Male Nurses Discrimination

Rustyhammer · Oct 9, 2003

Nope!

No problems yet.

Been nursing for 18 years now.

-Russell

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2003

No problems here either. In fact I've been offered to move to management on several occasions and have refused.

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 9, 2003

was that over female candidates with similar training, education and experience, Tweety?

just asking.

cause in some places, this DOES happen. Seems men ARE on a fast-track to management many times in nursing.

please don't flame me, I am just asking an honest question.

zambezi, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2003

In my unit, female to male ration is probably 60/40...Pretty high from what I have heard and seen on other units... I love it...it dosen't seem that they are discriminated against in my unit, by other nurses, docs, or management...not sure about patients, we have had some that the whole "male nurse" thing hasn't gone over so well, but I think that was a personal issue for the patient...a nurse is a nurse, doesn't matter the sex, religion, or color, we share the same job and responsibilities--personally, I enjoy that mix that others brings...makes life more interesting...

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
was that over female candidates with similar training, education and experience, Tweety?

just asking.

cause in some places, this DOES happen. Seems men ARE on a fast-track to management many times in nursing.

please don't flame me, I am just asking an honest question.

Deb, I would never flame you. I always listen to what you have to say.

Anyway, since I never applied (I was only asked to apply, not really offered the job, sorry about that), and am not sure who was in the running. In one case, house supervisor, a male was given the position (which was vacated by another male nurse). The other was for the manager of the unit I'm not in, and I certainly don't qualify as I don't have a BSN, and I'm not sure why I was being encouraged to apply. Except for the fact, that I'm so fabulous as a charge nurse on nights. :)

The person who runs this hospital is a female excecutive andthere are only three managers who are males. All the nurse directors and the vice president of nursing are all females. One of the four house supervisors is male. I can say without reservation that men are not showed favoritism in promotion at this institution. Nor are they held back if that's what they are interested in. Two recently vacated nurse manager positions were filled by females.

Rustyhammer · Oct 9, 2003

I HAVE heard that some managers prefer to hire men in supervisory or management roles but I really don't think it's all that common.

Mostly the job goes to the most qualified.

-R

sixes · Oct 10, 2003

I work in a long term care facility before that with home nursing.

Whne I work evenings and night shift I am the only RN in the building there are 157 residents on Evenings I have 3 RPN and 18 PSW on nights I have 1 RPN and 5 PSW

There are only 4 PSW that are male and personally I love it when they are on. Not that the females can't do the work but having a good stron man around helps.

All the men work very hard and are very good at their jobs

The only difficulty I have encountered is with residents. Some women don't like the men doing their personal care and some of the men don't like women doing their personal care.

When I was back home and very young 18 I was miscarring my child I was in my 6 month. Whem I came into ER the only nurse available was RON. I was scared and embarassed. I came to have freat respect for this wonderful man. In the long run I lost my child but I learned a very valuable lesson.

Don't judge a book by it's cover

Good Luck in your carrier

As a nurse with only about 13 years I'm still fairly young go for it

As for your wife got to love her I have raised 7 I would have had a bakers dozen but the good lord had other plans

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 10, 2003

thank you tweety!!!

mother/babyRN, RN · Oct 10, 2003

In my school experience, instructors were more lenient and forgiving of the male students..They expected more from us and openly told us that. In my work experience, male students and nurses are often primarily perceived as doctors...I have not seen anyone be discriminated against because they are male...Hope never to have that happen to any nurse, male OR female...

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
thank you tweety!!!

:)

Also was interesting your experience in your nursing school. There were two guys in my class out of 60 students. We definately stood out, and I put a subtle pressure on myself to to be the best and better, so they wouldn't blame any slacking on my sex. Any slacking in my class was by females. The males toed the line, minding our p's and q's very carefully.

I think Martin Luther Kings puts it best. That people should be judged on the content of their character. Period.

mario_ragucci · Oct 10, 2003

It's hard to call it discrimination. Patients, on rare occasions, show open discrimination by refusing a male RN. This is a learned behavior so you have to show respect. American culture treats men and women differently, with roles and stereotypes. Women have been historically discriminated by men pretty harshly. I salute the women of the years who put a foot down on blatent discrimination. Men and women should help each other, especially in an environment like PT care where communication is key to everything.

There are way more female RN's than male, huh? 8.5:1

I can sense there are a few women who get mad or frustrated with men, and feel men are not worthy or capable with identifying with anything they know. Again, this is all learned behavior and you can't do anything about it. Men do it when it comes to girls as well. People act rude to each other more readily with an audience of their own. Ha-ha :-) The vast majority of RNs are professional individuals who are alert and oriented more than any other profession!

Erin RN · Oct 13, 2003

Well since I work from Home as a case manager now I don't have much contact with male nurses but I used to work in the ED and our staff there was about 50/50. Every week on 1 out of my 3 shifts I was the one of two female RNs working with all males..RNs, Techs and MDs. I really liked it. If I had a combative drunk or drugged out pt then I would have one of the guys come in with me...The only time I didn't much like it was when we had a rape or two since I was usually the one who got stuck doing the Looooong exam...but of course, I do understand why. When I floated on the floors I never even worked with a male nurse so I am not sure about discrimination there..our ER was so darn busy no one had time to care if you were male or female..if you were breathing..you were working!!

Erin