To Male Nurses!

mario_ragucci · Jan 6, 2003

Originally posted by 911fltrn
Hit them with I was a U.S Marine, now im a nurse! (which i was)

Don't hit the kids! And don't talk Marine Corps to them, or any of that killing stuff. Not at 8th grade. And unless someone starts talking about LOVE a little bit, I'm gonna start thinking this is all a bunch ofred neck noise. Could the video devote 15% to LOVE? Unravel to a kid how human love spans lifetimes and across a species. We love you from your born till you die and love/care is a way we show love, maybe in a harsh world right now. How would you transmit: LOVE, Nursing and Marine Corps to a kid? Remember! It's 2003 now. Lol! 2nd FSSG, 3rd Mar Div, 26 MAU, 2003 Civ Div

Ted · Jan 6, 2003

Appreciate the input provided by everyone. Also appreciate the variety of ideas and suggestions!

Like I said, the topic of this video is not my idea. Hopefully I'll be asked to help produce an educational video to recruit nurses regardless of gender.

In the meantime. . . I'm going to have fun with this project. The due-date is April 1st, 2003, so there isn't a heck of a lot of time to write a script, shoot the scenes, write some music, edit the video and mix-down to a final product. And you know what?!?!? I am going to savor every moment of this project! :) Of course when it is done, I'll at the very least put up a portion of the video for all to view! :)

Always, in my book. . . ."Nurses Rule!" And again, my deepest respect to you all. . . to US all. . . as we face the challanges of a chaotic healthcare industry. . . and as we Make a Difference to the lives of countless people.

Cheers! :)

Ted

Beetlejuice · Jan 6, 2003

I think the point of your hoispital's message should be to identify and address job stereotypes. I suggest taping a guided discussion with a group of 8th graders. Ask questions like "Do you think it's o.k. for men to be nurses?" I think you'll find they will address this issue quite well. Some will say no and some will say yes. Promt discussion from all viewpoints. This will give you an idea of how you need to focus. You might even use a video tape of the discussion in your add. Think about it. Who are 8th graders going to listen to, adults or other 8th graders?

great project

arlheart · Jan 6, 2003

Ted, thanks for working on such a great project. I hope you let your administration know that other hospitals and probably nursing schools would be interested in a video like this. I bet they could charge a small fee and be able to recoup some of their costs for the project. Just a thought.

When I started nursing school last year, I was talking to my day care provider about it and her son (7th grade) told me that I couldn't be a nurse "because only girls are nurses"! It totally floored me and even his mother. She told me she had no idea why he would say that, but I do. We all know what boys are like and how much they have to avoid anything remotely "girly". I think once they see the techology side and the fast paced areas, their attitude will change a little, of course they will never admit it!

I'm not actually a nurse yet, another semester to go! But I have been a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist for 7 years now. I went into health care to help people and make a difference in people's lives. I'm going into nursing because the opportunities are virtually endless. As an RCIS I am limited to a Cath Lab, as a nurse I am limited only by the choices I make (and my scope of practice). I wish we could really pass along to the next generation (male and female) what they can do with a nursing degree. I know I was amazed to find out how many "types" of nursing there are out there and how people use their nursing degree to branch out into other areas, like designing computer programs for health care.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Shawn

zudy · Jan 6, 2003

Just a little off the subject, Ted...... I asked my 13-year -old son who is in the eighth grade if he had ever considered going into to nursing, he stared at me, incredulous,and said,"Are you crazy! Nurses are so gross!"

:rolleyes: Maybe I've been taking work home with me too much.

Sekar · Jan 7, 2003

Why did I go into Nursing? On the up side I love the technical stuff, the hands on stuff, the helping people stuff, the teaching stuff, and the saving lives stuff. Of course it has its down side. I hate the paperwork stuff, the political stuff, the rivalry amongst our own ranks stuff, the off shift stuff, and the working on weekends and holidays stuff.

I got my original Nursing training in the Army, where I was a Nurse for 16 years. It is possible to mix the military aspects that 8th grade kids find fascinating (well some of them do) with the nursing aspects that some 8th grade kids will find fascinating, even if they would rather expire than admit it. That would be just one small facet of men in nursing, but not one that I'm sure should be ignored. Many of us made a career in the military as Nurses are still in Nursing or (like me) have returned to Nursing. I guess I'm trying to say, show as wide an array of males 7 females in nursing as possible. Granted that Nursing is still very much a female dominated field, but these kids should be shown that Nursing is a gender-neutral field.

As to Nurses being respected as a field, I've always felt that respect was earned by an individual and not granted automatically to someone because of his or her job title. Most physicians seem to think that by merely being a physician they are entitled to instant respect. They tend to come across with the M-Deity syndrome. That type of attitude can be adjusted by how you carry yourself as a Nurse. Ok, I'll admit that being 6 foot one inch and 200 pounds has helped me tame more than one wild physician, but I've seen many a physician tamed by my 5 foot 3 inch, 120 pound wife who is also a nurse. The field has less to do with respect than the individual who is in the field.

