Guys- what made you want to become a nurse?

Nurses Men

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Guys-

Just wondering why you decided to become a nurse? I just read a posting on the homepage by a male that said something along the lines of our hospital usually starts new grads off at $20/hour but since I am a male I was hoping on making $25.00/hour. And to be honest with you, it really made me angry. The nursing school I am in is very diverse, as a matter of fact I believe it's the most diverse associates nursing program in all of PA. I think they told us at orientation that 20% of our class are males (although that may be a little high!) A few of my classmates and I were having a dicussion about a few males in our class that act like "they're too good for the program" and "feel like this stuff if too easy for them" (they don't even do that well on the exams so I dont know where they get off acting the way they do!!) I'm not saying that all male nurses are like this, because there are some guys in my program that are going to be absolutely fantastic nurses and I realize that someone acting like "they're too good for a nursing program" isn't limited to males only, because some females are like that as well. I'm just finding it to occur more often in men (maybe it's just me, that's why I am curious to hear your opinion!) So after this long tangent I'm wondering.. What made you want to be a nurse??

And I didn't mean to offend anyone, I'm sorry if you take it the wrong way!:saint: Can't wait to hear your responses!

Specializes in ED.

its one of those jobs that even if you make a buck, people dont hate you, unlike hated professions. Attorneys anyone?

I believe i was born to be a nurse, this is something that struck me a couple of years ago. I´ve had a tough life, but at the same time I have gained a lot from that which I think will help me become a better nurse.

Would also like to say thank you to the TV Show ER, who opened my eyes. Sometimes it is those little signs that can change your life.

my biggest dream in life, to become the greatest nurse in the world.

Specializes in Addictions, Acute Psychiatry.

Want me to lie? Grades! I didn't have the 4.0 needed for medical school so nursing was it for me. Soon as I can start my new job I'm hitting the books for that doctorate and not stopping till I get it (PhD but it'll do). I learned as a 22 year old RN, I was too immature to hit 4.0's...I wasn't done partying! Nowadays a 4.0 is a cinch!

Specializes in none.

I had no idea what I wanted to do once I entered my community college.

I picked the EMT course because it seemed interesting and I soon found out that I really liked, and am good at, health care related stuff.

The EMT course was absurdly easy. I don't believe I got under a 92 on any of my tests, and the clinicals were similarly without any serious difficulty. I passed the NREMT in 70 questions and that was that.

I decided against becoming a paramedic because in Florida you must also be a Firefighter to get hired by the state, and I'm not into firefighting; too dangerous and physical for me.

So nursing seemed the logical choice. From what I read, I didn't really think radiology was for me, and neither was being a surg tech. I'm now doing my prerequisites for the ADN program, of which there are a ton! I took the easy ones first -psychology and sociology - and am now knocking out the more difficult science ones as well as the two English composition classes I have to take.

Can't wait to get to the good stuff and get accepted into the program.

Im not a nursing student. However this career has been pondering my mind for over a year. The reason is I'm 18, still young and really don't know if this is something I want to do. Though the reason why I want to become a nurse, is to dedicate my life to my mother. She passed in 06, knowing why she became a nurse is something I feel eternally great full for. I can see greatness in life if I go into nursing. I guess only time will tell.

Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho, Tele, ICU, Hospice.

I picked it at random... or so it felt. I was in the process of dropping out of a Music Education program, and one of my frat brothers (yeah so dont ask why I dropped out, ahem) mentioned he made good money as a CNA.

And then I became an EMT, and then a firefighter, and have worked in LTC, hospitals and home care, and am now in my third year of school, and may well end up as a PHRN.

So you have your pic in my story according to your beliefs. Either I ended up liking what was a last-ditch pick, or call it the hand of God :)

Specializes in hope to specialis in Critical care.

I became a nurse through a dare. In Ireland, before you leave school, you have to choose what university degrees you want to undertake. Your degree is decided by an education board, looking at your grades. In Ireland, the general feeling is that the first degree choice you put on you college form, is the one you never get!

So, i was dared to prove this theory, and put down BSc (Honours) in General Nursing! In 2005, i completed school, got my final school results from state exams, and what do you know.......4 years later in 2009, i have an honours degree in General Nursing and about to start my first nursing post in London. By the way, i love my job :D

Specializes in ER.

parents forced me to take it up

at first didnt like it. eventually i learned to accept it

during college days and loved it now while im working. :coollook:

uummm....the women duh! no seriously, I chose to be a nurse mostly because I like to help people and hate feeling caged in a cube with a cpu and a phone. I mean the $$$ for nursing isn't that bad as well! :up:

pretty much the same as Mr. Evans. I have a business degree and sales background, I actually am taking a pay cut to be an RN, I just hate normal corporate America, I feel in my heart I am helping people and to be able to look the people I serve in the eye helps me sleep at night instead of selling product and ripping people off, makes my heart feel better. I'd like to do grad school and make better money too but if I don't I'd be happy retiring after working as an RN for 20-25 years too. Whatever happens.

Specializes in Orthopaedics.

Hi guys,

In the country where I come from (Malta) we have a 50% ration of male to female nurses so for us it's no big deal.

Like a few of you I did not have an 'enlightened' moment. It was initially simply a job.

However I think what we have here is a means of giving Value and Meaning to our lives. Our job is not something like an office routine job. It provides Connection with others.

I believe that most people who are attracted to Nursing might be predominantly 'people's persons who find fulfillment in such connection. As heelhook80 said, sometimes you just need to go where your heart is. If you discover what Values you have and then follow them the fullfillment will make up for anything else. Only problem at times is that nurses are not really aware of their personal attributes and they might get caught up in a job they never wanted. That's why I believe that we should invest in more self-development courses for nurses because self-awareness is so important.

Ok we do this for the money too of course, but I think if we do the job right at the end of the day there will still be that extra feel good factor because we managed to make a difference to a person who was suffering.

So yes, nursing can give meaning I believe.

We just have to learn how to fill our actions with enough passion and energy to make our work worth living for.

After retirement from the military Uncle Sam took care of me; therefore, I can honestly tell you "money wasn't my reason for entering nursing."

After retirement I entered college; not long afterwards my elder sister became ill and had no health insurance. Things went from bad to worse yet we finally found a hospital that would treat her, but by than it was too late. In those last few months of her life I remember being with her at the hospital, chemo centers and waiting to fill her pain med Rxs.

During those times I particulary remember looking at all those folks that were helping her; the docs, nurses and techs seem to genuinely care about what they did... I liked what I saw, the intense environment, the teamwork, the purpose.

At the time of my sister's passing I was 46. With the advice of a friend, the educational backing of the VA, the support of a great wife, and the grace of God, I changed educational direction.

Bottom line: I decided I'd wanted to use what years I had left on this earth to make a differnce, rather than simply chase skinny rabbits (my term for self interest).

In the end, the good pay and job flexibility have simply been icing on the cake. =)

- Luis

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