Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing Originally Posted by fluffhead 
When someone on the floor says, "Hey you, with muscles. Come help me lift/move this patient," is that discrimination? I am a new hire - just got my RN on 6/15 - and I get the feeling I am mostly around to lift patients up if they fall. Ugh.
I think it really depends on the overall situation. Do your co-workers assist you when you need it? Are you given opportunities to develop your other skills?
I get asked to help move patients a lot. Before I became a nurse, my job entailed a lot of patient transport, bed-to-chair transfers, etc., and when I wasn't real busy, I often assisted aides with baths, toileting, and ambulation. Confused/combative patients are not uncommon on my unit, and again, even before nursing school, I was getting fairly good at calming some of them. A lot of my newer co-workers may only see the "muscle," but those who've known me awhile also value my experience with these tasks.
I don't think any nurse wants to be a one-trick pony. One of my co-workers is a wicked stick--she could get a blood return starting an IV on a turnip. When all else fails, she's the go-to guy, but she's also a very sharp nurse with decades of experience and a scary knowledge base. Using her as a full-time phlebotomist would be a terrible waste of talent. Of course, one thing I've noticed more and more is that nurses with decades of experience are pretty darned good at not letting themselves be mis-used. It's a skill I don't really recall hearing a lot about in school, but one I'm really looking forward to acquiring (and after two years, I'm a lot closer to acquiring it than I was as a new grad).
Personally, I've always been glad I had some skills to contribute to the team, even if it is just "lifting." Moving patients safely and with the least possible discomfort is not a mindless chore--muscle helps, but brains and practice matter more. Starting out, there were lots of things I wasn't very good at, and others were around to help me. I still count on my coworkers when I have a venapuncture I just can't hit, or a female who doesn't want a male to start her foley (which happens less than one might expect), or even a pt one Q2H turns, since that's usually difficult for one person.
"Hey, you with muscles," is obviously not an appropriate way to address a professional colleague, but context means a lot. Are they saying it in a friendly, playful manner? On my unit, being inappropriate and unprofessional is part of the fun. But if the implication that that's all your good for is seriously intended, then yes, that's discrimination.
If your manager truly buys into this, get out. Don't quit nursing, just get all your ducks in a row quietly and move to another unit or hospital. You can go anywhere with your experience. There are plenty of units out there where nurses work together rather than taking advantage of each other. You need to protect yourself, and your body.
Audrey
Nursing News