Out of curiosity, how many male RNs are former military veterans?

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I have sifted through this site and have found A LOT of good information for getting me started in my new path through nursing (Thank you all for that). I have read things about men possibly being better suited for nursing than women due to size and strength amongst other possibilities. I have read articles stating that now if you are a male from a minority, THAT could possibly also help you. I have read details of first interviews, what to wear (and so on and so forth... you get the picture). But, one question that stuck out to me after reading one post about getting a job as a RN at a military venue is.... How many male nurses (since they make up a whopping 10%+/- of nurses overall) are prior service members of any of the armed forces? As previously stated, I am just starting out in my quest to become an RN and am a former US Marine myself. 27 years of age and a huge portion of my life ahead of me. So I was only curious and would love to hear your thoughts and or whether or not you are a former service member yourself!? Thank you and have a good day :)

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Nearly all of my male RN friends are vets. Several reason for this but among them is that army medics and navy corpsmen can recieve advanced standing in nursing programs in some states (like mine). Here they can become RNs in two semesters.

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Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

About half the males in my nursing class (not including myself) are veterans and they know their stuff, probably the smartest students in the whole class right now I'd say.

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I am a RN and also a vet. I think that the reason you see so many vets are their desire to serve.

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RN student and Army vet here

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Marine Corps veteran here.

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It doesn't surprise me that a good number of civilian sector RNs started out in the military given that 1/3 of nurses in the military are men compared with the 10% of male nurses in the civilian sector.

Glad to have you gents with us, though I disagree that you're better suited just because you're often better at lifting and stronger physically than us. As many of you probably know, there is a lot more to nursing than physical strength.

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[quote=

Glad to have you gents with us, though I disagree that you're better suited just because you're often better at lifting and stronger physically than us. As many of you probably know, there is a lot more to nursing than physical strength.

Why would you even say this? Who brought this up?

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Why would you even say this? Who brought this up?

Uhhh...the OP. Second sentence of the original post.

I have read things about men possibly being better suited for nursing than women due to size and strength amongst other possibilities.
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I agree those qualities have nothing to do with being a good nurse...

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
It doesn't surprise me that a good number of civilian sector RNs started out in the military given that 1/3 of nurses in the military are men compared with the 10% of male nurses in the civilian sector.

*** When I was in the army I knew several enlisted men who went to nursing school and then got commissions in the nurse corps. Some then had absolutely no desire to be nurses, but did very much want to be army officers. The nurse corps was one of the very few paths from enlisted to officer available at that time.

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Recently retired Lt. Col. Air Force aviator after serving 22 years. Using GI Bill & Yellow Ribbon Program to do a BSN program. I'm 46 years old but too hyper/bored to just "hang 'em up". Doing this for fulfillment/fun. I will be 49 when I graduate.

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