Question for the fellas....

[RNYC]

I am asking this directly of the male RNs in this forum (not female sorry)...I am 2 months from getting my BSN and I am doing preceptor hours in an ER. The people in the ER seem to think I can get a job there after graduation easily...there is sooooo much negativity on this message board, but I have to say I feel more confident about getting a job being a guy and having a BSN + preceptor hours in ER. I am wondering if men have a slight (in reality possibly more than slight) advantage in securing employment as an RN in the current market. 6% of RNs are men...this seems like a serious minority.

[themurseman]

Real Men Nurse.

[themurseman]

Real Men Nurse.

I think I should make a T-shirt.

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

belgarion, In answer to your post unquestionably, that kind of situation does occur in the industry more than people realize. Moreover, this motivated me to get into management and have a voice for us men in this profession. In addition, what these so called professional female nurses don't know or don't care to acknowledge is that we men were the first nurses in history. Having said that, themurseman you may have something when it comes to the T-shirt

[BCRNA]

Whether it is an advantage depends completely on the manager interviewing you. Hiring based on gender alone is illegal, but only if they admit to it. In reality it happens all the time. I have known many female nurse managers who prefered to hire men in certain positions. In small ICU's where they have a history of conflicts between female employees, they try and hire men to work along side them to help buffer the cat fights. Men usually tend to work better together without personal assaults or getting mad at how the other person talked to them, or didn't talk to them. I have also known many anesthesiologists who admitted to me that they prefer hiring men because of the interpersonal dynamics is much easier in a group that is primarily men. Women are much more likely to treat other women badly in the work setting.

Don't have to read a journal to know men very rarely take time off to have kids. Can't say I know a single man do that. Men are more likely to take their job as a career, and not just a paycheck.

I would suggest in your interview that you make it sound like that position is your final career goal though. If you plan on moving on to something else after getting some experience they will pass you over for someone they think will stay much longer. If you want to be an NP or CRNA, don't mention it unless they happen to know already. Managers don't want to hear you plan on leaving as soon as you can. Especially if it takes awhile to prepare a competent worker in that field.

[RNbrent]

The only thing that's going to be on your side when you get hired, especially as a new grad, is years experience and whether you have a BSN or not. Other than that, men don't have an advantage when it comes to getting hired.