Do Male Nurses Get More Respect?

Caffeine_IV · Feb 2, 2015

From what I have seen they do at times. It's more like they get automatic respect whereas the female nurses have to prove themselves to receive the same respect. That's not a 100% across the board thing but it's enough that I (and others) noticed it.

Safety Coach RN · Feb 2, 2015

In your experience, do male nurses get more respect from providers than females? I have seen examples of this, not always, but enough to make me wonder if it's widespread. How about you, what's your experience?

I think it depends on the provider themselves which is why you'd see examples of it but no consistency. We have one psychiatrist who's a pain in the @#$ but he treats males and females the same lol...

WorseNurse · Feb 2, 2015

He never made me cry. If he ever yelled at me, I'd just stare at him with a dead calm, unblinking, unwavering until he finished his childish tirade. He knew he couldn't get under my skin so he stopped trying.

I worked with a doctor most people considered a huge jerk. He just couldn't stand meekness or incompetence. So if you knew your stuff and gave it right back to him, you become golden in his book, which could sometimes be worse because then he would come find you to do other nurses' work

WorseNurse · Feb 2, 2015

That seems to be the case in the three different setting I have worked. One caveat I have noticed thought is that a higher percentage of the males are doing the job because they love it and that is what they want to do. I knew a decent number of female nurses who just kind of settled into that job because it was a quality job and a 'typically female' type job.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Feb 3, 2015

That seems to be the case in the three different setting I have worked. One caveat I have noticed thought is that a higher percentage of the males are doing the job because they love it and that is what they want to do. I knew a decent number of female nurses who just kind of settled into that job because it was a quality job and a 'typically female' type job.

Interesting, I never thought of it like that. We really are not too far removed from an era when the only socially acceptable female professions were nurses, teachers and secretaries. Then they were only suppose to work until they landed their doctor [or another prestigious husband]. At least the nurses had a built in advantage in the doctor hunt!

Libby1987 · Feb 3, 2015

That seems to be the case in the three different setting I have worked. One caveat I have noticed thought is that a higher percentage of the males are doing the job because they love it and that is what they want to do. I knew a decent number of female nurses who just kind of settled into that job because it was a quality job and a 'typically female' type job.

I think men in general perceive stress and pressure differently.

Have you ever seen how a stay at home dad operates, or a dad that takes the kids for the day/weekend? (I'm not talking about uninvolved dads who only show up for the fun stuff but the ones who fully participate.)

Men tend to be weak, or skilled depending on how you look at it, with multi tasking but are the champs when it comes to compartmentalizing. Women are usually multitaskers who juggle and shoulder the burden of everything at all times.

Men can play with their kids then go make dinner then baths all while having high energy and not sweating the little stuff throughout the day. One clean sweep of the toys and done.

I have a niece right now who posts on Facebook all the time about how hard it is to at stay home with two little ones describing the antics and the work involved. (and I don't doubt it, I've been there) Her husband works physcially all week then comes home and posts pics playing with the kids and saying how blessed he is (he's an involved dad and there are lots of family who help with these kids, my niece does get frequent breaks and is fully supported in being a SAHM just in case anyone is going there).

They both work hard for their families but their experiences and perceptions are different, I think it's in part due to how men just don't see the messes and untidy hair or at least don't worry about it while horse playing.

I think there could be a connection in how they also approach our female dominated profession.

I bet more male nurses go to the gym before or after work than females, they have an energy on average that we don't, but that's only my guess.

joemomma35 · Feb 3, 2015

In a lot of cases yes, especially if you're muscular and/or present yourself with confidence. But not always.

Of course, it also means that in some cases they're more afraid to say things to your face if they don't like something you do. Which means you don't have a chance to defend yourself, especially if they're in the wrong. Go figure.

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2015

Isn't it possible that they get the most respect because they're the most competent? Don't assume they're just skating by on their sex.

They are both good nurses. But one is brand new. Do I think he is more competent than the female nurse with 25 years experience? No. I never said they were skating by based on their sex. I said both doctors and patients treat them differently than female nurses.

hardyea · Feb 4, 2015

I have been nursing for 29 years and all my career has been spent working in critical care, and in my experience it is not the norm for male nurses to get more respect. There are certain doctors I have worked with who would be more congenial to the male nurses and approach them as an equal but not all doctors do this. One incident I recall was a male anesthesist who commended a male nurse in the recovery room for

quickly realizing his pt was having a stroke. The male nurse did not point out that he was actually at break and the female nurse was the one who assessed the pt and felt he was having a stroke. Well you should have seen the looks when I pointed out the nurse who had in fact made this call.

NurseJay85 · Feb 4, 2015

No actually I find we get less respect. Outside the profession we get even less than that.

SamRN90 · Feb 4, 2015

Its been my experience that patients instantly respect them more because they all assume they are doctors.

Anna S, RN · Feb 4, 2015

Yes, they do. The male nurses I've worked with agree.

But, it's changing. It will take time, just like every other positive societal change.

Docs are nearly always nicer and more repectful to male nurses.

As far as elderly male pts, I've had a few who refused to take meds, or go along with anything any female staff requested.

In those cases, I've had success with them by asking a male janitor or CNA to verbalize my request for me. For example, a pt who disliked women refused his meds. He agreed to take them when the janitor told him "You need to take these pills now" at my request.