Do male nurses recieve as much respect from patients as female ones do?INPUT IS GREAT

BIGT68 · Mar 14, 2012

As a male CNA looking to go to nursing school, I have worked at a nursing home where i was the only guy and the patients and co workers treated me like walking gold. At the hospital i now work at. We have a high amount of male nurses for the size of the hospital that we are. We have some very good female nurses but as far as patients are concerned the males take the cake. On the surveys, if they patient has had a male nurse they get mentioned on the survey, being the only male CNA my name gets brought up over the womens as well. If a patient asks the female nurse a question and they don't like it, i go in to talk to the patient because i'm protective of the female nurses and idk if it is my size or because i'm male or both but they understand and accept what i have to say over the female nurse. Also the lifting aspect of the job, the male nurses are by far the better lifters. Some of the women are good lifters as well but the males can lift by themselves opposed to several women trying to do the job and you find that patients complain that women are rough when lifting and the guys are very gentle because they don't have to work as hard to lift. Now you always have a few women that don't feel comfortable with male nurses or CNAs but they usually eventually warm up to you, you also see the same as far as men go, unless the female nurse is good looking most of the guys would rather have a male nurse and male cna. My overall opinion from experience is that male nurses are coming into the nursing world, some coworkers love you, some resent you for it, i personally think it is jealousy, which i would be annoyed to if i was doing the same job and somebody else is getting much more credit and praise because they have different anatomy, but guys are preferred because their instincts aren't to care for people. So guys have to learn and guys are very by the book, all of the males i have worked with are great lifters, and a sense of protection comes with having guys on the shift especially at night. Also very important point, all female coworkers i have had tell me the same thing. They like working with male staff compared to female because women staff are drama, its never good to have that many women in one place no offense but its true. We have no issues of males writing people up unless something detremental has happened to the patient, and the male nurses will come up and tell the person, hey i have to write you up for this and this and this, on the other hand female staff don't tell nebody they are getting wrote up, even for small occurences of any kind. The women always talk and back stab each other while they guys hang out outside of work and bs and work and there are never any problems. Also if the female staff find out who wrote them up they try to get revenge by writing up the other person whereas the male staff just sucks it up and corrects the problem. This may all sound bias but it is very true. And as far as getting payed better. I know that the males i have worked with are getting payed better than the women because of the demand for males in hospitals and the services they provide. Male nurses are usually always wanting to learn and are big into continuing education while some female nurses don't care. They get the God complex once they get the RN behind their name and all they do is try to establish control, those nurses seem to be especially head hunting male staff and if you get a woman that has been cheated on, thats all the guys have to hear about all night is how men are so awful so there is some static but for the most part i am more than happy to work with certain female nurses but i wouldn't mind an all male staff on my shift at all. Things just seem to go a lot smoother because the guys don't panic when things go wrong. They don't get all emotional either

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2012

Re: BigT68---"As a male CNA looking to go to nursing school...."

Is this thread now a place for creative fantasy writing?

Broad generalizations, stereotypes and outright gender insults, oh my. It doesn't sound "biased", it sounds ridiculous.

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

Been at this 20 years.

I love my male RN counterparts. I'm glad they're in the profession with more and more regularity.

However, it p*sses me off that yes, they most definitely are more respected out of the gate, than female RN's. From patients to docs to peers.

I've had numerous discussions with my male counterparts about this, and yes, they will invariably (even if sheepishly) admit to it.

It's infuriating at times. Some of the most competent, but conversely some of dumbest RN's I've worked with are males.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

Aw, H*ll's bells Dave, most people will think you are a doctor.

Imagine THAT respect and the responsibility.

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

(As a nurse, who is a Guy, I hate the term "Male Nurse"), I doubt anyone is going to chase you out with axes, pitchforks, and torches.

I have learned to deal with th e cliche questions with Humor.

