How do people feel about male nurses?

oldbay · Mar 16, 2016

I'm currently a nursing student (BSN) who identifies as male, and I think I like the idea of being referred to by the term "murse" about as much as your average female physician enjoys being called a "lady doctor." My personal experience with being a man going into the nursing field has been great -- but it's rarely relevant that I'm a man, other than the discussions we've had about peri-care and how some people will prefer someone of a matching gender to perform that kind of duty. My classmates, female and male, are great. The way to earn respect among them is to be a good student, regardless of gender.

My class (about 90-100 people) is right around 20% male, and there are a few people who identify as non-binary or other genders. While I agree that for any individual nurse, their gender is largely irrelevant, I think it's good for the profession (as in all professions) to move toward a place of gender equity. I think it's good to encourage women to go into currently male dominated fields, just as I'm happy to see men being welcomed with open arms into the nursing profession. Gender does change a person's perspective on life (specifically the social construct, not the biological or anatomical differences sometimes conflated with gender), and I think it's good to have a wide variety of perspectives in every field.

The danger is that being a privileged group in a minority position in a field seems to bring with it a host of inequities -- not the least of which is what has been described by previous posters as a tendency for men to ascend to the management level with the greatest of ease while their equally (or more!) qualified female coworkers remain at the bedside. This, of course, comes with an implication that being at the bedside is and should be a "lesser" position, which is problematic in and of itself, but that is a whole other topic for a different thread.

I don't have a comprehensive solution to suggest to these problems, but I do recognize them as issues that need to be addressed. I hope to work on these sorts of issues after I graduate. I welcome any comments or critique of my statements, I understand that I'm just a student and don't fully understand what it is like to be working in the field.

RNdynamic · Mar 16, 2016

I totally disagree that nurses who were former CNAs hold more respect for aides than other nurses. I have experienced the total opposite. Once CNAs get credentialed as nurses, they tend to be abusive toward unlicensed staff.The power differential has been turned around on them, and the bullied become the bullies. "Now that I'm an RN, it's MY turn to show people who is boss. This is MY time to shine."

It's very trashy behavior but it is all too common.

Farawyn · Mar 16, 2016

oldbay- No, you're good. :)

Farawyn · Mar 17, 2016

I totally disagree that nurses who were former CNAs hold more respect for aides than other nurses. I have experienced the total opposite. Once CNAs get credentialed as nurses, they tend to be abusive toward unlicensed staff.The power differential has been turned around on them, and the bullied become the bullies. "Now that I'm an RN, it's MY turn to show people who is boss. This is MY time to shine."
It's very trashy behavior but it is all too common.

I've seen both sides. When I do see a former CNA doing that it never fails to bother me. Remember where you've been, people!

flmd · Mar 17, 2016

Maybe consider respiratory therapist..but if you insist...be a ER nurse. Many female patients don't want a male nurse taking care of them.

I have not found this to be true in my experience. My backround: 3 years of experience as a ADN working on 3 units; 1 was a combined med/tele floor (took just about any kind of pt), 2nd was a seasonal tele overflow unit (mostly everything again), and my current job that I've been working for close to a year now is on a Cardiovascular Stepdown Unit (cardiac and non-infectious tele pt's). In these 3 years and thousands of pt's that I've personally cared for, I have had maybe 3 female pt's who absolutely refused having a male nurse. 99.9% of female pt's have no problem having a male nurse as long as you are open, honest, respectful and ask them if they are comfortable with you doing certain things (e.g. baths, foley insertions, etc.) Sometimes I will have to ask a coworker to insert a foley on a shy pt, but only 3 or so pt's in 3 years have absolutely refused having me as a male nurse. That said, I am absolutely respectful of a female pt's wishes. On the rare occasion that I get one that truly does not wish to have a male RN, I will ask one of my female coworkers to switch assignments.

IsabelK · Mar 20, 2016

I don't care if you're male or female, purple, green, white, black, polka dot...etc.

Are you a good nurse? Can you do the job appropriately.

If so, welcome. If not, go away.

Pat_Pat RN · Mar 21, 2016

Because you there's a lot of hands on things right? I'm a male and just felt out of place during my L&D rotation. My instructor assigned me the task of teaching a new mother how to breast feed.

Our OB and Med/surg unit are right next to each other and share a nurses station. Some of the girls have said I'd be a great OB nurse, and I probably have the most "hands on" experience with lady partss.

As much as I love the idea of more male nurses getting into OB/L&D if that's what they want to do, I'm trying to think how that would go over where I currently work (OB clinic). We see so many young girls seeking information about sex and birth control, and I just don't think they would be comfortable talking about it with a man. Or 50-year-old Mexican immigrants, who are trying to get information about their sex life or orgasms, something they've been too embarrassed to discuss their entire adult life. Or again, the teen who comes in because she has an unusual lady partsl discharge.
I really WANT to embrace the idea of a male nurse in ANY workplace, but sadly, I just don't know that it would work well in this situation.

SEXIST!! SEXIST!!! I'M TELLING!

Just kidding.

Farawyn · Mar 23, 2016

Our OB and Med/surg unit are right next to each other and share a nurses station. Some of the girls have said I'd be a great OB nurse, and I probably have the most "hands on" experience with lady partss.

You've been inserting tampons since age 12? :)

Davey Do · Mar 26, 2016

You've been inserting tampons since age 12? :)

Or maybe taking them out.

UNPLUGGED | allnurses

Farawyn · Mar 27, 2016

Or maybe taking them out.
UNPLUGGED | allnurses

:eek:

fayettebill · Dec 27, 2016

Nat, I recently retired from a 35 year career as an RN, including 17 in the U.S. Army, and I happen to be male. I took the same classes and the same State Boards as the folks who were not male. I am a Registered Nurse (retired) - period!

It is, and will be for the foreseeable future a profession that is majority female, including most of the leadership positions. I worked for both male and female leaders and found that the good and bad ones were equally distributed.

kjb_lpn · Dec 27, 2016

Firstly; let me say thank you for your service.

You are a man. Who wants to be a nurse. I am almost positive that any facility would be happy to grab you up quick. There is a lack of men in the nursing profession, so if nothing else rest assured the ladies with whom you work will be thrilled to have you.