All Men Shift

Nurses Men

Published

I noticed a huge difference in the past month in regards to the unit culture when we had an all male shift this past month. When working with all males, the shift just seems way way better.

The environment was so pleasant because no one was flipping out because the floors weren't mopped on our shift, no one was throwing a fit because there were not enough small sized gloves in the isolation cart, we focused on RN life saving interventions. I mean two patients coded, both were brought back. During the code everyone was calm, positive, people were laughing, and just all around positive.

I actually left work thinking wow this is a great team to work with.

However, when its a mostly female shift the focus is completely different. I remember a code when women were screaming for atropine, and not wanting to do chest compression because their back hurt. I remember getting talked down to because the room was a mess after the code. I remember the day time supervisor throwing a fit because the pt closet was unorganized.

I really like working with an all male shift. My god it is so much better.

Specializes in Emergency.

Not to mention that this is a male dominated world, so sorry if this happens to be one of the few places where the world doesn't revolve around you. As a PP said, there are times I think it may not be such a bad thing that nursing is dominated by women. It's one of the few areas where women have half a chance at advancement.

So you're saying that women can't compete with men when the playing field is level? I disagree and think your comments are demeaning to women.

The most toxic work environment I ever worked in was an all male fire station. Gossiping, backstabbing, lack or support, you name it, all there. Kind of a cross between and old lady bridge club and a junior high boys locker room. Was it this way because they were men? Not at all, just a bad work culture with too much down time and not enough leadership.

The key I think is not to get caught thinking only in stereotypes. Granted, some stereotypes develop for a reason. Several of the recent posters here fit a certain stereotype of a witchy, nosy, man hating, irrational, "I am woman hear me roar" type. But they don't represent all women, anymore than male stereotypes represent all men.

Enjoy you're team when it's a good one. After all, individuals count way more than demographics.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
So you're saying that women can't compete with men when the playing field is level? I disagree and think your comments are demeaning to women.

The most toxic work environment I ever worked in was an all male fire station. Gossiping, backstabbing, lack or support, you name it, all there. Kind of a cross between and old lady bridge club and a junior high boys locker room. Was it this way because they were men? Not at all, just a bad work culture with too much down time and not enough leadership.

The key I think is not to get caught thinking only in stereotypes. Granted, some stereotypes develop for a reason. Several of the recent posters here fit a certain stereotype of a witchy, nosy, man hating, irrational, "I am woman hear me roar" type. But they don't represent all women, anymore than male stereotypes represent all men.

Enjoy you're team when it's a good one. After all, individuals count way more than demographics.

The playing field isn't level in most areas for women. If it were, then yes, women could compete quite well.

FWIW, I'm not a man-hating Helen Reddy fan.

Specializes in hospice.

This was fun until we got to the "women are oppressed" diatribe.

We aren't. We just fricking aren't anymore. The only women who are oppressed in the USA anymore are those who insist on seeing themselves that way, or who make choices that put them in that position.

So let's knock it off and get on with real life.

Specializes in Maternity.
This was fun until we got to the "women are oppressed" diatribe.

We aren't. We just fricking aren't anymore. The only women who are oppressed in the USA anymore are those who insist on seeing themselves that way, or who make choices that put them in that position.

So let's knock it off and get on with real life.

I agree 100%

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

I wonder if this thread was about the positive vibe with an all-female board of directors at a hospital if it would be deemed as sexist.

I agree women still face an uphill battle in society (even though we are years and years ahead of many other countries). Working in a profession dominated by the opposite gender has been a great experience for me and I have always been amazed by the support I have had from the "majority". It's interesting to hear some women here act like men should have to "suffer" in nursing because women in general "suffer" in society.

I wonder if this thread was about the positive vibe with an all-female board of directors at a hospital if it would be deemed as sexist.

I agree women still face an uphill battle in society (even though we are years and years ahead of many other countries). Working in a profession dominated by the opposite gender has been a great experience for me and I have always been amazed by the support I have had from the "majority". It's interesting to hear some women here act like men should have to "suffer" in nursing because women in general "suffer" in society.

Wouldn’t that depend on how these hypothetical women expressed themselves though?

