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.
Specializes in midwifery, ophthalmics, general practice.
That really sucks. As a president of a small voc college and adjunct nursing faculty, knowing what I know, here's what you could do.
First things first. Deal with the bias, smile and get your ticket. Keep great records, and maintain contact information on every potential witness, because the next step, if you really want to effect a positive change, comes next.
After you graduate, start collecting witness statements in affidavit format. Retain a lawyer, and send a demand letter to the school for immediate termination of those involved. They will laugh and do nothing. Next, file formal complaints with both regional (Western, Central States, etc) and programmatic accrediting bodies (NLAN) as well as with the state board of nursing. Find out each and every one of the funding sources for the nursing college as well as the institution as a whole. Also, obtain a list of alumni. Research your states equal employment and discrimination codes. You will find the burden of proof, although it's on you, is extremely low (preponderance of evidence versus clear and convincing). Next send a memo out to the alum and all funding sources what this institution has done, outlining failure of leadership to correct the problem.
Next have your attorney file a discrimination claim including elements of civil rights violations, naming the institution, the college of nursing, each and every nursing instructor, the chair (if applicable) and the dean. The import here is on the civil rights gig, so you can opt to use a federal forum for leverage. Find out other places where these instructors work and have worked and have your attorney subpoena employee files to document trends in discriminatory behavior. File formal actions against the nurses licenses with the state board of nursing, using the pending litigation as evidence of violating nursing practice acts, which always mandate that nurses follow both state and federal code, especially when it comes to civil rights.
Next, make public each and every action, as it goes through the channels. File a thread on ripoffreport.com, Better Business Bureau and post on this site.
The bottom line--What they did to you and the others, based on their gender, constitutes harassment in the form of discrimination. This behavior places each and every employee of that institution of loosing big money--in the form of litigation, but more importantly, in lost funding. No bucks--no program.
Ultimately, its up to you how you proceed. Just my 2 cents.
have to say, that I would feel very uncomfortable working with someone who had taken this route. for one, I would wonder how he/she would react if I did something they didnt like- would I find myself being reported or complained about?? there are better ways of dealing with this.
Suck it up. Women have to deal with this all the time when they seek male dominated professions as do any other minority entering a wildly lopsided profession. We are breaking into the girls club so to speak, and though some cases may be intentional I would like to believe that most cases of descrimination are not intentional but part of what comes with this sort of venture. So in short, work hard everyday, prove yourself worthy and suck it up yo.
Specializes in midwifery, ophthalmics, general practice.
Yeah...it hurts doesn't it? Makes you wonder how we (men) let it happen to women for such a long time.
interesting.
and maybe thats part of the problem. men are on the whole, not used to discriminination because of their sex; women have had it for years!! think about how hard women had to fight to get the vote and to shake of the shackles of being seen as a mans property. this is possibly the only profession where woman are a majority, and so there is some sex bais.
so when discrimination happens and the man percieves its just because he is a man, the protests and squeals of outrage are heard clear across the country (or world in this case!).
have to say, that I would feel very uncomfortable working with someone who had taken this route. for one, I would wonder how he/she would react if I did something they didnt like- would I find myself being reported or complained about?? there are better ways of dealing with this.
Uncomfortable? Perhaps. Accountable? Absolutely! People need to be made aware that you violate the civil liberties of others at your own personal and professional peril. If you carry yourself with the system of beliefs that everyone has the right to work and learn in an environment free from overt gender-based discrimination, as in the present situation, then there is absolutely no cause for concern, apprehension or feeling uncomfortable. If you subscribe to the notion that it is OK to violate constitutionally protected rights, however, then you are absolutely right--you need to feel uncomfortable--feel very uncomfortable, and get a good lawyer.
Specializes in midwifery, ophthalmics, general practice.
Uncomfortable? Perhaps. Accountable? Absolutely! People need to be made aware that you violate the civil liberties of others at your own personal and professional peril. If you carry yourself with the system of beliefs that everyone has the right to work and learn in an environment free from overt gender-based discrimination, as in the present situation, then there is absolutely no cause for concern, apprehension or feeling uncomfortable. If you subscribe to the notion that it is OK to violate constitutionally protected rights, however, then you are absolutely right--you need to feel uncomfortable--feel very uncomfortable, and get a good lawyer.
at no point have I suggested that people should violate civil liberties etc. I am fully aware of my accountablity.
however, we live in a society which seems very happy to sue the pants off people for the slightest thing. this is wrong. there have been cases over here recently of a man who has made a career out of suing universities for not offering him a job on the grounds that he was asian. the fact he didnt have any qualifications, nor meet any job specs didnt matter. the really sad thing is the amount of money he won as a result of his actions.
so yes; if you are nurse who has sued another nurse, then I will not feel comfortable working with you. I spend far to much time making sure the patients dont sue me to have time to watch every little thing I say just in case I offend someone and they decide to sue me for breach of their civil liberities.
there are much better ways of dealing with the issue the op raised than taking people to court.
and maybe thats part of the problem. men are on the whole, not used to discriminination because of their sex; women have had it for years!! think about how hard women had to fight to get the vote and to shake of the shackles of being seen as a mans property. this is possibly the only profession where woman are a majority, and so there is some sex bais.
so when discrimination happens and the man percieves its just because he is a man, the protests and squeals of outrage are heard clear across the country (or world in this case!).
just a thought..will get my flack jacket now:)
It's a pretty basic truism that two wrongs don't make a right, but a lot of women on these boards appear to cling to the notion that they might. I don't discriminate against women, and I am not willing to be a second-class citizen to atone for others who have.
That said, I've been treated pretty well by the women I work with and for. In my personal experience, it doesn't appear that discrimination against men is pervasive in nursing. Frankly, I'd be a little surprised if it never occurred--women are human, too. But if nursing unity means only unity among white women, it will never mean anything.
Having been exposed to and been a victim of sexual / gender based harrassment in the workplace, I would advise to press and finish your training but not to forget the experience. Chances are it won't be the last time you will have to deal with it. You WILL have to learn how to deal with it to be able to endure a career in nursing. Women conduct themselves so much more differently than men do that many (most) men simply don't know how to deal with these "attacks".
I have been treated very well by my instructors as have most of the males in our nursing class. Like some of the other posters have suggested, just keep plugging along. If you quit, they win. Great living is the best revenge.
I agree, when I was in school there was a lot of bias against the male students. And now that I work, males are sometimes preferred and treated better than the females
It sounds like you're almost done. The best thing you can do is write a list of things that you've noticed in regards to the treatment of males there and stick out the program. Because quitting isn't going to do anything except give them satisfaction. Get through the program and if you still feel the need to take action against them then do so after that.
karenG
1,049 Posts
have to say, that I would feel very uncomfortable working with someone who had taken this route. for one, I would wonder how he/she would react if I did something they didnt like- would I find myself being reported or complained about?? there are better ways of dealing with this.