Is there a need for more male nurses?

ktwlpn, LPN · May 30, 2004

Sweetie... That's precisely what I meant. Will try to explain it to ya briefly. But do try to keep an open mind. OK, dear?
First, please re-read my post. It stands for the proposition that more guys will tend to bring nursing greater credibility. Not what you may be suggesting.
Simple fact: Most reasonable people have an easier time believing, trusting and accepting advice and suggestions from institutions (or whatever word you may wish to substitute here) that are balanced and diverse.
Dunno about you, but If I'm choosing a professional team, I'd select folks that are different from me and from the norm -- all else being equal. Why? To cover those aspects of my background, experience, perspective, thought tendencies, professional prejudices, blah, blah, blah, where I may be short. Want people that are gonna enhance what I'll be bringing to the party, and not to be my clones. Expand this general concept to what we're talking about here.
For the most part, the more monolithic an institution, the more readily it can miss other, non-standard opportunities. This, too, is a reason why enlightened managers are now hiring nurses with unique education and experiences... outside the traditional paths... business, law, engineering, IS, psychology, teaching, etc.
Moreover, as already stated, some patients (both male and females) simply prefer guys.
Could go on, Sweet Cheeks. But think that's enough to give you a flavor of what was intended.
Hope it helps.

Honey bun-if you really mean that diversity is a good thing in any field then I am all for it---I just don't agree that we have to have male nurses to achieve greater "credibility" First and formost we need to educate the public regarding what a nurse actually does-with the support of our administration....When the public accepts us as professionals and not as a doctor's handmaiden we will have greater credibility...That's just my opinion,pumpkin.....

leslie :-D · May 30, 2004

I prefer working with female nurses, they are younger, prettier, and nicer
They make me happy

:rolleyes:

ktwlpn, LPN · May 30, 2004

pay it no mind earle

mattsmom81 · May 30, 2004

Ok play nice now, boys and girls.

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 30, 2004

My my my folks are rude these days. The OP here needs a little lesson on internet/board etiquette, I think. First, if you post a question on open forum you risk get honest opinions, not just those you are looking for or that please you. Taking heads off for this is not a real polite or cool thing to do. I was not being rude, just honest.
ACLU?
whatEVER.

"sigh....again" isn't exactly polite, is it? Frankly, I thought it was an interesting question. I have an idea--if a thread looks boring, go to another thread.

I'm sure the whole male/female thing does get a lot of coverage, but a lot of us are new to this, and a lot of us guys have issues with being in a predominately matriarchal society.

In my hospital, if you don't wear a tie, your boss is a woman. We could probably stir things up real good by wondering why if you do wear a tie, your boss is a man.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · May 30, 2004

Honey bun-if you really mean that diversity is a good thing in any field then I am all for it---I just don't agree that we have to have male nurses to achieve greater "credibility" First and formost we need to educate the public regarding what a nurse actually does-with the support of our administration....When the public accepts us as professionals and not as a doctor's handmaiden we will have greater credibility...That's just my opinion,pumpkin.....

Sweetie Pie -- You wanna educate? You wanna be better accepted? Then you're gonna have to convince. To do so more effectively, get more diversity and balance into the message... and into the ranks. That'll enhance your credibility.

Remember, Cream Puff, approximately 50% of the pop is male. Have you ever pondered that guys could be a great help to ya in your quest?

I say let's use all available resources.

SmilingBluEyes · May 30, 2004

"sigh....again" isn't exactly polite, is it? Frankly, I thought it was an interesting question. I have an idea--if a thread looks boring, go to another thread.
I'm sure the whole male/female thing does get a lot of coverage, but a lot of us are new to this, and a lot of us guys have issues with being in a predominately matriarchal society.
In my hospital, if you don't wear a tie, your boss is a woman. We could probably stir things up real good by wondering why if you do wear a tie, your boss is a man.

I was not being rude in my original answer. I am sorry you see it that way.

Once again, I am very tired of people saying it will take men to add "credibility" to nursing. That even women among us in nursing would hold the belief that it will take MEN to rescue us from oppression and poor wages, all the current ills of nursing----- is also sexist and self-limiting. What an insult to those of us who are female and happen to be nurses. Men dominate nearly everything and have since the dawn of time. It's STILL a patriarchal government and world we live in..........

If you have issues with a "primarily matriarchal" society that is nursing you have but a tiny taste of what it is like to be female in a world of patriarchal rule. And if you do have issues, check your own attitudes a bit before blaming women in nursing for how you feel. YOU entered nursing knowing that it was overwhelmingly female the way I entered military service knowing it was dominantly male. I was ok with it, and I thrived. You can, too, if you want to. Just quit falling back on the old attitude that it's the women here that make nursing so bad. Nursing has evolved due to new, fresh-thinkers entering our forces, and not all are men. We only as "credible" as those of us who make up nursing and I don't think it has anything to do with gender.

