mpolo

Hi, Im only a student, but i have heard that travel nursing can be a great way to have a working holiday. It pays well also. If you are experienced, then will be in demand.

Hi there, I'm so disillusioned by the nursing industry. On the brochure, and even in the politically correct speech, everybody says, that the nursing industry wants more men in the field. How nice. Whereas behind your back, you get stabbed for being a man, and for learning, just as anybody else does, everybody needs to learn sometime. I feel that as a man in this field, ppl look up to you to be Extra competent, More disciplined, More focused etc. if you don't match this criteria, and are............gasp......just a student......which is what I am, you get thrown in the trash bin quite quickly. Point to note.......all my friends in class have been given a graduate position next year at various hospitals. I have more clinical experience, both paid (in the nursing home), and clinical placement, than my colleagues. None of the males in my class, have been given a position. I feel that culturally, nursing prefers females. and yes....this might stir some, to cry up...and give me a politically correct answer!!!!! But atm, I feel that I have been discriminated against, the feedback that I requested from my applications and my interviews, was vague, unresponsive, and uninspired. How am I supposed to take these ppl seriously, if they won't even give me an honest answer, as to how to improve as a Health Care Professional? Is nursing really for men? It has gotten this far....honestly. I just don't know what to do anymore, I feel very despondent, a bit depressed, that no matter what I do, my efforts not only will not be recognized (which im not expecting), but totally discounted. I feel that my gender....as a male.....is going against me. Where to for this disillusioned final year nursing student? I still work in the nursing home, and i love it! I like taking care of ppl, but feel that there is an injustice....(my perception? pls anybody...tell me if I am wrong). But also.....i find it challenging to speak to ppl who are non healthcare based, especially if I have an interest in the girl.....the moment i mention nursing.....she feels that I am just so kind and lovely, and ace.....and yet the sexual interest seems to wane a bit....this is FRUSTRATING!!!!!!! where to for me? I honestly feel so betrayed by the nursing culture, in fact..........i dislike the culture, and the sexual perceptions that are placed on men A LOT. I feel so disempowered. Obviously if I would be treated like the young and up and coming male nurse professional, this would be great. But even during the interviews.....one of the interviewees said to me.....oh, what happened to you? You haven't got a job yet? Why doesn't anybody like you?.......and I don't even know the nurse recruiter. pls explain. I am frustrated, angry, disillusioned, feel emasculated, and I know that I would do everything in my power to help my patients. The culture.....seems to feel that some men, such as myself, are inappropriate to the profession? Why....because I'm a man? never have i flirted with my female colleagues on the ward. I have been flirted with.......but I cannot respond....just have to ignore. how is that....that females can be cheeky to the male staff.....(im sure this is a generalization), and the male staff, have to cop in the balls, hang their heads and attend to their patients...as their hot female colleagues play out their little hormonal games. Y? Mebbe this nursing culture is not for me. because this is killing me. although I am all for the patient, the nursing environment, is something that is terribly painful to me as a man, because of the sexual pre-conceptions, my prohibition.....to act on my natural male hormones (which is very painful to control) and respond to the flirtations of my female colleagues. I am at a cross-roads...and I know that this something that I need to address. Either get some regular sex, and control my hormones outside of work, or leave nursing altogether....to pursue something like medical sales etc, where the culture does not bust my balls. please enlighten. i am frustrated, disillusioned, disempowered and distraught.

Hi docomo, what did you do previously if I may ask? I'm still feeling burnt out from my old folks home work.....crazy. cheers

Hi J Modz..... Is Modz short for anything?.....I have a cousin ....who is a Modz plus extra .....she is a hyper successful partner in a multinational management firm....just putting it out ther....

also doing a LOT of exercise. have left the car in the garage, and force myself to use the bike to commute. this has seemed to take a massive edge off my edginess....exercise therapy. seems to be working.

