Male Student looking for advise/info

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jul 18, 2011

Yes - it's definitely a gamble. In addition to things like GPA, it depends on how many programs you can apply to, the admissions situation in your area, and whether you're able to consider relocating to attend a program.

Many people believe that males have an advantage in promotions and professional development after they become nurses, but I don't think that being a dude has as much of an effect on admissions.

Another thing to think about: While media sources still go on and on about a huge nationwide nursing shortage, new grads in many areas of the US are having difficulty finding jobs. Whether this is true or not in your area, the job situation will likely change significantly, for better or worse, over the next several years while you're in school.

I love being a nurse. It's just not a decision that I would make without some serious thought. It's great that you're carefully considering your options before making a major change in your career direction.

spudster · Jul 18, 2011

I would say that nursing has been a great career path for me as well as my wife. I have been a nurse for about 9 years and there have been many doors open in my life that wouldn't have been in other careers. When I applied to nursing school it was to one school. It was a BSN program and my gpa was 3.39. I don't know if I did it correctly but I got in and finished up without any problems. Looking back, it would have been smart to apply to more than one program. If this is possible then you may consider it. BTW.....not to discourage you but i live in Texas and a couple of years ago met many RN grads from the northeast that were having trouble finding work there. I don't know if that is the case where you are at but you might check into the local job market. If you want then come on down to Texas. Plenty of work and no state income taxes! Anyway, good luck in your ventures.

natefromea · Jul 18, 2011

I somewhat understand what you're going through as I was in a similar situation. I am married with 3 kids and was working a full time job (which I hated) when I decided to pursue nursing. My second son was in the NICU for over a week and was taken care of by a male nurse. Watching him take care of my son and seeing the passion is what made me decided to become a nurse. I started by doing a couple pre-reqs at a time and then applied to an ADN program at a community college. 2 years later, I finally got placed in an accelerated program that starts next month. I was kinda forced to go the waiting list route because of how much more affordable it is and i'm not gonna lie, the 2 year wait sucked. But here I am finally able to start working towards my goal and it feels great. If you are seriously passionate about becoming a nurse, then whatever sacrifices have to be made now will absolutely be worth it in the long run. Good luck to you!

UPSBossman · Jul 18, 2011

I decided to go into nursing because my wife is a recent (one year ago) graduate. She was an LVN prior to that (2 years, while we were dating.) While she was working in health care, I worked at UPS and a restaurant, and went to school. My typical day was 9:00 am - 11:30pm M-F, and 9:00am - Midnight on Saturdays. I made pretty good money, but I never saw my wife(to be) and had no time for any hobbies or anything other than work. I liked both jobs, but hated working them.

I my wife working 3 days a week and thought, "Thats what I need." So I changed majors in persuit of nursing (AS degree # 8) and killed all the prereques. I loved the classes. I was excited to go, and looked forward to the next set of classes. Thats how I knew I was making the right choice.

Now I've been accepted and will have to find a job in 2 years when I graduate as an RN. I have no disillusions that finding a job will be easy: I expect it to be the most difficult job I've ever had to get, and expect it to be highly competitive. But what that job means to me after I get it, having a life and time to spend with the woman I love, is worth the challenge.

I wouldn't worry about getting into school. I had a 3.2 GPA and got accepted. I applied to only one school, because its the only one I wanted to go to.

Drotondi1518 · Jul 18, 2011

Thank you sir for your response and time.

grpman · Jul 19, 2011

I have a 3.4 gpa with about 120 hours. Half of those I took when I was younger and I made poor grades. The other half I did well on. I aced my pre-reqs and did well on the entrance exam and was accepted to the one school I applied to. Also, my school has a point system so being a male has no effect on being accepted.

I also switched career paths after about 14 years. I'm jumping in head first with you. Good luck.

Bob_N_VA · Jul 19, 2011

Dennis

I think you are headed in the right direction. And I'm somewhat jealous of you doing it at 26, I wish I had made the decision to do this earlier, but life is what it is.

I'm a govt. contractor in the IT world and while the salary is cushy, it isnt a given over the long haul. Plus there is very little emotional payback for what you on a daily basis. Many of us seem to have the same motivations to want to get into Nursing, so in my book, its all good.

