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

Make the "purty girl" a Dr! Then they may sign up just to marry one! Machines that go "ping" are a must, and blood and guts is good too! (I'm kidding ok!) Seriously though, OR scenes of repairing fractures, sewing up lacerations etc. could be kewl.

Altruism is all very well, but it doesn't pay the bills, or attract most teens. We need to stimulate their interest, opening them up to the possibility of the option of nursing, rather than recruiting them. IMO. Good Luck!

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

Mario & brianpribis - during our video project meeting today, we discussed what would keep the kid's interest up while viewing the film. The "action" and "tech" scenes were viewed as important to keeping the 8th graders' attentions. During that discussion I found myself becoming concerned that the "caring" factor could get lost in all of this "action" and "technology". We continued this discussion on what would be important to the 8th grader. . . what would be THEIR points of interest???. . . and someone said that "making a difference" is indeed important to them!!! This "making a difference" will be brought out in this project. . . and that a "Male Nurse" does make an important "difference" to those he cares for.

donmurray - and you're also correct. Stimulating their interest is exceedingly important. Which is why we are going to have lots of "action" and "tech" scenes. This whole project is all about offering the idea to these 8th graders that Nursing is a worthwhile career choice. . . including financially worthwhile.

On a personal note. I got into nursing to make a steady income. I remain in nursing because I enjoy providing Care. I feel like I am making a difference! AND. . . I feel secure in knowing that my income derived from nursing is adequate enough to pay the bills and then some! I can't complain about my salary. And I know that I do provide medically effective and compassionate care. AND. . . I do like the tech stuff! AND . . . I do like the "Action"!

The challange is to script this video so that ALL of these points are well represented.

Ted

P. S. donmurray - Your suggestion on having the "purty lady" be the MD is excellent! Now, for the credits, do you refer to yourself as "Don" or "Donald"?!?!? :)

Ha Ha! Thanks, Ted, Don is fine, only my mother ever called me Donald, and usually only when I was in deep doo-doo!

Hmmm...It's a respected career(except by redneck mother in laws)

The money is pretty good, you have a lot of choices in where you want to nurse...hmmm...this is for 8th grade boys?

I'll resist saying something I'll surely get flamed for.

-Russell

I like the rap idea.

Originally posted by Rustyhammer

I'll resist saying something I'll surely get flamed for.

-Russell

This is red neck noise. Just say what you want to say, then you'll know how to say it next time without getting burned. Lol, rusty, when do we get to walk through that forest and chop some wood? And Ted, if I had to communicate a message with eith graders i would just let them do it. Tell them why you are there and start asking base questions in such a way to get them to talk. Leading questions. If you have to make a presentation, start using a dijcam and just make a 15 minute mind blowing display. Shucks - I really don't know. Kids(me) at that age like to encourage disorder for all the structuring they are in day in/out. :o :confused: :eek:

Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

I have to be honest and say job security is the main reason I went into nursing. When I first went into the medical field I was driving ambulance and paramedics were to be feared because they were not considered competent enough by the MDs. I did not see my self as a 50 to 60 year old making runs. A lot has changed and I still miss the Code runs. I have been in the OR for 25 years and wouldn't change anything. I love working with women and helping patients. There are very few jobs out there that will pay what nurses can command and very few that start new nurses with a good wage. I just got my last paycheck for the year and my final gross pay was $100,768!!!!!! Now I do take alot of call and work a number of double shifts, but in the end it is well worth it. I would recommend nursing to any guy that wants to graduate in two to 4 years and start out at a good realistic salary without struggling thru years of college just to have to compete with dozens of other misfits for one low paying job. Good luck with the video. Mike

Hey please don't yell, I'm not a man but I wanted to post. (Isn't that just like a woman, always gotta get my two cents in)

I think this a great idea. I wish you the very best with the video and anything else you can arrange for this career day. Maybe it's the title "nurse." If it were changed to something with some, I don't know something more testosterony, than young males would be less freaky about it.

And like someone else pointed out young males like "stuff" make sure you have lots of gadgets and if the flight can't be arranged perhaps just being able to climb inside would be a great start.

Good luck with this and I agree it would be great if this was aimed at both sexes. Let's face it the nursing profession needs ALL abled bodies!

Ok, I'm finished and I'll stay off here I promise.

C

Im not a nurse yet only a student.

The resons i wanna be one are because i wanna do something meaningfull with my life.

But thats now.

When i was younger money was the only consideration.

The gay stigma does bother me somewhat.

I would be proud to be a nurse because they are very smart.

The training is chalenging and demanding utilizing highly technichal equipment.

And i have liked virtualy every nurse I have ever met.

The economic oppurtunity for nurse is excelent and expected to increase 21% thru 2008.

They get paid very well.

Men are said to move up easily and get the primo jobs.

And best of all: There is just so many girls in this field.

Paul

Oh Don I love You! Machine that goes PING! Making me flash back to Monty Python's the meaning of life.

Sorry boys, carry on.

McTeddy..hmmm, l must be out of the loop cause all l can think is "l want fries with that"...LOL

Specializes in Home Health.

Hi TX!! Excellent point ! In the "background" of any hospital scenes, you should have the cutest most well-endowed chicks as nursing colleagues you can find. Sexist? Yes, but if it brings in more nurses, I am OK with that!!

But boys at that age DO LOVE those tight sweaters. When they see the plethora of beautiful babes they can be around, that alone will do it. I am serious. Use it!!!

Hi, That idea for the video is great. I think boys that age would respond to your ideas.

As for reasons for nursing my husbands field he had worked in for close to 30 years disappeared. He was left with a future going down the tubes so decided to go into nursing. The main reasons were the hours and the fact that he could work less days and have a better life. It has turned out to be that and so much more.

He went from being the one in ten interviewed for a lousy paying no benefit job to being highly in demand and in control of his future. No being pushed out of the field because of age or politics. A job which gives him great satisfaction and I can see how he holds himself in such better esteem than he did in the other field.

He likes ER, tele, and ICU. Other people have said that is no surprise as those are the "mens" fields in nursing. LOL.

Have to put my 2 cents in because he is sleeping between shifts.

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