91. A Male Nurse

Adam just graduated from college and will be going to nursing school this upcoming fall. He has a degree in Biology. He initially wanted to be a doctor and his parents wanted him to be one, too.

 Even though being a doctor gets you a lot of money and prestige, it is also very stressful. Adam did not want to be in school that long. Medical school is also very expensive. Getting into medical school is hard, too.

When Adam told his parents that he wasn't going to apply to medical school, they were upset. They did not understand why. Adam had a high GPA, a high MCAT score, and great letters of recommendation. Adam explained that his heart was not into it. 

He knew he would probably get into some medical schools, but it wasn't worth it. He wanted to go to nursing school. He wouldn't have to be in school that long and he liked the work better. 

When he told his parents this, they said, "Nursing is for women," they said. Adam expected them to say this. A lot of people have told him the same thing.

"I get why you would say that, but there are a lot of male nurses these days. They are paid well too, and don't have to work long hours," Adam said. His parents accepted his wishes. 

They weren't happy about it at first. After his first year of nursing school, however, they saw how happy he was.

Vocabulary

1. Graduated – finished school or college successfully
   Adam just graduated from college.

2. Nursing school – a school where students learn to become nurses
   He will be going to nursing school this fall.

3. Degree – a certificate earned after finishing college
   Adam has a degree in Biology.

4. Initially – at first
   He initially wanted to be a doctor.

5. Prestige – respect and admiration from others
   Being a doctor comes with money and prestige.

6. Stressful – causing worry or pressure
   Adam thought being a doctor would be too stressful.

7. Expensive – costing a lot of money
   Medical school is very expensive.

8. Apply – to try to get into a school or job
   Adam told his parents he wasn’t going to apply to medical school.

9. Upset – sad or disappointed
   His parents were upset when they heard his decision.

10. GPA – Grade Point Average; a measure of a student’s grades
    Adam had a high GPA.

11. MCAT – a test needed to apply to medical school
    He also had a high MCAT score.

12. Recommendation – support or praise from someone who knows you
    He had great letters of recommendation.

13. Heart was not into it – not truly interested or passionate
    Adam said his heart was not into being a doctor.

14. Worth it – valuable or meaningful enough to do
    He didn’t think medical school was worth it.

15. Work – job or task someone does
    Adam liked nursing work better.

16. Expected – thought something would happen
    Adam expected his parents to react that way.

17. Male nurses – men who work as nurses
    He said there are a lot of male nurses now.

18. Paid well – earn good money
    Male nurses are paid well too.

19. Long hours – working for many hours in a day
    They don’t have to work long hours.

20. Accepted – agreed to something
    His parents accepted his wishes.