Is there a need for more male nurses?

rstewart · May 31, 2004

One does hear quite frequently about the "need" for male nurses. The reason for this is really quite simple.

The powers that be are unable to fill nursing positions from the traditional demographic. Although we have had so called nursing shortages in the past, this one is projected to be of a greater magnitude. So they are looking for large untapped pools of potential nurses to fill those positions; And since the percentage of men in nursing is quite small relative to total population, in theory, men could solve their numbers/shortage problem.

In my view, this is not a good thing. In essense, they are saying "Now that the traditional demographic (women) for these positions have vastly increased professional career options we had better recruit hard outside that traditional demographic because we can not or will not make those positions attractive enough to reasonably expect that they will choose nursing in sufficient numbers over those newer options."

Now certainly expanding the potential pool does not necessarily preclude making the positions more attractive. But in many if not most regions of the country the priorities are clear. That is why you see far more sign on bonuses than retention bonuses, increased entry pay but 2-3% raises/salary compression/benefit erosion for the rest, and recruitment half-way around the world even in areas where local nursing graduates are relatively abundant.

It's been said many times but it bears repeating: If you improve the compensation and working conditions at the bedside where the shortages are, the shortages will resolve naturally. I believe the same could be said about any disparities in representation within our profession. I doubt that the specialty of nursing anesthesia has any difficulty attracting and retaining highly qualified practioners of either sex.

I think the percentage of men in nursing is a good barometer of the relative attractiveness of the nursing profession as a whole. The powers that be should forget about tapping into that potential new source of grist for their mill and concentrate their efforts on employee/nursing satisfaction.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · May 31, 2004

After reading many of the posts that sound like they are trying so hard to avoid the actual question it's almost funny.
Why would anyone be afraid to say YES! We DO need more male nurses. Not because a guy can get stuck with the heavy or combative pts but rather becasue man offer a different perpective on many subjects, nursing related and just in general.

Clear as a bell thinking! Concise and dead on the topic at hand.

SmilingBluEyes · May 31, 2004

Definitions of credibility on the Web:
the quality of being believable or trustworthy
http://www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn
"Nursing is most trusted profession"
PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 1 (UPI)http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20031201-100859-3777r.htm
Case closed.

Now THIS is clear as a bell thinking. and well-defined. Thank you.

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 31, 2004

Sorry y'all I gave up on this post around #7 on Friday and worked back to back double shifts this weekend. Now it's Sunday night around 11:45pm, and look at the monster I've created. (by the way I did my first succesful straight cath today! it was like striking gold to see the urine coming out! :balloons: ) You guys probly remember. Anyways..... Aside from the symantics, I see some very interesting replies! -Credibility- yes it's sad but true, nursing is no longer a throw away career leftover for unwed "Cratchets". sorry I felt like a cheap shot :rotfl: With todays ecconomy more men are in the job hunt, and view nursing as a stable career with management potential. I would bet more than half of you know of a male nurse in a management position, or did at a previous job.
Please however dont tell me how I should or should not feel about the answers i read.... I can get defensive if I want to

Congratulations! We need more men doing straight caths! But, seriously, glad you're back, though it has turned into a monster. Guess people aren't as tired of the male vs. female thing as they thought they were. The thread on why do men work together better than women had some interesting points that may apply to your OP. On the other hand, I've been thinking about it, and I think a lot of times it's just a way to start a conversation. People notice you're a male and want to say something positive, so that's what comes to mind.

I do agree with Dixiedi that bringing diverse perspectives into the mix is good, both for the patients and the team.

A (female) friend of mine at work thinks men generally have better technical skills, but aren't as caring. I disagree on both counts, though nearly all the male nurses I've worked with have been people I want to emulate. But that's like 5 out of 6, or so, so hardly a scientific sample. The best and the worst nurses I've worked with have been women, but that's a much larger sample, so you'd kind of expect a broader range. Also, most of the men haven't been in nursing as long as some of the best women, and I fully expect them to be among the best, with more experience.

We get a lot about the profession of nursing and its credibility, etc., in school. All valid, to a point, but I think if we were confident in ourselves as a profession, we wouldn't need to talk about it so much. I also think it is important to distinguish between the job I do and the person I am, not to let nursing define my whole being. On the other hand, it does start to feel like a calling, at times, and I'm not entirely sure how to reconcile that with "just a job."

LPN4Life · May 31, 2004

Sweetie Pie -- You wanna educate? You wanna be better accepted? Then you're gonna have to convince. To do so more effectively, get more diversity and balance into the message... and into the ranks. That'll enhance your credibility.
Remember, Cream Puff, approximately 50% of the pop is male. Have you ever pondered that guys could be a great help to ya in your quest?
I say let's use all available resources.

