r/Nurses • • 7h ago

Other Country Male nurse from Mexico dealing with female patients (and female staff) refusing care/procedures. How do you deal with this?

5 Upvotes

Hola, enfermero mexicano aquí, sucede que aquí donde trabajo pasa mucho que las mujeres no permiten que un enfermero realice procedimientos específicos para mujeres (revisión de mamas, Papanicolaou, colocación de DIU, etc) incluso entre las mismas enfermeras y médicas mujeres no te dejan hacerlo, aunque como profesional sabes hacerlo, lo conoces y eres ético.

Mi pregunta es como lo sobrellevan? Y que opinan al respecto? Yo me siento bastante limitado pero a la vez satisfecho pues, cómo están las cosas sobre las falsas acusaciones, no quisiera que me acusaran de que hice algo indebido cuando no es así.

También quisiera saber la opinión de las mujeres, porque hacen esto? Dejarías que un hombre profesional ejerciera su labor en ti?/

Hey everyone, male nurse from Mexico here.

Where I work, it’s very common for female patients to refuse specific procedures performed by a male nurse (breast exams, Pap smears, IUD insertions, etc.). What’s more, even female nurses and female doctors often step in and don't allow male nurses to do them, even though as professionals we are fully trained, knowledgeable, and ethical.

My question for other male nurses is: How do you cope with or handle this? What are your thoughts on it?

On one hand, I feel pretty limited in my practice. But on the other hand, given how things are regarding false accusations nowadays, part of me feels relieved not having to put myself in a vulnerable spot where someone could make an unfair claim.

I’d also love to hear from women here: Why does this happen so frequently? Would you let a male professional perform these procedures on you?


r/Nurses • • 6h ago

US Am I making a bad choice? RN/LPN

2 Upvotes

19F and LPN school starts Feb 1st I already have a year of all my RN pre-reqs done, but I didn’t get into an RN school even with a 3.7gpa because of how competitive it was.

I was told to keep applying this year for RN school in September 2027, but I lowkey also wanna get a license right now, and the LPN program I found, it starts Feb 1 2027 and ends May 1st 2028, base pay for LPNS in my state is 35 an hour and I want to bridge over to be an RN as soon as possible.

I don’t care if Id have to go to nursing school twice but at the same time would I be making a dumb choice? I live with my parents right now so money isn’t a issue


r/Nurses • • 5h ago

US NEWGRAD LPN in NYC

1 Upvotes

Hi all!

I just been offered a position as an LPN working for people with disabilities. They offered me 60,000k a year. Was I low balled?


r/Nurses • • 8h ago

US RN/NP versus PA

1 Upvotes

Question about skills and credentials for NP versus PA?

Are there any skills or credentials that RN/NP is trained in that a PA is not qualified and or trained?

From what I’ve been reading through these subReddit channels, it seems that PA training is more rigorous and and consistent as a whole across all PA programs whereas the NP training seems to vary a lot between programs and may not be as strong in diagnosis and pathophysiology.

If somebody has a medical research background and is interested in obtaining a clinical degree to put all of the research into direct patient care, any advice?


r/Nurses • • 9h ago

US APS dispensing machine sucks real bad

1 Upvotes

At my place of work, we use APS (a piece of shit for short) medication dispensing machine, and the experience so far is horrible. Every week there is something going wrong with it, and I either 1) can’t get a tote at all, 2) can’t get prn meds, 3) can’t log in because the IT switched it to their desktop screen. It‘s such a liability and a delay to patient care. I hate it so much. I can’t give people their pain meds and other criticals. Patient is crying in pain recovering from spinal fusion, and all I hear from those people on the phone is “check in 15 minutes“, and after hours still can’t get access to the med. Sometimes, when you call to report a problem, they will tell you to open up the machine, switch whatever and do maintenance work when I do not have time! I’m a nurse, not maintenance, not a technician. Does anyone else work with APS? What’s your experience with it? Just needed to get this off my chest.


r/Nurses • • 8h ago

US Yale MN program (Masters of Nursing for non-RN grads)

0 Upvotes

Would love to learn more about the Yale school of nursing Masters of Nursing program from anyone who has experience or more information about it.

