Males in Nursing?

P_RN, ADN, RN · Nov 28, 2002

Welcome to the forum Mikey.

Nursing is still a predominately female profession.

I don't care if a nurse is male or female, as long as they do the job.

sjoe · Nov 28, 2002

Rather than repeating what I and others have said here, I would suggest you read the MANY threads in this forum where this topic has been discussed at some length. You have good reason to have questions about this. There are good reasons for the fact that so few men enter the field, and many fewer stay in it, as you will read.

mattsmom81 · Nov 28, 2002

I agree sjoe...this topic has been beaten to death many times here....refer to previous multiple threads please. :)

We should try and do this whenever one of these repeater topics comes in anew.....IMHO.

baseline · Nov 28, 2002

Yep.....!

NMAguiar · Nov 28, 2002

I am currently wrapping up my first semester as an RN student after switching from a previous profession. Based upon my own experience, and that of others relayed to me, I can say you should prepare to be discriminated against by some RNs during clinical, by some instructors and by some patients.

The most common responses to a male nursing student: "Aren't you smart enough to be a doctor?", and "Couldn't you find a job anywhere else."

My personal favorite is "Are you gay?"

According to statistics, about 7 percent of entering nursing students are male -- but about three percent of those will drop out. Hang in there, with recent pay increases and RN ratios that improve working conditions, the nursing station could become a man's world. :stone

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 28, 2002

nope.....I find it quite insulting to assume that because men join our ranks,we will suddenly become "respectable"....really insulting. I hope you don't carry that attitude w/you into your career. Anyhow as the others said above, this is already a dead horse. Feel free to visit the numerous threads on the subject and decide for yourself whats right.

baseline · Nov 28, 2002

"I agree sjoe...this topic has been beaten to death many times here....refer to previous multiple threads please. "

Yep Mattsmom....indeed it has been discussed and very recently.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 28, 2002

OH before I forget, Mikey, welcome to the boards....may you find all you look for here. Check out all the archives; you will likely find a lot there you were hoping to learn! Hope to hear from you soon.

TEXASWAG, MSN, RN · Nov 28, 2002

"I was wondering what, if any reasons that there are not many males in this profession? Also how are males accepted? Do you think that the influx of males in nursing will bring about a reform concerning wages, hours, and increased respectibility to the general public? I really enjoy helping people and I hope this topic doesn't strike a nerve with anyone. "

1. Nursing is predominantly female.....very slowly changing. Still has a long standing image of being a woman's job. Picture a Naval Officer in your mind.....giving orders, directing enlisted men, guiding a Navy warship. You're thinking of a man, right? Well, to me it's an image thing. Not too many women picture themselves as Naval Officers and not to many men see themselves as nurses.

2. Low paying.

3. I think the public does respect nursing...just don't really understand what we do exactly besides fetching water and bedpans.

4. I personnally don't believe that an increase of men into nursing will bring about much needed changes. In some areas staff nurses are already getting nice pay raises..... thanks to the shortage.

5. Male nurses I work with are respected and accepted. We work as a team. We help each other out with patients.....lifting, getting labs, admissions, etc. And, yes when it's slow we shoot the shit with them too.

Good luck to ya! Nursing is awesome. You just have to know how to work it.

TEXASWAG, MSN, RN · Nov 28, 2002

Oh yeah, you might want to vist the CRNA thread. Lots of testosterone and chest thumping over there at times. LOL You might be able to get more male opinions.

flaerman · Dec 1, 2002

I have worked in nursing for the past 16 in a variety of settings and in 3 different states. I have had only one acceptance problem and that was in ICU in a community long ago and far away only due to small minds on the behalf of certain staff members. I don't think an influx of males into the profession will change salary structure or the respect that the majority people have for us, you get paid to do the JOB-not for whether or not you have testicles. As far students nurses, yeah you get some dumb questions from pt's and others, here's what I learned to say. "when was the last time you saw your doctor as opposed to your nurse". When you're in pain-who brings your meds?. And for the stupid question of-"are you going to be male nurse?--tell them you're not sure, you have to wait until graduation. Get through school and you'll make it on the job. I work in the ED and that along with ICU/CCU tends to be a little populated with males, but have also been the guy on the unit and fit in as well. Good Luck!!!!!! Paul