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 Words (20)

                                                           

No.	Word	Definition	Example Sentence
01	just graduated from college	recently completed his undergraduate degree	Adam **just graduated from college**.
02	nursing school	a school that trains people to become professional nurses	He will be going to **nursing school** this upcoming fall.
03	upcoming fall	the next autumn season	He will be going to nursing school this **upcoming fall**.
04	degree in Biology	a bachelor's degree focused on the study of living organisms	He has a **degree in Biology**.
05	initially wanted	at first or originally desired	He **initially wanted** to be a doctor.
06	prestige	high status, respect, or admiration	...gets you a lot of money and **prestige**.
07	very stressful	causing a great deal of mental or emotional tension	It is also **very stressful**.
08	in school that long	attending classes for a lengthy period of years (referring to medical school)	Adam did not want to be **in school that long**.
09	Medical school is also very expensive	The cost of a doctor's education is high	**Medical school is also very expensive**.
10	upset	unhappy, disappointed, or distressed	...they were **upset**.
11	high GPA	a good average grade point (measure of academic success)	Adam had a **high GPA**.
12	high MCAT score	a good result on the Medical College Admission Test	...a **high MCAT score**.
13	great letters of recommendation	excellent written statements from professors or mentors supporting his application	...and **great letters of recommendation**.
14	heart was not into it	he did not have genuine enthusiasm or passion for the career	Adam explained that his **heart was not into it**.
15	wasn't worth it	the effort, time, and cost were not justified by the outcome	...but it **wasn't worth it**.
16	go to nursing school	enroll in the program that trains nurses (his new career goal)	He wanted to **go to nursing school**.
17	liked the work better	preferred the actual tasks and responsibilities of a nurse over a doctor	...and he **liked the work better**.
18	"Nursing is for women"	a common, but outdated, gender stereotype about the nursing profession	They said, **"Nursing is for women."**
19	male nurses	men who work as registered nurses (the counter-argument Adam provides)	...but there are a lot of **male nurses** these days.
20	accepted his wishes	agreed to support his decision, even if they were not happy initially	His parents **accepted his wishes**.

❓ Comprehension Questions & Answers (20)

                                                       

No.	Question	Answer
01	What milestone did Adam recently complete?	He **just graduated from college**.
02	What is Adam's undergraduate degree in?	**Biology**.
03	What profession did Adam and his parents originally want him to pursue?	To be a **doctor**.
04	Name one positive and one negative aspect of being a doctor mentioned.	Positive: **money and prestige**. Negative: **very stressful**.
05	Name two reasons Adam chose not to go to medical school.	It involves being **in school that long** and it is **very expensive**.
06	How did Adam's parents react when he first told them he wouldn't apply to medical school?	They were **upset**.
07	What three academic achievements did Adam have that made his parents confused about his decision?	A **high GPA**, a **high MCAT score**, and **great letters of recommendation**.
08	What was Adam's primary emotional reason for not pursuing medicine?	His **heart was not into it**.
09	What was Adam's new chosen career path?	He wanted to go to **nursing school**.
10	Name one benefit of nursing school over medical school Adam mentioned.	He wouldn't have to be **in school that long**.
11	What was Adam's opinion of the work nurses do?	He **liked the work better**.
12	What traditional/stereotypical thing did his parents say about nursing?	"Nursing is for women."
13	Did Adam expect his parents to say this?	**Yes**, he expected them to say this.
14	What fact did Adam use to counter the gender stereotype?	There are a lot of **male nurses** these days.
15	What did Adam say about the pay for male nurses?	They are **paid well**.
16	What did Adam say about the working hours for nurses?	They **don't have to work long hours**.
17	What was the eventual reaction of Adam's parents to his choice?	They **accepted his wishes**.
18	What was the initial feeling of his parents even after they accepted his decision?	They **weren't happy about it at first**.
19	When did his parents change their minds about his decision?	After his **first year of nursing school**.
20	What was the final reason his parents were happy with his choice?	They saw **how happy he was**.