How do people feel about male nurses?

[Natgurad]

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.

[Farawyn]

A good nurse is a good nurse. But I do find that with male nurses there is less backstabbing and less gossip. I think they add a different level of professionalism that is needed.

Peeing standing up is something coveted by our employers?

[Alnitak7]

Because you there's a lot of hands on things right? I'm a male and just felt out of place during my L&D rotation. My instructor assigned me the task of teaching a new mother how to breast feed.

Some wisdom is required by these instructors and supervisors as far as the right patients to assign you to. How did this new mother feel about a man being near her at this time? Even the most stable and trustworthy men might not want to be "teaching a new mother how to breastfeed" when they've never breastfed. For that matter, a female who has never breastfed can't be a good teacher for this either.

[CallMeSherlockRN2b]

Male nurses are the same as any other nurse. Both genders are open to liability with the opposite sex due to the nature of the job, so my advice is to ask a female coworker to accompany you when performing certain skills if possible (RN or CNA/PCT). Males such as myself due tend to gravitate towards critical care and emergency nursing, however I've worked with some cool male nurses in Pediatrics. Shadow an RN if you're curious, and if the interest is still there go for nursing. If not, healthcare is vast and varied--I've worked with males in respiratory therapy, radiology, and many other fields that are just as necessary.

As a senior nursing student, and a PCT for four years, I can say males fit into the nursing world. You may be asked to help move a patient a bit more than another coworker, but the people that ask usually truly need the help. And chose you because you're dependable and a good coworker, NOT solely on your Y chromosome.

Good luck in what you decide!

[jlk032309]

I am a Murse in Northeast Ohio and proud to say so. I was told by a fantastic instructor in school, a nurse is a nurse is a nurse, no matter what color you are or gender. As long as good patient care is being provided in my opinion it shouldn't matter.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

Yuck and yuck with the "murse" thing.

NOT appreciated, EVER.

[LastBowelMovement]

You will be surprised how many times male nurses are actually preferred (E.R. for instance) but there are also moments where you are absolutely going to be discriminated against (mostly by fellow old school nurses). Most patients don't mind at all, cause they have other problems (obviously)

Yours,

LastBowelMovement

[klone, MSN, RN]

Yuck and yuck with the "murse" thing.

NOT appreciated, EVER.

Eh, my husband doesn't mind.

Funny, regarding the comment about men getting into nursing only to go into administration. My husband and I have been nurses for literally the exact amount of time. We went into two different areas of nursing. After just a couple years, he got promoted into greater and greater leadership positions. His last job (before he decided he hated leadership and quit to be a plain old hospice nurse taking care of patients) was as an executive director of a mid-size hospice. This, with only an ADN.

Meanwhile, I have my MSN in nursing leadership, and two certifications in my specialty, and I have been struggling to get into a formal leadership role for two years now.

I always chalked it up to the fact that he's always worked for small companies, while I've always worked for larger hospital networks. But this thread has me wondering if he was able to advance into leadership so easily because he's a man.

I'm not resentful in any way. He's the bees knees and I'm his biggest fan. Plus, I know my time will come soon. But it just makes me go "hmmmm."

[kalycat, BSN, RN]

I'm really surprised at all these comments about males not being welcome in L and D or having inappropriate assignments as students. What is this, the dark ages?? (Oh wait, then ALL the medical providers would be male!) My cohort was half guys (!!) and all had great L and D experiences, even though it was definitely a program tailored toward "traditional" students... E.g. These were young men who hadn't already had children.

In fact, one of the guys went on to be an excellent L and D nurse - he's a very popular labor coach from what I understand. All attended at least 1 lady partsl delivery. I mean sheesh, how do all the male medical residents get *their* training??? Someone's gotta check that cervix!

In all seriousness OP, sounds like some of this stuff may be regional or program specific. I'm in WA and we are pretty open minded 'round these parts, I guess. Not sure what it would be like in the Bible Belt or whatever, but here, meh. Gender isn't much of a thing. I know male nurses in mother/baby, Peds, NICU, ICU, ED, cardiac, OR, etc.

Good luck to you and enjoy the ride. Keep an open mind - you never know what specialty will suit you.

[hamsterwheel]

You won't see any job listing specifying male nurses for obvious reasons but I do know being male (if fit looking) is an advantage in the interview. It probably depends where your applying. Jobs seen as requiring more physical strength and endurance will snatch you up.

Just don't gain 30 lbs of flab during nursing school (and good luck with that)

[Wrench Party]

No problems with my male coworkers-I don't see them getting their feathers ruffled that much over small things. Guys seem to collect more in cardiac, ER, ICU at my hospital. Also seen a good amount in Peds. Haven't seen a good amount yet in administration, but I chalk it up to our generation hasn't hit management yet.

[GiftfromGodRN]

Male or female, no difference, we need good nurses and gender should never make a difference...... I work/worked with some great male nurses. Murses Rock

[sherri64]

And yet there are so many women who go to male doctors. I've seen male patients who request a female nurse because they feel strange having a man give them personal care. So it happens with both sexes. I think it is smart for any nurse giving personal care to always have someone else with them. Turning and lifting, even just during bathing, is so much easier on everyone with two people. And that is good team work anyhow.