Is there a need for more male nurses?

RN34TX · May 28, 2004

As a new LPN graduate I constantly here "Congratulations, we need more male nurses." & "As a man most employers will hire you on the spot!"..... But it has been my clinical experience that there was no one specific thing that could have been done better by a man than a woman. In fact I have been refused three times during my maternity rotation and was finally allowed to assess a woman who was post c-section, that happened to be a nursing instructor. (which was a better experience than the other students got but thats beside the point. Anyways, where is this big major need for more men in nursing? any ideas??

I heard the same thing when I graduated 7 years ago, not sure what the big need for men is neither.

However, I now take comments like that as a red flag and try to look for some male presence on the floor when I apply for a new job because......

a couple of times when I was the "token male nurse" on the floor their was a mentality of "Oh look, a man on the floor, he can take all of the heavy lifting and combative patients" and you need to remember and sometimes remind them that you do not get paid more than a female nurse so the load should be distributed accordingly.

Let me point out before I anger anyone that most of my present and past female co-workers do not have that type of attitude, they share the workload. I'm just warning you that the mentality is out there and particularly if there are very few male nurses on the unit, it can be tempting for them to try to take advantage of you, especially as a new grad so eager to please.

SmilingBluEyes · May 28, 2004

sigh.....again.

we need more QUALIFIED nurses, period. Let us leave gender, race,and other characteristics out of this please.

See the "black and white" nurses thread. This male versus female thing is the proverbial dead horse.

CHATSDALE · May 28, 2004

We Need Nurses.....you Will Never Be Token With The Working Nurses

reddgott · May 29, 2004

sigh.....again.
we need more QUALIFIED nurses, period. Let us leave gender, race,and other characteristics out of this please.
See the "black and white" nurses thread. This male versus female thing is the proverbial dead horse.

I am not pitting males versus females,,,, I am just searching for the rationale behind some of the comments I've recieved. please call the ACLU and cancel your complaint. TY :rolleyes:

BabyRN2Be · May 29, 2004

Reddgot,

SmilingBluEyes is absolutely right. There's a demand for EXCELLENT nurses; leaving issues of sex, race, religion, sexual orientation aside - we just need GREAT nurses, regardless of anything.

What area of nursing would you like to work? If it's not OB, I wouldn't be too worried. Just watch videos and read if OB is not your area. Just know enough to do well on the NCLEX and you'll be fine.

I know that ED's really like nurses who happen to be men. I've also noticed that there are a lot of male nurses in psych, as well as med-surg. Regardless of your sex, you will find a job as a nurse, and you will be welcomed in the field.

Good luck to you. I hope that you do well.

reddgott · May 29, 2004

:chair: I dont remember saying we didnt need more excellent qualified nurses or nurses period. We do. With that established, (which I thought was a foregone conclusion), ...and as my new attorny -smilingblueyes- has pointed out it's not a gender, race, age, nationality, or sexual preference issue; ASIDE FROM ALL ASSUMPTIONS........... You know what never mind

Thanks to all who responded!

:rolleyes:

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 29, 2004

I am not pitting males versus females,,,, I am just searching for the rationale behind some of the comments I've recieved. please call the ACLU and cancel your complaint. TY

When you post a question in an open forum, be prepared for any answers. And quite honestly, there's been a load of gender-specific threads in recent days/weeks.

(BTW the ACLU line is busy :rolleyes: )

leslie :-D · May 29, 2004

i understand what you're asking mr. carumba. my forthcoming answer is an assumption on my part but me thinks that some male pts. would be more comfortable with a nurse of the same gender; same philosophy that many female pts. prefer re: female nurses. even though majority of nurses what someone competent and intelligent, many patients want someone of their own gender to provide personal care.

leslie

rnmi2004 · May 29, 2004

I understand what you're asking, redd. :)

I too have often wondered why "more male nurses are needed." I think Earle58 brings out a good point but it seems like there must be something more than personal preference behind the comment. Why is it that no other profession seems to need more of one sex or the other? It doesn't make sense to me.

leslie :-D · May 29, 2004

offhand, i cannot think of another profession that exposes people/pts in their most vulnerable states. to this day, i still will only have female mds because of my modesty. i think many people feel this way.

TeenyBabyRN · May 29, 2004

I understand what you're asking, redd. :)
I too have often wondered why "more male nurses are needed." I think Earle58 brings out a good point but it seems like there must be something more than personal preference behind the comment. Why is it that no other profession seems to need more of one sex or the other? It doesn't make sense to me.

How many other professions deal with seeing people naked?

(Keep your minds out of the gutter, folks! :) )