[dzadzey]

What is your age?
47
Are you currently working as a nurse?
Yes.
How long have you been a nurse?
8 years
Did you graduate from a nursing program outside of the U.S.?
No.
What area do you work in now? (e.g. – ER, teach, etc.)
Acute Hemodialysis.
What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you have?
ADN.
What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you intend to pursue?
None
Are you currently a nursing student?
No.
Is nursing a second career?
Yes.
If YES, briefly describe previous career(s). (e.g. – butcher, baker, candle maker)
Electronics tech, Photo lab manager, courier driver
Were you in a management position in your previous career?
Yes.
Do you believe that people expect you to become a nurse manager because of your gender?
No.
Do you intend to become a nurse manager? (MAYBE & DON’T KNOW also acceptable)
As I don't suffer fools gladly, that would be a definite NO.
Are/were you a paramedic?
No.
Were you a medic in the military?
No.
Do you have a previous college degree?
Yes, AAS - Electronic technology
If YES, how many years prior to nursing school?
10
Were you a pre-med student?
No.
Have you experienced NEGATIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student?
No.
Have you experienced POSITIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student?
No.

[Registered Nut]

What is your age? 26

Are you currently working as a nurse? Yes

How long have you been a nurse? Since 7/11/07...The day I passed NCLEX-RN

Did you graduate from a nursing program outside of the U.S.? Nope

What area do you work in now? (e.g. – ER, teach, etc.) Medical-Telemetry

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you have? BA Biology, ADN/RN

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you intend to pursue? CCRN...CRNA someday

Are you currently a nursing student? Not for a while

Is nursing a second career? Kinda...I went to school with the intention of becoming a pharmacist

If YES, briefly describe previous career(s). (e.g. – butcher, baker, candle maker)

Were you in a management position in your previous career? Me? Yea right!

Do you believe that people expect you to become a nurse manager because of your gender? I don't think so?

Do you intend to become a nurse manager? (MAYBE & DON’T KNOW also acceptable) Heck no!

Are/were you a paramedic? Nope

Were you a medic in the military? Nope

Do you have a previous college degree? Yes, BA Biology

If YES, how many years prior to nursing school? 4

Were you a pre-med student? Heck no!

Have you experienced NEGATIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? Yes

Have you experienced POSITIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? Yes

[SKQQTR]

Originally Posted by The Nursinator

Gentlemen:

Thank you for helping us with our class project on men in nursing at College of DuPage. Please respond by October 31, 2005. We will compare our results to the 2005 Hodes Research survey.

This survey should be pretty easy and take just a few minutes. Please answer the following questions with Y (YES), N (NO), a number or abbreviation (e.g. – BSN). Please copy and paste the following questions with your answer after each question and post your responses here in this thread.

What is your age? 53

Are you currently working as a nurse? yes

How long have you been a nurse? 13

Did you graduate from a nursing program outside of the U.S.? no

What area do you work in now? (e.g. – ER, teach, etc.) ER

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you have? BSN

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you intend to pursue? Think I've had enough

Are you currently a nursing student? no

Is nursing a second career? maybe 10th

If YES, briefly describe previous career(s). (e.g. – butcher, baker, candle maker) bars retail Tow Boats, Shrimp Boats, Over the Road Trucks,Rock -n-Roll Clubs, Stand-Up...I could go on!

Were you in a management position in your previous career? yes

Do you believe that people expect you to become a nurse manager because of your gender? no

Do you intend to become a nurse manager? (MAYBE & DON’T KNOW also acceptable) no

Are/were you a paramedic? no

Were you a medic in the military? no

Do you have a previous college degree? no

If YES, how many years prior to nursing school?

Were you a pre-med student? no

Have you experienced NEGATIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? yes

Have you experienced POSITIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? yes

THANKS! PLEASE ADD ANY COMMENTS BELOW

Just wanted to say howdy-

[RUNurse]

What is your age?
23
Are you currently working as a nurse?
yes
How long have you been a nurse?
1.5 years
Did you graduate from a nursing program outside of the U.S.?
no
What area do you work in now? (e.g. – ER, teach, etc.)
Nurse Manager (state facility)
What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you have?
BSN, CPR, ACLS, TOVA
What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you intend to pursue?
CCRN
Are you currently a nursing student?
No
Is nursing a second career?
No
If YES, briefly describe previous career(s). (e.g. – butcher, baker, candle maker)

