Thinking about nursing... Is it worth it?

2sassyRN · Feb 10, 2005

Hi Sky, yes, I think that it is very worth it. In my experience, I felt that males were actually treated better, and with more respect. At the facility where I worked, a couple of the MDs would only speak with the male nurses (which I thought was sexist) so I think you will find that males do well in this field. Some of the best nurses I know are men, and they are always the ones I turn to first when I have a tough question, not because they are men, but because they are great nurses. I don't know of anyone who would put them down or belittle them because of their chosen vocation. They love what they do and earn a good living doing it. So far as the nursing shortage, I think it's a myth that is perpetuated by corportations, hospitals and maybe even colleges. I know my college told us how bad the nursing shortage was and that we would'nt have any problem finding jobs-not true. I don't want to discourage you, but just be prepared. If nursing and helping people is really what you want to do, then go for it!

Hi,
I'm currently a college freshman thinking about becoming a nursing major. I stumbled across AAMN while doing a paper on the shortage of nurses and decided to check it out.
Anyways... I have mixed feeling about male nursing. It seems that nursing is very favored towards women, and I even hear there is discrimination towards male nurses in the workplace. Even in society males are not accepted as being nurses because it is "A woman's job." (Please don't take that the wrong way I'm just trying to illustrate a point.) When other people address nurses they are usually addressed as "she." I'm not sure if I would be comfortable with the whole nursing field yet. I don't appreciate it when people laugh or make fun of me when I tell them I'm thinking about becoming a nurse.
I'm posting this here because I figure there is no better place to get some input on what it is like being a male in a female dominated workplace. I read that even during nursing clinicals male nursing students are not given as much respect and direction as female nursing students are. I'm just very confused. There is one part of me that wants to become a nurse because I have a calling to help people in society, but there is also another that is holding me back because of the current situation with male nurses.
I do realize that the current situation with the gender barrier is because Florence Nightingale back in the 1800's defined that a nurse should be a woman of good character, who is not married, and white. Many of my professors praise her, but also disagree with her because nursing should be more open to all people. I also know that Florence Nightingale was not the first "nurse" and that there were nursing schools back in India, and other countries way before our time that were established by men, but people do not know that. Problem is society doesn't know that. I've read that the reason for this nursing shortage is because the nursing field lacks in diversity. Do you think that there will ever be a time that nursing will be accepted for both male and female? Is it worth the sacrafice of being looked down by other people?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
-Joe

chicago bsn 2005 · Feb 10, 2005

do what you want and stop worrying about what everyone else will think.

my class is around 11% men. but i'm not one of them. we've talked about this in class though. it honestly bothers me to even hear the term "male nursing." what am i doing? "female nursing?" i think it's passe. even those who call themselves dinosaurs would probably want you to consider nursing. has anyone who actually worked in the healthcare field ever given you this impression?

meanwhile, it angers me when i get the, "a nurse? why not become a doctor?" actually, i don't get it anymore, but i used to. please don't take this as pertaining to being male or female. this is an entirely infuriating separate issue.

without people like you, things will never change. it sounds like you've done your homework. you're interested. be a nurse.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Feb 10, 2005

Here is another thought. Many men in Nursing use the profession as a step to something else, like a CRNA, which makes even more money. I was at Kaiser getting a physical and a man was taking my BP. He said Kaiser trained him as a such-and-such (can't remember what his title was) and that was a step above being a Nurse. He started out as a Nurse.

Just giving you another option/thought. Good luck and keep us posted.

