Is there a need for more male nurses?

Nurses General Nursing

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As a new LPN graduate I constantly here "Congratulations, we need more male nurses." & "As a man most employers will hire you on the spot!"..... But it has been my clinical experience that there was no one specific thing that could have been done better by a man than a woman. In fact I have been refused three times during my maternity rotation and was finally allowed to assess a woman who was post c-section, that happened to be a nursing instructor. (which was a better experience than the other students got but thats beside the point. Anyways, where is this big major need for more men in nursing? any ideas??

i agree intellectually that gender is irrelevant but when people are hospitalized, they're not always thinking as such when they feel vulnerable and afraid.

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There are some out there who believe more men in the nursing profession will help.

With salaries, respect, etc. Because men have a tendency not to take the shyt like women do, i think there is a hopefulness among some women that men will 'help'.

Probably a fairy tale mentality but it is still out there in some. Most of us are glad to have helpful coworkers....and we generally would like to see more of them. And because our backs are probably aching, it may soothe our aching muscles to think someone stronger might give us a break...maybe...LOL! ;)

Truth is, most men physiologically will posess greater upper body strength that serves them well in the direct care setting; this type work is heavier than is let on, as those of us who have done it awhile can attest. It takes its toll after several decades.

So...guys, please take it with a grain of salt when someone says 'Oh good a man'...it could mean lots of things...maybe just that they are glad to see something other than the usual estrogen overload on shift that day. I believe the best workplaces employ a mix of men and women to bring balance, as someone already pointed out.

Like everyone else here, I'm just glad to have a competent caring nurse coworker...of any 'type'.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... I think in ANY profession diversity is a good thing. You give the public, patients, clients or whatever a better variety of service the more different types of people from different backgrounds that you have. It can only make that field better.

Absolutely on the money!

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
IMHO, more qualified guys in the profession will tend to give it greater balance and credibility. Will also engender better and more effective care.
CREDIBILITY???? Please explain that one,sugar.....Are you saying that the nursing profession lacks "credibility" because it is predominantly female? noun

1. believability: the ability to inspire belief or trust

2. willingness to believe: a willingness to accept something as true

trustworthiness, reliability, integrity, authority, standing, sincerity, believability

Okey dokey.............. :stone you really didn't mean this,did you?

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
My my my folks are rude these days. The OP here needs a little lesson on internet/board etiquette, I think. First, if you post a question on open forum you risk get honest opinions, not just those you are looking for or that please you. Taking heads off for this is not a real polite or cool thing to do. I was not being rude, just honest.

ACLU?

whatEVER.

Agree with Deb on this one and her previous answer.

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Specializes in Critical care.

Okay here is my idle thoughts. It is true we do need more men in nursing, we also need more women in nursing. How is that for a stance? To get to the core of the issue, what equipment a person has should never be an issue for what kind of job they can do, it should be all about the skills and the personality behind the nurse. Those (staff) that make gender an issue are doing an injustice to both men and women that want to care for their patients. It seems most on this thread agree on the gender issue and for those that don't(:angryfire ).

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If there's a greater need for male nurses in nursing, it's in Corrections. I'm one of two, of nine nurses in a men's prison and being a male does have definite advantages. For one thing, the inmates are less likely to try to intimidate me into getting what they want (likely because I'm a BIG nurse). Gotta love them for trying though. Moreover, it's much easier for the inmates to discuss "male" problems with male nurses than with female nurses.

Me and the other male nurse here get many requests sent to us directly when inmates have a genital or anal problem that they need to be seen for. Does this mean we're more qualified than the female nurses here? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! The other nurses have levels of experience that can be measured in decades, which I can't come close to. I have a lot to learn from them and they are always there when I have a question or problem.

Male and female nurse aside, it's all of us working together that is of greatest benefit to the people we care for. Each of us has something to contribute, regardless of gender, not only in Corrections, but in any field of nursing.