Reviews online seem mixed, but I realize Yale school of nursing has many programs. From what I have read in terms of googling it, it seems the MN degree, in addition to RN license, would satisfy hospital credentialing of a BSN requirement.
However, if a MN/RN graduate hopes to do a future NP program, it seems that not all of the Yale MN classes are taught at the masters level, and the three Ps would have to be retaken.

If anybody has any additional information or clarification would be very grateful!.


r/Nurses • • 12h ago

US Considering career from Accounting to Nursing

0 Upvotes

I'm 44, have a bachelor's in Accounting, and have spent 13+ years working in real estate property management and development. I make a comfortable six-figure salary, but I've been unhappy with the corporate environment for years.

I don't dislike accounting itself, but I'm tired of sitting behind a desk, the rigid schedule, office politics, and feeling like my work lacks purpose.

I'm seriously considering nursing, both for the opportunity to help people and the lifestyle flexibility. My wife is already an RN, and we'd love to eventually take travel nursing assignments together.

My tentative plan is to pursue an ADN, work as an RN while completing my BSN online, and transition to travel nursing after gaining experience. I'd also like to keep some part-time remote accounting work to supplement my income.

I realize this means a significant pay cut and a demanding transition, especially at 44.

Has anyone made a similar career change later in life? Was it worth it financially and personally? How does the stress and work-life balance compare? Any regrets?

I'd really appreciate hearing the good and the bad from people who've actually done it.


r/Nurses • • 13h ago

US Job Shadowing Tips

1 Upvotes

I am a new grad and recently applied to my local hospital. I spoke with a recruiter from the hospital who has arranged for me to shadow on the ICU for 2 hours. If all goes well, the unit will extend a job offer.

It has been my goal to become an ICU nurse since I started nursing school. I am really grateful for this opportunity, especially because most new grad nurses in my area are told they can only work on med surg or in the ED.

I am looking for tips/advice on how to impress the manager and other nursing staff during my shadow opportunity. I really want this job 😭

Also, two years ago I completed clinicals on this floor. I worked with the same preceptor for each of my shifts and we got along well. Should I send her a message that I am going to job shadow on her unit? If so, what should I say?


r/Nurses • • 1d ago

US Not loving being a nurse

19 Upvotes

Y'all ever become a nurse and then 2 months into it, realize you don't love being a nurse

I just became an LPN over the summer and I've been working for 2 months and I just dread coming into my shifts every night.

I work 3-11 only 3-4 shifts a week at a nursing home. I can do my job just fine, but I just.. I don't know. I don't like this.

I was hoping I would feel some sense of fulfillment being a nurse and I don't. Before I became a nurse I drove a school bus and I felt like I was "capable of more" and here I am in the "more" missing driving a bus/van.

I love my residents and my coworkers, but I hate dreading my shift every work day.

I just needed to vent and see if anyone else felt the same way.


r/Nurses • • 16h ago

Philippines USRN Career Path: Is Bedside Nursing Experience Necessary, or Can I Pursue Medical VA Work Before Moving Abroad?

1 Upvotes

Hi, nurses! I would really appreciate your advice po. 🥹

I’m a Batch 2024 RN with no bedside experience. My experience so far has been in a non-bedside nursing role, and I recently found an NCLEX sponsorship opportunity through a BPO company. The offer is good, but it comes with a 2-year employment bond.

Right now, I’m torn between pursuing bedside nursing experience or accepting the offer and starting my NCLEX journey through this company.
My long-term goal is to work and live in the US, but I honestly don’t know which pathway would be best for me. I’m also unfamiliar with the different immigration and employment pathways for nurses, especially since I don’t have any family in the US who could petition or guide me through the process.
For those who have been in a similar situation or have experience working abroad, I would really appreciate your advice po.

Would it be better to gain bedside experience first, or is it still a good decision to accept the NCLEX sponsorship and work in a BPO company for two years? Would having non-bedside experience affect my chances of getting a USRN job with visa sponsorship in the future?
I’m afraid of making a decision now that might delay my goal of working abroad. I’m hoping to learn from your experiences and insights.

