26 yr old male considering a career in nursing (RN to CRNA) Advice please?

nkosizindzi · Jul 31, 2013

Gosh @roser 13!!! That's harsh! He wasn't being egoistic when he said that! He asked because the field is predominantly female and has always been! I am a female myself but you just went off a tangent! You sound like a female version of a male chauvinist!

Terpole · Jul 31, 2013

I know it's already been said but I hope the OP considers the reality of nurses, new grads & experienced, in regards to employment. The glory days of the late 90s/early 2000s are long gone

roser13, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2013

Gosh @roser 13!!! That's harsh! He wasn't being egoistic when he said that! He asked because the field is predominantly female and has always been! I am a female myself but you just went off a tangent! You sound like a female version of a male chauvinist!

Nope. Just tired of male nurses automatically assuming that they will get hired first, be paid more, and move up the ranks more quickly. If that makes me a female chauvinist, so be it.

I have been put in my place, though, by the other male posters. Apparently all of those assumptions are correct.

CountyRat · Jul 31, 2013

Run from this idea, Run don't walk! I made the mistake of going down the path that you are contemplating. I can't get into a new grad program and relocating to another state is impossible. I wish I had just invested the money I spent on school in the stock market. Nursing has only been a bust for me! (Also I will not work in a SNIF)

You are right dachlewis, nursing is a lousy investment if your goal is making money. Don't get me wrong, making money is a fine goal. If that is your desire, great, go for it! There are much better, and easier, ways to make a living, and those other ways are just as noble and valuable as nursing is. I hope that you find the way that brings you satisfaction and happiness.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2013

Hey, ER nurse here. I thought I would share some of the tasks I did today:

Helped several pts change into gowns

Obtained vital signs multiple times

Gave meds

Transported pts to tests

Placed a foley

Talked too/comforted pts

Placed IV's

My ER has 1 tech for 28 beds. The "menial" tasked listed on my list are typical and I do them everyday. I love doing them because it gives me a chance to talk to the pt and truly understand what is going on that brought them into the ER.

ruler of kolob · Aug 1, 2013

The OP's plan culminates in becoming a CRNA.. Being a staff nurse is nothing more than a means to and end... I did not find ICU nursing for many years particularly " Stressful". Even anesthesia in a ginormous level one trauma center is now pretty routine regardless of the case, after few years.. And I am not talking about lap gall bladders... I'm talking CABG, LVADs. big cranes, liver transplants, etc.

To the OP.. if you want to be a CRNA... do what it takes.. PERIOD...I think it is simply the best job in nursing.

mattcbr · Aug 10, 2013

I'm a male, now 30... no regrets. Worked my way up... first an Aid, then LPN, RN, then got my four year BSN. Worked two years in the ICU and now I'm applying to CRNA school.

GL!

siciliannurse · Aug 10, 2013

esme12 you should be careful with your reponses on here. " performing menial tasks" you should be a little more thoughtful on these comments.

loriangel14, RN · Aug 10, 2013

esme12 you should be careful with your reponses on here. " performing menial tasks" you should be a little more thoughtful on these comments.

It was the OP that referred to "menial tasks", not Esme.

Conrad283, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2013

I know a lot of people have answered already, but I'm 30 with 5 years, all ICU experience, and I just got into CRNA school.

Hello, I'm a 25 yr old male, soon to be 26, currently a project coordinator with a large financial institution, and I am considering switching to the medical field and pursuing nursing. I would like to become a nurse anesthetist, and in the mean time learn and grow as an ICU/ER RN. My current job is simply too boring. The business end does nothing for me, and I feel I am tied to a desk all day. I love helping others, and get great gratification out of this. However, I do have my concerns which I will list below.
*To those who are thinking they see this all the time and this thread is pointless, it's my understanding that the field is constantly changing and I am seeking advice from those who are aware, not those with an ungrounded opinion*

You will soon learn if you are an "action junkie" and like the fast paced world on nursing should everything pan out. But if you do take this route, you may stumble upon something that interests you more than you know right now.

Is the field becoming overpopulated? Will I have issue finding something? Is 26 too old to begin a new career in this?