If they celebrated their all-female board of directors saying how wonderful it was to finally be rid of all the multi-tasking challenged, loud, sweaty, smelly simpleton one-track-mind sport fanatics, and how women are just way waaaay better than men, I for one would definitely call them both sexist and hurtful.

I can’t speak for everyone but I don’t think that anyone has the opinion that men should suffer? I know I definitely don’t. Not in nursing or anywhere else. I’d be a fool if I did.

My gripe with OP isn’t that he had a great shift. Good for him (genuinely). I could however have done without the sweeping (non-flattering) generalizations of female coworkers and the “us vs them” vibe. If I understand you correctly, you read this as a positive vibe post? My perception is different. Who’s right and who’s wrong? I guess it depends on where you’re coming from :)

Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.

I am amazed at how difficult it is to post some good news regarding my work experience in the Men In Nursing Forum. Once again I just wanted to share my good experience with some Bros.

Cant share good news with Bros without getting hen pecked. Oh well that is the nature of nursing I guess.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
I am amazed at how difficult it is to post some good news regarding my work experience in the Men In Nursing Forum. Once again I just wanted to share my good experience with some Bros.

Cant share good news with Bros without getting hen pecked. Oh well that is the nature of nursing I guess.

Are you dense? You just don't get how mean-spirited toward your female co-workers you really are.

*whine* I just wanted to *whine* you know, share the bromance *whine* without having the fit-throwing, cleaning obsessed, hen-pecking girls *whine* complaining about it.

Get a clue.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

I can’t speak for everyone but I don’t think that anyone has the opinion that men should suffer? I know I definitely don’t. Not in nursing or anywhere else. I’d be a fool if I did.

After watching how several friends of mine, good men, not abusive cheaters, suffered at the hands of their wives and family court in divorces I would have to disagree with you.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
This was fun until we got to the "women are oppressed" diatribe.

We aren't. We just fricking aren't anymore. The only women who are oppressed in the USA anymore are those who insist on seeing themselves that way, or who make choices that put them in that position.

So let's knock it off and get on with real life.

I don't disagree. However I do find it very interesting that even in nursing men are paid more on average than women. Significantly more. There was an article in AJN a while back that pointing this out.

I am amazed at how difficult it is to post some good news regarding my work experience in the Men In Nursing Forum. Once again I just wanted to share my good experience with some Bros.

Cant share good news with Bros without getting hen pecked. Oh well that is the nature of nursing I guess.

Honestly kalevra, how is it possible for you to not understand that your original post is offensive and hurtful to women? The way you describe your female coworkers oozes contempt.

I've taken the liberty of copy/pasting parts of your posts as well as adding some text of my own.

In any case I just wanted to share my pleasant experience during a shift I worked recently. This shift was great because the guys I worked with are great and we share a lot of interests which made for plenty of interesting conversations. The environment was so pleasant, we focused on RN life saving interventions. I mean two patients coded, both were brought back. During the code everyone was calm, positive, people were laughing, and just all around positive. It was like hanging out with your bros at work. We talked about family, guns, policy, government and in general it was a great experience.

If you'd written something similar to this I sincerely doubt that you'd have gotten much in the way of negative reactions.

Now, I'm not saying that you have to write exactly as I do, you can write how you please. But I hope you can tell the difference between the two versions. One focuses on the positive things in your shift, the other one sounds like you have nothing but disdain for women.

Don't even get me started on "hen pecked" :no:

After watching how several friends of mine, good men, not abusive cheaters, suffered at the hands of their wives and family court in divorces I would have to disagree with you.

I was speculating about the members who had posted in this thread. BostinFNP was speaking about “some women here” and that’s what I responded to. As you can see I said that I don’t think that anyone in this thread hates men, not that I know with an absolute certainty. Come on, this is the internet. How could I possible know? All I can go on is the impression I got. I see anger and frustration, not hatred.

FYI, I spent slightly over a decade in law enforcement. That’s sadly a lot more than enough time to realize that men hurt men, women hurt men, men hurt women and women hurt women. People hurt people. I’m sorry if you friends have been treated unjustly.

I don’t however believe that the majority of women hate men (or that the majority of men hate women) and I don’t think that the response in this thread stems from hatred.

Reacting to the negative stereotyping of women is in my opinion justified as well as necessary.

Regarding your other post, I think that you bring up a good point about gender wage inequality.

+ Add a Comment