One of the first things to be noticed about the three male nursing students enrolled in the Texarkana College Nursing program is their determination and quiet enthusiasm.
David Hadlock, 21 and single, is from Marshall, Tex.; Phillip Hurley is 24, married with two children; and Grant Ruby is 31, married and has three children. Both are from Texarkana.
All professed a deep interest in the medical field as the reason for entering nursing. David and Phillip have aimed at eventually becoming anesthesiologists while Grant might remain in nursing.
David said that becoming an R.N. rather than an M.D. on his way to anesthesiology was merely choosing an alternate route to his intended career.
Grant feels that a ratio of 20 girls to one boy made him self-conscious but his most embarrassing moment came when he was bed in front of the class in a bed-bathing demonstration. Phillip believes that after the initial self-consciousness he develops a professional attitude and after awhile the presence of both male and female becomes routine and everyone accepts things as they are and they do what has to be done.
David seems to have trouble forgetting that most of his fellow students are girls when he remarks, “the scenery around here certainly is nice.”
The male nurses enjoy their lab work which is actual duty at the local hospitals. Under supervision the students perform all duties a nurse is expected to do.