Any males working in Pediatric Med/Surg or PICU?

Thepurplenurse · Jun 26, 2007

I know I dont work in the States but in the UK there are a lot of male paediatric nurses and more training all the time. Most are to be found in picu but there are some in other areas. The biggest stumbling block is the attitude that men should not be paediatric nurses but these veiws are becoming less and less as the old timers retire. So if you can stand the attention go for it and have a great career.

Lericalpoet · Jun 26, 2007

Thanks for encouragement.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Jun 26, 2007

I worked PICU PRN for 2 years before moving out of state last week. I personally loved it. It was a small 4-bed unit, but we still saw the traumas, DKAs, OD's etc. I loved the high level of technology combined with the variety of diagnoses. I've always wanted to try peds cardiac ICU, but I'm going to stick with what I know best....NICU. I say go for it. Do what you want to do, don't let the scarcity of men in the dept you want decide your fate. I was the only male in the Women's & Children's dept at my last hospital. Actually enjoyed the celebrity status it came with! Several guys on this forum (EricEnfermero, TheDreamer) have worked or had great experiences in atypical W&C areas.

MajorDomo · Jun 27, 2007

I worked 2 1/2 years on a pedi med/surg and chemo floor with a brief stint in PICU before moving to the ER. I had a blast, although I began to detest Barney, with the kiddies. The people I worked with (90% female) liked having an XY to counteract the estrogen, I think. Also, on adult wards male nurses tend to be called in to help move an obese pt, in peds, it's to help hold down the super strength of a three year old who doesn't want an IV.

And when you tell people your a pedi nurse, they tend to respond "That's something I could never do."

Good Luck

Lericalpoet · Jun 27, 2007

Great! It's good to know that there are men working in pediatrics. I've worked in as a hairstylist for 19 years so I'm used to being the only guy in the place.

hikernurse · Jun 27, 2007

We've got several guys working in my NICU. They're great with the babies and I think it's helpful for Dads to have some "male" support. Occasionally some moms prefer to have a female if they are having problems nursing, but that's doable.

When one of my sons had to go to the ER at the Children's Hospital his nurse was a guy and he rocked! My little one was VERY upset at having to have an IV, but he kind of "bucked up" because the nurse was treating him like one of the guys.

elkpark · Jun 27, 2007

When I was in nursing school (back in the Dark Ages), one of our Peds clinical instructors was a man -- he was a terrific clinician as well as instructor, and the kids and families loved him.

Lericalpoet · Jun 28, 2007

I don't have any children of my own so it will all be new to me. I can't imagine what it's like to be there to witness a child being born. I'm sure it's like witnessing a miricale.

hikernurse · Jun 29, 2007

I don't have any children of my own so it will all be new to me. I can't imagine what it's like to be there to witness a child being born. I'm sure it's like witnessing a miricale.

Yes, it very much is :).

jzkfel · Jul 2, 2007

I work on a surgical floor for school aged kids. There are several other male nurses that work there as well. I think its a great job. Maybe once or twice a year I excuse myself from caring for female teenage patients (usually due to religious or cultural reasons) Overall kids and parents want their caregiver to be attentive, competent, friendly, respectful, and don't worry too much about gender. I work with a lot of orthopaedic patients, where being strong and gentle are both important. Being male can be an advantage. I think the most important thing is to respect your patients, parents, and collegues as people first - gender is rarely an issue if you do that.

Brauer · Jul 3, 2007

I've worked the past year as one of what is now 5 regular male staff RNs among over 60 RNs staffed on my floor. Although the experience likely varies from hospital to hospital, the female RNs on my floor have generally been very receptive towards us on the floor.

I'm in my 30's too, and working with kids was not what had I aspired to do while in nursing school, but simply fell into my lap while being handed an opportunity to work in Pediatrics to support myself part-time while in school. Although perhaps not the same conclusion for all, I know I couldn't have made a better choice as working with kids is rewarding in ways that working with adults isn't. Simply put, kids have a very different take on hospitalization, generally better being able to cope with their illness and are far more open to the experience than adults (possibly because they aren't the one paying the bill :). I also feel that I'm able to get through to kids who respect my role as a health provider, and are much more receptive to teaching than most adults who often times are ill due to poor lifestyle decisions and are already set in their ways.

So if your only concern with getting into Peds is that you may be the odd guy out, well, there's little place in this profession where that won't be the case. And if Pediatrics is something you're truly interested in, then give it a go, chances are like me, you'll discover that it was the best choice you could have made. Good luck!