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I may be way off base here, but could it be that when they say "we need more men in nursing" they mean it from a standpoint that it is a "women dominated profession"? It would be akin to saying we need more women in construction, or basket weaving or whatever, to bring nursing to a closer ratio of men to women? I myself would like to think that it is because they would like to see the profession equally populated with men and women. :)

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No need for defensiveness Redd, you asked a question, got some answers....

Personally, I have never heard that phrase..."we need more male nurses...."; ever, in about 14-15 yrs of working in healthcare.

My response would be..."Why do you say that....?" to those that tell you that. Who are you hearing these comments from anyway? It may make a difference.....

I've heard the phrase about needing more male nurses often in my 3 years as a staff RN. I take it as a compliment from patients and their families on a job well done. In my fairly rural area of the world patients & families are not yet completely used to male nurses and probably aren't sure what to expect. Maybe they expect me to gruff, less sensitive to their needs, I don't know. It may have something to do with working on an ortho floor with lots of heavy lifting too. Perhaps patients believe I'm less likely to drop them on the floor or something. The thing is the comments I hear come primarily from patients and their families so it is a worthwhile topic.

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where is this big major need for more men in nursing? any ideas??

Leadership, Politics, lobbying, management. I have heard it over and over again by my female nurse coworkers that one of the reasons nurses are paid so well today has to do with all the men who are in it. Men will not work for lower income. Men are still the majority of the wage earners in the family.

The respect nurses get in today's world has changed also. We are not expected to be the subservient little cute doctors helpers any more! Lets face it, in GENERAL men are not as emotional as women. I will never forget in nursing school,8 years ago, a male hating instructor accused me of being too paternalistic...excuse me if I was being a man. There are many patients who need a paternalistic verses mothering nurse. i.e. Veterans, military, prisoners, substance

I work with many Great female who have leadership traits that I admire and have learned from. And there are men who make lousy leaders, but in general most would agree with me. Most have agreed with me, its been my observation. It's a good thing that the genders in nursing and for doctors have a better mix today. abusers. With some patients you need to be a little tougher with.

Forget maternity; you do not belong there, that is an area where sensitivity is a great asset. Nobody wants a father-like male nurse to check their perinium.

I work with many Great female who have leadership traits that I admire and have learned from. And there are men who make lousy leaders, but in general most would agree with me. Most have agreed with me, it been my observation. Its a good thing that the genders in nursing and for doctors have a better mix today.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

I prefer working with female nurses, they are younger, prettier, and nicer

They make me happy

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
CREDIBILITY???? Please explain that one,sugar.....Are you saying that the nursing profession lacks "credibility" because it is predominantly female? noun

1. believability: the ability to inspire belief or trust

2. willingness to believe: a willingness to accept something as true

trustworthiness, reliability, integrity, authority, standing, sincerity, believability... you really didn't mean this,did you?

Sweetie... That's precisely what I meant. Will try to explain it to ya briefly. But do try to keep an open mind. OK, dear?

First, please re-read my post. It stands for the proposition that more guys will tend to bring nursing greater credibility. Not what you may be suggesting.

Simple fact: Most reasonable people have an easier time believing, trusting and accepting advice and suggestions from institutions (or whatever word you may wish to substitute here) that are balanced and diverse.

Dunno about you, but If I'm choosing a professional team, I'd select folks that are different from me and from the norm -- all else being equal. Why? To cover those aspects of my background, experience, perspective, thought tendencies, professional prejudices, blah, blah, blah, where I may be short. Want people that are gonna enhance what I'll be bringing to the party, and not to be my clones. Expand this general concept to what we're talking about here.

For the most part, the more monolithic an institution, the more readily it can miss other, non-standard opportunities. This, too, is a reason why enlightened managers are now hiring nurses with unique education and experiences... outside the traditional paths... business, law, engineering, IS, psychology, teaching, etc.

Moreover, as already stated, some patients (both male and females) simply prefer guys.

Could go on, Sweet Cheeks. But think that's enough to give you a flavor of what was intended.

Hope it helps.

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