Advantages/Disadvantages being a male in nursing

Nursing Students Male Students

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Alright guys, I've always had this little question in the back of my head. What exactly are the advantages or disadvantages of being a male in nursing? Or is there any advantages or disadvantages? Is there any pay or position difference? If anyone could, i know theres not supposed to be, seperate the different tasks or obligations that do or can exist between the two genders. Basically, does anyone see any difference male and female nurses?

Specializes in Med/Surg.
Ever see the movie, Meet the Parents? :lol2:

You Have No Idea... My Parents Call me this All the Time... Last YR... I went out with A Med student... Later on the evening We met up with her parents... All Doctors... Including Brothers and their Wives... And even her extended family...

As soon as she said I was a Nurse... They were like OOO.. well Thats Neat-0... lol...

I wouldn't have called her anymore... But she's Amazing in Bed...

You'll get promoted faster than the women. Seriously.

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
This is a question about nursing school:

In your opinion, with all else being equal, does a male applicant stand a better chance at getting into a program than a female applicant?

Where I am going to school, it used to be an issue because they were trying to promote diversity, but this is no longer an issue because they thought it was too unfair, which it is...

:)

OH MY GOSH!!!!!

If ONE more person asks me this at work, because I'm a guy in nursing, I'll bust a cap in their @$$

LOL.

I was interviewing at a "Big 3" car manufacturer for a temporary foreman position and was asked by one of the dozen or so interviewers what I was majoring in in college. I said nursing and they all busted out laughing, and started calling me "Gaylord Focker."

I know for a fact that that department has downsized and axed over half of those guys, so I'll have the last laugh.

Specializes in Extern so far....

My class started out w/ 10 guys and 100 females. We have lost about half. I've never heard of the "Meet the Parents" remark... I have not really heard any negative remarks. But then again, I do have a very sharp and sarcastic repartee at times. Try to find a way to diffuse the comments... or just beg your lovely female workers to come w/ you after work and show them who you get to work with! If that doesn't make them jealous and be quite, well, find new friends.

Specializes in Operating Room.

I'm not sure if anyone else has had a similar experience, but for me a big negative is when staff decides I shouldn't be able to do something, or observe a procedure simply because I'm male. Thankfully I have only had two really distinct incidences of this.

One was on my gero clinical when I rotated up to the urinary clinic, the day I went was a female pt. day and the staff decided, without consulting the pts. that because I was male I shouldn't be allowed in to see the procedure. Instead, I was left all alone in the waiting room with some pamphlets while the 2 nurses (one was an NP) did their assessments. I spent 2 and a half hours of my clinical watching tv and I told my instructor that the day was a complete waste of time and to never send me up there again.

The other was on L+D when a nurse told me I could not observe a lady partsl birth because I was a male, thankfully my clinical instructor "had them" and they were brass. She ignored the nurse and went to ask the pt. who, ironically enough, had a son in nursing school and actually insisited that I come in to get the experience... boy was that nurses face red

Specializes in MICU/SICU.

As far as nursing school is concerned, I have heard that being a male applicant gives an edge for acceptance, but that's probably just rumor. Also, because grades for rotations are somewhat subjective, standing out from the crowd can be beneficial if you have a cool teacher who wants to see more males in nursing, or it can bite you in the ass if you get one of those "nursing should stay a female profession" teachers. I've seen both, and it not only affects your grade but your overall experience in that particular rotation.

As far as working as an RN, I've heard things about physician preference and faster promotions, but so far I haven't seen much, but I only just started.

Hmmm...let see

Advantages

Less guys in the unit = less competition for getting a GF

Disadvantages

You're the Lifting Person

You will be hearing a lot of Woman Issues

No major differences on pay. Just be careful not to get involve with Woman's Issues. It's not a safe environment. I experienced that a lot in Nursing school, Females talks about personal problem issues a lot more than Males. I prefer talking problems related to the job rather than personal issues.

Specializes in ER, Med/Surg, ICU, DOU, Respiratory.
Hmmm...let see

Advantages

Less guys in the unit = less competition for getting a GF

Disadvantages

You're the Lifting Person

You will be hearing a lot of Woman Issues

No major differences on pay. Just be careful not to get involve with Woman's Issues. It's not a safe environment. I experienced that a lot in Nursing school, Females talks about personal problem issues a lot more than Males. I prefer talking problems related to the job rather than personal issues.

The lifting part, makes me feel more manly...lol...Makes my biceps pop out of my scrubs for the female nurses to admire;)

hahaha..you got that right :lol2:

I agree with everything Steve said, plus chicks dig male nurses.

Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Perhaps even more so than being referred to as "chicks"...

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