Gender and personality impacting happiness with nursing

[RedNation]

As a future male nursing student, I'm wondering how much my gender and personality will affect my satisfaction with this career. I've heard and read, on here and elsewhere, the negativity, unhappiness, and stress that can come with nursing, and that the amount of each differs. I've heard that workplace culture can be bad. I'm a fairly reserved and introverted male who doesn't cause drama or conflict.

In your experience, do you think that males may not be as negatively affected by poor coworkers or administration? A lot of the problems and issues that people seem to have with nursing don't seem to concern me, and I would like to know if this is valid thinking, or if I'm simply wrong and misunderstanding what can cause nurses to have mixed feelings about their career.

I'm sorry for any spelling and grammatical mistakes, or if my question is unclear. Please ask for clarification if needed; I'd be happy to restate it if it would help. Please note that any sexism or stereotypes or whatever you may pull from this are unintentional. This isn't meant to offend anybody in any sort of way.

Thank you for any responses.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Welcome to AN! You may want to browse through the male nursing forum and the male nursing student forum. However, my

You will read negativity here and elsewhere because it is human nature to complain more than it is to reflect positively. Think about it- if you were in a restaurant and received very poor service, would you be inspired to speak to the manager or leave a bad review? Would you be less likely or as likely to leave a positive review if the service met your expectations? Most people would be less likely because they don't have as much of a stake in the outcome.

[nutella, MSN, RN]

I have worked in areas that are more populated by male nurses (critical care , acute dialysis) and I did not get the impression that they struggled with their role. I think male and female are equally good nurses and it is more the whole personality that makes a difference.

In one place I worked, I was told that the physicians preferred male nurses over female nurses. But it was not clear why. I found that they treated me (not male) with respect and I did not have problems because of my gender.

[RedNation]

Thanks for the responses.

What I was more or less asking wasn't necessarily their ability to do the work as much as how much they were satisfied with nursing as a career compared to each other("would you choose this career again", etc.). Some of the reasons I've seen for people not liking nursing as a career don't seem to be as important or applicable to a standard male. The differences in general responsibilities and nature of each gender(outside of nursing)may be somewhat of a factor.

Not it in a sexist or stereotyping tone, but in a I'm-curious-if-I-should-be-as-worried way. I apologize if you take anything I say offensively. Just trying to increase my understanding.

[Libby1987]

Regarding how you influence the way people treat you and your tolerance/expectations of working conditions/pay, I think it's more personality driven. It might be that males tend towards certain personality types that negotiate with more self assuredness but that's only speculation on my part.

[RedNation]

Regarding how you influence the way people treat you and your tolerance/expectations of working conditions/pay, I think it's more personality driven. It might be that males tend towards certain personality types that negotiate with more self assuredness but that's only speculation on my part.

This is exactly what I was asking/thinking. Thank you.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

I'm a fairly reserved and introverted male who doesn't cause drama or conflict.

That's pretty much a recipe for success!

In your experience, do you think that males may not be as negatively affected by poor coworkers or administration?

No, it depends more on the individual. Not gender.

A lot of the problems and issues that people seem to have with nursing don't seem to concern me, and I would like to know if this is valid thinking, or if I'm simply wrong and misunderstanding what can cause nurses to have mixed feelings about their career.

That depends on the problems and issues you perceive people seem to have. What are they specifically? Because they may be very different than your perception.

or if I'm simply wrong and misunderstanding what can cause nurses to have mixed feelings about their career.

Perhaps. I can tell you this: Allnurses forums are a place many use to vent problems and frustrations. Hardly anyone happily working as a nurse logs in to discuss how much they enjoy their career or life. Mostly because they are very busy enjoying their career or life.

In general - male or female - your career happiness or success depends a lot on how you approach it.

Good luck!