In my situation, there was really only one school that made sense because I wanted to continue working as long as I could to help build up retirement since I am not that far off. I did put all my eggs in one basket so to speak and lucky for me, I was accepted into the only nights and weekends program left in the area. If I hadnt made it in, I probably would have given up, even after going back to the local CC to pick up on the A&P and Micro pre-reqs. I was a little bit worried about the TEAS test that many schools give applicants to screen them, but it turned out not to be much of an issue at all. I think to a certain extent, what is meant to be, will be so if you feel so strongly about your decision, then you will make it happen one way or another.

Does being a guy help? I think it does, schools want to have some diversity and we are it. I am the only guy in class and I also happen to be the oldest too. Being reasonably secure in your own skin is a requirement, especially with all the girl talk that goes around. Guys can tend to float above it, so we don't tend to be involved in the female drama that comes with the hormones. Some situations like the L&D/Mother baby class are tough, but I got through it ok, as do most other guys.

Good Luck with your decision. Hang in there and be as proactive and positive as you can. If it is meant to be, then you will succeed.

Bob

rtcamp · Jul 19, 2011

Dennis,

You sound driven to make this happen for yourself. That is super important. Congrats on your 4.0 so far. Keep that up and have no fear!

Some advise when deciding whether to apply to more than one program. Ask counselors at your local colleges whether it matters where you take the prereqs. The college I got into is a numbers game. The spreadsheet has no names, sex etc, so only your gpa, and score on the HESI admissions test count but they give "bonus points" for students who take the 5 prereqs at the college. I also applied to another college in the area that does not care where the prereqs were taken.

If this is the case at your colleges in RI, you can strategically take course work so you have the best advantage.

No colleges here in Southern Louisiana have any advantage given to male students that I have heard of. But it could be hidden as some require interviews. You will have advantage when you are applying for a job.

Best of luck to you!

Ron

Drotondi1518 · Jul 19, 2011

Thanks guys for your response, I am dedicated to becoming a nurse. Its not a matter if..its when I will be a nurse is what I'm insecure about. I wont give up.

ToddNuhfer · Jul 29, 2011

Hello. I was recently accepted into nursing school and was told that being a male in nursing benefited me as I was considered a minority. The school that I appplied to in Georgia looks at the entire person, so not just grades but activities, previous work history, etc. I had to have an oral interview and grades were important but not the only requirement. I took a chance and left my career (also IT) to pursue nursing a little over a year ago (taking pre-requisites) and I studied and worked hard to keep a high GPA to increase my chances of getting accepted. I only applied to 2 programs and was wait-listed for one and accepted into the other and luckily I was accepted into the one that I really wanted. I start August 15th so that is as far as I have gotten. I suggest keeping the grades up but do your research on the school(s) that you want to go to and talk with them and find out their admission requirements. Some schools have information sessions that you can go to and I did that and it helped a lot. They gave us tips on what to do to increase our chances for acceptance into the program. They can tell you what you need to do in order to be competitive and each school has different requirements so don't just concentrate on one school. You need to increase your chance of acceptance by applying to multiple schools. My biggest advice is if nursing is what you want to do then it will happen, and if for some reason you have to wait another year to start then it won't be the end of the world! Good luck, my friend!

Malenurse1511 · Jul 30, 2011

Hello,

I think being a male in the nursing field can be beneficial if the admissions committee sees the need for a male nurse in the field. Being a male isn't so much of a minority where I live, but there are 8 guys in a class of about 100 cohort. My first interview I didn't get in to the program of choice. I was hard headed and did not apply anywhere else. I had a 3.6 the first application and interview I had and did not receive admissions. In my city all nursing schools are competitive, because everyone wants to be a nurse. I decided then I wouldn't give up, I retook a class that I had a B in, and got the A. I re-applied after that and got my second interview and received admissions with a 3.85 GPA. I am happy now because I believed in myself and I did not settle for a back up school, some people may have a different opinion and want to go wherever takes them. I just didn't want to.

The female interviewer I had really liked me, and I think that weighed in on my acceptance. Everyone that applies to my program has around a 4.0 it seems like. I think if your passionate and real, than your chances are really high of getting in. If there are no interviews, which some schools don't offer then I would suggest studying very hard and focusing on being the best candidate by whatever factors they use in admissions calculations. I changed my major in college after my first year to pursue nursing, so it was a set back but going to be well worth it in the end. I think you should absolutely keep going and apply to any school you want to go to. Nothing is better than going to the school you want to go to, and are proud to go to. Out of the three people I know that pursued nursing I am the only one to get into my school, the rest went elsewhere after one rejection. Persistence is a good thing. :yeah: