Do Male Nursing Students Get It Easier Than Female?

Ronold · May 11, 2005

Were all treated the same in my RN program. I've noticed that some of our clinical teachers have a fav. students that get away with a little bit more, but I guess thats about it.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · May 11, 2005

My clinical partner (a girl) and I have this professor.

She had the exact same problems as I do. We both got 98% similar evaluations by the clinical RN. We both ahd to redo our writeups and we didn't differ by much.

Yet somehow she is passing the clinicals while I've been shafted.

Tomorrow, I'm hoping my grovelling, begging and pleading will work and she'll be merciful and let me do the writeup again. Apparently the options I have are to take it over the summer (which would mean I lose my internship and consequently lose $5000 ($1500 for the course and -$3500 from the internship) and there's no guarantee that I'll get a spot in the summer) or to wait a year and take it in the Spring (during which time I can't stay in the US and must return home and there's no guarantee that I'll be allowed back into the States. So in that case, the $36,000+ I've spent on three years of school so far are down the drain).

All this for a stupid 6 page writeup.

Yep... fun times....

To say that I've become extremely cynical, depressed and have lost my faith and trust in educators and institutions is putting it mildly.

z's playa · May 11, 2005

My clinical partner (a girl) and I have this professor.
She had the exact same problems as I do. We both got 98% similar evaluations by the clinical RN. We both ahd to redo our writeups and we didn't differ by much.
Yet somehow she is passing the clinicals while I've been shafted.
Tomorrow, I'm hoping my grovelling, begging and pleading will work and she'll be merciful and let me do the writeup again. Apparently the options I have are to take it over the summer (which would mean I lose my internship and consequently lose $5000 ($1500 for the course and -$3500 from the internship) and there's no guarantee that I'll get a spot in the summer) or to wait a year and take it in the Spring (during which time I can't stay in the US and must return home and there's no guarantee that I'll be allowed back into the States. So in that case, the $36,000+ I've spent on three years of school so far are down the drain).
All this for a stupid 6 page writeup.
Yep... fun times....
To say that I've become extremely cynical, depressed and have lost my faith and trust in educators and institutions is putting it mildly.

36000.00 on school? THAT my friend is ridiculous ! Have you been in law for 3 years? At HARVARD?

Thats the only explanation I can take for that tuition.

Wow.

Z

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · May 11, 2005

Z ~ I pay Out-State tuition - roughly $12K/year. NYS residents pay half-the amount.

Spearfisher · May 11, 2005

I have always felt that the student determines how the professor treats that particular student. I was in sales for ten years before going back to school and I use my people skills to foster positive relationships with all my instructors. I could see where someone might think I get treated better/nicer/whatever and assign my gender (male) as the cause or reason.

leslie :-D · May 11, 2005

My clinical partner (a girl) and I have this professor.
She had the exact same problems as I do. We both got 98% similar evaluations by the clinical RN. We both ahd to redo our writeups and we didn't differ by much.
Yet somehow she is passing the clinicals while I've been shafted.

are you going to mention that you and your partner had similiar write-ups; and with such similiarities, why did she pass you and fail?

also if you're not satisfied with the outcome of your meeting w/your professor, there's always a formal grievance procedure and i would take full advantage of that. it sounds like you have a strong case.

leslie

jasonglh · May 12, 2005

I wouldnt say I get cut any slack but to some of the "girls" it might seem that way. My wife graduated last May so the instructors all knew who I was coming in hearing greatly exagerated stories of what a pain in the *** I would be. I cut up with them but they also know I have a good back ground and generally know my stuff. However on my care maps and papers I often got low scores in 1st semester even though some of the girls had alot more red ink than I did. So to test a theory I copied one of my wifes care maps and turned it in because the patients were almost the same. She got a great and I got an okay. Maybe it was penmanship :chuckle

My first semester instructor was like a shark who could smell fear in the water. She tested everyones mettle the first 2 weeks. She would just kinda push you to see what you would do. I'm just not the type to back down so I was okay with her. Every clinical day I had my info and drugs in my head and didnt need my sheet so I knew she wouldnt rattle me. Those that showed fear or indecision she rode like a pogo stick until they quit. One guy she even pulled aside in front of others at our 2nd clinical day and told him to quit because he was not cut out for this and would not make it. I couldnt believe he quit! I'm sorry but I would have to flunk out or die but I'm sure as hell not gonna quit.

z's playa · May 12, 2005

Z ~ I pay Out-State tuition - roughly $12K/year. NYS residents pay half-the amount.

I guess I'm unfamiliar with out state tuition. But even if we go to a different province here...we dont pay THAT much. I feel sad that education costs that much. For the same course in state..out of state its ridiculous. Even 6000.00 is a lot. Sorry..I get overzealous when I see my peers paying through their nose.

Zzzzzzzzzz

Swedenboi6 · May 12, 2005

I attend a small private college in the city of Bangor, Maine. It has been one of the most positive experiences in my life. I am two years down, and two more left; soon after that another year and a half in graduate school to become a FNP.

There are currently two males, that is counting myself, in the junior nursing program. We both enjoy the nursing program and have found it to be, both, challenging and intensive. We take no less then 18 credits a semester and are very active in all our studies, activites, groups, and other "stuff" that is happening all around the college campus and the community.

We have a very tight nit group of friends, all female, and get together for anything and everything. We were talking about male nurses compared to female nurses one night and came upon this very topic.

At our college we, males, have noticed that we are treated very differently than the female nursing students, we are held in a higher regard and more is expected of us. It is very much as if we are trying to prove ourselves to the nursing faculty and to the other nursing students. Because we stick out like a sore thumb we are picked out more easily, and treated very different.

I'm not saying we are treated poorly, in fact we haven't encountered any "man-hating" nursing professors. We are grateful to know that we are surrounded by such professional and new-age nursing faculty. But we are asked to do more and we are held in a much different standard and regard.

It is nice though, because we are both very intelligent students and do very well in our studies. We are known all accross the nursing staff and campus and are treated very kindly.

I am meeting some new faculty members next year and one might turn out to be much different then the others. I am anticipating on how that will work out. We shall see!

mattsmom81 · May 13, 2005

My experience: yes, the male nurses had an easier time of it in nursing school. They were treated differently...more was expected of the women. For some strange reason. Maybe my class was unusual, who knows.

sschouest · May 13, 2005

HAHAHA.....im a senior male nursing student...I will be taking OB/PEDS this summer...

I attend a program that is very difficult to get accepted to, 2 accredidations, etc etc ....bs

But us guys DO NOT get treated any different in school/clinical... i repeat DO NOT... we males also get lectured, fussed, get kicked out and sent home also...etc etc

the only difference i see: no offense ladies,but you will agree... girls' social skills are different when compared to girl/girl, girl/guy, guy/guy relationships...

it seems as if the girls with their instructors compete to see who is better...

Its all about the attitudes......i found that if your attitude is: "I'm not listening to you and I'm right" or " I will not bow down to this *" you will get treated differently....or if the instructor senses that you are "weak" they will drill you and drill you and drill you until you are in tears...

Yes....I have been drilled with comments in a private room...

I took it, accepted her comments and grew as a better nurse and a person

many girls take critisms as being mean...guys take it as "oh well, i'll deak with it"....I beleive ITS ALL ABOUT THE ATTITUDE of that person...

to your question: 9 guys out of 53 students...3 guys failed this semester

No we DO NOT get treated any different!

remember your attitude makes your clinical experiences, not your teachers'

you can agree to disagree...but notice the whole and not just one guy...

futbol84 · May 16, 2005

Well currently I'm at Loma Linda University and I'm just starting my senior year and I believe that both males and females have been cut slack. It depends upon the clinical instructor and your teacher. However, I must say that when it comes to clinicals and working with female patients it is sometimes akward. For me I have no problem but of course some female patients do have a problem and I respect that and can understand that. Other than that no problems for me.