The Guys Club: Guy Students Come on In!

Ned the Red · Nov 14, 2003

The thing is that MOST professions are like this any more. It isn't just nursing that's gone through a change. The contract between companies and their employees where you work hard and expect to have a job has been broken by corporate America and the CEOs who pull down obscene paychecks. There are a couple of differences between nursing and what I do (contract management and purchasing), though. One is that if I screw up something on the job or don't get my work done no one dies or gets sick. The other difference is that if I quit my job or lose it I'll have to look for months and months to find another. Nurses on the other hand have jobs where there isn't a lot of room for error. The good thing is that a nurse can always get another job.... might not be a good one but it's a job.

So, while I can look at the place where I work and think they're not doing things right I don't need to get personally invested in it. As a nurse I'm sure I'll take it a lot more seriously. At the same time, if I'm working somewhere and they insist on treating me like a dog I'll be sure to open the paper, look for someplace offering signing bonuses, etc. and take a fast hike.

Everyone I know (outside nursing) would be glad to change jobs but can't. It seems nurses are more dedicated to their pts, their employers, and their institutions and although they can find another job easier they are less likely to quit.

Does my rambling make any sense? And, as always - the disclaimer that I'm not a nurse (yet) so there's always the possibility that I'm all wet!

EMOhio · Nov 15, 2003

Just wanted to say hey as a new guy club member. I am 31 and started an accelereated BSN program this past summer with a class of 36 people. We started with 6 guys, but two of them have since dropped out.

Because we take all of our classes together, we have gotten to know each other quite well. The guys do tend to sit at the back of the class together, but really everyone gets along well. One thing I have noticed is that our instructors seem to never put guys together in the the same clinical. Oh well.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 16, 2003

Originally posted by agent
Yeah i think applying a sex term to nursing is rediculous..

They dont say "female doctor" even though doctoring has been a notoriously male dominated profession in the past.

yes I have heard this said many times in my career....

just like "female airman"when I was in the USAF. You can overcome this. It will be there. Don't let it get to ya.

agent · Nov 17, 2003

Thanks to Ned and MLOS for your thoughtful contributions.

I wholeheartedly agree with both of your posts.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Nov 17, 2003

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agent · Nov 17, 2003

But c'mon its not like most of us don't have prior work experience where we already deal with this kind of crap.

I am speaking from experience.. ignore me if you don't agree.

I dont think I said anything wrong

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Nov 17, 2003

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melessia · Nov 18, 2003

Hey guys - I'm actually a gal, but my husband is seriously considering going back to school for an ADN. He is 39, no prior college and we have two children, 4 and 8 and mortgage, two car payments, etc., etc. We live in Kansas City, MO and so far have not found any programs for evening classes, but he really, really wants to do this. But as the unselfish husband and father he is, I don't think he would quit work afraid he would be putting our family in jeopardy to do this. I am totally supportive of him going back to school, in fact, I'm actually the one that has talked him into it (he thought he was too old). But he is a licensed EMT and loves the medical field. Is there any advice out there from the "men of the house" that had to do this and how did you make it work?

agent · Nov 18, 2003

Yeah I'm starting to do this now.

I'm a 26 yr old father of two. I already have an associates, but am doing a new nursing program..

Provided I get a high enough score on the NLN entrance exam, I'll start clinicals in the fall.

I'm not quiting my current job, so it will be like i'll have 2 jobs for about 2 years. It'll be hard on the fam, but good in the long run.

melessia · Nov 18, 2003

Thanks for the reply! The problem we're having is that there are no ADN programs in the KC area that offer night classes or even part-time days. They are all-day programs, 8:00-5:00 everyday with full 12-16 hour class loads. He does currently work midnights (so he'll be used to them when he's an RN), but with a full 40-hour week job, basically 40-hour week school, when is there time for sleep and study. Let me know if this is what your schedule is like and how you handle it?

agent · Nov 18, 2003

If sorry, no.

I finally found a program that offers night classes.

First year its 3 nights a week.

Second its 4 nights a week, it'll be hard, but once its over i'll be fine.

TennRoadracer · Nov 19, 2003

Hi all, I am an ADN student (first semester). Glad to know theres more guys out there. I am a father of one, not married, love my current job but realize that I won't be able to do it too much longer so here I am! I love the reception I get from clinical instructors, RN's and patients in hospitals - "Oh isn't is so nice to see a man doing this!" (while I'm standing there feeling very un-manly in my marshmallow suit).

hola