Thank you so much po! ❤️


r/Nurses • • 1d ago

Europe Will i survive nursing

5 Upvotes

I'm 27 and live in Finland. I've worked in construction for the past few years and I'm now applying to study either nursing or mechanical engineering, starting next year. Nursing keeps pulling me in, but I'm unsure because of my social anxiety.

A bit about how my anxiety works:

One-on-one conversations are mostly fine. I can talk to people and I'm genuinely interested in them.

What gets me is being watched by a group, like presenting or being the centre of attention.

I've worked on it actively for years with exposure, and it's improved, but it's still there.

I also worked as a coaching assistant for a youth football club, which I liked, so helping people isn't new to me.

My questions:

How much does social anxiety actually get in the way day to day in nursing? Is it mostly one-on-one patient contact, or a lot of group situations?

Are there specialties or settings that suit quieter people better? Night shifts, the operating room, ICU, something else?

If you have social anxiety yourself, did nursing make it better (constant exposure) or worse?

Any male nurses here? What's that side of it like?


r/Nurses • • 2d ago

US Patient complaint

36 Upvotes

My patient complained about a phlebotomist that drew his blood. The patient was watching FOX News and the phlebotomist said something about the channel being fake news. And he told the patient that he doesn’t understand how people voted for a convicted felon. After I learned about this incident, the patient told me that he doesn’t want the guy to lose his job but he doesn’t want him drawing his blood anymore in the future. I immediately looked for the phlebotomist and told him to no longer go in the room for future blood draws. I then told the patient that I spoke with the phlebotomist and that he would not go in the room again.
I don’t know if I should leave it at that , or do I need to escalate this to my manager?. I believe medical staff should not engage in unwelcome political discussions with patients. But I also don’t want people fired. This happened last night in Trauma ICU
Update ;Thank you for your responses, for those assuming that I share the patient’s political views, I do not, I just didn’t know if I am required to make a record of the incident or have to report it as the assigned nurse. But I decided to better leave it be.


r/Nurses • • 2d ago

US Advice/Opinions/Options in leaving bedside nursing (not because I necessarily want to either)

2 Upvotes

I (27 F) have always been in the medical field since I was 18. I worked as a STNA at the age of 18 until I became an RN ASN in 2021, received my BSN in 2022, worked on a Neuro unit as the charge nurse and stroke nurse for a hospital (level 2 trauma) and then I went traveling as a bedside med surg nurse for 2 years and that’s when I became sick. Long story short, in February of this year I was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis (autoimmune disease that attacks the core muscles & skin). With each flare up, my symptoms get worse, my immunosuppressant medication dosage increases and my physical ability has taken a hit. My rheumatologist has spoken with me and recommended to leave bedside nursing due to my health (which makes me cry thinking about it because I do love being a beside nurse, I love the relationships I create with the patients & families and can’t think of any nursing role that would fulfill me the way bedside nursing does). So any advice or suggestions for an alternative nursing job that’s not bedside?

And for those who aren’t familiar with this disease if it’s not treated and managed properly I will become disabled and confined to a bed. So yes it is that serious sadly


r/Nurses • • 2d ago

US Should I stay in California or move back to North Carolina for nursing school?

0 Upvotes

I’m 25 and really struggling to decide between two nursing programs I've been accepted to. One is in California, where I currently live with my boyfriend, and the other is in North Carolina, where my parents and sister live.

The California program is more expensive, but nurses make more money here, and I currently work at a hospital. I feel like staying here and doing my clinicals locally could help me get a job after graduation, especially with how difficult the job market seems to be.

North Carolina would be cheaper, even if I have to pay out-of-state tuition, and I'd be closer to my family, who I've been missing lately. My parents would also be supportive if I moved back.

I'm also overwhelmed by all the logistics of moving, including moving costs, finding a place to live, and figuring out health insurance. I keep going back and forth because I don't want to sacrifice my career opportunities, but I also don't want to stay in California just for the money and regret not moving closer to my family.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Especially nurses who have moved between California and the Southeast. How much does the salary difference actually affect your quality of life, and would going to nursing school out of state make it harder to get a job back in California?

