Sexism in nursing

[RNGuy12]

I find that as a man in nursing, I encounter a lot of sexism from my female coworkers. When I am doing my shift in labor and delivery I'm always called out of my patient's room if one of the nurses wants help with lifting heavy patients or things and instead of helping me lift, they stand and watch as I do the lifting.

They make remarks about me being a "male nurse" which I find to be a sexist term. I don't call them female nurses.

The unit secretary also makes very sexually suggestive remarks to me constantly. I mean, if I said to her the things she says to me, I would be fired in a heartbeat.

I've tried to explain that some of their behavior and phrases are sexist and as such offensive, but my concerns are dismissed. The reason I was told is that, I am a man and men have been sexist against women for years. So I should be able to handle women being themselves.

Anyone else run into issues like this?

[OCNRN63, RN]

Of course there is sexism in the carer field. This is mostly a woman's career, just look at the demographics. I mean even the text books I used in school referred to RN's as "She or Her". Keep your head down and remember as a guy in this field, you will be thrown under the bus first. If you refer to a Female RN as Sweetheart, your butt gets reported. If a female RN calls you Sweetheart, its ok. Get used to it, keep you head down and DO NOT dip your pen in company ink.

The claws are known to come out in this field.

Oh, the irony of this post...

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

​Completely agree.

We go to the don't understand corner. Wanna discuss hysterectomies?

[OCNRN63, RN]

We go to the don't understand corner. Wanna discuss hysterectomies?

​I'll show you my scar if you show me yours.

[chillnurse, BSN, RN, NP]

I remember dealing with this as an rn. Went back to np school for that reason. Much better on this side of the field. People are just strange. Both sexes. About the lifting part. The job description says the same for males and females so I made them lift stuff just as I had to. Usually it was the 300lb ladies that always tried to get the guys to do the lifting. No wonder they were 300 lbs. laziness shows externally.

[lost soul]

RN guy, that is the deal we got ourselves into.

Because of all the sexist stuff, things are so sensitive. SOme female nurses say sexual stuff that I hear. I never never respond. I just listen to the joke or statement and then walk away. Many times I wish I could engage with the sexual joking, but I never do/

I was raising abed with a female patient who was wiggling and not staying covered, One nurse make a sexual remake, just fooling. Ut was funny, but I did not respong. Sometimes, with ones who are friends, I will just say, "come on, you know I cant say anything" . They tend to get it.

I just dont have the time to worry about all that stuff. I wish i could pursue it, but the patients need me.

Anyone can say anything to me,a nd I can keep cool. who cares

[ANnot4me]

A nurse is a nurse and if a fellow nurse cannot or will not peform the duties of a nurse, then that is their problem.

[RyzenRN, ASN, BSN, MSN]

You should be working in a team environment where you help them and they help you. If it is one sided, speak up to whom you have issue with. There's nothing wrong with you being asked to help someone else as long as they're helping you in return. Good luck

[middleager]

I think what he is saying is sexism is viewed differently when the perp is a male than when it is a female. One of the previous comments was (paraphrased) Inappropriate comments are wrong anytime...can you now understand how women feel about men being sexist on everything else? Talk about a broad brush...sexism by men is condemned and rightly so, sexism by females is often justified or marginalized...that is the double standard that is being brought out be it but not recognized. Males are perps not victicms in peoples minds and that perception is hard to change for many people

[BigSteve]

The reason I was told is that, I am a man and men have been sexist against women for years. So I should be able to handle women being themselves.

Anyone else run into issues like this?

That's the same as saying since white people have been racist to black people for so many years it's ok for me to go around lynching crackers and calling you honkies? 😳

[Libby1987]

I have taken advantage of my male coworker's inherent abilities. And I'd look for ways to make it even-ish (we didn't keep score), usually in the form of paperwork which came a lot easier to me. We had a lot of mutual respect and appreciation for each other.

I feel for the double standard in sexual harassment, that's BS.

[LessValuableNinja]

Of course there is sexism in the carer field. This is mostly a woman's career, just look at the demographics. I mean even the text books I used in school referred to RN's as "She or Her". Keep your head down and remember as a guy in this field, you will be thrown under the bus first. If you refer to a Female RN as Sweetheart, your butt gets reported. If a female RN calls you Sweetheart, its ok. Get used to it, keep you head down and DO NOT dip your pen in company ink.

The claws are known to come out in this field.

That sounds like the comment that would have been in a court case regarding sexism against women in the 1970's. Just keep your head down. You're a minority. Just suck it up. It's okay if they do it, just don't expect reciprocity. You ARE only a woman after all.

Seems a bit... not right.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Patient: Are you a male nurse?

Me: No, I take care of females too.

Most sexism in nursing I find occurs on units where you are the only male. One reason I want to transition into more male-involved nursing specialties. I personally wouldn't seek a job in L&D or OB, I find I have nothing of value to offer there professionally.