To Male Nurses!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

O.K., men, I've got a couple of questions to ask you!

First a little history. I was asked by the vice-president of nursing (a female, by the way), along with a few other male nurses who work at my small rural hospital, to produce a "Recruitment Video" for male nurses. To be honest with you, I haven't a clue why she is singling out the "male species" for nursing recruitment. Apparently this video will be geared towards male 8th graders and will be shown during "job fairs" that these 8th graders would be attending.

Today, actually, we are going to begin the process of discussing the content of this video. Here are some of the questions that we will be exploring:

1) Why do men enter the nursing profession?

2) Why do men remain in the nursing profession?

3) How could "we" (men) encourage other men to enter into the nursing profession?

I already have my own answers. I was wondering. . . curious. . . what your responses might be!

Go for it, fellas! Spill your guts! Why did you enter the nursing profession? Why do you remain in the nursing profession? And, finally, How can we encourage other men to enter into the nursing profession?

Dig deep into your psyches. . . as if you were digging deep into your crotch for a good scratch. . . and share like only men can share! :D (belch, burp, fart. . . .) :chuckle

This is an interesting if not a wierd assignment. Looking forward to it's outcome, though. Hopefully the outcome will be a really neat video that just might get a few more people (male or female) into the nursing profession.

Cheers! :)

Ted

hope you don't mind a little estrogen advice...OK, remember, we're talking 8th grade here.....l've read that males tend toward the more ..uhh..critical areas of nursing....so l would focus on trauma, ER, critical care, flight nursing, OR...there are others, l just pulling off the top of my head now...also, ok l will get flamed for this, but probably wouldn't hurt to throw in a purty female here and there...in the most professional sense of course ....cause like l said....8th graders and all.....LR

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/CCU (PCCN); Heme/Onc/BMT.

You're all giving some pretty cool feedback!

We had our first "production" meeting this morning! There were some cool ideas tossed around with regards to this particular project. First, I must say, that it's the administration's desire to produce this video. I'm going for the ride because: 1) I have a keen interest in audio/video production; 2) Just purchased about $3,000 worth of video equipment (which is really only a drop in the bucket compared to what can be spent on such a hobby!) 3) Because I just spent $3,000 on video equipement. . . .; 4) $3,000 fricken bucks. . . . got to use the equipment!

Anyway. . .

The number one goal for this "educational" video is to, hopefully, shatter the many myths of male nurses and the nursing profession as a whole. Here's our basic story line, which I think is pretty cool.

An 8th grade boy goes skiing/snowboarding with his father. On their way up the mountain, dad and lad discuss various professions which leads to a discussion on the nursing profession. Lad says that he does not want to be a nurse because it's a "girl's profession" and "there's no money in it" and "it boring" and . . . . .

Lad then snowboards down the hill and haves a horrific accident breaking wrists, legs, and even a rib or two which would puncture his lung (that would eventually send him to an ICU. . . I know . . . it's a stretch). We might even throw in some blood-spattered snow in for some visual special effects to keep the interest going. Lots of blood and mayhem! :chuckle

Lad then goes to the ER where he's . . . Treated by a Male Nurse!

Lad then goes to the OR where he's . . . "Put Under" by a Male Nurse Anesthetist!

Lad then goes to the ICU where he's . . . Treated by a Male ICU Staff Nurse!

Finally, lad is transferred to the Med/Surg unit who learns how to cope with all of his broken bones by . . . A Male Med/Surg Nurse!

What's cool is that we have at least one male nurse in each department!

Of course there's going to be lots of high-tech gadgetry and sound effects to help keep the 8th graders' interests up. . . IV pumps, cardiac monitors, vent machines. . . . all which go bloop and beep and have flashy lights.

Of course, underneath all of this action will be dialogue of the various male nurses providing this one hurting 8th grader the needed care.

And the end of the video shows Dad and Lad going up the ski slope. . . a year later. . . and Dad askes, "What do you want to do?" And lad replies, "Become a nurse!" Then it's dad who goes down the hill and haves a horrific accident and the lad says ". . . but I'm not one yet!!"

Mind you, this is just a very very rough draft. But it has potential! Lots of action with even a tense accident scene to help keep the little critter's attention span glued to the video. And, a message that basically says, "Male Nurses are cool Nursing is Cool! Nurses Do Make a Difference!"

All of this in a 15 to 20 minute video. It's possible. :)

Men. . . and women. . . .constructive comments, at this point, will be accepted and well appreciated.

Cheers! :)

Ted

P. S. This video is part of a larger program where the hospital is working with local schools to help get kids interested in math and science. The desire to have this video focused towards the recruitment of male nurses seems to originate from the hospital administration.

