Male Nurses.

OrthoNutter · May 29, 2003

Originally posted by GAstudent
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING AND DISAGREE WITH IT. WHAT IF YOU WAS UP FOR A JOB IN THE ER .AND YOU WAS UP AGAINST A FEMALE. IF A MAN IS A NURSE AND SO IS A WOMAN THEN WHO EVER IS BETTER QUALIFIED SHOULD GET THE JOB. WHAT IF THE WOMAN WAS 30 AND BEEN AN ER NURSE FOR 10 YEARS WITH GREAT REF AND SHE IS WORKING ON HER MSN AND DID A WONDERFUL JOB IN ER BEFOR BEING OVER THE ER AND MAKING THE SATISFACTORY RATINGS GO UP. YET THE MAN NURSE HAS HIM ADN AND BEEN A NURSE FOR 5 YEARS AND NEVER A PROMOTION AND THE REFERNECES WAS OK. WHAT IF THE MAN GOT THE JOB AND YOU THE MAN KNEW THE OTHER LADY..WOULD YOU FEEL BAD. AND YOU ARE GETTING PAID TIME PLUS A HALF OF WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE OFFERED THE WOMAN.

I agree, it definitely SHOULD go on whoever is best for the job with the most experience and top notch references. Unfortunately, as has been my experience, male nurses do tend to go up the career ladder quicker than their female counterparts. Before I started at my present job, I was working on a medical unit. There was a charge position available and I thought, hey, let's give it a shot since I'd been there a few years and felt I was ready for a new challenge. My interview went well, better than I expected, but they passed me over for a new grad who happened to be mature age and male. At the time, he had been working on the unit for only six months. Imagine how snubbed I felt when this guy, although older than me, was coming to me for advice on how to do his job. I still helped him out and gave him my advice because it's not in my nature to be a sore loser and after all, he was a good nurse, just inexperienced in leadership. But still, it really bites when that happens.

I wish you the best of luck though. :)

OrthoNutter · May 29, 2003

Oh and having said all that, I just want to say, I do love having male nurses on the ward. I've worked on wards where there is only the token male nurse and things can get so catty! But having the boys (as we call them) around really tones that down. We currently have four male nurses on the unit and I really wish there were more of them around.

Just wanted to make that clear. :)

FutureRNMichael · May 29, 2003

Originally posted by JWRN
So all good male nurses are homosexual? Is this what you mean? This is ridiculous and if this is how you think I would suggest pursuing another field. I am male, but I am not homosexual, so does this mean I cannot be a good nurse. I have been a nurse for over 10 years now, and I am a good nurse, well liked by my co-workers and patients. Sexual orientation has nothing to do with being a good nurse.

Sorry you think this way. Your private life should not enter the work area.

I don't think this way at all.

I made the mistake of reffering to a post which was a page or so back on this thread and obviously without thinking, thought it would be funny to comment on the post earlier.

roxannekkb · May 29, 2003

Jussurfin originally wrote:

It's just my opinion but I think it is only a matter of time before female physicians outnumber male physicians, maybe in 20-25 years if not sooner. And, in my opinion, I also think that males will outnumber females in the nursing profession but it will take much longer, maybe 40-50 years. The ratios for both doctors and nurses may in the vicinity of 60-40%. And yes, one day we will have a female President!

Well, I have to differ. I don't think men will ever outnumber women in nursing. Take another traditional women's profession--teaching. Men now number about a quarter of the teaching force, and that has remained stagnant to slightly decreasing. The number of men entering nursing has been stagnant, and regardless of what you think of statistics and studies, this particular researcher's work showed that men are leaving nursing at a faster rate than women.

Until nurses demand and get more respect, better pay, better working conditions, and so on, I don't think that men are going to be attracted to it. Plus, the work itself just may not attract a lot of men. There are a lot of variables, but despite aggressive recruitment of men, it just hasn't happened. When I first started nursing school, one university in California offered extra "points" to males, sort of like affirmative action.

Anyway, I think it would be great to get more men into nursing because I think they would help the profession and improve it's image. I just don't think the public takes a profession filled with women seriously. But it's a catch-22--I don't think men are going to pour in until it improves, but I don't think things will really improve until we get more men.[

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 29, 2003

Originally posted by Jussurfin
This gender reversal trend is happening under our noses with doctors but only in reverse and at a more rapid rate. Of the currently practicing physicians, approximately slightly more than a third are females. In many if not most medical schools, there are more female medical students than males. As an aside, if anyone saw the repeat segment "Boys & Girls" on "60 Minutes" this past Sunday one quote was, "Girls don't want to be nurses anymore, they want to be doctors." The segment chronicled how girls generally excel and do better than boys in school, how they often receive preferential treatment by mostly female teachers and how the boys tend to be overlooked.

It's just my opinion but I think it is only a matter of time before female physicians outnumber male physicians, maybe in 20-25 years if not sooner. And, in my opinion, I also think that males will outnumber females in the nursing profession but it will take much longer, maybe 40-50 years. The ratios for both doctors and nurses may in the vicinity of 60-40%. And yes, one day we will have a female President!

Nothing is as constant as change.........

Interesting post. I've heard that female MDs in school are now outnumbering men for the first time, about 51% to 49%. So it is happening. I see in our residency program here, more female interns than male.

I'd love to see a female president. I vote for Hillary!

I'm not sure about men overtaking nursing though. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but the average male doesn't have what it takes. Qualities of empathy, compassion, gentleness, caring are needed to suceed. Males are not generally raised this way, we are raised to be competitive, agressive, selfish, etc. Not to knock my own gender, because those qualities have served us well in the military, in busienss, politics, and many other professions.

hogan4736, BSN, RN · May 29, 2003

Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy
.

I'd love to see a female president. I vote for Hillary!

I'm not sure about men overtaking nursing though. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but the average male doesn't have what it takes. Qualities of empathy, compassion, gentleness, caring are needed to suceed. Males are not generally raised this way, we are raised to be competitive, agressive, selfish, etc. Not to knock my own gender, because those qualities have served us well in the military, in busienss, politics, and many other professions.

Hillary as president??

what a joke...

talk about a crappy role model for women...

her husband admittedly received oral in the oval office from an intern (while he was married to her) and she smiled for the cameras, and stood by him. She knew she'd later be running for office, and played nice for that reason only. Can you say media whore?

Plain and simple, she's a horrible role model for those "empathic, compassionate, gentle, and caring" women about which you speak...

Your quote, not mine!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn Liberals!

Come out from behind your gender bias 3rd shifter...There are PEOPLE that fit your description (empathic and caring) , not just women (or men)...

Face it, some PEOPLE can't care well for patients. Some are men, some are women...

get over yourself...

RNman0602 · May 29, 2003

I don't think that more doors open to males, then females in this profession. however, if you feel you are making more pay for your position than a woman with the same title, remember this.... When a 500lb gastric bypass patient needs repositioning.... When a roudy patient gets out of hand.......

When a large patient falls out on the floor and needs to be hoisted back into the bed...

When a 300lb barrel-chested man needs chest compressions....

guess who they're going to call on...yup...YOU!

I constantly get called on (by OTHER UNITS, mind you) to help them perform these tasks, and I do them willingly, because it increases my value as an associate at my hospital, and because I want to. Don't look over your shoulder and be afraid that you might make more than others. Be proud and do your best...GOOD LUCK!!!

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 29, 2003

Originally posted by hogan4736
Come out from behind your gender bias 3rd shifter...There are PEOPLE that fit your description (empathic and caring) , not just women (or men)...

Face it, some PEOPLE can't care well for patients. Some are men, some are women...

get over yourself...

Gee, only 30 minutes until a flame. I don't mind a good flame. I can handle it. You say "get over yourself"......I am already....sigh.

I was basing my bias on observations and experience in my world. I look around me at men, my neighbors, friends, and family. If I had to pick 20 nurses out of those people, I'd pick only a few men. But I'd also rule out many women as well. So your point is well taken. I hope you or anyone else didn't take it as "men don't make good nurses" because that's not what I said. I said "the average male". But what is average. Probably the "average female" doesn't have what it takes either.

I was kind of tongue in cheek about Hiliary. There is too much passionate hatred for her to ever be president. I was totally over her "stand by your man" crud she did while he was prez. She should have dumped his ass president or not.

SmilingBluEyes · May 29, 2003

Just amazing...some things never change. we can't keep from flaming each other in what was a thread started in earnest. To me, unbelievable, considering how we are all college- educated and supposedly empathetic people. Why we always have to bring POLITICS into every issue these days is beyond me, but then I guess a lot is.

I agree with those who say some are cut out for nursing; some should not be nurses and it has NOTHING to do whatever with gender. There *are* women who should get out YESTERDAY, they are so mean and surly. Far from "nurturing" beings that I can see. If a man burns to be a nurse, I say go for it; but don't expect preferential treatment---that is reserved for our esteemed physicians, at least where I WORK.

Oh and before I forget I had to address your "stroked ego" remark. Do NOT expect your EGO stroked, as you refer, as a nurse. Expect it STOMPED beyond recognition by others who love nothing more than to see or make it happen. That is not unusual in nursing; just read some of the posts/threads here to see how it is in our world. But with a strong CONSTITUTION (rather than ego) you will do fine. Get into it for the RIGHT reasons, that you really WANT to do this, or just don't bother. You will burn out too fast otherwise, believe me.

Used and abused · May 29, 2003

My experience with male nurses is limited, but I have heard the same thing over and over from female nurses; "Those guys think we are here to wait on them too!" Seems the med/surg role I can think of 2 men who were hard working and wonderful to work with. I can think of 4 who were lazy and seemed bored. I can think of 3 in OR who were fabulous. Guess it depends on personality and drive.

mayberry · May 29, 2003

It's been my experience that the way male nurses are viewed depends upon the personality of the unit and the culture of the facility one works in. Most of it has been for the good and on a positive note. I usually prefer to have a male nurse around - the caddiness and negativity drops a notch or two. And let's face it we are a "profession" that is not exactly known for being the most "compassionate" or "empathic" towards our own. Isn't that the bigger issue.

hogan4736, BSN, RN · May 29, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
...but don't expect preferential treatment---that is reserved for our esteemed physicians, at least where I WORK.

I certainly hope this remark was tongue in cheek...

Everyone desrves preferential treatment...From the housekeeping staff to the CEO...

We shouldn't live by a caste system in health care...

Sorry about the political (Hillary) rant, but anyone who holds that woman in high esteem (in regards to role modeling) is misguided...

3rd shifter, you say the average man doesn't have hat it takes...I agree, but would go one step further...The average PERSON doesn't have what it takes too be a nurse...

Here's to flameless posts...Just speaking my mind...