Faeriewand

nursemeow · Feb 10, 2005

Hi,
I'm currently a college freshman thinking about becoming a nursing major. I stumbled across AAMN while doing a paper on the shortage of nurses and decided to check it out.
Anyways... I have mixed feeling about male nursing. It seems that nursing is very favored towards women, and I even hear there is discrimination towards male nurses in the workplace. Even in society males are not accepted as being nurses because it is "A woman's job." (Please don't take that the wrong way I'm just trying to illustrate a point.) When other people address nurses they are usually addressed as "she." I'm not sure if I would be comfortable with the whole nursing field yet. I don't appreciate it when people laugh or make fun of me when I tell them I'm thinking about becoming a nurse.
I'm posting this here because I figure there is no better place to get some input on what it is like being a male in a female dominated workplace. I read that even during nursing clinicals male nursing students are not given as much respect and direction as female nursing students are. I'm just very confused. There is one part of me that wants to become a nurse because I have a calling to help people in society, but there is also another that is holding me back because of the current situation with male nurses.
I do realize that the current situation with the gender barrier is because Florence Nightingale back in the 1800's defined that a nurse should be a woman of good character, who is not married, and white. Many of my professors praise her, but also disagree with her because nursing should be more open to all people. I also know that Florence Nightingale was not the first "nurse" and that there were nursing schools back in India, and other countries way before our time that were established by men, but people do not know that. Problem is society doesn't know that. I've read that the reason for this nursing shortage is because the nursing field lacks in diversity. Do you think that there will ever be a time that nursing will be accepted for both male and female? Is it worth the sacrafice of being looked down by other people?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
-Joe

Joe, In the 11th century AD were one of the first images of male nurses... the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem in their black robes with a white maltese cross were soldiers and nurses!!! These crosses are the foundation of nursing pins and the Red Cross!!! If you are worried about all the people who may "look down" on you, why don't you shift that and think of AAALLLLLLLLL the people who would admire and look up to you!! Some of the male nurses I know are the best nurses I know.. and I personally would prefer a male nurse!!!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2005

As more and more males are in the profression, society becomes more accepting. I'm beginning to notice less and less comments on the fact that I'm a male nurse from my patients that I recieved 15 years ago. In fact, I can't remember the last time a patient commented on my being a male. They are becoming acclimated (sp?) to the idea that males will be caring for them, and they don't seem to mind.

Personally, I haven't experienced sex discrimination.

Bottom line, for me is to not let others rent space in my head and tell me how to feel.

*PICURN* · Feb 10, 2005

I find that sometimes male nurses can actually be regarded as "better" than us females (by patients, MD's, etc....)

Our nursing class had about 6 males out of 40, and only ONE was gay :chuckle

I think the discrimination has passed, I think you should become a nurse if that is your goal. Please don't worry what others think!

Why not talk to a couple male nurses and see how they feel they have been treated in their jobs? Maybe that will set your mind at ease :)

tridil2000, MSN, RN · Feb 10, 2005

Hi,
I'm currently a college freshman thinking about becoming a nursing major. I stumbled across AAMN while doing a paper on the shortage of nurses and decided to check it out.
Anyways... I have mixed feeling about male nursing. It seems that nursing is very favored towards women, and I even hear there is discrimination towards male nurses in the workplace. Even in society males are not accepted as being nurses because it is "A woman's job." (Please don't take that the wrong way I'm just trying to illustrate a point.) When other people address nurses they are usually addressed as "she." I'm not sure if I would be comfortable with the whole nursing field yet. I don't appreciate it when people laugh or make fun of me when I tell them I'm thinking about becoming a nurse.
I'm posting this here because I figure there is no better place to get some input on what it is like being a male in a female dominated workplace. I read that even during nursing clinicals male nursing students are not given as much respect and direction as female nursing students are. I'm just very confused. There is one part of me that wants to become a nurse because I have a calling to help people in society, but there is also another that is holding me back because of the current situation with male nurses.
I do realize that the current situation with the gender barrier is because Florence Nightingale back in the 1800's defined that a nurse should be a woman of good character, who is not married, and white. Many of my professors praise her, but also disagree with her because nursing should be more open to all people. I also know that Florence Nightingale was not the first "nurse" and that there were nursing schools back in India, and other countries way before our time that were established by men, but people do not know that. Problem is society doesn't know that. I've read that the reason for this nursing shortage is because the nursing field lacks in diversity. Do you think that there will ever be a time that nursing will be accepted for both male and female? Is it worth the sacrafice of being looked down by other people?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
-Joe

joe, i've been an rn for 18 years. the stigma no longer exists. where i work, (er/critical care) about a third of the rns are men.