Like other people have said, it depends on the market. If you need a job, get a CNA certificate or try and get a job in the medical field somehow. I was a clerk for 7 years before I graduated and started nursing. Managers were aware of my work ethic and I was offered a spot in either the MICU or SICU, my choice.

If you have no prior medical experience, it'll be more difficult to get a job as a graduate nurse.

No 26 is not too old to start. I previously worked in NY and there were a lot of city workers that had done their 20 years and then switched to nursing to work part time in addition to their pension.

Is it worth the hard work and dedication to studying? I will be broke, and very busy, from now until I land an RN job...

It depends on the reason you're going into the field. If it's for money, then you're gonna get burnt out. If you're going in for the reasons that you explained in your most recent post then it is extremely beneficial.

Are there any benefits to being a male in this profession? Will I catch a lot of crap from females?

Catching crap from females? Probably not, if you're lazy with poor work ethic, they'll talk behind your back.

Benefits? Depends. In a female dominated profession, a male usually gets the physically heavy patients, or the males acting out. I am like you but two inches shorter and I can grow a mean beard. The patients that act out, I usually get because I have an authoritative appearance. Presently, I have a patient who had a brain bleed, but has been inappropriate towards women, so I have him and I'll put him in his place if he gets out of line.

Also, I tend to think of my female coworkers as my family and I will protect them from any patient that show aggression towards them.

How is the stress factor? I heard the reason there are tons of out of shape nurses is because they wear themselves out at work and have no energy when their shift is over.

Stress plays into anything and any situation. How you handle it will make you as a nurse. Our ICU doc can be blunt when you screw up and some people take it to heart, I on the other hand let it roll of my shoulders and think nothing of it.

How is the pay? I've heard decent, however I've also heard starting off it can be rather disappointing.

Depends on the hospital system. I made 67k starting out on nights in NY, and that dropped to 50k after a move to CO on days. I then moved to weekend option and my pay was significantly higher.

I understand becoming a CRNA is like going through med school for nurses, and this excites me as I know I am an intelligent person. I am anxiously looking forward to the challenge. With that said, is this a realistic goal?

It's a realistic goal if that's what you want. CRNA school is fairly difficult to get into with class sizes being small. It's a difficult program without a doubt.

Just beware, there are a ton of intelligent people that make poor nurses. Being able to think fast, look at the whole picture, and use common sense will make you a better nurse.

If CRNA is what you truly want, don't just look good on paper because the interview is what gets you into school

CPhT2RNstudent · Aug 11, 2013

I will be starting CRNA school in January. I will be 35, married, and have 4 kids. You are not too old. I got an ADN, got a spot in the ICU internship at the University of Utah hospital as a new grad with ADN. I then got my CCRN, BSN, and after my two year contract I moved to Albuquerque for better wages. In Albuquerque, the ICU's will hire and train without a contract for the ICU's. When I was an ADN, many people in my class wanted to be CRNA's. Now we have been graduated about 4 years, and I am the only one that I know of that is actually going. Many have not even done their BSN or gotten into an ICU. ICU's are competitive and many RN's decide to not put the work necessary to get into CRNA school.

As a male in nursing I have not been bothered by the opposite sex for my career choice. In fact, in Utah about half of the ICU nurses were males. Most of which wanted to become CRNA's.

Do not tell people (IE nurse managers) you want to become a CRNA. They will not hire you. For example, a girl in my ICU internship interview group announced she was there to get ICU experience for CRNA school. You could see people cringe. She did not get the job. If you are determined and have a good support system I say go for it. Oh, one more thing. Make sure you shadow a CRNA a few times in different settings. It would suck to get into the profession just to find out you don't like it.

Louisarlen · Aug 12, 2013

Hey friend I suggest you to go ahead with your thought of becoming a nurse. I am sure you will prove to be a good nurse as you have said you love helping people and are happy doing it. It is not too late and since you will be doing a job that you like, it will surely keep your stress levels low and keep you happy. Speaking about the job opportunities, there is high requirement of male nurses also. You will surely get a job if you complete the course from a registered and known institution.