Male nurses hired faster?

tyloo · Apr 24, 2011

Yes all us female nurses have a secret pact to take down all male nurses--- who told you? LOL.

DPSGraduateNurse · Apr 24, 2011

OP: I am a male nursing student and regardless if "male nurses" (hate saying that myself), get hired faster or not, I really hope that your decision of becoming a nurse is not based on if you will get the first job, because of your sex. You should want to pursue nursing because of it's passion - while not all gravy (what real-world job is?) you should take on the challenge and be willing & ready to care for those that need it most otherwise you will be an unhappy, grumpy "male nurse."

##IJS! Good luck guy!

Chemistry Sux · Apr 25, 2011

OP: I am a male nursing student and regardless if "male nurses" (hate saying that myself), get hired faster or not, I really hope that your decision of becoming a nurse is not based on if you will get the first job, because of your sex. You should want to pursue nursing because of it's passion - while not all gravy (what real-world job is?) you should take on the challenge and be willing & ready to care for those that need it most otherwise you will be an unhappy, grumpy "male nurse."
##IJS! Good luck guy!

I don't have a problem with "male nurse" unless someone is being condescending. I didn't arrive to the option of persuing nursing as a career based solely on the fact that I might get hired faster because I'm a man. I want to be a nurse, I also would like to be an RT, but most of all I want an oportunity to employed. I could simply have asked should I persue RT or RN, but I am aware of the differences in the two professions and I am content with the pros and cons of both. I want to go with the one that will make me more employable.

The male/female thing is big among potiental nursing students right now. I am taking pre reqs at a school with about 9 other people who all applied to the local BSN school. 5 of us are male the other 4 female. all of the males are 25 and up all the females are younger than 20. All of the males have higher gpa's and act scores than all of the females except one girl had an act score 1pt higher than one of the guys. All 4 females got in and not one of the males were accepted. We had all been told, and believed that males had a better chance of getting in over the females. WE WERE WRONG. All of us were more or at least equally qualified than the females but NOT ONE of us were accepted. It could have been our ages, but that's "a whole nother can of worms". It appears the school selected the a-typical/traditional nursing student...young females.

I don't want to be hired or chosen for anything JUST because I'm a male, or I'm white, or I'm stronger or whatever, but I will choose a career where I have a better chance of being employable.

Maybe I should have said "are more males needed in the nursing profession" or something along those lines. My question is really with nursing "shortage" essentially over, is RT or RN a better choice?

Turd Ferguson · Apr 25, 2011

I don't know about getting hired any faster than females... in my experience it's all about the networking you've done prior to the job search.

I will say though that being a male nursing student is a double edged sword- some instructors and hospital staff really like having a guy there, some of them don't.

It's all subjective.

mindlor · Apr 25, 2011

I don't have a problem with "male nurse" unless someone is being condescending. I didn't arrive to the option of persuing nursing as a career based solely on the fact that I might get hired faster because I'm a man. I want to be a nurse, I also would like to be an RT, but most of all I want an oportunity to employed. I could simply have asked should I persue RT or RN, but I am aware of the differences in the two professions and I am content with the pros and cons of both. I want to go with the one that will make me more employable.
The male/female thing is big among potiental nursing students right now. I am taking pre reqs at a school with about 9 other people who all applied to the local BSN school. 5 of us are male the other 4 female. all of the males are 25 and up all the females are younger than 20. All of the males have higher gpa's and act scores than all of the females except one girl had an act score 1pt higher than one of the guys. All 4 females got in and not one of the males were accepted. We had all been told, and believed that males had a better chance of getting in over the females. WE WERE WRONG. All of us were more or at least equally qualified than the females but NOT ONE of us were accepted. It could have been our ages, but that's "a whole nother can of worms". It appears the school selected the a-typical/traditional nursing student...young females.
I don't want to be hired or chosen for anything JUST because I'm a male, or I'm white, or I'm stronger or whatever, but I will choose a career where I have a better chance of being employable.
Maybe I should have said "are more males needed in the nursing profession" or something along those lines. My question is really with nursing "shortage" essentially over, is RT or RN a better choice?

My honest advice, the way things are going.....go for an engineering degree.....