Ted

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/CCU (PCCN); Heme/Onc/BMT.
Originally posted by l.rae

hope you don't mind a little estrogen advice...OK, remember, we're talking 8th grade here.....l've read that males tend toward the more ..uhh..critical areas of nursing....so l would focus on trauma, ER, critical care, flight nursing, OR...there are others, l just pulling off the top of my head now...also, ok l will get flamed for this, but probably wouldn't hurt to throw in a purty female here and there...in the most professional sense of course ....cause like l said....8th graders and all.....LR

You bet we'll throw in a purty female! :D (In the most professional sense of course!) ;)

To be honest, though. . . If I had my way. . . this video would be directed to kids both male and female. Let's get the nursing profession looking attractive to everyone. . . and disspell all myths about nursing. Maybe that will be next year's project!

Ted

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/Peds/ICU/PACU/CDI.
originally posted by efiebke

...dig deep into your psyches. . . as if you were digging deep into your crotch for a good scratch. . . and share like only men can share! :D (belch, burp, fart. . . .) :chuckle...

cheers! :)

ted

...& i couldn't agree with you more :rotfl: :lol2:!

cheers!

moe

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

hi ted, what a great idea and you will do great with this project.

i just asked by 8th grader, who is a boy, why wouldn't he and his peers like to be a nurse and the simply reply was, "it's for girls".

therefore, as others have stated, it the mentality that only women should be a nurse that is keeping the male gender away from this profession. this should be the focus not only for 8th grade boys but men and women of all ages, as someone has already suggested, to see first hand.

i look forward to hearing more about this great "project"!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, the layout for the movie sounds great! I hope your hospital puts it online so the rest of us can see it.

[also, ok l will get flamed for this, but probably wouldn't hurt to throw in a purty female here and there.]

That is funny, true, but funny.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health.

More estrogen checking in.

Ted you da MAN!!!!

Those ideas are EXCELLENT. It was only two years ago my son was in eighth grade. Definitely beyond the cooties stage and big on never being perceived as "gay." I wondered where this came from b/c his dad & I are not homophobic, til I saw his buddies in action at soccer games and the like, they are all the same!

(Just be sure one of the male nurses gives a good macho crotch scratch in a quiet moment, on camera, LOL!!!)

I think the techno stuff is great, big focus on that, b/c they are all into video games at this age too. The techology will grab the more intellectual dudes, and the flight nursing will grab the sporty athletic guys.

If I may add one teensy suggestion, you will probably hate it, but here it is, do a Rap. Write a lyric and make a rap either in the beginning or the end.

My hospital did this to make an infection control video, a super-talented guy, much like yourself, a unit-sec, wrote a MRSA Rap, and it was awesome!!! The talk of the hospital. I used it when I did a lecture to fourth graders on career day, and they LOVED it.

So, music ala Eminem, and you will be in!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As I'm re-reading the posts, I realized that you're focusing on 8th grade ... I was thinking 8-year-olds. Ooops! :imbar

I like your idea for the video! The only other suggestion I would make is that you make sure that the nurses are collaborating with the physicians! It as always bugged me that the public see nurses as order-takers rather than equal team members.

Also, if you have the resources, have the boy flown to the hospital with a male flight nurse -- lots of guys will think that's cool. (I know I do, being one myself...)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/CCU (PCCN); Heme/Onc/BMT.
Originally posted by hoolahan

. . . . If I may add one teensy suggestion, you will probably hate it, but here it is, do a Rap. Write a lyric and make a rap either in the beginning or the end.

My hospital did this to make an infection control video, a super-talented guy, much like yourself, a unit-sec, wrote a MRSA Rap, and it was awesome!!! The talk of the hospital. I used it when I did a lecture to fourth graders on career day, and they LOVED it.

So, music ala Eminem, and you will be in! . . . .

Do a Rap?!?!? :uhoh21: :bluecry1:

You're probably right. . . .:o

I guess you can call me. . .

MC Teddy! :D

Ted

(Understand that I am a musical snob. Rap is right on down there with country music. . .and . . . and . . .and. . Disco!!!

Also understand that I am a musical whore. . . I'll even play polka music for a good home-cooked meal! :eek: )

Up Vote Up Vote ×

MC TEDDY !!!!!! :roll :roll I love you!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Heh, it's interesting when we note our gender as different in human affairs. These will be the "good old days" when, in the near future, many people will be removed from healthcare because of technology advancements.

I'm going into nursing because of love. I can tell you all the specifics, but you can just write your own script for me. Love, i love people and love to help you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Originally posted by mario_ragucci

I'm going into nursing because of love. I can tell you all the specifics, but you can just write your own script for me. Love, i love people and love to help you.

Man, that is what it is all about isn't it. The Apostle Paul said, "Without love I am nothing." All the toys, skills and adventures are great but if you don't love people then you really won't get far in this field (at least not and help people at the same time).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment