I am a full time level II (RN) student with 3 classes and 1 clinical left in this program. I believe the nursing program is biased towards men and just not sure what, if anything I should do.
Last semester the males had some unfair biases placed on them in my opinion. One student had a critical incident report written up on him in clinical. He left the clinical site on time, before the instructor could serve him the papers. Then she investigated the incident, and found it to be false. She had told him, that had she found him, she would have suspended him. That night after talking to the witnesses, she found it to be false.
Another incident involves a husband and wife. We had to do Medspub on line. We were graded on participation and not our score. The husband and wife took this program at the same time, side by side, yet the wife received a higher score for doing the same work.
Another male student was singled out on his last clinical week, and was the only student that had to turn in work. He also received a critical incident report for not knowing the mechanism of action for a drug, yet the other 9 people in his clinical group could not answer the question. He was singled out.
Another male student placed a post on our on line page, stating his displeasure with our class. He was venting, as others had posted before him. I replied to his post in agreement. A female also replied to this post. All our post were removed. When I placed another post in this forum asking who violated our student rights and constitutional rights. The instructor removed the forum completely. Later placing it back up, minus our posts. She admitted removing the posts. The next class day I was removed from class by this instructor, and received a verbal reprimand from the instructor. The other male student, was sent to the nursing office. The female was never talked to. In our student handbook it states students have the right to free speech, etc.
The above is just a sample of what is going on. There is a lot more. What do I do if anything. I have been told that 2 former male students from last year have filed a lawsuit.
Since the school does not employ male nursing instructors, I have thought of contacting the president of the college. I am seriously thinking of leaving this program.
I am placing this here first to get your view on this. We as nurses are asked to be patient advocates. But who looks after us? It is my opinion that I need to bring this to the schools attention. If they will not listen, then where do I go?
It is not my intention to defame or slander this school, only to right the wrongs that have been placed on us.
When I was in clinicals I was late one time by 5 minutes after a horrible thunderstorm knocked out my alarm clock the night before. I got dressed up and down by my instructor in front of my group about how unprofessional it was to be late, to never let it happen again or I'd be out of the program, etc etc. I even called ahead and let the instructor know what was going on and I'd soon be there. That was the first and only time I was ever late btw!!
Two weeks later a (female) classmate showed up two hours late, didn't call and notify the instructor, etc - The instructor was asking if anyone had heard from the classmate that morning? Classmate showed up because she slept through her alarm clock. The instructor said to her, "I'm glad you're okay we were so worried about you!!" Blablabla.
We're held to a higher standard, what can I say? Other than that I never really had problems during clinicals related to being a male.
Wow... thank God that at Curry College, where I went for my BSN in their accelerated program, has a much more enlightened view toward men in nursing. There is at least one prominent (and well-loved) male faculty member and one of the female faculty members' major research area is men in nursing. I felt that the men were all treated fairly by both the academic faculty and clinical faculty. I'm sorry some of you had such experiences.
Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.
As a former nursing Assistant Clinical Professor, I am saddened to read of the treatment the OP & other males receive at the hands of faculty. Whatever happened to just looking at the student as a person & grading on performance? Hang in there guys----do what you need to do to make it better for yourselves & others who come behind you! I wish you the best.
I belive it was not the right choice..Many people face discrimination everyday such as minorities.....Speaking about it or prostesting will not change anything...It continues...Just my two cents..
I know this is an older thread, but I couldn't NOT respond. "Protesting will not change anything.." Ever hear of a lady named Rosa Parks or a minister named Dr. King or a former barrister named Ghandi? Don't think a well organized, thoughtful protest can't change wrongs or injustices.
I've now been an RN a bit over 8 years. Luckily, the only thing I might even call bias or discrimination was during the quarter we covered labor & delivery. I attended a small community college program in west KY. The instructor for that content did everything possible (successfully) to prevent my observation of an actual delivery. In clinicals, I sat in a room alone and watched a variety of recorded deliveries (filmed in England, nonetheless). I felt as if I had been done such a huge disservice. I had worked that hospital nearly 15 years already. She could have said to the mother-to-be "I have a male student with me. He's already worked healthcare over 10 years and shown his professionalism. He's also completed much of our RN program and shows fine skills. Would you allow him to observe your delivery?" For that matter she could have even added "And he's gay as a goose!" :chuckle Instead, she said "I have a male student with me today. Would you object to him being in the room during delivery?" I really didn't mind at the time, but I now cringe whenever I'm out in public and am close to a near-term pregnant woman.
I had a professor last year who had some biases of her own. I am struggling to work a full-time technician job at night and every weekend and attending nursing school. A young student was in the program, her parents paying her way, not working. One day the professor pulls her aside for a little talk. I was concerned for her...I hate to see anyone drummed out or in trouble. She related(innocently)that the professor had recommended her for a local hospital that would pay her and pay her tuition..she was the only student that got this little talk. Both her and the instructor were of color. The student declined as she was having her way paid anyway. No one else was extended the offer. I am sure it happens the other way also...it is wrong on both ends.
