Nursing is a women’s career, right?
Historically, yes.
But thanks to a more accepting society, great pay, and the realization that nursing is a vital position within the global healthcare community, more men than ever are putting on the scrubs and taking an active role in patient care. If you are a man thinking about a career in nursing, the Happy You Are Here blog offers insight.
Educational Requirements
Nursing requires a college degree — a bachelor’s, at minimum.
Going back to school as an adult — especially if you are a father and full-time professional — is easier than ever. There are online degree programs available that will allow you to keep your job, maintain your personal responsibilities, and improve your professional standing without ever leaving your home. Going to school online also means you won’t have to drive back and forth to a traditional school — meaning you can use that time to nurture your personal passions.
Career Opportunities
Like all professions, there is no one type of nurse. Many specialties — registered nurse, certified nurse midwife, informatics nurse, gastroenterology nurse, occupational health nurse, etc. — allow you to focus your medical career in an area that you already hold an interest in. And according to the American Nurses Association, a critical nursing shortage is on the horizon — meaning there are more open jobs than any other profession in the United States.
Men And Nursing
Plenty of career opportunities is just one reason that men should consider a career in nursing. Men are not only compassionate caregivers and natural protectors but are innately good under pressure. Further, men looking for a high-paying job that offers career flexibility need to look no further than their local hospital, doctor’s office, or even local school.
Men who wish to travel may also find that nursing opens up opportunities for this, as well. Travel nurses can easily top $100,000 per year and can choose where they go and for how long they plan to stay.
As a male nurse, your physical size, strength, and natural endurance will be a huge benefit to hospitals suffering from a barebones nursing staff. Travel nurse staffing company American Traveler often has opportunities available, for which you can apply online, in all 50 states.
Scholarships Are Available
Another often less-considered benefit of pursuing a degree and career in nursing as a man is that the American Association of Men in Nursing and other organizations recognize the need for males in this vital healthcare profession. As such, there are many scholarships available for men who are ready to break gender stereotypes and become a nurse.
Finally, men should know that there are plenty of job opportunities that don’t necessarily involve hands-on care. A male nurse can easily provide telecare services, offering medical guidance over the phone or through video chat. Policy advisers, clinical educators, medical law, and healthcare research are other fields where a degree in nursing will come in handy.
Ultimately, careers no longer have to be male- or female-centric. Men can enjoy a career in nursing just as well as women can don a construction hat. If you are a man looking to get into the field, there are plenty of resources available to you, and the above information can help you make a decision that may change your life.
If you’re looking for purpose, find out the reason you make mistakes over and over again, or simply want to be a better person, the Happy You Are Here Podcast is for you. Tune in, support the show, and browse the site for inspirational content for the modern world.