for previous work in the medical field). The RN program at the Community College is by lottery with a 2.5 minimum GPA in all sciences.

I have an August start date, with a 4.0 in the sciences and 3.97 overall... the competition for RN schooling here has skyrocketed. 450 are currently enrolled in A&P, which will then be vying for 28 available seats in the required microbiology class. [NO regard for chromosomes, you either have the grades, or you don't]

I was extremely apprehensive about all of the memorization that is required in training... as school for me was 33 years ago... but I'm currently #3rd in our class standing. I hope that there will be at least a couple of guys that make it!

AragornSkywalker · Jan 4, 2009

Wouldn't make any difference here. Oh, 'here' is the Sacramento, CA area.
They are so concerned with 'not discriminating' that they don't even discriminate against...ready for this?...students with poor grades! That's right, the student barely squeaking by has the same chance as the straight-A student in the nursing program's lottery selection.
I was gearing up to start a push to get that changed until I found out that there is some unbelievable law mandating such an insane policy. Gotta love California...

This wasnt a calstate was it? Is that by lottery?

Here at CSULB its a strict 10 pt scale all based on academic achievements. 4 from science pre-reqs, 2 from GE, 2 from TEAS total, 2 from TEAS math (why math?)

Looking over the average entrance score for the last few years shows a remarkable shift. I think it was like ~7.5 around 06 and the latest Fall 08 average is 8.97. I wonder when its going to level off.

sooperdooper · Jan 6, 2009

I used to think that males had a better chance, however I hardly doubt that is the case. Out of all the men that I know applied, they have all been accepted except for one; that "one" had roughly a 3.0 GPA the others were all above 3.5. I myself applied with a 3.95 GPA.

EDIT: Although, it may be said that gender does not matter, we are a country that does offer advantages to specific genders and races. So, I bet some schools do this. They do have URM (under represented minorities) checkbox for med school for special consideration.

GCTMT · Jan 14, 2009

I have a 4.0 GPA at my current school. I transferred in with an A.A degree and a 3.4 GPA. I worked really hard and I hope I am admitted on merit. But, if I get accepted partly because I am a man it doesn't bother me in the least. Right now, all I care about is getting into the ADN program.

statuspending · Jan 22, 2009

there were only 3 males including myself in the class i recently graduated from....27 females at the start of class. The possibility of admission being easier for males never even crossed my mind

jtwilburt · Jan 29, 2009

The school I attend is GPA based with other real world experience factors considered (ie - CNA, EMT, other non nursing degree, etc) It is color age and race blind in the entire process as it should be. We don't choose our patients and they don't choose us. We owe it to them to be the best RN we can be regardless of who we are in other categories! True?

mmm333, LVN · Feb 4, 2009

I've heard that it basically depends on the state you are in, but it's rare to have male quotas in admissions. This is just a general sense.

I had straight A's in prereqs, (and a B.A. from a prestigious university), and got into an ADN on my first try (luckily, from the waitlist). I made the waitlist in two other programs as well. Not sure if my testosterone levels were part of that formula.

I don't know for sure if it's done and if so, why it's done.

I've heard anecdotally that the real area where quotas are important is in hiring. Hospitals need to have SOME male nurses. But once these ratios are met, there is no hiring preference. I'm not 100% sure about this.

It's possible that the state measures the need and works with the programs in establishing guidelines (not mandatory but prescriptive) to ensure that some proportion/ratio is maintained.

Let's face it, there are situations where gender makes a difference, and both male and female nurses are each needed in some situations. Ultimately the interests of public health provide the justification for meddling with admissions and hiring processes that normally have no room for gender discrimination. Bear in mind that there are similar quotas for women going into medical school.

MarkE86 · Feb 21, 2009

I got into Quincy College because I got pretty much the highest score they had ever seen on the Accuplacer admission test. I also had a BA in psych with all my prereqs completed at grades of C or higher.

To me it doesn't do us guys any favors when people get the impression that we have some kind of "affirmative action" advantage when applying to these programs. I am the only guy in my class of 14 (unfortunately the "other guy" had to withdraw after the first couple weeks due to time constraints) and I absolutely wouldn't want my female classmates thinking that I had any special consideration to make it into the program. I also wouldn't want my coworkers to think that I'd gotten any special hiring considerations. As men in nursing we already have plenty of stereotypes and pre-conceived notions to face and I'd rather not have that one added to the pile.