I'd appreciate any honest advice because I feel like I've been overthinking this decision.


r/Nurses • • 3d ago

US I’ve tried everything and I can’t get a job. Help me 🥹

54 Upvotes

I graduated nursing school six years ago with my BSN. I have been working as a community nurse, contracted one-on-one pediatric nursing. MY RN FRIENDS, I am a DOCTORAL nurse student, I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong. My résumé looks decent. Somebody pointed out what I should do. am I doing something wrong?

Edit: contracted nursing is not considered “ample experience” here in Hawaii. Here in Hawaii, if you do not have Hospital experience, you have to apply as an aid to really even be considered a nurse position at the hospital. They have new specialty positions and new grad positions (I am aware I’m not a new grad) but I have applied 21 times to aid positions and new specialty positions and I haven’t even got an interview call
:’(

They do not even hire contract nurses unless they have RN experience in the hospital. I feel like I have jumped through every hoop to no avail.


r/Nurses • • 2d ago

US Nursing career

1 Upvotes

I’m a newer nurse I was working for 3 months then gave birth and had my seizures which put me out of work for the past 10 months. I’m an accelerated BSN graduate from may 2025.

I was originally working in a cardiac ICU rotating shift. Now I’m cleared to start driving and can go back to work but the original hospital I work at is 45 mins away and I would be working 3-12s. They are thinking about accommodating me for dayshift only as my medical accommodation. I also have a chance of working at an ambulatory position with a different hospital system which would be 5-8s and that’s 30 mins away.

I’m torn because I don’t want to work 5 days a week because the price difference for daycare, can’t afford to go part time but also liked working in a cardiac ivu because I originally wanted to do crna..

Just looking for advice from nurses or medical professionals who have epilepsy.


r/Nurses • • 2d ago

US Complete career change?

4 Upvotes

TLDR: Should I change my career to radiology tech or build upon my nursing degree to something far away from patient care.

I have been a RN for about 6 years; started out on med surg/ tele/ stepdown for 3 years, was beyond burnt out and became Charge RN for the unit (which was a breath of fresh air getting away from patient care) but still wasn’t happy and knew this wasn’t where I wanted to spend the rest of my career. So then after 2 years as Charge RN I transferred to SICU which was the biggest mistake. I stuck it out for 6 months despite it ruining my mental health and almost ruining my long term relationship because of my unhappiness. I was about to quit with no plan but instead was able to be taken off of work medically. During my time off I realized just how much I hate being a nurse. I have experienced other units; cardiac, observation, ED, etc and it boils down to I don’t like that whatever happens to the patient is my responsibility as a RN. Nothing is ever good enough and everything is my fault as the nurse. Other members of the care team do less than the bare minimum because they know that I as the RN will take care of it otherwise I’ll be blamed. I have been blamed for MDs putting in the wrong orders. Phlebotomy is taking too long? Then the nurse can do it. There was a time my super hard stuck patient was poked over 20 times by several nurses over the course of 2+ hours, phlebotomy came only from the request of the MD and got blood on the first poke (surprise! maybe because this is their specialty?). I call RT for an airway problem and “it’s a shared responsibility” so I as the RN have to figure it out. I have to take my ICU patient down to MRI and stay with them during the exam and hope and pray nothing happens to my other ICU patient upstairs because they are still my responsibility. Sounds unsafe, but if my patient’s MRI is delayed then I get in trouble for “delay in care”. The TV doesn’t work, it’s the nurse who has to fix the issue. The patient doesn’t like their food? Get the nurse. I’m beyond sick and tired of it. I’ve developed debilitating anxiety and have began suffering anxiety attacks at work because it’s just too much. Too many things to juggle, too much responsibility, too many interruptions. Its unsafe. Meanwhile other care team members are sitting around laughing with each other, on their phones, eating enjoying themselves. And all of the nurses are running around like a chicken with their head cut off.