I welcome ANYONE who has energy, integrity, compassion and intelligence to nursing! Male, female, black, white, gay straight, I don't CARE ---just give me a competent nurse!

Only MHO of course....

See the black versus nurse thread for how some of us feel about this "male versus female or gay versus straight" subject matter on these boards lately. It's getting old and does not unite anyone.

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 30, 2004

I prefer working with female nurses, they are younger, prettier, and nicer
They make me happy

Actually, they aren't all younger, and they aren't all nicer. Some of the young ones are nice and some are kinda mean. Same with the older. But I do like some of the old, mean ones, too. And, yeah, they pretty much are all prettier.

Dropped my clipboard once, and a pretty 23-yr-old RN immediately picked it up for me. I felt so OLD! But it was kind of nice, not having to bend over.

SmilingBluEyes · May 30, 2004

Tom you crack me up!

gypsyatheart · May 30, 2004

I was not being rude in my original answer. I am sorry you see it that way.
Once again, I am very tired of people saying it will take men to add "credibility" to nursing. That even women among us in nursing would hold the belief that it will take MEN to rescue us from oppression and poor wages, all the current ills of nursing----- is also sexist and self-limiting. What an insult to those of who are female and happen to be nurses. Men dominate nearly everything and have since the dawn of time. It's STIL a patriarchal government and world we live in..........
That nursing is primarily female does NOT make it a NON-credible group of professionals. But some would say so anyhow....and to me, THAT is sexist thinking at its finest and I can see we still stilll live in a very patriarchal society as liberated as we like to believe we are!
Only MHO of course....
See the black versus nurse thread for how some of us feel about this "male versus female or gay versus straight" subject matter on these boards lately. It's getting old and does not unite anyone.

Excellent post, Deb. ITA

Unfortunately, and not to "stir the pot"....it seems whenever men become more involved in anything....they want to take over, run it, rule it.....give it "credibility". And this is in GENERAL....I'm not saying every single man out there is like this, just a general characterisitic.

It is all about belonging to a parternalistic society.... This is just MHO....

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 30, 2004

I was not being rude in my original answer. I am sorry you see it that way.
Once again, I am very tired of people saying it will take men to add "credibility" to nursing. That even women among us in nursing would hold the belief that it will take MEN to rescue us from oppression and poor wages, all the current ills of nursing----- is also sexist and self-limiting. What an insult to those of who are female and happen to be nurses. Men dominate nearly everything and have since the dawn of time. It's STIL a patriarchal government and world we live in..........
That nursing is primarily female does NOT make it a NON-credible group of professionals. But some would say so anyhow....and to me, THAT is sexist thinking at its finest and I can see we still stilll live in a very patriarchal society as liberated as we like to believe we are!
Only MHO of course....
See the black versus nurse thread for how some of us feel about this "male versus female or gay versus straight" subject matter on these boards lately. It's getting old and does not unite anyone.

I'll check out that other thread, but just to add my 2 cents to the OP, I think the whole "we need more men" deal (I've heard it, too) is 90% physical strength and 10% patient modesty. Not too many of the nurses I know act like I'm going to bring them more credibility. Most just want to use me for my body, and not in a nice way. Which is cool with me, as long as they'll cover me for the shy little girl who needs a Foley.

BTW, my floor on my shift is now running close to 50-50 in all nursing positions (nurse, aide, orderly) and it's a pretty happy crew. We all bring our respective strengths and weaknesses, some of which are at least partly gender-related, and most of us are incorrigible flirts, which is great fun until somebody puts an eye out.

Hugs all around,

Mike

I didn't mean to say society in general is matriarchal--only society in a hospital, and even then, only so far up the chain of command. And I didn't mean it as a criticism. It's just a lot different, in some ways, from a construction crew, and many of those differences are good. But they still take getting used to.

nurseunderwater · May 30, 2004

To me the posts on this thread beg a question: A chicken and the egg type....

Are more men now seeking to join the nursing field because of all the ground work that was laid by women?

Nurses are being treated w/ more respect, commanding better wages etc. I suppose I just want all the hard work and sweat of nurses (predominantly women) through recent history validated. They are the ones that got us where we are today.

The comment about men being wage earners is antiquated at best. I know many single and married mamas that qualify as head of household.

Finally, I am not in anyway detering men from a nursing career. I agree with a previous poster that stated the need for diversity in all fields. To me diversity = more creative solutions to problems and a richer work environment.

moving along - :)

Kate