Need advice and insight

Yorkielove_3 · Jun 19, 2008

Dear Sir

I have been practicing nursing for the last 18 years in LTC (Long Term Care). I suppose it dosen't matter what profession one might choose, there will always be bad days and sometimes even worse people that one will have to deal with.

It is the smiles that one receives, the unsolicited "thank you" from a patient or their family member that makes ones day. Occassionally you migh perceive an aire of trust from a physician as related to his/he trusting your assessment. Yet if you don't, don't be too quick to judge... their jobs are just as fraught with unpleasentness as yours is some days. The trust of your co-workers in your nursing abilities is a task well worked at and a continual thing to maintain.

I supose what I'm trying to say is whatever one does they should do it from their heart. If your heart isn't into your work you will never be as good as you can be. Whether it's law or nursing, if you value humanity then you should strive to do your best.

I'm a big bald headed and gray bearded nurse, raised by a retired R.N. who practiced for 52 years. I grew up in her office, was kicked out of operating rooms by physicians (not during proceedures, lol), and sat with the old men and women in their golden years as a kid. I learned early that you have to really study people to see their needs, then you have to decide whether you are willing and able to provide what you perceive. At age 5, the old women wanted my company, they liked my energy and to hug a little of the youth they had passed. I would give each a turn and work puzzles that none would be tempted to monopolize my time, give to each.

I'm still giving, don't let the world sour you to what you feel you have been called.

Cindy_A · Jun 20, 2008

To be honest, I have worked in LTC for many years. All the "thank yous" hugs and nice comments from pts don't make up for all the s**t we put up with. Of course, this is true in hospitals as well. Nursing can be very fulfilling at times, but those times seem to be few and far between. Males may get treated better since I think women tend to put up with more crap than men do. Do you know any male nurses you could talk to? But then again, that's probably why you are posting here - to get a male perspective. I realize this is the male nursing forum, but I just had to put in my .02. If you decide to become an RN, your experience may be totally different. Good luck with whatever you decide.

djc1981 · Jun 20, 2008

Obviously, only you can decide whats ultimately right for you. I was also looking into law school before deciding upon nursing. But then I started researching and asking around, and was quite surprised. Law is not once the profession it used to be. It seems to really make it big, you have to go to a top 20 school. If not, you'll probably end up in government or a small practice. The average new lawyer is making less than 40K (ouch)...because they have an ave. of 100K in debt. It just didn't add up for me. I also found out that those who do make significant money are having to put in 80/hr weeks..yikes. If you truly want to be a lawyer, by all means do. They can really do some good if they choose to. However, don't go with the dreams of money and respect. It really isn't there -- the market is flooded because law schools are pretty much springing up everywhere and accept anyone with a pulse these days.

youknowhowwedoit77 · Jun 20, 2008

Thank You for your responses they are appreciated.

Yorkie

You sound like a man whose lived a good life. I am very impressed that after all of these years you seem to still be a compassionate person. In my research it seems, and again this is only my small sample, the longer one has been in the nursing profession the more jaded they are about it. It seems you have avoided this phenom and are still happy with the profession you have chosen, bravo.

Cindy,

I have to belive that there is some truth to what you say about men having a different experience as a nurse. I have been with my wife long enough that I have come into contact over the years with the male nurses she has worked with even while at her place of work. It seemed to me that while the female nurses were in an uproar about this or that the male nurses who I watched were kind of goofing around and joking with one another. Of course being the husband of a nurse I hear all of the negative stuff that happens at her career and most of it continues to be part of her thought process for much longer than it should. I do believe every DON has lied to her when she has taken a new job and forgive and forget is not something that comes easy to the fairer sex. Again this is just my observation. Thank you for your time.

djc1981,

Yes, I am well aware of the reality of practicing law versus the perception of practicing law. An aside the respect people give just when I mention I am going to law school is amazing. No matter what I think of the profession it seems to still be held in high regard, as well it should, seeing as it is 4 years of college and 3 more years of LS. I appreciate all of your input but have one more question.

You shared with me that the legal profession was not a good fit for you but you did not say whether the nursing profession was? That is an answer I would most like to hear.

Again, thank you everyone for your responses and I hope to hear from more of you. I have asked my wife to put me in contact with some of the male nurses she works with to ask these things of them also.

molly9 · Jun 21, 2008

My husband is also debating a career change. In the spring, summer, and fall he works 6 days a week. After talking to my mom (who is an RN in Hospice) and dealing with many nurses during our grandparents stays in hospitals, he is looking at beginning an LPN program, (then possibly going farther once he has a job). (I have a BA in Education and starting the nursing school process as we speak...in my late thirties!)

