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.

[PedsRN9999]

Yes there are benefits of being male versus female. Last year I had the opportunity to attend the AWHONN conference and while women had to wait in line to use the bathroom, I did not.:)

[anonymurse]

Yeah, there's a huge difference. It's in the way our families treat us.

I see female nurses' work being thoughtlessly interrupted by phone calls on the most minor family non-issues. I hear about rude demands being dropped on night nurses right in the middle of their sleep, demands that may cost several hours but that could easily be met by those making them.

In many cases the female nurse is the major or only breadwinner in the house, yet families cheerfully screw them up and risk their jobs with a complete lack of gratitude or respect.

Someone wrote earlier they couldn't compare being a male nurse with being a female nurse because they'd never been a female nurse. I don't have to be a female nurse to know I'd never put up with a fraction of the crap they take from their families.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I can twist the caps off the bottles of formula without help. I can also reach the IVF bags, even if they're wayyyyyyyyyy up at the top of the IV pole attached to the Giraffe.

[head3rd]

I think its funny I get assigned Pt's that the last shift say were a nightmare and after explaining to the Pt how "we" will be managing their care, its usually smooth sailing. Problem Pt's seem to be less of a problem for male nurses

[ayneday]

It has been expressed to me by several female nurses, female rns like having a male nurse in the mix for numerous reasons ranging from assists with obese or belligerent patients, placement of leathers, to therapeutically confront sexually inappropriate male patients as well to provide care to particular male patients who simply refuse care from women. The opportunity for examining patterns of discrimination may arise with a discussion like this, I recall having a female manager express to me she would rather employ a male rn because "men don't get pregnant or catty". Forgive me if I sound like a machismo neanderthal but for the more readily apparent lack of emotional investment in numerous situations, the goal focused achievement, for not caring what doctor is having inappropriate boundaries with whoever and for just having a varying view of the same situation. Male nurses can be an asset and often are but you must be aware that its unconstitutional to pay a person more b/c genitalia when genitalia are not apart of the job description. Humm imagine that. Lol Best wishes

[DuluthMike]

I get to pee while standing up. Huge advantage.

[danegerous, BSN, RN]

I look waaaay better in a dress than all the ladies on the unit. Not too mention the lack of a menstrual cycle. Other than that it's pretty much equal.

[RN1980]

i dont have to worry about some smart ass hot headed surgeon laying his hands on me or throwing a chart a me and my trash mouth vernacular is par to that of a eddie murphy and richard pryor.

[girtenbt]

ayneday> I understand your argument that it is unconstitutional to pay men more because of their anatomy but I've come across banners on the outside of hospitals saying "***** Hospital a great place to work for male nurses" which sounds like to me that their looking to hire more male nurses hence you may have a greater chance being hired if their looking for more male nurses then female nurses and they may offer an incentive such as a slight pay increase in order to seal the deal with you.

[groovy jeff, RN]

ayneday> i understand your argument that it is unconstitutional to pay men more because of their anatomy but i've come across banners on the outside of hospitals saying "***** hospital a great place to work for male nurses" which sounds like to me that their looking to hire more male nurses hence you may have a greater chance being hired if their looking for more male nurses then female nurses and they may offer an incentive such as a slight pay increase in order to seal the deal with you.

i did hr before i was a rn. the issue is not a constitutional one but has more to do with class action suits in the name of equal rights for women. no hospital in their right mind would pay a male with the same experience, credentials, etc more than they would pay a female in the same situation. it would be in the same class as paying minorities less than white folks. however, incentives such as moving allowance, sign-on bonus, etc would be a different matter as they vary from person to person. that being said, if a sharp lawyer could show a pattern of preference towards males regarding higher incentives, chango-presto, here comes another class action suit. imo hospitals probably have much less of a glass ceiling than any other employers.

[DC Collins, ASN]

Things are well balanced in my ED. No pay diff. No hiring diff.

We guys help out when there is heavier lifting to be done, no extra charge :)

The gals take all the pts needing...uh...girlie stuff done (except for students and residents, who need the practice). No extra charge.

I love my co-peeps!

DC, ED RN :)

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

my husband says nursing is a great way to meet women. (he met me, didn't he?)

some patients will believe what the male orientee tells them before they'll believe what his female preceptor says. some folks just believe all wisdom comes from males. some patients aren't that bright.

your patients are more likely to remember you and be able to describe you. how many six foot bearded male nurses are their on your unit?

if you marry one of your colleagues, everyone -- and i do mean everyone -- will think it's cute. patients, visitors, physicians, management, ancillary services . . . everyone. be prepared to be known as "ruby's husband" -- or else ruby will be known as "mike's wife." depends upon which of you they met first or know better.

you have a distinct advantage in not having to get anywhere near the toilet seat in the staff bathroom to pee.

dh tells me to tell you that males have an advantage in physical strength. but i've met some strong women and some weak men, so your milage may vary.