How do people feel about male nurses?

traveler77 · Mar 8, 2016

Men in nursing are still in the minority. So go to school and enjoy becoming a professional. I've never felt less than my female colleagues because I'm in the minority. Just do it if you think this is the right field for you. After all, there is so much you can do with the degree.

srercg · Mar 10, 2016

I think male nurses are great. There are more and more coming into the workforce every day. I met two the other day just getting ready to graduate.

My fear, and I'm sure others have thought of this. Nursing USED to be one area where women were almost guaranteed to get the job over a man - mainly because of how patients feel about it. Women tend to be more sensitive in some areas, and may be slightly better as advocates. But the tide is changing - NOW that health care organizations are focused more on "business", and the public is getting used to male nurses, - we may begin to see men slowly take over the nursing force. Health care organizations will be attracted to hiring them because they are less apt to "balk about patient needs" vs "cost saving strategies" , and the obvious one of them having more strength - less issues with "back pain", or ongoing work related injuries that women have suffered - although they WILL eventually - they are simply LESS apt to.

yhl1975 · Mar 10, 2016

less stress with maternity leave for sure, so as a clinical director/manager/ privet office owner , I will prefer male medical and office support staff in my clinic

bless you!!!

RNator · Mar 11, 2016

I think male nurses are great. There are more and more coming into the workforce every day. I met two the other day just getting ready to graduate.
My fear, and I'm sure others have thought of this. Nursing USED to be one area where women were almost guaranteed to get the job over a man - mainly because of how patients feel about it. Women tend to be more sensitive in some areas, and may be slightly better as advocates. But the tide is changing - NOW that health care organizations are focused more on "business", and the public is getting used to male nurses, - we may begin to see men slowly take over the nursing force. Health care organizations will be attracted to hiring them because they are less apt to "balk about patient needs" vs "cost saving strategies" , and the obvious one of them having more strength - less issues with "back pain", or ongoing work related injuries that women have suffered - although they WILL eventually - they are simply LESS apt to.

I appreciate your post. However, I do have an opinion, and it is only an opinion. I believe that females are so accustomed to not having male caregivers, that they are using it to their advantage. While I understand differences between the sexes and sensitivities in general, I believe that many females are manipulative for this very reason. How would the female Nurses respond if male patients started demanding a male Nurse? Yeah, you know how they would respond. Have you ever seen a female Nurse place a Foley catheter in a male patient because "the patient refuses to talk? I have.... Can you imagine what would happen if a male Nurse did that to a female patient?! I've seen female Nurses respond in anger over the idea that equal privacy and modesty should be granted to both sexes. I believe it is wide spread. We keep playing into this discrimination, and I believe it is because Females Nurses are the Majority, and this isn't helpful, in fact it perpetuates the problem.

As far as the"stronger sex and stronger back statement," that needs to stop as well. Believing that males in general have a stronger spine is unscientific and ridiculous.

Farawyn · Mar 11, 2016

I appreciate your post. However, I do have an opinion, and it is only an opinion. I believe that females are so accustomed to not having male caregivers, that they are using it to their advantage. While I understand differences between the sexes and sensitivities in general, I believe that many females are manipulative for this very reason. How would the female Nurses respond if male patients started demanding a male Nurse? Yeah, you know how they would respond. Have you ever seen a female Nurse place a Foley catheter in a male patient because "the patient refuses to talk? I have.... Can you imagine what would happen if a male Nurse did that to a female patient?! I've seen female Nurses respond in anger over the idea that equal privacy and modesty should be granted to both sexes. I believe it is wide spread. We keep playing into this discrimination, and I believe it is because Females Nurses are the Majority, and this isn't helpful, in fact it perpetuates the problem.
As far as the"stronger sex and stronger back statement," that needs to stop as well. Believing that males in general have a stronger spine is unscientific and ridiculous.

You have made a few statements like this in your previous posts, and I will return to you, again, saying, it sounds like you work with not great people.

Why do you believe the problems you discuss are widespread?

As far as the physical strength, most males are physically stronger than most females, injury notwithstanding.

Farawyn · Mar 11, 2016

less stress with maternity leave for sure, so as a clinical director/manager/ privet office owner , I will prefer male medical and office support staff in my clinic
bless you!!!

Yea, don't say this, though, as it's, um, illegal.

RNator · Mar 11, 2016

You have made a few statements like this in your previous posts, and I will return to you, again, saying, it sounds like you work with not great people.
Why do you believe the problems you discuss are widespread?
As far as the physical strength, most males are physically stronger than most females, injury notwithstanding.

You are correct, and I left that job for several reasons. I shouldn't assume it is wide spread, you are correct. As far as strength, either gender doesn't have an advantage if the lifting isn't ergonomic...in ER there is no time for proper lifting. So both genders are at the same risk I believe.

AnthonyD · Mar 12, 2016

I think male nurses are great. There are more and more coming into the workforce every day. I met two the other day just getting ready to graduate.
My fear, and I'm sure others have thought of this. Nursing USED to be one area where women were almost guaranteed to get the job over a man - mainly because of how patients feel about it. Women tend to be more sensitive in some areas, and may be slightly better as advocates. But the tide is changing - NOW that health care organizations are focused more on "business", and the public is getting used to male nurses, - we may begin to see men slowly take over the nursing force. Health care organizations will be attracted to hiring them because they are less apt to "balk about patient needs" vs "cost saving strategies" , and the obvious one of them having more strength - less issues with "back pain", or ongoing work related injuries that women have suffered - although they WILL eventually - they are simply LESS apt to.

Despite Nursing being a very predominantly female career, it is NOT ok to make generalizations about either sex. And to say that male nurses "are less apt to 'balk about patient needs' vs 'cost saving strategies'" is both sexist and offensive.

I'd also love to see some data showing that females have back pain at any higher incidence than males - even if that were true, it certainly shouldn't be a factor in this discussion.

RhondaKoot · Mar 13, 2016

You guys balance us women in the workplace. A male nurse taught me how to breast feed. He was so very kind and compassionate.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2016

Have you ever seen a female Nurse place a Foley catheter in a male patient because "the patient refuses to talk?

Uhhh...no, no I have not.

RNator · Mar 13, 2016

Uhhh...no, no I have not.

I think that ER I just left is really kind of a mess...

Cpldrp06 · Mar 15, 2016

I'm 20 and a NJ National Guard Infantry men and I'm think about go to school for my RN. I was wondering is there a Demand for male nurses, and how do male nurses fit in this field. I enjoy helping people and connecting with them and I feel like this would be a good career for me.

I was in the Marine infantry with 2 deployments in Iraq. When I got out I used the GI bill for nursing school, I did not encounter any barriers during nursing school except during the OB rotation. I am now an ER nurse, and I love it. I choose nursing because it job where I help people, fast pace. I know a lot of former infantrymen choose to be cop, or private security, but I did not want to be put in the position where I to hurt, or kill anymore. It has taken me 6 years to get to where I am mentally, and spiritually and I believe the nursing career has helped me with that.