Male and lazy?

[DapperRN]

I'm just curious. When I first started as an RN I worked in an ER of a smaller community hospital. I found a couple of the veteran nurses (female) didn't want much to do with me initially. I was one of two men working there at the time. After a couple of weeks one of these ladies finally said that she really enjoyed working with me and it was refreshing to work with a male nurse that actually worked. It wasn't until a while later that I learned that most of these veteran women truly believed that male nurses were lazy. I've worked various jobs since then and every now and then I come across the same, misconception (as I see it). So I'm just curious if anyone has come across the same label. I have never been called lazy by any of my colleagues (I've been called a few other things though.)

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

I work in a busy inner city ICU and everyone is running around. Still - there are a handfull of nurses who say that men are lazy and will all end up in management. Oh - and my favorite - "they can't multitask" - which is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. It's sad because I'm sure they wouldn't want to be stereotyped like that. I mostly ignore it, although lately I've been debating with them - which I think is new for them.

[Graffinius]

I agree with you jenn

[Nurse_Wretched]

Two of the top 5 nurses I know are men. Both of them are amazing nurses! I do think that there are slightly different expectations of male and female nurses where longer term care situations are involved...

Female patients and female family members want to talk to the female on shift. If the nurse is the only female on shift with a bunch of male nursing assistants, this can make for a very hectic shift! Male nurses are not expected to give as much emotional support to family members. It is all about public perception and stereotypes! The unfortunate thing is that this drains female nurses of all of their energy... Guess what gender of family member visits the most? Females. Guess who is super needy and/or drama oriented when they visit? Female family members!

[KG,RN]

Like everything else........you cannot categorize someone solely on their sex.

Good luck

This is a fact. I hate discrimination (period)

[deftonez188]

Sometimes being more laid back (or at least more stoic) can be misinterpreted in this way.

I've never heard of this 'stereotype' before. Doesn't sound like one, just sounds like some individuals lacking self-esteem in their work/work ethic.

Lazy knows no gender, nor does it know a color.

[rgroyer1RNBSN, BSN, RN]

I absolutely love this because I had se female nurses tjat were.saying this about me because I am there supervisor, but they finally got the hint since I am always out working the floor instead of sitting at the desk and in my office like their last nm, one of them one night told me they didnt answer call lights because they are an Rn, well how funny seeing as I am an Rn and their manager and I answer lights! Lol! good luck! Rod, Rn, Bsn

[Nurse_Wretched]

I love when people pull rank and say that they don't do certain tasks because they think they are above them. It makes me laugh because it shows that they are losers. It takes a real nurse to do whatever it takes to properly care for their patient! If you are too "good" to get your patient a blanket or help them with their bath, then you aren't a real nurse IMHO. Some folks are nurses just for the paycheck and some are real nurses... We all decide which one we are gonna' be.

[kool-aide, RN]

I love when people pull rank and say that they don't do certain tasks because they think they are above them. It makes me laugh because it shows that they are losers. It takes a real nurse to do whatever it takes to properly care for their patient! If you are too "good" to get your patient a blanket or help them with their bath, then you aren't a real nurse IMHO. Some folks are nurses just for the paycheck and some are real nurses... We all decide which one we are gonna' be.

SO TRUE!!!!!

[bradons]

When I started I noticed right away that the male nurse (only one at the time until I finished school) was extremely lazy. And the worst part was that he got away with it. So when I finished my senior practicum and was hired I wanted to go the opposite way of the stereotypical male in the facility (in the past they have all been lazy). After working for 5-6 months a few of the female nurses came up to me and told me I was the first male nurse that actually works, does more for others and actually cares that they've worked with. Now almost working two years I HATE working with the other male nurse because of how lazy and pathetic he is.

[Nurse_Wretched]

I have worked with a few lazy nurses... One was male and he'd been working the same job for 20 years. Woah! The other was a nice lady who just didn't fit well in her new job. Other than that, everyone else I have worked with has busted their butt the entire shift to do all of the assigned tasks. I have worked in LTC alot. LTC is crazy!!!

[bestallaround, ADN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Nine years ago, when I started as a nurse, I worked with a few excellent male nurses. I had a good opinion of male nurses. I thought they were the best. Three years later, I got a job at our local VA hospital and let me tell you, I have never seen such useless lazy male nurses. It is disgraceful. We have some that will sit and drink coffee and watch ESPN all day while the females are out on the floor busting their butts. We have some that hustle back and forth giving the illusion of being busy, but are actually not doing any work. Alot are on the internet. Some are just tagging along behind the women thinking they are charming, trying to get their attention. It is so frustrating. Just last night I worked a shift with two men and I thought to myself, "Some men just don't have a place in nursing" One was on the internet, taking smoke breaks every 30 min, and the other was chasing my tail trying to talk about personal stuff that I don't care about, unrelated to work, while I'm trying to stayed focused on work. When I first came to work there, I had heard other female nurses say the men were lazy, but to watch it with my own eyes. I don't assume that male nurses are lazy, but when it comes to percentages in my experience, the bad seem to outnumber the good.

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Some males are lazy (fact). The male nurses I read about/work with are lazy (limited observation). Therefore, all male nurses must be lazy (unsupported conclusion).

Adapted from the Fox News paradigm.