Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing

I think people can only be discriminated against only if they think of themselves being victimized by discrimination.

Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing

Originally Posted by nursemike

Men do, in general, have stronger backs, but probably also more of a tendancy to overestimate their own strength.

They sure do.
I've worked with plenty of 40+ men with "bad backs" because when they were in their 20's and 30's thought that they could do anything.
This is compounded by some female staff abusing the "get the man on the floor to lift this patient" type stuff and too many men are more than willing to do it.
I've had many female co-workers ask me to lift (alone) their patient who is 2-3 times my own weight and look at me blankly when I ask who is going to be helping me.
They tell me that the day before the other guy working on the floor lifted the patient by himself so why can't I.
Sure enough, it was yet another 20-30 year old he-man new grad who's going to learn the hard way in 10 years that there's going to be a price to pay for all the flattery and big head he gets when showing off for the female staff.

Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing

Originally Posted by RN34TX

They sure do.
I've worked with plenty of 40+ men with "bad backs" because when they were in their 20's and 30's thought that they could do anything.
This is compounded by some female staff abusing the "get the man on the floor to lift this patient" type stuff and too many men are more than willing to do it.
I've had many female co-workers ask me to lift (alone) their patient who is 2-3 times my own weight and look at me blankly when I ask who is going to be helping me.
They tell me that the day before the other guy working on the floor lifted the patient by himself so why can't I.
Sure enough, it was yet another 20-30 year old he-man new grad who's going to learn the hard way in 10 years that there's going to be a price to pay for all the flattery and big head he gets when showing off for the female staff.

Although nobody likes being "used" or taken advantage of, I am a big believer in everyone contributing his or her strengths to the benefit of the team. In my former position, patient transport was one of my main jobs, so in addition to a strong back, I have seven years of experience getting people into and out of bed. I don't mind a bit being called for difficult lifts, but I would object to the behaviors you describe. I'm there to help--not to show off.
We also get occassional combative patients, and I think it is generally expected that any males on the floor will help out in such instances. Again, I feel better equipped than a gal half my size, and somewhat more experienced. I have long been dismayed how undertrained we all are for such conflicts, but the more you do it, the more you learn, and I seem to be getting pretty decent at calming patients verbally, before matters get too physical. Part of that, of course, is that even very confused patients are on some level able to grasp that they can't dominate me as they could someone smaller.
On my crew, I have to say that I feel it all works out as it should. I'm good at wrestling, but often need help with venapuncture. Not long ago, I did my first straight cath on a female patient, and it wasn't any problem at all to find a female nurse who would take time to assist me.
The key, clearly, is to find people to work with who care about each other, as well as the patients. I have to admit, I'm not entirely sure how to go about that, other than good luck. Part of the answer is probably showing a willingness to help out, but it sounds like in many cases, the ultimate answer may be willingness to move on to a better situation.

Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing

Originally Posted by teeituptom

I think people can only be discriminated against only if they think of themselves being victimized by discrimination.

I disagree. People discriminate based on sex, race, sexual preference, religion, etc. regardless of how the individual takes it.

Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing

Welcome to the wonderfull world of nursing

Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing

Originally Posted by Tweety

I disagree. People discriminate based on sex, race, sexual preference, religion, etc. regardless of how the individual takes it.

Your only a victim if you choose to be a victim

Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing

Originally Posted by teeituptom

Your only a victim if you choose to be a victim

This is a totally different statement than your statement above "I think people can only be discriminated against only if they think of themselves being victimized by discrimination.", which implies that discrimination doesn't exist.

Playing the helpless victim when discriminated against or being a proactive activist is a choice however.

Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing

Originally Posted by teeituptom

Your only a victim if you choose to be a victim

I think it's true that we do have a range of choices by which to empower ourselves. If I were discriminated against in my work, I could seek legal remedies, I could work somewhere else, or I could choose just to ignore it.

I also believe there are some who choose to see themselves as victimized, even when they aren't. Some people may have personal shortcomings that they prefer to blame on "the system", or someone else, rather than correcting their own problems.

On the other hand, it takes some pretty convoluted reasoning to think that all victims choose to be victims. A woman who is raped, for example, may have made some imprudent judgements to put herself in a position where she could be raped, like walking alone at night in Central Park. Doesn't mean she chose to get raped. Or a man might get mugged by hoodlums in the parking lot--doesn't mean he chose to get mugged. People can be victims of crime, or natural disasters, or just plain bad luck, in circumstances they had no reasonable opportunity to avoid. Similarly, if a group of people chooses to discriminate against you, you don't really have a lot of say in the matter. You do get to choose how you respond, and I'm all for choosing not to continue being victimized, but it seems simplistic to say one chooses to be a victim, initially.
I also think this is especially true of non-violent crimes, where it may not be immediately obvious that one is being wronged. If your banker absconds with your life savings, you're a victim of embezzlement. If your employer denies you a promotion on the basis of your race, you're a victim of discrimination. You didn't choose to be a victim, you can only choose how to react to it.

Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing

Originally Posted by Tweety

This is a totally different statement than your statement above "I think people can only be discriminated against only if they think of themselves being victimized by discrimination.", which implies that discrimination doesn't exist.

Playing the helpless victim when discriminated against or being a proactive activist is a choice however.

Im todays world being discriminated against and being victimized have almost become synomonous

Re: Discrimination Against Men in Nursing

My Response to this post is obviously well after the original, I just found it.
Shawn get over it. I have been an RN for about 5 yrs now and although I had one instructor say that "men shouldn't be nurses" I have had nothing but positive input and interaction with my peers and patients. If anything I feel as though I am able to advance in my profession quicker than my female counterparts. Here is where I stereotype the female nurses.
Many of my female peers aren't as eager to accept new responsibilities. My "male nature" pushes me to accept new challenges and overlook the feare of the unknown. I am currently working a House Supervisor much to the dismay of some of the female nurses that have been nurses much longer. They expressed a fear of taking on such responsiblity. That is sad and unfortunate for them but I am able to reap the rewards from the gender differences.
I don't call myself a male nurse. I call myself a nurse. The fact that I am a male is self evident.
Quit looking for discrimination. It doesn't matter if some people have hang-ups, I don't.