Males as Nurses

[2bnurseguy_2005]

I am thinking about going back to school to get an ADN to become an RN.

I have a 4yr degree and work as well but hate it. The thing is, people think negatively about guys who want to be nurses.

How do you deal with that? Nursing seems to be one of the few careers where you shouldnt have a hard time to find a job but it is so populated by the majority of women that I am wondering as a male will people look down on you?

[adagiogray]

1. cash - I don't think there's a 2 year degree out there that can remotely compare as far as earnings. I make literally 5 times what I could have with my EMT licensure.

2. stability - you'll never hurt for a job ever again, unlike a lot of IT/tech/business major friends I have.

3. flexibility - really, the sky's the limit. you can travel nurse for even crazier cash, geting PAID to go to places like Hawaii, Australia, etc for 3 months at a time. You can work ER, med-surg, surgery, etc etc. And there's further certs/specializations once you figure out what direction you want to take.

4. independence - now this varies from place to place, but for the most part I see nursing as a type of middle-management job - you often have nursing assistants as subordinates/working with you, but you don't (usually) have a boss continually breathing down your neck.

5. Patient care - it's what it's all about. You get to deal with people(and their families) at their best and their worst. Nurses have a vastly multidimensional role: you're a little bit teacher, counselor, doctor, pharmacist, medic, etc etc. You're the hub. You make it happen.

Per many polls, nursing is one of the most highly respected professions. until 9/11 nursing was even rated above fire/police.