Nervous, overworked, sick to my stomach, and loving every minute of it.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

Hello all,

I've been lurking for a while now, so I thought it's about time that I post an introduction. I'm a male nursing student in Memphis, TN. I'm just in my first quarter of a four quarter LPN program, and I'm about to go to clinicals in about 4 days. I'm pretty nervous about it, but I'm also pretty excited. Just like everyone else, I don't think I'm ready for it, but I know that the best way for me to learn anything is to hit the ground running. Thankfully, we're starting off "easy" at a nursing home, essentially just doing the duties of a CNA.

I was worried about going into nursing school as a male. Not because I didn't think I belonged (I aced the entrance exam, so obviously this is where I should be), but I was worried about being the only male student out of a class of 50. I'm not much for attention, and I didn't care to be singled out like that. Fortunately, there are three other men in my class, and all but one of us are doing extremely well, so there isn't much question as to whether or not we should be there.

I've read in other forums that male nursing students always seem to get treated well. So far, I haven't found that to be the case, although I wish it was. I've done poorly on a couple of exams, and I got reamed just as much as the girl sitting next to me. The one thing I have noticed, though, is that the males tend to be more quiet, attentive, and mature. Not to say that none of the girls have those qualities. For example, we watched a video showing the process of perineal care on men and women. The videos were "graphic", if you want to call it that. I'd prefer to describe them as "clinical". Several of the girls were groaning, "ew"'ing, and saying that they weren't going to do that. Excuse me? What class did you think you signed up for? Cosmetology? You're in nursing. You need to prepare to get intimately familiar with the bodies of a whole lot of people you'd rather not touch.

Because of the overall maturity, I think we're given more respect as a group, but I don't think we're treated any better. I have to fight for points on my exams just like the next person, when I think I know an answer is right. I get zero slack on attendance policies, exam policies, or anything else. The instructors respect students in my class based on their behavior and performance, and little else.

But enough rambling about that. The class is more difficult and intense than any college courses I've ever taken, but I'm grateful just to be here, knowing that a year from now, I'll be out there working a good job with decent pay, and actually making a (hopefully) positive impact on someone's life. I'm working customer service right now, and there's a big difference between reimbursing someone for shipping fees and helping someone recover from heart surgery.

A lot of people ask me why I started off in an LPN program rather than going into an RN school. I always answer with "why not?". I can spend a year in school, get out there and start working, or I can spend six months to a year doing pre-req's, then another two to four years in RN school, and then start working. The choice was obvious to me. Granted, I do plan on getting my ASN (RN) and later on my BSN (and if I'm lucky, CRNA down the road), but I'd rather get my feet wet and make some money while learning pretty much everything I need to know to make RN school a breeze.

Well, that's all I have to say for now. Sorry for making such a long-winded post. I'm just happy to be in nursing and glad that there's a forum for us here.

--Donald

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Thanks for sharing :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Because of the overall maturity, I think we're given more respect as a group,

--Donald

Sorry, but this kind of generalizing that males are more mature than females and thus getting more respect will get you flamed. Perhaps that's true of the three of you, but it certainly can't be generalized to the general male student nurse population.

Welcome!!

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good luck in school donaldj

as a former rpn/lvn i agree "why not?" where i work, they just hired 2 more brother nurses, bringing them up 5 total on our unit. know what? they behave just as badly as i do!! :eek:

however, they are all excellent nurses!! :D

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

I'm not generalizing males and females. I was making a comment on the males in my particular class versus the majority of the females in my particular class. Many of the females in the class are 18 to 22ish, and the males are all over 25, so there's a large maturity gap there.

But thanks.

Sorry, but this kind of generalizing that males are more mature than females and thus getting more respect will get you flamed. Perhaps that's true of the three of you, but it certainly can't be generalized to the general male student nurse population.

Welcome!!

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Donald that is great. I would have taken the same route as you (LPN) but unfortunately am an inpatient person and could not get on the waiting list. I see your point though very wise too.

I wish you the best of luck and welcome to the family of allnurses.com. :)

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Sounds like we have a lot in common right now Donald. I am a 39 yr old male in NC who just started LPN school this week. There is only 1 other male in the class besides me, so I am grateful for that. I didn't want to be the only male either. The class started out this past Monday (the 22nd) with only 20 and one has dropped out so far. My class is a 3 semester class and I can tell that we are going to cover alot of material. We have already covered 4 chapters this week and had our first clinical.

Everyone asks me the same question as they do you. Why didn't you just go for the RN program? I tell them "Because I didn't want to." We all have to do what is right for ourselves. I took all of my prereqs and got them out of the way so I could concentrate on Nursing 1. That is what works best for me. It will take me longer to obtain the goal, but so what. It's my choice.

Anyway, welcome to the world of nursing and I'm sure you will do well. Keep your chin up and just take it one day at a time because that is all we can do!!

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Hi and a late welcome to you DonaldJ. I hope things are still treating you well.

I definitely see your point about the route you are taking. That is why I am taking going for my ADN, then plan on doing the RN-BSN later. I'd rather be making money while doing getting my BSN, and not go into the BSN blindsided!

As for the perineal cleaning...sorry but that really cracked me up. Did those girls think that nursing was all about wearing a costume on Halloween? :rotfl:

For example, we watched a video showing the process of perineal care on men and women. The videos were "graphic", if you want to call it that. I'd prefer to describe them as "clinical". Several of the girls were groaning, "ew"'ing, and saying that they weren't going to do that. Excuse me? What class did you think you signed up for? Cosmetology? You're in nursing. You need to prepare to get intimately familiar with the bodies of a whole lot of people you'd rather not touch.

--Donald

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I am taking my CNA class as pre-req for nursing school - which I hope to start in March, July, or August (depending on who takes me first).

Those CNA videos were unpleasant - especially when the CNA gave the patient a butt-massage. I start my clinicals in two weeks and do not look forward to peri-care, but as my instructor said "it is the dues you have to pay..." In my previous incarnation as a medic, I was used to either picking-up or dropping-off patients - rather than providing "total patient care," so I know this will not be an easy experience, personally.

I am the only guy out of 12 students - fortunately, most of us are 25+ so it is a very mature bunch. The two 18 year-olds are kind of intimidated with us old folks, so I can't say there is too much "ewwwing". It was funny watching this one lady hide her head and cover her mouth. He-he!

But overall, my experience so far has been like a "fish in water." I tend to get singled out a bit more by the instructor being the only guy - not in a negative way but more like "Stopnik, assume you are the patient..." because it is easier to learn the name of the lone man! But she is a crusty-older woman who is just awesome and completely enthusiastic about the profession.

If all of my instructors are like this - NS will be hard work but very pleasant from an intellectual/emotional standpoint.

Just my two cents!

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