Males in Nursing: Improvement or Hindrance?

MellowOne · Jul 18, 2004

I've actually found that males aren't just welcomed, but openly courted. I've been told a number of times by nurses that they need more male nurses on the unit. Strangely enough, a male nurse on the unit seems to decrease the feline factor that many find on nursing units.

My sex has never been an issue, except for the battle axes who were openly hostile during my L&D rotation in nursing school. Nursing's a great profession, and we'd be more than glad to have you join our ranks.

Be well...

The Mellow One

Energizer Bunny · Jul 18, 2004

A Hindrance? NO WAY! Go after your dreams if you want to become a nurse and don't worry about what sex you are!

Trauma Columnist · Jul 18, 2004

I'm coming at this from the other side: I'm female, an RN for 12 years with 8 years level one ER experience as charge nurse. Then, I decided to volunteer with my rural fire dept/EMS service - they are combined. So, in order to do EMS (pre-hospital RN at the paramedic level) I had to do firefighter too. I've been doing this for five years now - have met many, many barriers - all aimed at my sex (female) and age (45). However, I'm also pretty aggressive and have much more knowledge than my fellow firefighters...we now peacefully co-exist but they know that I won't take much guff from them either. My 19 y/o son is joining as a firefighter this month too and he knows I fight my own battles.

zacsmimi · Jul 19, 2004

I found that male nurses have an easier time of it in the northeast than in the deep south... perhaps since we are usually more "liberal" in New England...

I couldnt agree more with the concept of "feline factor" although it doesnt make me proud to see it. The only thing about nursing that I have consistantly struggled with is the cattiness of a group of women and the HUGE frustration that creates in me since we are caregivers by choice to begin with!!

A man thrown into the mix changes the dynamics (just as a woman does in military ranks, Im sure) -

but if you are good at what you do, it wont matter in the end.

Of the top 5 nurses I have known in 12 years of practice, 3 of them are men.

Caution: EMS feels different... there are a lot more variables in nursing care, and it isnt done in 60 minute "calls"... much more in depth care is given, for a longer period of time, with longer-termed goals. I loved running rescue - I know now its the short term, high intensity emotional support that works for me. (I was a L &D nurse for 6 years...) But I love nursing and would never give it up... just as satisfying, in fact, more so.

Angela Mac · Jul 19, 2004

wow- a firefighter/emt as a nurse.....you have much to offer......and we would love to have someone like you on our unit when we have to call a code, or have a fire drill.....but seriously, I have found that having male nurses helps in more ways than can be stressed. Take for instance, the 300 lb gentleman on the floor- everyone knows that pound for pound- males have upper arm strength over females. And, combative patients- some calm more so, when there is a male presence (they know you can kick their butt, or they assume you are a Doctor). I have had good experiences with male nurses.

allnurses Guide · Jul 19, 2004

Be careful of excusing guys from the "feline factor" . . .I've known some male nurses who LOVE to stir the pot and gossip and whine. :chuckle

I am however the mother of an almost 15 year old daughter and I'm experiencing first hand that girls can be backstabbing, gossipy little wenches.

I say go for it . . . nursing allows you many opportunites in many different areas.

steph

resqrider · Jul 29, 2004

Remember this Folks.

It's not a matter of muscle.

It is a matter of the mind.

I was an EMT for 15 years, now a newly graduated nurse waiting to retake my boards.

Sure the muscles come in handy, but the mind is always at work.

danu3 · Jul 29, 2004

And, combative patients- some calm more so, when there is a male presence (they know you can kick their butt, or they assume you are a Doctor). I have had good experiences with male nurses.

Hmmm... interesting. So it looks like there are some instances where it is not good to introduce oneself as a nurse (from a male point of view). Like the situation mention above, you walk into a combative patient and they calm down thinking you are the doc... Is there an ethical question here, like impersonating a doc?:)

On the more serious side, I think a nursing unit that has both genders can sometimes be a little bit better off than a unit with all female nurses or all male nurses (is there such a thing?) in certain situations.

I've read of one case on how a male nurse complements the female nurses in the unit. Once in a blue moon, the male nurse will get someone who is not comfortable with him because of his gender. He just go to one of the nurses and ask for a patient switch. Once in a while, he would volunteer a patient switch with other nurses on the unit if he sees some male patients is sexually harrasing one of the nurses on the unit. Guess the idea is to work as a team.

-Dan

EmbryLVN · Aug 6, 2004

Male Nurses Contribute alot to nursing. If you go back when nursing first originated it was the male taking care of the sick. Yes when florence nightingale came into the picture it switched from more men into women. Although we often get asked why didnt you become a Dr.

cardiorehabrn · Aug 13, 2004

With your background I think you would have a lot to bring into your nursing practice. You already practice critical thinking skills with your current profession. That's what we do best! Think/plan/carry out. I've worked with multiple male nurses who were just great. It does seem most male nurses go into the more critical care/ER situations though. I don't know the reason behind that decision. I went into critical care because I wanted to be challenged more than just working med/surg seemed to offer (no offense inteded to my great med/surg friends at MRH), so maybe that's it. It has also seemed to help raise the pay grade now that men have begun persuing nursing as a career. No offense to the women members here, but it also seems to be a better mix with male/female nurses working together. I worked on a unit with all female nurses, and they could get very catty and ugly.

StudentNurseShaun · Nov 7, 2004

Being a male in a predominantly female work environment is cool.

I am glad that I took up nursing. As a male I cannot say that I have ever faced problems on the ward or at university. There is however sometimes problems with the patients. Some old ladies don't like men to look after them... well that's fine! Saves me doing it and I can concentrate on something else.

Shaun

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 14, 2004

I'm a male RN. Come on board.