Were you in a management position in your previous career?
N/A
Do you believe that people expect you to become a nurse manager because of your gender?
No
Do you intend to become a nurse manager? (MAYBE & DON’T KNOW also acceptable)
Already Am (1 in a million shot)
Are/were you a paramedic?
No
Were you a medic in the military?
No
Do you have a previous college degree?
No
If YES, how many years prior to nursing school?
N/A
Were you a pre-med student?
No
Have you experienced NEGATIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student?
Yes
Have you experienced POSITIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student?
Yes
THANKS! PLEASE ADD ANY COMMENTS BELOW

Sometimes I really do like being called Doctor.

[Corsair41]

What is your age? 49

Are you currently working as a nurse? Not yet

How long have you been a nurse? N/A

Did you graduate from a nursing program outside of the U.S.? Nope

What area do you work in now? (e.g. – ER, teach, etc.) N/A

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you have? Working on a ADN

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you intend to pursue? BSN at least

Are you currently a nursing student? yes

Is nursing a second career? Yes

If YES, briefly describe previous career(s). (e.g. – butcher, baker, candle maker) Dispatcher for an industrial fire department

Were you in a management position in your previous career? yes

Do you believe that people expect you to become a nurse manager because of your gender? no

Do you intend to become a nurse manager? (MAYBE & DON’T KNOW also acceptable) possibly

Are/were you a paramedic? no

Were you a medic in the military? no

Do you have a previous college degree? no

If YES, how many years prior to nursing school? N/A

Were you a pre-med student? no

Have you experienced NEGATIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? no

Have you experienced POSITIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? yes, actually.

[Stanley-RN2B]

What is your age?

30

Are you currently working as a nurse?

No

How long have you been a nurse?

0 years

Did you graduate from a nursing program outside of the U.S.?

No

What area do you work in now? (e.g. – ER, teach, etc.)

LTC

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you have?

CNA

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you intend to pursue?

RN, MSN, CNS & NP

Are you currently a nursing student?

YES

Is nursing a second career?

YES

If YES, briefly describe previous career(s). (e.g. – butcher, baker, candle maker)

US Military Intelligence (Cryptologic Linguist & Signal Analyst)

Were you in a management position in your previous career?

Sort of

Do you believe that people expect you to become a nurse manager because of your gender?

No

Do you intend to become a nurse manager? (MAYBE & DON’T KNOW also acceptable)

Maybe

Are/were you a paramedic?

NO

Were you a medic in the military?

NO

Do you have a previous college degree?

NO

If YES, how many years prior to nursing school?

Were you a pre-med student?

NO

Have you experienced NEGATIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student?

YES

Have you experienced POSITIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student?

Yes

[Hacker-Nurse]

What is your age? 28
Are you currently working as a nurse? NO just recently took the NCLEX exam
How long have you been a nurse? N/A
Did you graduate from a nursing program outside of the U.S.? YES
What area do you work in now? (e.g. – ER, teach, etc.) Home Health as Quality Assurance
What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you have? BSN
What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you intend to pursue? This is enough hopefully...
Are you currently a nursing student? Not anymore
Is nursing a second career? yup second it is
If YES, briefly describe previous career(s). (e.g. – butcher, baker, candle maker)
AB Mass Communication Grad, Comp Tech Grad
Were you in a management position in your previous career? Nope
Do you believe that people expect you to become a nurse manager because of your gender? NO
Do you intend to become a nurse manager? (MAYBE & DON’T KNOW also acceptable) Maybe
Are/were you a paramedic? NO
Were you a medic in the military? NO
Do you have a previous college degree? YES AB-MC, Comp Tech
If YES, how many years prior to nursing school? First course 4 then the other 2 then nursing 2 1/2 wheww...
Were you a pre-med student? NO Dreaming
Have you experienced NEGATIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? YES
Have you experienced POSITIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? YES

[Super Nurse JoshuA]

What is your age? 22

Are you currently working as a nurse? Yes

How long have you been a nurse? 1 year

Did you graduate from a nursing program outside of the U.S.? No.

What area do you work in now? (e.g. – ER, teach, etc.) I just had my last day on Med/Surg yesterday. I start ICU Tuesday.

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you have? ADN

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you intend to pursue? I intent to start an RN-BSN program this year.

Are you currently a nursing student? Only if you count the above.

