Is there a need for more male nurses?

[reddgott]

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??

[CCU NRS]

There are some out there who believe more men in the nursing profession will help.

With salaries, respect, etc. Because men have a tendency not to take the shyt like women do, i think there is a hopefulness among some women that men will 'help'.

Probably a fairy tale mentality but it is still out there in some. Most of us are glad to have helpful coworkers....and we generally would like to see more of them. And because our backs are probably aching, it may soothe our aching muscles to think someone stronger might give us a break...maybe...LOL!

Truth is, most men physiologically will posess greater upper body strength that serves them well in the direct care setting; this type work is heavier than is let on, as those of us who have done it awhile can attest. It takes its toll after several decades.

So...guys, please take it with a grain of salt when someone says 'Oh good a man'...it could mean lots of things...maybe just that they are glad to see something other than the usual estrogen overload on shift that day. I believe the best workplaces employ a mix of men and women to bring balance, as someone already pointed out.

Like everyone else here, I'm just glad to have a competent caring nurse coworker...of any 'type'.

Very well put. Just let me add that I do tend to get asked to help reposition Pts by every nurse on the unit and many go out of their way to ask me rather than a nurse working right next to them (either male or female) I take this as a sign that they know I am willing to help without gritching and am cheerful and pleasant to the Pt to boot. I guess I am just a wonderful person...kidding please don't execute me for my humor LOL

I have been asked why there aren't more males in nursing to which I usually reply "OH we are coming up!"

BTW there were 10 males in my LPN class of 40 in 1994

and when I did my ASN 2002 we were 1/2 and 1/2 in my distance program we were also 1/2 LNP 1/2 Paramedic.

Redd I didn't think any of your posts were impolite but you used humor to good advantage.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

Male or female...we simply need more nurses period :)

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Funny ~ I actually fell for the "Be the ones who dare to care" posters on campus.....

I don't think half of my friends even know what being a Nurse involves. Hopefully, I'll help break some stereotypes...

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Roy, don't feel bad. Many of my family or friends don't know what a Nurse is or means or entails...unless they are already a nurse or work in the setting....and I've been a nurse for 19 years! It truly is amazing.

[CHATSDALE]

my pet peeve is gender terms..ie male nurse, lady cop, etc....people should be accepted if they are doing their jobs..

but i know what the guys [male] are talking about..we had an inservice the other day about combative pts [of which we have more than our share] and the moderator said we should have the person most likely to command respect take charge when dealing with these pts...she didn't say male and she didn't say anything about short females need to hide behind the door but you could read between the lines...unforturnately these disruptions seem to occur when orderlys are not available...

anyway welcome to the profession b ye m r f

[NurseGuy_in_06]

I was in clinicals yesterday with a great nurse who has taught me a lot and who is also male when I tried to start an IV, again on a male patient. After neither of us could start the IV due to there being practically no veins in the arm we endured the comment about "boy nurses". I thought nothing of it as I am learning to be a good nurse. By the way, when someone asks me if I am going to be a male nurse I tell them no, I will work on female patients also.