how do we change nurses opinions on male nurses?

nursemary9, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2003

Hi

I don' t know about changing peoples minds about males in nursing.

I do know that I have been a nurse for almost 40 yrs. I have worked with my share of nurses who are male. They are as professional, caring and empathetic as there female counterparts; As with female nurses, there are the good and the bad & I really don't think it has anything to do with gender.

I have worked the night shift for the last 27-28 years and I certainly never had time for play. Yes, we have slack periods on occasion; but generally at the hospital I work at, treatments are around the clock as well as meds. The only thing we don't do is give our patients a meal. I really resent when people infer that the night shift doesn't "do" anything. There are fewer resource

people available and also fewer bodies. My experience is that you better have the nurses who can make quick, well-thought out decisions on your night shift; At night, you better be into critical thinking! and you better know your stuff.

I don't know ANYONE--male or female who works nights for the differential!!

We need GOOD nurses!! I don't care weather they are men or women and I don;t care what unit they work on.

essy752002 · Dec 4, 2003

I BELIEVE MALE NURSES NEED TO BE APPLAUDED INSTEAD OF SCORNED FOR MAKING THAT STEP TO BECOME NURSES. ITS BAD ENOUGH THAT THEY GET FLACK FROM OTHER PEOPLE. WE NEED TO LIFT THEM UP AND ENCOURAGE MORE OF THEM TO BECOME NURSES.:kiss KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MEN

purplemania, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2003

When things get busy or tough, which is fairly often, I forget my co-worker's gender and race and whatever else does not mean "nurse". The men I work with are professional nurses.

bedpan · Dec 4, 2003

I am male and not yet a nurse - I am a student nurse

In my classmates I do not see any male student nurses, nor do I see any female student nurses , I only see student nurses

And when I graduate and pass my boards I will be not a male nurse, and obviously I will not be a female nurse - I will be a Nurse

All I can do is be the best possible Nurse I can be and be rightfully proud of it

CCU NRS · Dec 5, 2003

Were you called to be a nurse or was it the tremendous $$$$$ as if that drew you? As some of the posts have implied that males only got into the field for money and really don't care or even have the ability to care for Pts!

nurseygrrl, LPN · Dec 5, 2003

The $$$$?? There isn't enough money in the world for the aggravation we nurses put up with on a daily basis. Anyone who went into nursing purely for money is either really stupid or severely masochistic...:roll

On male nurses...I have seen good and bad nurses in all shapes, sizes, genders, colors etc. I don't really think it matters. Yes, I do see some differences in the way male and female nurses operate, but that's just natural. I work with a lot of male nurses and CNAs too and most are terrific. I do think it takes a special kind of guy to become a nurse. It certainly isn't the typical male's job of choice.

bedpan · Dec 5, 2003

Were you called to be a nurse or was it the tremendous $$$$$ as if that drew you?

I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt I was called

And every single day that goes by I love it more

I love the classes - I love the clinicals

A number of our class volunteered to do BP's and Glucometers for a women's Health fair one Saturday - We were supposed to do one hour shifts and I had the last hour of the day - That turned in to almost 3 hours and I loved that too - For volunteering we were allowed to leave clinicals two hours early the next week - I asked and was given permission to just stay instead of leaving early - I didn't want to leave early!

Not only will I be proud to be a Nurse and be the best that I can possibly be - I am proud to be a student Nurse

Agnus · Dec 5, 2003

Originally posted by CCU NRS
Were you called to be a nurse or was it the tremendous $$$$$ as if that drew you? As some of the posts have implied that males only got into the field for money and really don't care or even have the ability to care for Pts!

And what drew you to nursing? Geez. We are not catorgorizing or anything here are we?

And further more when did it become a sin to be drawn to any profession because of the income pontential. There is nothing sacred about nursing that says we must be martyers. I do not reacall taking a vow of poverty when I entered this profession. OR DO YOU DO IT FOR FREE?

Further more have you never complained that you are not paid what you are worth? Because I hear that all the time on this board that we are not paid enough from WOMEN.

If you look around there are a lot easier ways for a man (or anyone else) to make $$$ and a lot more of it than we do in nursing. :rolleyes:

Agnus · Dec 5, 2003

Originally posted by icuabbie
It has been enlightening to read the posts on this subject. I'm a 44 y.o. critical care nurse and have worked with alot of male nurses. The problems we have on our unit is that the majority of male rns are very young, many using the icu as a stepping stone to nurse anesthesist school and most work nights because of the differential and the decreased work load. I don't have a problem with male nurses unless they do a substandard job on the unit. Most are technically good but lack a certain professionalism and maturity and sense of real empathy and caring toward the pts. and family. Many do as little as they have to then sit down and read, watch tv or engage in immature boy pranks like rubber band fights. I have to admit that in my experience the majority of male nurses that I have worked with are mediocre. I challenge those of you out there to be a good role model and put your pts needs first. The secret to being a REAL NURSE is to always put your patients need before your own and take any extra time you have to give to your team, patients and their families.

Since when is it wrong to want to advance your career and not stay in one place. We aplaude women who become AP nurses. Frankly I see a LOT of women who fit the discription that you have given. And some of them are your age and older.

And when did it become a sin to work nights? The differential and decreased work load (were do you work that the work load is decreased, have you actually worked nights for any length of time?) Are used to attract nurses to nights.

Sounds like you resent these men for having a desire to advance themself and you resent that they get a differential for working a shift that few people want. And you assume the load is easier because it is not your load. Maybe you are working nights yourself if you are what is your excuse?

When did it become WRONG or IMORAL to want an easier work day? Ther are trade offs to working nights you know.

I do not buy into martyre syndrome. If I always put everyone else first and my self last as you suggest I will be ill, burnd out, bitter, self rightious, and lacking empathy for my collegues and patients.

bluesky, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2003

I think it's dangerous to make generalizations about anyone. I also have met plenty of excellent male nurses as well as mediocre ones in the same proportion as with the females.

Of course the nurses who happen to be male don't like to be classified or pigeon holed.

Please consider this before starting threads that accuse the nursing culture of being catty, backstabing, females as I have OFTEN seen on this blackboard.

Agnus · Dec 5, 2003

Originally posted by bluesky
I think it's dangerous to make generalizations about anyone. I also have met plenty of excellent male nurses as well as mediocre ones in the same proportion as with the females.

Of course the nurses who happen to be male don't like to be classified or pigeon holed.

Please consider this before starting threads that accuse the nursing culture of being catty, backstabing, females as I have OFTEN seen on this blackboard.

I agree with your remarks about generalizations. Nurses who happen to be male and nurses who happen to be female and everyone else do not like to be pigeon holed

I have not see one male here make that accucusation. Including the one that started the thread but I see it demonstrated by females on this thread. And I have seen it demonstrated by both male AND female on other threads.

Evidently this thread is touched a sore spot with some women. Which suggest to me there is truth in what these men are saying.

VERY sad:o

hbscott · Dec 5, 2003

It has been my experience that Nursing Culture and Nursing Image have contributed to many problems in nursing. This includes the negative stereotyping of both males and females in the nursing profession.

I came to nursing with tremendous enthusiasm but left with great bitterness because of issues noted on this and other nursing bulletin boards.

The reality is that the nursing profession does not have a unifying professional culture and/or image strong enough to overcome these persistent negative stereotypes.

I have been in health care for 23 years and my opinion is based upon these experiences. Have things changed for the better over the years? Maybe. Maybe not. But after reading these and other nursing threads I can still see that Nursing has a long, long way to go to be fully embraced as profession in the mind's eye of the public.

-HBS