Do You Have Male Nurses on your Unit?

CitrusNurse_LPNII · Jul 22, 2006

I look around and I see 29 females working around me. I never complain because they are good nurses and love their patients as I do :)

dukeRN · Jul 22, 2006

I have only worked ICUs, and have always worked with a good mix of males and females, but by far, my current CTICU has more males than my previous units. We are about 50/50, and they blend in fine. I typically think they get a bit more respect right out of the gate from the male docs though, and I don't know if it's just b/c of the whole male-bonding thing, or if it's something reminicent of the "boys club" that still haunts some areas of health care (read: CT surgery, not naming names). Most of them are strong too, so they are a big asset in helping with turns and ambulating pts. At least on my unit, it's not a big deal, but I admit, when I go to OB, I am always a little surprised, at least for a second, to see men. I guess old stereotypes sometimes die hard.

dukeRN · Jul 22, 2006

But, as a side note, I will say that I am personally excited at all of the men joining our field, b/c I believe that it will raise our salaries, and maybe even have our COOs start treating us as more than second class citizens, i.e., they don't need more money, their husbands all work... still burns me up inside that the old traditional female dominated fields (teaching, nursing, child care providers) are often some of the lowest paid professionals.

sayitgirl · Jul 22, 2006

I work in psych, and it depends on the nurse. Like anyone else good and bad in all. :lol2:

emmbit · Jul 22, 2006

Hi from New Zealand, I am in OR at Middlemore, one of our countries largest hospitals. Although at the moment I am predominantly in orthopaedics, we do work other ORs as well. Nursing numbers for the entire theatre units would be between 150-200. Of this male nurses, of which of course I am one would be approx 15, so say about 8-10% of our staff male.

As a male I do not feel i am treated in any way different to the women, or in fact those nurses that are overseas trained. if anything I do find it comforting that from time to time, I get women coming to have lunch, breaks etc, with me.. as "they cant stand the bitching and bickering " that goes on among the female staff.

As for guys getting promotions etc over women, its definitely a case of being the best candidate to get the jobs. All the charge nurse positions are held by women, together with theatre coordinator as well. CNEs are women. So why do I want to work where all the "bosses" are women?

Because I care for my patients, wanting the best for them, and because i love what I do. Does there need to be any other reason to want to work in this area as a guy.

And come on ladies, it cant be all that bad having a guy in the room, who else can you call upon when u need a bit of extra height to get things down from heights etc( I am over 6').

My nursing history is a bit rusty, but weren't the original nurses men of the cloth centuries and centuries ago who were charged with tending to the poor and the sick?? Could it be that women have taken control of what was originally a male profession?

Cheers everyone

Mark

cherex74369 · Jul 22, 2006

I work in a small rural generic ICU/CCU (& beds). Staffing is a duo RN team and 1 monitor tech/ward clerk. My partner in crime is a younger male RN, and he is an absolute asset to our unit, and a great complement for my "older" nursing skills. The closeness of our duo team staffing has allowed a oneness of the staff to the point that we don't even have to say anything to each other in a tough scenario, as the other one knows instinctively what the other one needs or is going to do, and things progress like a well-written script. Don't get me wrong. Sometimes there's some "ad-libbing" that has to take place, but even at that, we adjust and the whole situation continues on rather smoothly. When it's over..WOW... we've accomplished somthing to be proud of. And yes, I spend a great deal of time picking up after him, just as I do my own kids @ home, but I've asssumed that role and he allows me, just as they do.LOL

Men bring a totally different school of thought to the predominately female nursing profession, and I have found it to be the greatest thing!! Really refreshing!! So, ladies...Encourage those dear hearts as they enter "Our World" and you will not regret it.

mom2dacl · Jul 22, 2006

I work L&D, and our nurse manager is a Man. He started out as a Paramedic, became a nurse, and has worked his way up through the ranks, so to speak. He occasionally comes in for deliveries if we are really short staffed. He is great, Very professional, and I would trust him completely.

We also used to have another male nurse who also worked ER. His wife was a nurse, too. I remember a particular story about him. WE were EXTREMELY busy one day and our Charge nurse had this whole elaborate plan about which nurses would take which pt, and the whole thing hinged on the male nurse coming in at 11:00. It was kind of a running gag with her "It will all be ok when Ken gets here, everything will be ok" (AS she is rocking in a fetal position in the corner...lol). Ken arrives, gets his assignment, and 2 minutes later walks back and tells the charge nurse that he can't take the patient...there is a sign that says "No Men Allowed" on the door.

lujological · Jul 22, 2006

gerinurse-yes me have 2 males,residents seem to like them.1 is fun to work with,competent,all around nice person.the other is prissey,pickey and a pain where the sun doesn't shine,he spoils his residents and when he is not there the residents get upset with staff because they don't do things the way he does,he is always looking for things others did wrong.i guess what i am saying is we are all individuals.if they do their jobs well that's all you can ask

LPN1974, LPN · Jul 22, 2006

My comments removed...I did not realize this was for L&D or OB GYN only.

sorry .

tddowney · Jul 22, 2006

..... the only problem I have with male nurses is that ,just like at home they don't like to clean up after themselves. The always leave their dishes sitting around the kitchen, you can find dirty linen anywhere in the patients room, the night stands are never cleaned off, and they leave the toilet seat up. But, we still love them.

Ok, I'm just a new nursing student, with an EMT background, and I can see where all but the last of your complaints are valid...............................

But, men are simply not born with the gene to put down the toilet seat. :clown:

MA Nurse · Jul 22, 2006

I have worked with male nurses in different settings. I have found that male nurses are treated better than female counterparts...Male nurses are frequently promoted over a female nurse of equal education and experience, male nurses in charge positions tend to "delegate" more,do less and generally gripy when things go wrong (look for someone other than them to blame). They won't hesitate to throw you to the dogs and offer very little support when things are screwed up.
Granted there are female nurses like this as well but I think the conditioning of men as boys make them think they are should be better than women.. Not ALL male nurses are like this..But if you want to put my theory to the test just try competition with a male nurse for a promotion or a job...see who wins..
I realize this is not a popular thing to say but in the 18 years as a nurse I have seen these things..men do get ahead...plain and simple.
Just my opinion

You're right, it's just your opinion. I know first hand of a unit that drives away the men. The women treat them like they are beneath them.

bluesteal7 · Jul 23, 2006

I am a male nurse in the ICU, ER, and MED/SURG units. often I feel I have to watch my tongue because my manner is more flippent than most of my female counterparts, however I havent felt as if I couldnt get along with many of them. Perhaps its my boyish charm, however, I am reading some negative remarks about our need for a female chaperone, however you spell that, when performing invasive procedures of the female genitalia, might I ask, who is the first one on your unit that you come too with the morbidly obese patient that requires repositioning?? On my unit, its usually me, even when Im in the middle of something, and I always help, whenever im asked, so, maybe some status quo and a little help protecting my license, if you would be so kind as to continue chaperoning, I know that is not how you spell that but this is my monday.