I love these pet names lol:rotfl:

ktwlpn, LPN · May 31, 2004

Your lip service to using all resources doesn't persuade me for a New York minute, Honey Bunch.
Internal inconsistencies in your position gives that away. In one phrase you mention the importance of diversity, and in the next you put down the largest minority in nursing. Sorry, but convincing that's not.
Once again, who's said anything about testosterone alone? Or the "kill or conquer mentality"? Dream on, but do let us know from where you're pulling out these fantasies. Don't relate a bit to what we're discussing.
And what's with the "cool ED dramas" "or exploring maternity" examples? What does that have to do with the price of tea at AllNurses? (Oh, and thanks much for the blessing you're giving all the boys who wish to pursue those opportunities. Gee, where would we be without your approval?)
Ok, enter the next apparent nonsequitur: "(T)he little women need a man to show us how to do it right." P--L--E--A--S--E. There's not an inkling of that in the entire thread.
And, My Lovely, kindly forgive me for pointing out that your conclusionary sentence certainly sounds a tad defensive.
Happy to agree with you to disagree. However, what you're talking and what you're really thinking (based on the thought process you're evidencing) simply don't jive.
If we really, really, really wanna improve things, we've gotta truly, truly, truly employ everyone that can assist. And we've gotta strive to remain open to new approaches. One descriptor of mental illness is to continue doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome.
We should be joyfully embracing welcoming anyone that cares enough to put a shoulder to the wheel and help the larger cause.
Good night, Sweetheart! Oh, and sweet dreams. :)

If a man truly wants to be a nurse then more power to him-the male nurses that you feel I 'put down" are the ones that only want to deal with the "cool stuff "but when it comes to feeding and cleaning up BM and such they really aren't interested (and no-I did not say that all male nurse are this way-but I know many that are) Sugar lips-you ain't fooling me,either....What will happen to nursing if men don't enter in droves and straighten us all out? I guess us gals are doomed to having little credibility .....The funny thing is I had no problem with men in any area of nursing-until you mentioned the credibilty issue...Your true motives are crystal clear to me.....YOU inferred that men entering nursing will lend us credibilty-that implies that we are lacking in it....-We certainly DO need all the qualified nurses we can get....we don't need men with their own agendas...."credibility" my eye....So-......I don't see the need to continue beating the horse-he's down and dead...

Altra, BSN, RN · May 31, 2004

After reading many of the posts that sound like they are trying so hard to avoid the actual question it's almost funny.
Why would anyone be afraid to say YES! We DO need more male nurses. Not because a guy can get stuck with the heavy or combative pts but rather becasue man offer a different perpective on many subjects, nursing related and just in general.

Yep, yep, yep!

What I get tired of is the pretending that there aren't inherent differences in male-dominated environments and female-dominated environments. Of course there are. And both are limiting.

To the OP - I do think that if I went on a job interview and the NM gushed over the fact that I were male, that would be red flag for me.

Oh, and for what it's worth LarryG -- I get it about the credibility, and I agree. But I don't know ya, so I won't break out the pet names yet ... :chuckle

LPN4Life · May 31, 2004

Yep, yep, yep!
What I get tired of is the pretending that there aren't inherent differences in male-dominated environments and female-dominated environments. Of course there are. And both are limiting.
To the OP - I do think that if I went on a job interview and the NM gushed over the fact that I were male, that would be red flag for me.
Oh, and for what it's worth LarryG -- I get it about the credibility, and I agree. But I don't know ya, so I won't break out the pet names yet ... :chuckle

Oh come on Pookie, we're all friends here...........

LPN4Life · May 31, 2004

I just think those comments are made by people that are trying to encourage more males into the profession, I don't think they mean anything deeper than that, but I'm not a real deep person, just simple minded me. I've probably been guilty of saying something along the lines of this when trying to encourage one of my male CNA's to become a nurse, just meant as encouragement, not meant to add Credibility to nursing.

Altra, BSN, RN · May 31, 2004

Oh come on Pookie, we're all friends here...........

Okey, dokey, hun

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 31, 2004

Okey, dokey, hun

Off-topic, but condolences for Sheeba. Hope she's playing with Rocky.

reddgott · Jun 1, 2004

as I walked on the unit today at 2:45 I saw the only other 2 male nurses in the facility had my unit on first shift today. They hadnt met me yet so they said "welcome to the brotherhood of nursing". All I could do is laugh and think about this thread and it's posts. :rotfl:

The more I reflect on the original comments in question, they probly were just being nice and without thinking just said such things for lack of something to say. It is funny though that people feel a need to address the fact that I am male. C'mon really, say you are a "hatian" and you just graduated from chef school, how many people would say to this guy "hey, we need more hatian chefs", I have never needed a hatian chef. (swedish chef...yes, but he's just plain funny). what i'm saying is thier must be some merit to the statements, and I know the male nurses out there have heard them. There must be a reasonable need / and or want for "Murses" that nobody is willing to admit because it might lead people to believe that the allmighty of female professions could benefit from a male presence.

or I could just be full of crap. I dunno. :smokin: