Upcoming RN grad looking for male RN mentors/Tampa Bay

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Specializes in As a student.

I graduate in early December. Preceptorship starts November 1. So far nursing school has been very positive, but I have sensed sometimes that it is easier to talk with another male nurse, in regards to being in a predominantly female profession. The floor nurses have been great for the last two years, but the charge nurses, nurse techs, tele techs, and unit coordinaters have often been hostile or only communicate when I persistently ask for help. For instance, "Where do you keep the NPO signs?" or "Do you have an extra O2 sat machine that I could use on my patient to double check what the dynamap is reading." Often I get a single syllable grunt with no eye contact.

I consistently get high evaluations during clinicals and all the nurses assigned to me have been positive to my instructors with their feedback. It is just the subtle sexism that is bothering me. Maybe it is all in my head. But it would be great to have a couple of male RN mentors who could help me interpret the eye rolling and smerks that the para-professional staff give off. Looking also to network with other male RNs in the Tampa Bay area. Is there a "Men in Nursing" organization, formal or informal? Thanks so much.

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Specializes in med/surg and Tele.

Hey man I'm sprry these people are doing this to you. I work as a tele tech and a floor tech. I would not dream of being mean to you guys. Actually I am asking you all when I am on the floor if you need help with anything and helping you all out. I always try to make small talk with you guys. Hey, I never know you might be cool. I hope you find what you are looking for and have a sucessful career!

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Congrats on your upcoming graduation. I'm male and have been a nurse for 10 years, although I live in GA, and not FL. Sorry to hear your troubles, but remember that things may be different once you are a staff member and not "another student" just passing through.

As far as techs and unit secretaries go, remember that once you are an RN, you will "out rank" them and they will need to do as you ask. Don't take advantage of them ever because a tech can make or break you. If you have problems once you are a staff member, you can speak with the charge nurse or nurse manager about it (I've held both positions on a med-surg floor and in ICU).

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Specializes in As a student.

Thanks for the advice. I got "pinned" on 12/12. There is a surplus of graduate nurses right now. So while I'm waiting to take the NCLEX, do you know of a hospital or provider that I could pay to take a telemetry course? We only got the basics in school. I am also planning to take ACLS/PALS while studying for the NCLEX..... If you hear of any floors with vacancies, please let me know. I did my internship/leadership on a cardiac/telemetry floor and loved it. That is where I want to ultimately end up. The tele techs were my best friends, and staying in regular communication with them helped me care for my patients.

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Congratulations on your graduation!

I was actually a nurse manager for two telemetry units (total of 60 beds and 100+ staff) and the monitor room. I know how exciting it is to want to get certified immediately, but my advice to you is to study for NCLEX and nothing else right now. What good will ACLS do if you (GOD FORBID) don't pass boards. If you get hired on a tele unit they will send you to class (usually for free). Some certifications require that you have a number of hours under your belt before you can go. In the hospital system I worked, new staff had a year to complete their ACLS certification. PALS is only going to be helpful to you if you intend on working with a pediatric population.

If you aren't able to get right into a tele unit, I encourage you to think about med/surg. It's a hellhole (I was charge nurse on one) and a dumping ground but the assessment skills you will gain will be incredibly valuable. I worked med/surg for a year and a half before going to ICU and I cut my orientation in less than half because I only had to learn the equipment and the advanced procedures done at the bedside.

Let me know if I can be of any other assistance to you and good luck on boards!

~Devon

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Specializes in As a student.

Thanks so much Devon. You are right on about passing the NCLEX the first time. I am debating whether or not to take the Kaplan week long prep class. Some of my friends did Kaplan and some did not. My sister did not. All of them passed on the first attempt. Do you think Kaplan is worth $450? (Same price on-line or for the classroom.) I have a half dozen NCLEX books that I used to sharpen my mind during school, Saunders, HESI, etc. The only reason I wanted to get the PALS knocked out is if I have to take a job at a small rural hospital, where the chances of floating anywhere at any time are quite high, so I was told. Again, thanks very much for the advice.

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Thanks so much Devon. You are right on about passing the NCLEX the first time. I am debating whether or not to take the Kaplan week long prep class. Some of my friends did Kaplan and some did not. My sister did not. All of them passed on the first attempt. Do you think Kaplan is worth $450? (Same price on-line or for the classroom.) I have a half dozen NCLEX books that I used to sharpen my mind during school, Saunders, HESI, etc. The only reason I wanted to get the PALS knocked out is if I have to take a job at a small rural hospital, where the chances of floating anywhere at any time are quite high, so I was told. Again, thanks very much for the advice.

Wow! you really have a lot of questions. Makes a mentor wants to run away.

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Specializes in As a student.
Wow! you really have a lot of questions. Makes a mentor wants to run away.

Oh, are you an RN mentor to some one past or present? I counted only 3 specific questions that I asked; I can understand how 3 specific questions can overwhelm certain personalities.

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If a mentor wants to run away after 3 questions - they have no business mentoring!

As far as Kaplan goes - I personally did not take a refresher course and passed boards on the first try. I suppose it's a personal decision. I think if you have NCLEX prep books and study them closely, you should be fine. A great deal depends on the questions you get during boards. If you have a weak area (mine was mother/baby & peds and all your questions focus on that area you could be in trouble. That actually happened to a friend of mine. I personally would focus on the areas you are weaker in. If you would feel more prepared by taking a course and that would help build your confidence level then it's money well spent.

As far as PALS goes - there should be a PALS certified employee that you're working with who can implement the protocol if need be. It should not fall to you as a new nurse AND new employee. I would just hate to see you focus your time and energy on PALS and get overwhelmed. Ultimately, though, you must do what you feel is best.

I found it took me several months before things started to make sense. Yes, I was able to safely care for patients, but it wasn't until a good year practicing had passed that all the pieces actually fit for me. At that time - ACLS made sense because I really "got it". Know what I mean?

If you have any more questions - ask away. I wish I had someone who would have answered some of mine when I was in your shoes. Sadly, nurses do tend to eat their young.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I would agree...pass the boards, then job, then worry about certifications.

now, I wouldn't have taken the kaplan class if my work didn't reinburse new grads for it. I believe that taking about 10,000 nclex questions and using the paper book study guide with quizzes was enough. the CD that came with the book was good enough to determine where my weak areas were(peds/l&d/postpartum/neonatal) and so I hit those a little harder.

if you are going to be working peds, i'm sure that the work will get you PALS certified. Likewise for ER. just relax, and know that without that license, the job hunt tends to be more reduced.

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