Is nursing a second career? No.

If YES, briefly describe previous career(s). (e.g. – butcher, baker, candle maker)

Were you in a management position in your previous career?

Do you believe that people expect you to become a nurse manager because of your gender? I've had a few of the older nurses state they think I should be a manager.

Do you intend to become a nurse manager? (MAYBE & DON’T KNOW also acceptable) Doubt it.

Are/were you a paramedic? No.

Were you a medic in the military? No.

Do you have a previous college degree? No.

If YES, how many years prior to nursing school?

Were you a pre-med student? Hella No.

Have you experienced NEGATIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? Yes.

Have you experienced POSITIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? Yes.

[cityhawk]

What is your age? 46 (today is my birthday!)

Are you currently working as a nurse? No

How long have you been a nurse? 0 years

Did you graduate from a nursing program outside of the U.S.? No

What area do you work in now? (e.g. – ER, teach, etc.) I'm a PCA (aide) on a Med/Surg unit at a major urban teaching hospital.

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you have? None yet, but come May 2008 I will have a BSN and, God willing, my RN by June 2008.

What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you intend to pursue? Don't know yet.

Are you currently a nursing student? Yes.

Is nursing a second career? Yes.

If YES, briefly describe previous career(s). (e.g. – butcher, baker, candle maker) Software engineer for 20 + years... before that standards engineer and manufacturing engineer.

Were you in a management position in your previous career? Yes.

Do you believe that people expect you to become a nurse manager because of your gender? I suppose some people might.

Do you intend to become a nurse manager? (MAYBE & DON’T KNOW also acceptable) I don't know. Not right away, but maybe later.

Are/were you a paramedic? No.

Were you a medic in the military? No.

Do you have a previous college degree? Yes.

If YES, how many years prior to nursing school? B.S. Agricultural Engineering, 1984... so 23 years before starting nursing school.

Were you a pre-med student? No.

Have you experienced NEGATIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? Not that I'm aware of.

Have you experienced POSITIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? Not that I'm aware of.

THANKS! PLEASE ADD ANY COMMENTS BELOW

[GeorgiaBoy61]

Gentlemen:Thank you for helping us with our class project on men in nursing at College of DuPage. Please respond by October 31, 2005. We will compare our results to the 2005 Hodes Research survey.This survey should be pretty easy and take just a few minutes. Please answer the following questions with Y (YES), N (NO), a number or abbreviation (e.g. – BSN). Please copy and paste the following questions with your answer after each question and post your responses here in this thread.What is your age? 46 Are you currently working as a nurse? No – but I am actively seeking work after taking a refresher courseHow long have you been a nurse? Since 2004, when I changed careers into nursing
Did you graduate from a nursing program outside of the U.S.? No – US program
What area do you work in now? (e.g. – ER, teach, etc.) Last position was med-surg staff RN
What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you have? I have specialty certifications yet, but hope to pass ACLS within the year.
What nursing-related degree or certification(s) do you intend to pursue? I would like to attain ACLS or other specialist certifications within my next field of nursing, whatever that turns out to be. I am also looking at getting my PA or NP in the near future.
Are you currently a nursing student? No
Is nursing a second career? Yes
If YES, briefly describe previous career(s). (e.g. – butcher, baker, candle maker) Laboratory Scientist for medical schools and pharmaceutical companies