I don’t mind patient care to an extent, I just don’t want to be completely responsible for anything and everything that happens to my patients for 12 hours at a time. That is 12 hours of constant anxiety, even when not dealing with critical patients. It can be 12 hours straight of dealing with severe dementia confusion, or 12 hours straight of combativeness, or 12 hours straight of the nonstop complaints of those “problem patients”. I don’t want it to be my problem anymore. I just want to be able to go in, do my job, and get out. I am more of an introvert, I can chit chat if needed but I’m sorry I don’t want to build a repor with my patients. I just want to do my job. And I’m not sure I can find a job like that as a RN. Being Charge RN was nice because i was behind the desk the majority of the shift, but I still had to deal with complaints from patients and family when they didn’t get what they want. I didn’t like feeling responsible for when the nurses messed up (which is inevitable from the workload).

I need a career change ASAP. I have been thinking about going back to school for radiology tech, it’s still patient care but all I am responsible for is the scan. Any problem with the patient and all I have to say is “let me get your nurse”. I only have to deal with the patient for the length of the scan then I can move on to the next one. I don’t have to deal with any of their issues for 12 hours straight, just until I finish my scan. I can get trained in several other modalities; cath lab, CT, MRI, mammography and make more money. Both my sister and boyfriend are rad techs, and they both make more than me hourly as a RN because they both trained in additional modalities. Before I decide to completely give up on nursing and go to school for radiology tech is there anything else I can do with my nursing degree that won’t make me absolutely dread going to work? I don’t mind getting my masters, but I don’t know if there’s anything that’s really worth it. I wouldn’t mind education, but they seem to make less than bedside nurses. I don’t want to go back to school and put myself in debt just to end up making less money. I’ve thought about informatics but I heard it’s a hit or miss. I’m just so stuck and unhappy and I don’t know what to do. Nursing pay has spoiled me, I’m used to OT being available whenever I need it. Life is expensive and if I’m living paycheck to paycheck as a RN I can’t really afford to take a huge pay cut. I am open to sacrificing making somewhat less, but nothing too crazy. I am willing to put in the work, I just need something that doesn’t drain me like nursing has. Please give me any and all of the advice!


r/Nurses • • 2d ago

US RN to BSN program advice

1 Upvotes

Hello, I an a rn about to start an RN to BSN program. I am looking for advice and comments from people who have taken this program What to expect, is it difficult, etc. I'm going to EMU if that helps.


r/Nurses • • 3d ago

US Difficult family members

8 Upvotes

Hi I have been a nurse for 2 years now and I am 25 years old. I would say I am someone who’s able to work under pressure and deal w patients who can be difficult to interact with. but family members make me super nervous. This past weekend my coworkers and I were discussing that one of the patients daughter has muchhuasen syndrome. Knew everything about drs and tests and even wanted her on Q1 VS. This lady was driving me nuts and started yelling at me and I told her that if she kept on talking without letting me speak i would get my charge nurse. The daughter told the charge nurse that I didn’t care for her mom and made her upset and my charge nurse did everything to diffuse the situation and even validated my feelings in the end and had made another nurse take the patient. Clearly this has made me upset and I am still at home still thinking abt this whole thing. Even after only 2 years of nursing im just wondering how can I ever get over that some fam members for my patients are super difficult without this bothering me as much in the future?


r/Nurses • • 3d ago

US Crazy Homecare Cases

36 Upvotes

Walked into a vent and trach case only to be verbally attacked by the family member in regards to client care and knowledge without having gotten oriented to the case in person yet. In homecare every clients set up is different and in this case the family member was overbearing and aggressive to the point where I said, "Sorry but I have to go" I left and called my company to let them know I could not take the case. As a nurse I am glad to say we have choices we dont have to settle for verbal attacks or demeaning comments while trying to work!!! Know your worth!!!


r/Nurses • • 3d ago

US WGU VS CAPELLA

2 Upvotes

I am graduating an ADN nursing school in May and the plan is to take the NCLEX in June and start a BSN Program ASAP. I want to finish by December or January because I wasn’t to finish my BSN before my 30th birthday in February. I think the flex path will be my best option but I need opinions on which program is better?


r/Nurses • • 4d ago

US i managed to pass the nclex in 85 questions on my first attempt with a month long migraine

23 Upvotes

i just needed to share because this is my greatest accomplishment.. if anyone is a nurse with chronic migraine or daily headache pls lmk i am starting soon and need some hope :') developed this after graduating.


r/Nurses • • 3d ago

Aus/NZ Moving to Aus

1 Upvotes

Hi all, hope you’re doing well, hope this is allowed as I don’t know where else to ask but if not thats fine.

