Benefits of being a male nurse vs Female nurse

[girtenbt]

Hi, Im a sophomore in a BSN program and I was just wondering if there are any benefits of being a male in nursing versus being a female in nursing such as job outlook, pay rate etc.

[Mike A. Fungin RN]

Nope.

[groovy jeff, RN]

of course there are benefits: we get to help everyone with their obese patients and are summoned for all of the difficult transfers! but that's ok as we get paid twice as much!

[SunSurfRN]

Anyone denying there is some minor advantage when it comes to getting hired is ignoring reality....but paywise not really

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

It's easier when you need to pee.

I do think some preferential hiring may occur. All else being roughly equal, some NMs do like having a few males on the unit. There's no difference in pay, where I work.

There can be some advantages doing the actual work. Males are stronger, usually, which can help if you don't make it an excuse to ignore body mechanics. Patients sometimes behave better if you have a Y-chromosome. Same for doctors, and even other nurses. I haven't found any huge advantages--other than the peeing.

[Sean 91]

As a guy at our facility, you get an extra break period when they call all the guys over the intercom, by a special code designation, down to Behavioral Medicine when a patient is going off, for example, or when they need lifting help somewhere. Sometimes you can stretch it out to a half hour. I don't smoke, so it's nice to get a little extra time away from the floor--and the charge nurse takes over your patients while you're gone.

[SunSurfRN]

As a guy at our facility, you get an extra break period when they call all the guys over the intercom, by a special code designation, down to Behavioral Medicine when a patient is going off, for example, or when they need lifting help somewhere. Sometimes you can stretch it out to a half hour. I don't smoke, so it's nice to get a little extra time away from the floor--and the charge nurse takes over your patients while you're gone.

I thought the human forklift analogy was banter....guess not

[Bill E. Rubin]

I wouldn't know... I haven't tried being a female nurse yet.

[Bobylon]

I wouldn't know... I haven't tried being a female nurse yet.

LOL .... nor I

The only "advantage" (and it's not really an advantage, per se, as I enjoy taking care of my pts) is that some little old ladies just don't want a man helping them with certain things, which is fine - I can respect that, and all. I'm the only male on my unit on night shift, so, there's 2 RN's and at least one LPN that are female on any given shift, so it's fine. If a patient gets truly unruly, security gets called:lol2:

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

As a guy at our facility, you get an extra break period when they call all the guys over the intercom, by a special code designation, down to Behavioral Medicine when a patient is going off, for example, or when they need lifting help somewhere. Sometimes you can stretch it out to a half hour. I don't smoke, so it's nice to get a little extra time away from the floor--and the charge nurse takes over your patients while you're gone.

Nothing like a little ass whopping to make the day go by, lol.

[blackhundred]

My perspective: If a patient has had a bad experience before, it was probably with a female nurse. I feel this tenders me a quick advantage when I first enter a room. Catch them off-guard and work your magic, guy. Merits earn their own reward.

[totallackofsurprise]

In an inner city hospital, you're slightly less likely to get attacked by a patient. Then again, as a male, you're regarded as a challenge by some combative ETOH patients, whereas a woman they wouldn't challenge... so I guess that evens it out.