ARE YOU A MALE NURSE? (Often said asked with the utmost sincerity despite my RN Nametag, and the fact that I am obviously not their doc. FAV ANSWERS? (A.) No, I escaped from the Psych Ward, and there WAS a male nurse there whos clothes fit me, I mean I couldn't escape in that damn gown. (B.) Hold pants out in front, look down, and look surprised, WOW, YOU KNOW I AM! (C.) No I have a excess testostorone problem.

WHY DIDN'T YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR? (A.) You don't know any doctors personally do you? (B.) I failed my Xss Hole and Egocentric Test. (C.) I thought Male Nurses got to deliver postcards while other FEmale nurses did all the work. (D.) Why didn't you want to be a doctor?

IS YOUR WIFE A NURSE? (A.) Are you just testing my sexuality? (B.) Why, is your wife a nurse? (C.) Actually, Male Nurses aren't allowed to marry in XXXXXX State. (D.) She wasn't Strong and Smart enough, so she went to be a doctor.

No One Get Mad, Just a little Humor. Not really bothered by people's curiosity. Just have to add a little fun.

Galaxy1 · Mar 15, 2012

BIGT68 is 1000% correct. 2+2=4. There is no room for opinion.

Galaxy1 · Mar 15, 2012

2+2=4, fact. BIGT68, fact.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

(As a nurse, who is a Guy, I hate the term "Male Nurse"), I doubt anyone is going to chase you out with axes, pitchforks, and torches.
I have learned to deal with th e cliche questions with Humor.
ARE YOU A MALE NURSE? (Often said asked with the utmost sincerity despite my RN Nametag, and the fact that I am obviously not their doc. FAV ANSWERS? (A.) No, I escaped from the Psych Ward, and there WAS a male nurse there whos clothes fit me, I mean I couldn't escape in that damn gown. (B.) Hold pants out in front, look down, and look surprised, WOW, YOU KNOW I AM! (C.) No I have a excess testostorone problem.
WHY DIDN'T YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR? (A.) You don't know any doctors personally do you? (B.) I failed my Xss Hole and Egocentric Test. (C.) I thought Male Nurses got to deliver postcards while other FEmale nurses did all the work. (D.) Why didn't you want to be a doctor?
IS YOUR WIFE A NURSE? (A.) Are you just testing my sexuality? (B.) Why, is your wife a nurse? (C.) Actually, Male Nurses aren't allowed to marry in XXXXXX State. (D.) She wasn't Strong and Smart enough, so she went to be a doctor.
No One Get Mad, Just a little Humor. Not really bothered by people's curiosity. Just have to add a little fun.

I LOVED THIS!! Great answers. There are more holes in BigT68's silly story than a colander, but THIS is worthwhile :)

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

BIGT68 is 1000% correct. 2+2=4. There is no room for opinion.

rofl....seriously??

The stereotypes, over-generalizations and outrageous statements are insulting, not factual.

All men are into continuing education and women aren't? Women are all backstabbers and with men, there are never any problems? Guys don't panic when something goes wrong but women do?

I believe some of the laziest, backstabbing drama queens I have ever known have honestly been MEN, right along with a few women, but I wouldn't be silly enough to declare ALL men to be that way. I have more sense.

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2012

:banghead:I just realized this is the "Male" CNA's FIRST Post, LOL

NOW GO GET VITAL SIGNS and WIPE 392A, . . .Femophobe!!!!

Jussssssssssssssssssssss Kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

charlie8025 · Mar 16, 2012

Been an RN on m/s floor for past 3 years. I really see little difference between male and female respect levels. I am older than many of our nurses on the floor (55) and the patients, many older, seem to react well to that. I have had several pts. tell me they are more comfortable with a male nurse than a female, but know many of the females are told the same thing. Its personal preferance. I think the difference comes in presentation. As long as you come across as caring, knowlegeable and professional, you will have little problem regardless of gender. Good luck.

kevx · Mar 25, 2012

As long as you come across as caring, knowledgeable and professional, you will have little problem regardless of gender. Good luck.

^That nails it. I've had patients request female aides or RNs but that's not because I'm incompetent. It's just their comfort level.