The Guys Club: Guy Students Come on In!

allegory · Oct 3, 2006

Hi my name is Zach and im a male nurse (AA fashion)

Finally in my senior year with like 6 other guys out of 100. Kinda neat to be a minority

cota2k · Oct 4, 2006

I originally graduated from an OT Asst. program. 20 Grads, 2 guys. At my first job interview I was asked how I would respond to a group of women on the (cycle) at the same time? Yeah, I was really asked that. Some years later I found myself in a Nursing program, 60 grads, 2 guys. I find many of the women in nursing to be very "clicky". Some Love us guys, some are maybe threatened. I stay out of the clicks, and when I'm bored I sit back and watch the sparks fly. All in all, nursing is one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I've never looked back!

woodymn1 · Oct 4, 2006

Hello everyone; I'm glad to find this forum. I'm currently an LPN and will be an RN in December of next year. This is my second career after working in the business sector (real estate broker and business analyst) for the past 12 years. Nursing rocks! There are a ton of opportunities in Nursing (Allied included) and I've met some great Nurses already in my short and budding career.

I've been browsing some of the recent posts and I just want to tell you all that my next stop (in my educational/career) path is going to be getting my EMT. I started out as a CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) for a year and in hind sight (although my CMA training was excellent), for me, I think I would have understood more about the technical details of nursing had I got that EMT certificate first. Dont get me wrong, I really value my CMA and LPN training and it's been worth it and I'm happy where I'm at. BUT, (in my opinion based on my contacts and experience) that EMT experience is really valuable. I work part time (while I'm in RN school) at a great specialty clinic. We ran a mock code the other day and I have to say that I really should have known more (we all should have known more). It was a great eye opener. Every nurse I talk to has some story of being not only at work, but in a restaurant, the mall, the park, friends house, etc.. and an emergent situation has presented itself and they felt (like I did) at a loss as to what to do. We've taken our CPR class like we should but there's no substitute for experience and being able to practice (so that it becomes more natural) emergency medicine in one for or another. So, hat's off to the EMT's, those that are going to become RN's -- I'd LOVE to work with you!

It's great to find this forum. I've enjoyed my brief (and hopefully long) career in nursing. It's sometimes daunting when the entire (or nearly entire) class room or employee population is female. I have yet to have one male instructor or supervisor in the two and half years I've been at this. I've made some great female nurse friends since I've started. I think I would like to see more of a mix of male/female ratio in my cache of professional friends. I think the balance would be beneficial, especially in the work place.

Anyway, glad I found this forum, I'll look forward to reading more....

Woody

manofcare · Oct 6, 2006

I'm a first semester ADN student at a small junior college. I really like the program and especially the pt contact. If I had anything to recommend to you it would be to be yourselves. I have found that the instructors, all females, have been fair in nearly all regards. They admire the same things you guys do, morals, hard work, attention to pt needs, etc. It really doesn't hurt you to have a consistantly positive attitude. This may be a welcome change from the norm.

mikethebike · Oct 7, 2006

Yip, I'm a 3rd year on a 4yr BN (bachelor of nursing) programme in the U.K. and it's well dominated by women here too mate - goes with the terrritory if you ask me but am I right in thinking that you got into this thing to challenge yourself ? The reality is that along your way you will find time and time again that it's who you are with that matters most, whenever you are involved with trying to empower someone you discover that you can't do it solo with this in mind you are in it either with patient or multi-discipinary team-member or significant other, whoever you are dealing with at the time all boils down to one thing...it's a powerplay. Ask open questions....respect rights and choices and most of all listen - you have two ears and one mouth, you figure it out! Just remember they don't use the word easy in a hospital.

Regards

Mike

firstaiddave907 · Oct 8, 2006

hey all whats new and exciteing

fishngolf · Oct 13, 2006

Good Day

This site is great !!! Just started an ADN program in southern CAL (1+ mo ago) and love it. After working some 10 years in the paperside of hlthcare (policy/HR/disabilities determination) I'm re-starting my career with no regrets. At 36, I'm one of the oldies of my class. Anyway. just wanted to say hi and wish all yall the best!!

out, fishngolf

droadracer · Oct 18, 2006

Here is mine....56 yr old male....application in at nursing school in Syracuse...waiting for reply due in Feb...

barryaw32 · Oct 21, 2006

I just got the boot from my nursing school for ..........I still am not sure. They said I questioned my instructor so I am a male chauvinist pig. yep their words. Good luck to yall.

student_nursecanada · Oct 22, 2006

Hey Nurses,

Orignially from U.K., now in Canada doing my BN/RN program. In second year and loving every moment of it. Currently placed on a Cardiac Surgery/Telemetry...learning lots as always. Good to see everyone having fun for the most part in nursing. Great profession. My instructor the other day told me that Im the first guy she is teaching..LOL.

Question I have...do you nurses learn more from your clinical instructors or from RN / NP on the unit? I found that my instructor is great but others find that its by working with staff that most learning occurs. I also discovered that Nurse Practitioners here are top class and they ll be happy to explain everything to you in most cases. I think there are around 5 Nurse Practitioners on our floor.

Murses and Nurses rock.

Fibril_late · Oct 26, 2006

Woody,

Nursing is a great career choice. I got my ADN in 1983. Before that I was a Respiratory Therapist for about 5 years. Nursing rocks, no doubt about it. In all the 23 years, never any problems being in a traditionally female industry. Back in 1983, it was about a 20:1 ratio, and I don't think it has changed much. Sometimes, (you'll see) the guy nurse gets more respect from certain physicans and of course, quite a few family members will think you're the MD to. What the heck, fake it till you make it.

I spent most of my time in Cardiac ICU, and I still do some teaching of Cardiac Monitoring.

Best advice: protect your back. Do not lift anything over 50 pounds without help. It may sound whimpy, but just ask the other 50,000 nurses like myself, that took a career crash with a back injury.

Now I'm working toward "Nurse Massage Therapist".

Good luck, you'll do great.

For a career retrospect, check out my blog:

http:'//undersideofnursing.blogspot.com/

Fibril_late in Calif.

Daggummit! · Nov 1, 2006

Hi everyone,

I am a first semester nursing student in an ADN program at my local junior college. I am 23yo, and have a B.S. in biology. I live in the redneck epicenter of the U.S. good 'ole South Carolina. I am one of about 10 guys in a class of 64 total, so I'm not completely drowning in a sea of estrogen.