I like the idea of the tape and I hope it is a rousing success. You ought to convert the whole thing to an AVI file and up load here for our viewing.

mario_ragucci · Jan 7, 2003

Originally posted by Sekar
It is possible to mix the military aspects that 8th grade kids find fascinating (well some of them do) with the nursing aspects that some 8th grade kids will find fascinating, even if they would rather expire than admit it. You ought to convert the whole thing to an AVI file and up load here for our viewing.

I find my military training to be an intrical part of who I am, a positive. Then again, I think the purpose of this discipline is, at this point in time, overdue for a phase-out. So, I would have to think about how I present military et.al. to kids. This is very tough to call, and still has me thinking.

Nurses have a code just like Marines do. The discipline is needed to be an excellent nurse. Other than that, the purpose of the Marine Corps and the purpose of a nurse are totally opposite, on my level anyway. Lol. No flames. Establishing and advancing a FEBA is way different from IV therapy. Right? Lol.

Semper Fi

flaerman · Jan 16, 2003

I went into because I actually wanted to do something that helped others. I know it sounds cheesy, but my teen years I grew up hanging on street corners and saw the not nice side of life. Originally I wanted to do pediatrics but in school rotation found that my anger towards stupid and abusive parents would have killed my career before it got started. Even in nursing school I liked what I did on the clinical floors and wasn't getting paid for it. I went to work in telemetry when I started and have worked ICU, M/S, Oncology, cardiac stepdown and now ER and wouldn't trade it for the world. Have been an RN for 17 years and am licensed in 3 states. I have participated in programs where we went to high schools for career days and have talked to male students about going into nursing. Maybe a little media coverage of men in nursing would help to get the word out to guys. I live in the Orlando paper and the sentinel had a story recently that covered men in nursing. Our local school programs in the area have full programs, Orlando is offering housing subsidy for nurses. Otherwise the only other ithing I can think of is by doing the best job I can with my patients and their families, doing this I have talked with sons, grandsons, etc about my job, it's benefits etc. I just know that when I go home at the end of a shift I may be tired, but I know that I did the best I could and have made a difference to the world. Paul

MishlB · Jan 16, 2003

Originally posted by hogan4736
It's great for raising kids...3 days a week and a lot of time off.

Let's face it, all the overtime in the world makes you no less hungry and no better rested than you were before nursing.

Your buddies are running a backhoe or forklift...cracking chests, having virtually no free time, and shouldering every almost every ounce of liability...or grinding it 9-5 w/ 8 days a month off. Each one is running around doing errands, fighting all the crowds, AND keeping the family safe and happy.

12 days working, 18 days off and NO CALL!!!!!
Hmmmmmmm - you do the math.

$60,000/year as a nurse - 3 days a week (yes it can be done!)

$30,000/year (national average) 5 days a week and grinding it out, hardly having energy to spend w/ family.

I've done both and have seen the light.

Overtime is overrated.

Need I say more to a 12 year old?

Sorry, but here goes....NO, don't say this to 12 year olds. You make it sound like the life of a rock star, when in all actuality, this is not an accurate portrayal of nursing. Why not simply talk about what you do, and how it makes you feel, instead of how much money you can make. (just my opinion, I know it doesn't mean much!)

Steth_jockey · Jan 17, 2003

As a student nurse 5 months from graduating and 49 years young, I have to tell you that being a nurse is quite rewarding. I really like the head scratching critical thinking aspect of the profession. :confused: I have been a school psychologist for about 16 years in the public schools and my colleagues think I am nuts for making this transition. This new profession is exactly what I was looking for: 1) medical/science oriented, 2) opportunities to make a positive impact on others, 3) rubbing elbows with some of the most amazing, caring professionals on the planet! :) I am thankful for the opportunity at this time in my life to finally enter the medical field. Thanks for listening!

mrnurse2u · Jan 20, 2003

Originally posted by efiebke
Back to the topic on hand.
... At one point, we discussed healthcare and jobs and I asked him if he would consider being a nurse, a doctor, a x-ray tech (he was most certainly interested in viewing his own x-rays!). Much to my surprise, he said "No" to being a nurse becuase it was a "female profession"! I wasn't even thinking "Male" or "Female"! ! !I was just wondering if he was interested in the healthcare profession as a whole!
...

Breaking the stereotype will have to start in pre-school and kindergarten with changing children's books and videos to

show nurses of both genders....same with doctors.

Strange how the kid didn't even flinch when asked by a male

nurse if he'd want to be a nurse. The stereotype so innate, it

didn't occur to him he might be rude in has answer? Oh, wait,

he's an eighth-grader. I forgot for a moment how "blunt" they

can be. So, be blunt back, they'll respect you for it.

To answer the original question...I agree with those who say

to highlight the gadgets nurses get to work with and the sense

of challenge and responsibility.

Also, make sure you have the latest cool music in the background.

Fast-paced, high-energy music (perhaps like that used for snow-boarding, skateboarding or other Xtreme sports) will add to

the excitement as well.

Good luck.