Were you in a management position in your previous career? For the most part, no
Do you believe that people expect you to become a nurse manager because of your gender? Yes, but less so due to sex (I dislike the term gender) than age and background.
Do you intend to become a nurse manager? (MAYBE & DON’T KNOW also acceptable) NoAre/were you a paramedic? I used to hold an EMT license, but did not reach paramedic level. Were you a medic in the military? No – I volunteered for service as a medic or corpsman in the years 2003-2004 but was over the age cutoff and was rejected. I plan to enter the reserves as a nurse and direct-commission officer if all goes according to plan. Do you have a previous college degree? Yes – BS and MS in Biological SciencesIf YES, how many years prior to nursing school? Over 10Were you a pre-med student? NoHave you experienced NEGATIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? Rarely because of being an RN, often due to age. I investigated flight nursing at my hospital and was told that ‘People over 40 can’t cut it doing this work; it’s too tough.’ or something like that. I have also encountered age bias from a few nurse managers, but not too many. Ditto the military when I tried to be a corpsman; I met or surpassed all of the pre-requisites they wanted but was rejected only because of age. Being the government, they can and do get away with that. Before attending nursing school, I tried being a paramedic/fireman, but was again stymied by state of Illinois age regulations that prohibit men over 35 from being hired. Once at work I overheard a male medical student ridiculing the nurses, but that has been rare. Occasionally, a female patient, typically an older one from a traditional culture, will ask for a female RN/LPN. I do not mind and just switch with a colleague. Once or twice, I have had sexual advances or inappropriate remarks made to me by patients or other (female) nurses. I am married and wear a wedding band so this is rare.
Have you experienced POSITIVE discrimination as a nurse or nursing student? I am often mistaken for a physician, mostly because of my age and confident bearing, I guess. I am also sought out because I am usually the biggest, strongest guy on the floor – so I get frequent requests for help lifting/turning patients. I suppose this could count as negative discrimination, but I think of it as helping out a colleague who then might help me some time. No big deal. I have had a few female nurses tell me that they like having men around just to add a bit of testosterone to all of that estrogen, so to speak. Change the culture a little bit.
Apparently – I am only speculating – women in all-female workplaces can get into some nasty arguments.
As a guy, I don’t figure into any of that, which is nice. I prefer to be about my business with as few hassles as possible. THANKS! PLEASE ADD ANY COMMENTS BELOW
My understanding is that the nursing field is trying to attract more men. If so, then take it from a man that some changes will have to be made in the image of the profession, and how it is perceived by others, to cause that to happen. Because of the many years nursing was almost solely the domain of women the profession has an undeniably female culture. This is changing but not fast enough. Gals, I know all of those cute scrubs with teddy bears and whatnot are great in the peds unit, but – trust me – they do not do anything to enhance the profession in the eyes of men. We ought to dress as professionally as our duties allow and if it makes the doctors angry, so be it.

Perhaps it seems a small matter, but this cute image sends men – especially young men – running (not walking) in the other direction from the profession. Why? Because many of us value status in the eyes of other men, and caring professions such as nursing are not seen as a route to obtaining that. Young men see a nurse in a flowery set of scrubs or perhaps in one with hearts all over it, and they tune out. My wife quips that maybe they need some scrubs with football players on them, or maybe tanks or planes or race cars. She’s partly right. But I’d go further and ditch the cutesy-pie stuff for good. Call me a sour puss, but I fail to see how this stuff enhances our professionalism and standing in the eyes of the public, our colleagues or others. If you want to be taken seriously, and I believe nurses do, then we ought to dress and act the part. You don’t see doctors doing rounds in teddy bear scrubs, do you? I sure haven’t.

Put another way, you as a man have to be very secure in who and what you are to work in the field. Many men – whether they say so or not – will think you are either gay or a wimp. You are forever explaining yourself to others why you chose nursing, and no, you weren’t too dumb to go to medical school. I am largely adjusted to these realities but they still bother me at times. Even the military, which has a larger percentage of male nurses than the civilian world – manifests this bias to a degree. For example, if you read about navy medical practice, doctors and corpsmen are mentioned prominently, with little mention of nurses. I do not care about publicity per se, but instead getting interesting assignments. The navy, like the other services, is deeply traditional and mired in outdated, industrial age thinking. Since nursing was predominantly female, the high-speed assignments in subs, surface warfare and FMF (Fleet Marine Force) almost always go to physicians or corpsmen. It is corpsmen, not nurses, which the navy sends to PA school. Yet, nurses typically have much more training than a corpsman and supervise their training ashore at clinics and hospitals. Navy doctors and corpsmen serve in forward areas, nurses typically less so, again due to the traditions of the service. Male nurses here, as elsewhere, are seen as neither ‘fish nor foul’ to use the old saying.

Change takes time and effort. In the meantime, men entering the field should be aware that they are in a sense pioneers paving the way for men to follow. Nurses perform a vitally-important job, one that is underappreciated, underpaid and under-recognized. Yes, the doctors are the big fish in the pond – but they aren’t the only ones. The good docs will be the first to tell you that no hospital can function without nurses. The stress level for nurses is nothing to sneeze at either, as most places are short-staffed big time – a trend that is only going to get worse if demographic trends hold true.

As far as my plans are concerned, if I stay in healthcare long-term, I plan to enter advanced practice or PA training, or perhaps go to CRNA school.