How do people feel about male nurses?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2016

I have seen male nurses in many areas including OB and NICU. I work with a few and they are awesome but not treated any differently than female nurses.

In the area where I live, male nurses are sometimes treated with a tad bit more respect by physicians from certain foreign countries, as well as some elderly patients who conclude that any man in scrubs must be a doctor.

Alnitak7 · Jan 25, 2016

Why would there be a demand for male nurses?

I can't count how many times I've said, "He needs a man to take care of him." There are sexually inappropriate patients who can't abuse a man like they can a woman. I have also had obnoxious female charge nurses demand that I go in a room alone with a physically abusive patient, i.e., "There is no reason for more than one person to be in here!" I once had a male R.N. come to my rescue when someone started a nit-picking argument. I do agree that we need good nurses like one poster said.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2016

Not even men!
Are you saying men can be whatever they want to be? Even nurses? And that they are no different a worker than anyone else?
Whoa.

Oh yeah! Genitalia is not a question on NCLEX!

And if OP is in any doubt, referencing his genitalia is NOT politically correct.

Farawyn · Jan 25, 2016

I can't count how many times I've said, "He needs a man to take care of him." There are sexually inappropriate patients who can't abuse a man like they can a woman. I have also had obnoxious female charge nurses demand that I go in a room alone with a physically abusive patient, i.e., "There is no reason for more than one person to be in here!" I once had a male R.N. come to my rescue when someone started a nit-picking argument. I do agree that we need good nurses like one poster said.

I've taken care of plenty of sexually inappropriate patients. As have my male coworkers. Who have been accused by the patients of rape.

I would say the sexual stuff is on both sides. The only time I've "needed" a male nurse over a female was for heavy lifting.

A nurse is a nurse is a nurse...

NuGuyNurse2b · Jan 25, 2016

Rape? that's a very serious accusation. Thankfully I've never had that happen - specially since the charge wouldn't stand since I'm gay - but that is terrible to do to someone.

Farawyn · Jan 25, 2016

Rape? that's a very serious accusation. Thankfully I've never had that happen - specially since the charge wouldn't stand since I'm gay - but that is terrible to do to someone.

Pssst... Males can be raped, too.

The charge didn't stand with my male co workers, either.

No one cared what their sexuality was, the men I worked with. They were accused because they were male.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 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.

There is no particular Demand for male nurses. We are not entitled to any affirmative action benefits and are not a protected class.

Some male nurses do have a specialty skill though, like lifting or being able to look like they don't take no **** off anyone. Just as some female nurses have specialty skills like speaking Korean or starting IVs on a turnip.

I don't have lifting skills or speak Korean but I am pretty dang good with teenagers waking up from facial surgery. In my PACU that is a very handy skill as we do a lot of oral surgery on teenagers.

Use the concept of the Nursing Consult to bring a special skilled nurse to your aid, whether it's lifting help on Bariatric patients or IV starts on dehydrated turnips. Your skill in lifting may be assumed until you clarify you are not lifting that 300 pounder by yourself. Just as not all Hispanic-looking nurses speak fluent Spanish. (and people will make that assumption)

When I graduated last millenia, men were about 3% of nurses, now it's closer to 10%, so though you would still be in the minority you are certainly not alone.

ralder · Jan 25, 2016

There can be some discrimination when it comes to nursing. Usually this is from female coworkers. I have been told "You cant start that foley -because your a man. You shouldn't do this or that. You will need to have a second person in room with you (which is never a bad idea anyways). There are also many positives. Bottom line is if it is your passion DO It. The demand though is for nurses that work as a team and not gender biased. Oh and please, please, please, never say "Just a Nurse"! Being a Nurse Rocks whether your female or male.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2016

Pssst... Males can be raped, too.
The charge didn't stand with my male co workers, either.
No one cared what their sexuality was, the men I worked with. They were accused because they were male.

I'm "liking" this because I agree. As a male you can be a target for the accusation no matter your sexuality.

I also want to agree to having a female witness to any legitimate procedure that might be construed as otherwise (i.e. foley catheter insertion, peri pad and dressing checks) I ain't got no time for "he said/ she said nonsense" That is real fun on a weekend call shift where the OR nurse is male, both PACU nurses are male, Anesthesiologist is male, Surgeon is male and the patient is a stressed out female having had an incomplete abortion with no family available..

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2016

I'm the token female. On my shift rotation it's all guys. LOL

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2016

Rape? that's a very serious accusation. Thankfully I've never had that happen - specially since the charge wouldn't stand since I'm gay - but that is terrible to do to someone.

It happened frequently at my first job, which was just sad. I had one coworker who wouldn't do baths/foley care/etc. on a female patient without another nurse in the room because he had been accused of rape before and he wanted to make sure there was always a witness in the room with him any time he touched a female's genitals for any reason.

I don't think it's a coincidence that I haven't seen accusations of rape since I moved - my first job was in a small town with uneducated people and lots of religion. I think the general population there would be horrified about a strange man even seeing a female's genitals, let alone touching them for any reason.

O9eleven · Jan 25, 2016

Murses are man purses.

Meh, bad joke.