That's an amazing response, thankyou! I've taken a few days off, spoken to a careers counsellor, she recommends even doing something unrelated to nursing atm....i.e. labouring, house renovations, etc, just to get my mind off....to continue with the studies....but to have a mind relaxation and do the things that I also feel natural in. I chose nursing bc...........I care for ppl. pure and simple. However I am not willing to sacrifice my manhood, I will give everything to my patients, my effort, my attention, my compassion and the remaining energy that I have in me. BUT.....I am still a man, and i still have feelings of requiring recognition at times (yes , yes....stupid male ego). I read before in another forum, about how to survive as a male in nursing.......in short....lol.....cannot believe this....one of the recommendations was .......to be one of the girls. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!! This sort of thing just makes me depressed. I respect, tolerate, and encourage diversity (it is what keeps our species thriving and alive), but I cannot go that far. I simply do not want to be one of the girls. hahahahahah plus I have hairy legs, so would look terrible in stockings HAHAHAHAHAHA. Yeah, I have considered military nursing.....but like I said, I have experienced too much passing away and the trauma involved so the stupid male naivety of thinking that war is glorious has passed me. A civilian in the military, yes. I am also thinking of rejoining my ambulance friends that I had volunteered in a first aid service with. I guess I really need those blokes and gals right now. sounds stupid, but I like wearing the uniform, even if it is an ambulance volunteer. I have also discussed with another counsellor, how to mix in a personal trainer course with nursing.....i.e. do some work in a gym, get my qualifications, and synergise nursing with exercise. luv it. luv it. Nursing is just such a mindshift.....I accept it, I believe in the need to put ppl first before yourself, but I also need ppl to have in my career that I can bounce off with, and feel proud of my profession. The search continues...Im loving your responses....and actually your responses show a gentle compassionate side to nursing that I also enjoy, how the more experienced nurses, can help the younger inexperiences nurses. thankyou...pls keep suggestions coming if you feel that they are relevant. Chillin out atm, getting it all together. nurses are superwomen, and some supermen. thanks.

Hi, Im a final year nurse......and I feel that everything is just so wrong. This feeling of dread, and whether I want to complete nursing....is arising after working as a Personal Care Assistant in nursing homes. Let me put it this way........it is aged care...wiping off the faeces, washing urine soaked bodies......in a pretty much all female environment.......I find it HIGHLY frustrating.....being all tincy wincy spiders.....honestly.............my maleness just has to be pushed so BAD inside. Im hating acting like I have no balls. Yes, I know it's all noble, yes, I'm a patient advocate first and foremost, but lately I'm beginning to question whether nursing for males, isn't just code for "torture for males". like i said, i'm all for the patient, i'm all for putting ppl first......but by God....I hate acting all..............soft ..............all the bloody time when I am in the nursing home. It just feels so unnatural for a man. You do it, because you care......i get it. Are there any sections of nursing, which are a tad more masculine? I mean crunch.............my head is so twisted that I'm even glancing over websites with nursing in the defence forces....just to have that ....bs....male thing in there....you know, aeromedical evacuations etc. Granted....not truly considering it....because I have seen to much death already.......but I WILL BE HONEST..... I AM MISSING THE CAMARADERIE AND MATESHIP......which I feel is non-existent for male nurses.......feel so isolated. How can I address this isolation? How can I tie it all back in together, and just integrate all this ****....so that I understand it all, and it translates into a long career, that this male can be proud of himself. honestly, sometimes I just feel so ashamed !!!!!! no ****, i know it's all societal, i get it.......i get it...........but physiologically I feel like a piece of facese. like i am losing my manhood. ***. what to do? pls for goodness sake....suggestions? Im going crazy here. Let me repeat.........I love helping people, and I love making a difference in their lives...........I HATE FEELING INFERIOR!!!! all this bowing of my head, being humble here, humble there, copping it on the side of the head here, getting ignored there, God forbid this man can actually say something back to this all women's club. this is ****. nursing - women's club. can I find any other profession in healthcare....using my nursing education....to move on.....? pls suggestions........honestly....I need to get this stuff out.

thanks a million mate, yeh....I'm considering on getting back into the weights...that would do me some good, and got to get off my lazy orifice, no excuses and back into training. Thanks again. Cheers

Hey bud, that's great.....I think you've just inspired me to get back into weights and stuff....and general fitness. put on some weight....and tbh...feeling ratshit because of it......can't wait to finish doing the CNA shifts doing atm in a nursing home....atm they are turning me around the bend. Had enough....and my self-esteem is negative. It'd be great to blow off some steam whilst at the gym.

Hi, Im doing a fast-tracked Nursing course in Australia.....and truthfully.....the anxiety levels are through the roof. The course only takes 18 months.....and it basically on steroids. no time for a cigarette break, no nothing. many ppl dropped out of the course........we started off with like 60 odd, and had finished up with less than 30. (I elected to defer some of my classes, and complete the course in 26 months). Also I elected to get more hands on Paid experience at nursing homes, to work on my time management, which is what I am currently doing, whilst working through the course one subject at a time/semester. I am sure.........that fast-tracked courses are exponentially increasing the anxiety of students, and subsequent graduates once they enter the field. SURE. Although my course was a fast-tracked course.....I personally recommend that for something as important as health-care, people really should go through the longest possible way.......gain as much exposure as possible, gain as much theoretical knowledge as possible....and for all this to occur you need t-i-m-e. I feel sorry for my colleagues who pushed on.....luckily many were already healthcare professionals (lower level nurses with years of experience, or allied health professionals), so they were in a different position to myself (medical sales background). I fully agree with you......healthcare education should take time. The less time it takes, the more shortcuts are made and the more potential mistakes will be made (with student anxiety reaching tsunami height levels...) Keep healthcare education lengthy....it needs to be.