Unfortunately I have been in nursing school all of 6 days. I certainly hope my school is not like that. However, I would say that one of the other posts are right. "Be seen, not heard." I would hope the instructors are professional enough to not be biased in any school.
I have recently been accepted to two nursing schools in the Atlanta area and I have already started to feel the discrimination! (I haven't even started the programs yet.) What can I do.....I have been seeking this opportunity for quite some time but I definitely do not want to deal with a bunch of crap for the rest of my career. I ultimately want to become a CRNA but if women instructors are going to intentionally grade me lower, what are the chances of me getting into a CRNA program?? I am a gay male so I have been discriminated against for my whole life essentially. Not whining about it but I am thinking that I may have chosen a wrong career to go into now. Any advice??
Specializes in midwifery, ophthalmics, general practice.
this is an interesting thread..
but as another poster has already pointed out, this is a case of the shoe being on the other foot. discrimination exists; be it subtle or overt. I'm faily sure if I decided to be a fire fighter, I would be given a tough time by the men in the profession- if only because I only stand 5' in my stocking feet!
as a student, I was told to be quiet, smile and take anything that is thrown at you. make waves when you are qualified. sometimes you can change stuff , sometimes you learn to live with it. Over here, most of the senior nurses are men, they get promoted because they are seen to be 'safe' bets- they wont go and have babies! so there are advantages to being a man in nursing.
I would suggest that if you smile and take people as you find them rather than go looking for trouble, you will be fine. If you feel actively discriminated against, then you need to weigh up the effect complaining may have on the rest of your training. remember that sometimes revenge is a dish best served cold!
I have recently been accepted to two nursing schools in the Atlanta area and I have already started to feel the discrimination! (I haven't even started the programs yet.) What can I do.....I have been seeking this opportunity for quite some time but I definitely do not want to deal with a bunch of crap for the rest of my career. I ultimately want to become a CRNA but if women instructors are going to intentionally grade me lower, what are the chances of me getting into a CRNA program?? I am a gay male so I have been discriminated against for my whole life essentially. Not whining about it but I am thinking that I may have chosen a wrong career to go into now. Any advice??
When I was in nursing school, I had some difficulties with one of my clinical instructors and was advised by some well-meaning friends that she was discriminating against me because I was male. I could see for myself that she was fairly friendly with some other male students, so I took her criticisms at face value (and they were, generally, valid ones) and did everything I could think of to rectify my shortcomings. She eventually became one of my best advocates, and while it was a tough process, I did learn some important lessons from her, about nursing and about myself.
As a working nurse, I don't feel I've suffered any sort of discrimination. Most of my peers are, to varying degrees, friends, and my employer treats us all pretty much the same.
I'm not saying this to dismiss others' accounts of discrimination. I'm sure it does occur. But I would strongly advise a prospective nurse or nursing student not to be hasty to assume discrimination. Nursing school and nursing practice are hard, for men and women alike. It's physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging. To steal another member's sig line, you have to put on your big girl panties (or big boy boxers, if appropriate) because school and the work will demand all the maturity you can muster.
But, hey, that need not be a deterrent to entering the field. Depending on how you look at it, it can be an attraction. To be honest, I really like a shift where everything goes according to routine and I'm just busy enough to make the time pass, but it's the nights I sweat blood and run my butt off that ultimately make me feel like I've accomplished something. Then, too, I persist in the hope that some of the things I'm sweating over, now, will seem routine in the future--a hope that, so far, doesn't seem overly optimistic.
Nursing is not for everyone, but I'd hate to see anyone who could enjoy the inevitable challenges deterred by fears of discrimintion. In my own experience, it hasn't been a problem, and I'm sure many other males would concur. In those cases where it does occur, I think more men entering the field and succeeding in it is likely to be one of the best remedies.
Thanks karenG and nursemike. I appreciate your comments. I think I have a really bad instructor at the moment for a pre-requisite course (nursing in the lifespan). I am taking it online and this professor has consistently graded our quizzes incorrectly and not released the answers to the class. I spoke with her about it and she was extremely defensive.
I know that you are going to run into people in ANY profession that you don't get along with.....that's part of being human. I have seen quite a bit online recently about how some males feel they have been discriminated against in the profession though so that has made me uneasy to say the least. This professor is not helping the situation any with her radical tactics in teaching and grading.
nads786
59 Posts
im currently in nursing school, first year complete,
and i woudlnt say i have faced obvious discrimination
but their is subtle discrimination, and just being one guy in a dominant
profession, you are going to face it from time to time