Sexism in nursing

Nurses Men

Published

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?

Specializes in Postpartum, Med Surg, Home Health.

Justkeepdriving, I am curious where do you work??

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I'm sorry, but welcome to our world.

Women have been putting up with similar stuff for many years. Ya'll won't shrivel up and die if you happen to experience just a little of it yourselves. Take comfort in the fact that women, on average, still make 78 cents for every dollar a man does for same job/experience/education.

Besides, men are physically stronger than women. It's just common sense that they would be asked for help with lifts.

Cry me a river, guys.

Boohoo, women are victims. There shouldn't be any issue with a guy helping to lift as long as he's able, I agree with that, of course. But do yourself a favor and stop repeating (incorrectly) that liberal BS that women get paid 78 cents on the dollar as men for the same job. Do you know any female nurses that make 78% less than the males for the same exact position? I don't. That study was done for all men and all women regardless of profession, and there are many reasons why.

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.
Using the term "male nurse" is derogatory, kind of like "black doctor". Hey, did you know Jerome is a black doctor? Holy cow! Really? A black doctor!!

We should stay away from that term as much as we can. We are all nurses, period.

I think you are being overly sensitive about it.

Why do you have to associate The name Jerome with being black?

LOL

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.
I'm sorry, but welcome to our world.

Women have been putting up with similar stuff for many years. Ya'll won't shrivel up and die if you happen to experience just a little of it yourselves. Take comfort in the fact that women, on average, still make 78 cents for every dollar a man does for same job/experience/education.

Besides, men are physically stronger than women. It's just common sense that they would be asked for help with lifts.

Cry me a river, guys.

Even if the study was properly done, you are not part of the population of women who make less.

Especially nurses in the west coast. So female nurses do not apply because we all make the same.

Even if the study is true(it isnt properly done/evaluated). You are not part of the population that suffer.

I have no problem with helping other people lifts, etc. It seems that you are very feministic and need to understand that gender equality goes both ways.

Why would OP suffer because of "other men" IN THE PAST.

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After ten years experience, I got a raise to match the rate of a male nurse with the exact same degrees, both nursing and non-nursing...with 6 months experience. Yes, there is a difference in pay between the sexes, even in nursing.

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.
After ten years experience, I got a raise to match the rate of a male nurse with the exact same degrees, both nursing and non-nursing...with 6 months experience. Yes, there is a difference in pay between the sexes, even in nursing.

sounds like it is a problem with your workplace.

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My dear frustrated nurse who happens to be strong and also male,

You know the nurse on the other side of that patient doing the lifting with you is struggling with the same injuries, too, right? We are ALL breaking our backs and knees doing this. I take great pride in being one of the smallest, but one of the strongest, but it doesn't mean that I'm not grabbing the strongest man working if I end up with a 400 lb patient getting q2h turns. I'm physically incapable of moving that patient, you understand? Physically incapable. If I only have the ability to get ONE other person to help me, I'm grabbing the one person who will offer success while preserving dignity of the patient together.

We will both work together. We can trendelenberg the patient, we can lift the bed up some, and we can work together on this. At 5'2", 115-120 lbs., I am lifting that exact same patient with you, only you are physically more equipped to do it. I'm sorry. If I could grow myself even stronger, I would do it. My spondylolisthesis of L5/S1 and significantly narrowed disc at L4/5 makes it hard to do that, though, and I can only promise you I do try my best.

Love,

Every nurse who has ever asked you for help

Well...no, I do not have another nurse on the other side with the same injuries as I do...are they telling you and not me?

Grab another "nurse" to help you and stop being sexist. My spine doesn't tolerate a 400# pig any more than yours...

Being male doesn't make me more "bullet proof" as far as physics goes...

Please don't presume to speak for "every nurse..." Some are lazy asses

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I think you are being overly sensitive about it.

Why do you have to associate The name Jerome with being black?

LOL

Datnurse, you are a bottleneck to progress. Can you just listen and examine yourself instead of assuming someone else is being "too sensitive?" Maybe YOU are being too sensitive...

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Specializes in critical care.
Well...no, I do not have another nurse on the other side with the same injuries as I do...are they telling you and not me?

Grab another "nurse" to help you and stop being sexist. My spine doesn't tolerate a 400# pig any more than yours...

Being male doesn't make me more "bullet proof" as far as physics goes...

Please don't presume to speak for "every nurse..." Some are lazy asses

Considering my spine literally is broken (spondylolisthesis), you may have a more "tolerating" spine than I do. Save your indignation for the lazy asses you speak so fondly of. I am not sexist. I am "sizist". I'd grab the strongest female, if an even stronger male weren't available. And yes, as a male who is likely larger than I am, literally you are built stronger than your female counterparts. I didn't do that. Evolution did.

But you are right on one account: I should not have claimed to speak on behalf of all female nurses. Not all who ask you for help are lazy, though. You need to lighten up.

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.
Datnurse, you are a bottleneck to progress. Can you just listen and examine yourself instead of assuming someone else is being "too sensitive?" Maybe YOU are being too sensitive...

way to turn it around, so clever.

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You can't take the emotion out of nursing....By the way many males prefere female nurses...

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Studies show that none of our backs are safe. Discs are not the same as muscles. I always HELP when asked. But I don't let them stand there. I would like to keep my back as healthy as I can. I've had surgery once already. As for the sexism...... It exists in this world. The nursing world. It's just reversed. The majority power lies with the women in this field. Like the majority outside ruled by men, inequity causes the cruel to rise and practice their brand of "fairness". It has been addressed in the outside world but it has NOT been fixed. Probably never will. We are not a well balanced species.

My advice? What I am learning to do daily? Increase in empathy. Empty yourself of a sense of self importance. Exchange selfishness for selflessness to bring contentment. A sense of purpose. Peace.

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