Ok guys, I'm taking the plunge!

nursemike, ASN, RN · Sep 2, 2007

Just a little update. I graduated with my BSN in August and I got at job on the Open Heart Unit at a large regional hospital in PA. It wasn't easy, but it is was worth it and I can't wait to start my new career.

You poor bastard!

But, seriously, congratulations--and thanks for the update. It's good to hear how people are progressing.

If you'll indulge a few words of wisdom based on all my many months of nursing experience: The next few months are likely to be challenging. As a classmate of mine put it, "Hey, remember when we thought Nursing School was hard?" But NS was hard, and getting through it is an accomplishment to be proud of, as well as a pretty good indication that one is capable of being a nurse.

I think the keys to transitioning to nursing practice are mostly common sense. Work hard. Listen to smart nurses. Ignore idiots. Ask questions. Be humble. Be confident. Work hard.

I was talking to a nurse with several years experience who was orienting a new nurse on another unit. She said her protegee was not the sharpest tool in the shed, and her fundamental skills weren't the greatest, but she showed up ready to work every day and was busy from the time she clocked in until the time she clocked out. The mentor said, "I can teach nursing skills. I can teach critical thinking, and the knowledge she needs to do the job. It may take longer for some than for others. But the one thing I can't teach is work ethic. She has that, and the rest will come."

I think that's pretty much the answer to all the "nurses eat their young" talk. If your co-workers respect your work ethic, the vast majority will support you. After all, another hard-working nurse lightens the load for everyone.

The good news is, aside from the occassional feelings of inadequacy, frustration, and sheer panic, nursing is a ball!

labrador4122, RN · Feb 25, 2008

Hey guys,
I am a 25 year old guy - I guess you figured that out - and I am going to be starting my pre-req's for an accelerated BSN program in a couple weeks. I struggled with the thought of being a male nurse and I've come to the decision that I can handle it and that I would be stupid not to do it.
Can any of you guys offer and words of wisodm or advice?

That post was in 2005!!! did you do it? did you become a nurse??

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Feb 25, 2008

Check out his post 2 posts back.....

jelorde37 · Mar 4, 2008

do it. my co worker has been a male nurse for over 30 years now and hes still going. now thnk about it, it must have been worse for male nurses back then than it is now. i mean being a nurse in the 80's mustve been hard cause of AIDs and homosexuality an all. so im sure you can do it

Dr.Nurse2b · Mar 6, 2008

Hey guys,
I am a 25 year old guy - I guess you figured that out - and I am going to be starting my pre-req's for an accelerated BSN program in a couple weeks. I struggled with the thought of being a male nurse and I've come to the decision that I can handle it and that I would be stupid not to do it.
Can any of you guys offer and words of wisodm or advice?

Wisdom and Advice...From one student to another...

1. Become a Nurse...go to school, never give up, never look back.

2. Become a Nurse...Not a "Male Nurse"... I think we need to stop differentiating. :nuke:

3. While in school date a nurse who has recently graduated.

4. Never date the charge nurse of your unit.

5. If you do date the charge nurse of your unit don't tell anyone.

6. If the RN standing in front of you is grinning and holding a foley cath depart from the area immediately.

7. If someone says "See One, Do One, Teach One" make sure no one is standing behind you with a foley cath.

I left 8, 9, 10 - 20 for the group. :nuke:

Congradulations on taking the plunge...See you on graduation day!

tnrose · Mar 6, 2008

I can't respond on the part of being a male nurse, but I am in school right now in a class with about 40 women,2 men. Needless to say, they have it pretty good because we all take care of them as we women are for the most part in a nuture mode by nature. Also, many of the best nurses I've worked with over the years have been males. Good luck.

Thanet · Mar 14, 2008

I changed my career at age 26 and had no problem with it.

I NEVER use the term 'Male Nurse'.

Well, possibly in here I do, as you cannot 'see' that I am a male.

But if some one who can 'see 'me asks if I am a male nurse... I answer,

"No I'm a female nurse I just so happen to be in 'Drag' at the moment"

Then I ask them what they do for a living.

" Oh! so you are a (enter gender here) (enter job here)"

mummer43, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2008

Just an update on my status:

I am working on an open heart unit and I have been there for 6 months. I am getting some great experience with Swan Ganz catheters as well as understanding hemodynamics and how the various drugs work.

For the first time in my life I feel like I am doing something good and I find the work very interesting. I am in the process of making a long term plan for the rest of my career and here is what I have so far:

I have decided that my #1 goal in this profession is to advance and become a CRNA. I see them every day at work, and I really find what they do interesting and I think it's a challenging and rewarding job. So the the steps that I am taking are in the interest of achieving that goal.

My science background is a little lacking, so I am taking organic chemistry in the summer in order to bolster my transcript as well as challenge myself. After the class, I am probably going to start preparing to take the GRE, which I'd like to take by the end of the summer.

Once I have the GRE under my belt, my next focus is going to be obtaining my CCRN, and hopefully that will happen by late fall or at least by the end of the year. Once I have that complete, I am going to start applying to schools and hopefully get accepted. I also would like to obtain the cardiac surgery certification and the cardiac medication certification sometime early next year.

Hope all is well with you guys!