don't worry about what other people say. ever.

you may want to say... trauma rn or critical care rn or flight rn or crna when people ask you what you want to study.

there are soooo many areas of nursing. open your mind first and those around you will follow.

funny, i hate when people say 'i nursed my baby' bc imo, your breast fed your baby. why do they have to use my chosen career to describe lactation these days???! i think that saying does nothing for guys like yourself thinking about nursing as a career.

good luck. we'd love to have you. nursing is actually a cool job, imo.

t

steelcityrn, RN · Feb 10, 2005

The one quality that you need is that you first must care about people. Other than that, the skies the limit...male, female ...whichever:)

begalli · Feb 10, 2005

Joe,

First, I'm not a male but I am a nurse.

Nursing has come a long way since Florence Nightingale. Forget about ol' Florence for a minute. The people who laugh have no idea what they are laughing about. In my experience, men are NOT discriminated against in school or on the job. There were 3 men in my class of 16 (one father and son duo!!). Nursing school is rigorous for everyone. I work with more than a dozen men on my ICU. The only "gender barrier" is in the mind of the uneducated public and their misunderstanding of what nurses really do. The image is still the dutiful handmaiden to the doctor who changes bedpans, fluffs pillow, and holds hands. While this is part of what we do at the bedside (MINUS the dutiful handmaiden crud), we are also highly educated and experienced experts in our chosen profession.

Joe - WE SAVE LIVES! in an exciting job that lets us use our intelligence and experience to problem solve, use incredible technology, continue to constantly learn, and then to pass that on to someone like you.

The profession of nursing is a phenomenon that is difficult to describe. I could tell you what a day in my life as an RN is like and then 50 or 100 other RN's could come along and tell you something completely different, but just as amazing.

The "current situation" with nurses who are also men is that the men who are in nursing have discovered this phenomenon and have jumped straight in.

Like tridil2000 stated, most of the men that I encounter in nursing have chosen to go the critical care/ER/OR route. As an ICU nurse myself, I can say that it's a difficult and oh so rewarding area where I think nurses have a great deal of autonomy and get a great deal of respect.

You will NOT be making a sacrifice if you choose nursing if that's what you want to do. From the outside it may seem that way because people just don't know, but wait until you're in...it's a whole different world.

I would suggest you search the www to find out what's out there for nurses. Here's one to get you started:

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/career.htm

I'd be cool if you could find a class like this:

"Men in Scrubs"

RudeyMvp · Feb 10, 2005

Im a MALE taking my last pre-req before starting Nursing school.

I dont care if people laugh because im a nurse....im going back to school

at age 37 cuz im SICK AND TIRED of the business world and all the morons in it!

People can laugh cuz im gonna be a nurse...i dont care,,,ill just throw it right back at em and if they wanna get nasty about it,,,ill just make fun of their pathetic, unfullfilling, rat-race, office desk job. :chuckle

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2005

I think the more males we can get into the profession, the better. I have seen salaries, work environments, and general attitudes improve since more males are joining our ranks. As far as being "looked down" on for being a nurse....well, consider the sources. I have worked in ER's that were predominately male. I personally, LOVE having the men around. It keeps the combative, drunks in line, it adds a little different atmosphere, and I think we all benefit from it. I think as the economy contines to tank, and more men are looking for secure jobs to take care of themselves and their families, more will be heading toward nursing. I know there are lots of former engineers and computer programers who are now nurses.

Don't hesitate to join us. Sometimes it takes a while to get into a program, and you should finish your pre-reqs first, so it still may be awhile till you graduate. You will always have a job, and I guarantee you will never be bored!