This is a very encouraging response......thanks so much. I guess the take home message that I got from this is......keep your head down and be competent. The gender complex won't bite you in the butt so hard. I'm feeling the gender complex thing atm....Im doing my utmost for patient care as a final year male nursing student (working agency work as a nursing assistant for time management experienc).....but tbh....my hetero male ego....feels as if it's being repeatedly kicked inthe balls and I just have to take it. I dunno....hopefully I'll get over it in time. I guess that If I had a relationship with another healthcare professional preferable a beautiful female nurse (you know you are the best...bar none!).....I would feel far better about myself....atm....this is not the case..and feeling terrible tbh.

Hi guys, I'm into my final year of nursing....and tbh, Im finding it to be a massive challenge. of course, you know....you just get on with it...... Recently I started doing some Agency work as a lower level PCA (personal care assistant - Australian term), just to get more experience with the time management side of things. Now initially this is great, because finally Im starting to get paid, for things that I had been doing for free....as part of my clinical placements. There is a But....the aged care setting (nursing home)....is ok........but it is only when i get back home, and when I start dealing with other people who aren't involved in healthcare, do I notice that ummm.......Im feeling a bit down. Dunno, I guess that atm....I just don't know what direction to take in my nursing....and am hoping to God....that Aged Care...isn't all that there is to nursing. washing people is easy, but.....this might sound sad guys....but the perceptions still kill me. People outside of healthcare.....and I guess myself...I put myself down....I mean my self-esteem is just gone. How do you guys cope with the adverse perceptions of male nurses? honestly I dont give a f....anymore what people say, but it takes a bit of getting used to when you try to hook up with girls and you tell them that you are in Aged care for the moment until you become a male nurse. like i said.....how do you guys cope with the self-esteem aspect of things? I mean....I just feel so worthless, even though I am doing such noble work. How do you guys pick yourselves up? I know that if I would be in a meaningful relationship with a female partner, that would help a lot. but im finding it hard to get my self-esteem up...to start playing the dating game again..... any tips guys? i've tried...fishing, cycling is ok for a bit, swimming is fine for a bit as well.....dunno mebbe hit the weights ....to get my mojo back...and just get rid of all that pent up frustration and anger.....lol......u guys know what I mean. psychologically just feeling drained away from work...at work all good.....away from work....down. tips? get a personal trainer or something? how do you guys bounce back?....and most importantly find balance between work and play (u know what I mean, playing the game with the ladies). thinking weights atm.....just to get that grunt out.

Amen to all these responses....keep it light-hearted, it's good to have a laugh every so often, don't take it seriously. I know that it is hard to do...we are men after all, and we do enjoy the company of women, especially when they are playful I love that quote......it's a hospital and not a dating service...absolutely awesome quote. well done! treat the patient as if he/she is the reason that you are there....sounds smart. being a bloke, I like the odd play (professional, appropriate), it adds to the teamwork. But remember women are dangerous...they have PMS....you get the good days, you get the bad days. just be on your toes boys, smile and nod, we are easy targets in this profession. we are there for the patients, and not for the fellow nurses. it's a hospital and not a dating service.....LUV IT! keep counting the money boys...it's also a good reason to be doing it.

Update.... post exam # 1....the contextual one. over and done with, wasn't that bad,,,, the bark was far worse than it's bite. now for a day and a half rest, and onto the second more difficult one, based on clinical information. It just seems that I needed to get some perspective....and I just needed to break through a bubble, which I have done. Basically been studying nearly 10 hours a day, and found out this unbelievable technique called ACRONYMS......it saved my life for this current exam. and I have already used it extensively to prepare for my pathophysiology and the like for my second exam. It also isn't a coincidence that my newfound relief, is based aroudn the fact that I have started swimming again. Ahhhhh......hydrotherapy mixed in with exercise therapy, you rock! For all those ppl out there contemplating on doing a fast-track course.....don't you dare slack off. Especially if you are a non-science background student like myself, as a non-science student you have to catch up to have minimal scientific knowledge of the course material...period. As non-science, you are the weakest link, ensure that you make yourself stronger. Stay healthy, (good food--not junk), exercise daily (swimming is awesome), and by God almighty study your orifice off. It will pay off. One day. Good luck to all the rest of you doing a fast-track.

Hey Kirby, thanks for the feedback, i do find it difficult sometimes being a bloke in a female dominated profession, once the work starts, there is no question where the focus is .... the patients. but also at times I think that it might be better suited for blokes to be a paramedic. You were/are a Paramedic aren' t you Kirby? what made you decide to get into nursing mate? Best of luck to all you boys out there studying the H-care path, it's gruelling but it is worth it. Pressure and time turn a lump of coal into a diamond.