You mentioned the very long hours that go with being an attorney. My thoughts are, if you love your job, then you wouldn't mind. However, it sounds like when you originally decided to be an attorney your thought process was much different than it is now. Now, being married and having a family sounds like it takes priority. We have such little time in this world already and to work, work, work at a job just to make big money doesn't sound very fulfilling in the end. It sounds like you want to do something challenging that you get satisfaction in. I think you could find this in nursing (maybe not every day, but overall). There is so much flexibility offered for scheduling that would allow you so much more time to enjoy your family. Can you imagine working 3 twelve hour shifts while getting paid well compared to working 80 hours a week as an attorney?

Think about it, and follow your instincts......then don't look back, just move forward..

leslie :-D · Jun 21, 2008

my sense and observations are that male nurses are not treated w/the contempt that their female counterparts are.

i do think you would have an easier time of it, just by being male.

wishing you the very best.

leslie

9309 · Jun 22, 2008

Hey-

thought I might chime in. A long time before I went to nsg school, I considered law school. Did well enough on my LSAT's to get in, but changed my mind. It was not an either/or choice for me, I decided on nsg school several years later.

I am valued and appreciated by pt's families and co-workers. As far as being respected by DR's and administrators: I do my job well and treat others with respect. I expect, and receive, the same in return.

Regarding money- I am a per diem nurse. I get benefits through my wife. I have a two year degree which cost me about $10,000. I usually work 3 12's a week, and have plenty of time to do what I like. I can afford to take time off nursing to do less lucrative work, or to vollunteer.

IF I wanted to work 60 hrs a week, I could. I would earn $85-100,000. This is based on my per diem pay of $30 an hour.

$30 X 60 hrs X 48 weeks + $86,400 (I included 2 wks vacation, and 2 wks personal)

I based the above on doing no overtime, and working at two facilities, no overtime.

It's a good job. I help people and they appreciate it. I am well compensated. I have plenty of free time. The job is as challenging as I make it- Unlimited opportunities for learning. I get to wear scrubs every day.

Good luck in your decision making. I so frequently hear the respect issue come up, that I had to respond. If you are respected and valued in other areas of your life, and you are a good nurse, you will be respected and valued as a nurse.

9309

youknowhowwedoit77 · Jun 24, 2008

Thank you everyone for your responses they are all very interesting. I am always glad to hear peoples thoughts on issues such as this. I don't know if anyone will check this thread again but from my research the one issue which continues to be a concern for me is not "respect" its something else.

Do you feel that you (a nurse) are treated as a professional or do you feel like you are??

Do you feel that you frequently have to look busy to keep the powers that be happy?

I only ask because personally I need some autonomy and am more than able to take care of the tasks set before me without constant monitoring.

9309 · Jun 24, 2008

Do you feel that you (a nurse) are treated as a professional or do you feel like you are??

I am a professional, and am treated like one. People appreciate competent care.

Do you feel that you frequently have to look busy to keep the powers that be happy?

No. If things are quiet, they are quiet. when the defecation hits the oscillation, I take care of what need to happen.

9309

nads786 · Jun 24, 2008

I wanted to chim in here

im 24 and i just finished my first year of nursing school, and am lukewarm about the experience.

It is much easier theory wise then people have stated, once you get the test structure down, its a breeze IMO. Clinicals on the other hand are more difficult, and the entire process is time consuming.

I cant speak for the other male nurses here, but i always get the impression of being slightly out of place. Ive had 2 patients during my med surg rotation who asked the RN assigned to me, "whether the student was male or female" and when they told em they were male, they didnt want me to be there. Ive also had older nurses yell at me for pretty much no reason.

but I think the bottom line is, whether you will enjoy being a nurse,

I think about it like this, if they required the same amount of time/effort

and financial compensation, which one would u do?

youknowhowwedoit77 · Jun 25, 2008

Again thanks for the insights and thoughts.

I have accepted that if I do decide to pursue being an RN that it comes with its own set of circumstances. I think the only way to thrive in that enviornment for me is to be like teflon. I would not be able to think about the way Rn's are treated. Just in my experience Rns are treated like 2nd class citizens in the world of medical care and it seems male rn's are a subset of that class.

Bottom line honestly

working in Pajama like clothes---perfect

working in air conditioning----perfect

helping people in their times of need---perfect

multiple shift choices-----perfect

working with women------ push

When a Lawyers wife/husband or children come through the OR everyone knows that they are doing surgery on a Lawyers family member. There is never a mention of occupation of the patient unless it is an attorney. Now you make of that what you will but it makes me think hmmmm....