I’m currently in the UK and am applying for uni to do nursing (with the hope of moving to Aus after 2 years of working in the Uk after finishing my degree).

My query is about the type of nursing degree that is recognised here. In the uk we have 4 nursing degrees (adult,child, mental health and learning disability) but to my understanding (correct me if im wrong) Aus only has a general nursing degree.

Im currently mainly applying to either a mental health nursing degree or a learning disability nursing degree that also qualifies me to be a social worker as well as a nurse.

Will these degrees be recognised in Australia and can I move with these degrees to work as a nurse in Aus or do I need to do adult nursing? I’m much more interested in helping disabled people (and this degree comes with the bonus of dual qualification to be a social worker too incase I struggle to secure a job straight away as the UK is in a bit of a recruitment freeze for nurses but my main passion is becoming a nurse not a social worker) or people with mental health difficulties than I am in doing adult nursing.

Does anyone here have any experience with UK nurses moving here and having those degrees?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as choosing a sector seems like such a big deal at 18 haha. Thank you!


r/Nurses • • 3d ago

US Has anyone else experienced workplace trauma from nursing management? How did you move on?

9 Upvotes

I’ve been a nurse for a little over a year now, and I’m struggling with something I honestly didn’t expect to deal with so early in my career.
My experience has very little to do with patient care itself. It has more to do with management, workplace politics, and feeling like certain people in leadership decided they had a problem with me and put a target on my back.
I went into nursing wanting to help people, learn, become a good nurse, and build a career I could be proud of. Instead, some of my early experiences left me questioning myself, my abilities, and whether I even belonged in this profession.
When you feel like management is watching your every move, looking for mistakes, or interpreting things you do in the worst possible way, it changes you. You start second-guessing everything. You worry about making mistakes even when you’re trying your best. You replay situations in your head long after your shift is over, wondering what you should have done differently or whether something could come back to hurt your career.
The hardest part is that I feel like I’m carrying that experience with me into new situations. Even when I know I’m trying to do the right thing, I can still feel anxious that someone is going to accuse me of something, misunderstand my intentions, or look for a reason to get me in trouble.
I know nursing is a stressful profession, and I’m not expecting every workplace to be perfect. I also understand that accountability is part of being a nurse. But there’s a difference between being held accountable in a fair, supportive environment and feeling like you’re being targeted.
I don’t want a bad experience with management to define my entire nursing career. I don’t want to spend the next several years feeling afraid, constantly questioning myself, or expecting the worst from every workplace.
I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar.
Did you ever feel traumatized by a previous nursing job or the way management treated you?
Did it affect your confidence or make you anxious about charting, making mistakes, or being reported?
How did you learn to trust yourself again?
Did changing workplaces help, or did you find that the anxiety followed you?
What advice would you give a nurse who is still early in their career and trying to move forward after a really negative experience?
I would especially appreciate hearing from nurses who have been through something similar and eventually found their confidence again.
I want to enjoy nursing and feel proud of the work I do. I just don’t want the way I was treated early in my career to continue affecting me years from now.
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this or share their experience. I think I need to hear from people who truly understand what this feels like.


r/Nurses • • 3d ago

US Labor and delivery/ postpartum nurse

1 Upvotes

Hey yall! I’ve been an L&D nurse for over 2 years less than 3. Originally worked in Canada but have not worked as an L&D nurse since 2021. I love maternal health and want to go back into it. However, I did move countries now currently live in MInnesota, and I’ve applied to over 100 l&d/ postpartum positions and not one call for an interview. Do you think it’s cause of the large gap/ how can I get myself back in.