JacobK, ADN, EMT-I · Apr 25, 2011

I don't have a problem with "male nurse" unless someone is being condescending. I didn't arrive to the option of persuing nursing as a career based solely on the fact that I might get hired faster because I'm a man. I want to be a nurse, I also would like to be an RT, but most of all I want an oportunity to employed. I could simply have asked should I persue RT or RN, but I am aware of the differences in the two professions and I am content with the pros and cons of both. I want to go with the one that will make me more employable.
The male/female thing is big among potiental nursing students right now. I am taking pre reqs at a school with about 9 other people who all applied to the local BSN school. 5 of us are male the other 4 female. all of the males are 25 and up all the females are younger than 20. All of the males have higher gpa's and act scores than all of the females except one girl had an act score 1pt higher than one of the guys. All 4 females got in and not one of the males were accepted. We had all been told, and believed that males had a better chance of getting in over the females. WE WERE WRONG. All of us were more or at least equally qualified than the females but NOT ONE of us were accepted. It could have been our ages, but that's "a whole nother can of worms". It appears the school selected the a-typical/traditional nursing student...young females.
I don't want to be hired or chosen for anything JUST because I'm a male, or I'm white, or I'm stronger or whatever, but I will choose a career where I have a better chance of being employable.
Maybe I should have said "are more males needed in the nursing profession" or something along those lines. My question is really with nursing "shortage" essentially over, is RT or RN a better choice?

Is it that you're not so much concerned about having an advantage being male, but rather hoping that you won't be at a disadvantage for being male?

My honest advice, the way things are going.....go for an engineering degree.....

Engineers are having trouble too, especially Civil Engineers. The economic downturn affects us all.

Chemistry Sux · Apr 25, 2011

Is it that you're not so much concerned about having an advantage being male, but rather hoping that you won't be at a disadvantage for being male?
quote]
A little of both honestly. Not so much HAVING an advantage being a male, but are males needed in nursing more than another RT. I may still not be explaining myself correctly. If that didn't make sense let me know.

Five&Two Will Do · Apr 25, 2011

I do not think that being a male is gonna get you a job more quickly. We are hiring five RN for this ICU, and I am sure that their gender will not have a darn thing to do with whomever is selected. Many hospital are using a sort of points system and then peer driven interview process which includes both males and females. I don't know about any of the rest of the people on this forum, but I will darn sure take whoever is going to do the following the best:

1. Comes to work when scheduled, on time

2. Makes every effort to increase their practice

3. Does all of their work to the best of their ability, not taking advantage of coworkers

4. Can be counted on in the emergent situation to help in whatever role is needed

5. Does not steal anything from the refridgerator

6. Does not leave the breakroom a mess

7. Makes every effort to leave personal drama in the parking lot

8. Smiles!!!

9. And actually is thrilled and honored to be given the responsibility to care for another human being, not mistaking it for doing the patient a favor!

I did not mention a d**** thing about gender in there so I think the idea that a person has come to believe that because he has the parts that God gave him he is somehow likely to get preferential Tx.

Chemistry Sux · Apr 25, 2011

1. Comes to work when scheduled, on time
2. Makes every effort to increase their practice
3. Does all of their work to the best of their ability, not taking advantage of coworkers
4. Can be counted on in the emergent situation to help in whatever role is needed
5. Does not steal anything from the refridgerator
6. Does not leave the breakroom a mess
7. Makes every effort to leave personal drama in the parking lot
8. Smiles!!!
9. And actually is thrilled and honored to be given the responsibility to care for another human being, not mistaking it for doing the patient a favor!
I did not mention a d**** thing about gender in there so I think the idea that a person has come to believe that because he has the parts that God gave him he is somehow likely to get preferential Tx.

So basically you'll hire whomever will blow enough sunshine up your butt.....because the things you've listed cannot be determined from an interview. You obviously haven't read this entire thread, or atleast didn't read my last post.......OR I'm still not making myself clear about what I'm trying to figure out.

tamadrummer · Apr 25, 2011

So basically you'll hire whomever will blow enough sunshine up your butt.....because the things you've listed cannot be determined from an interview. You obviously haven't read this entire thread, or atleast didn't read my last post.......OR I'm still not making myself clear about what I'm trying to figure out.

Sadly this is where you are lost in the process. You cannot just go to work on an ICU as a new, non-experienced grad. You have to have a past. So in essence you can either be ethical and answer those questions honestly or, they will get the information to most of them from others on your floor or your nurse manager. (Yes, it may be illegal to ask but because the field is so specific and many nurses know each other, it will be obvious who you are before you ever speak in your interview)

Otherwise, what you had said about your getting into school, sucks! I am in private university because of the entry requirements to get into the local community college. Too many want in and I am 39 yo, I don't have what it takes to be competitive with an 18yo fresh out of high school.

Five&Two Will Do · Apr 25, 2011

So basically you'll hire whomever will blow enough sunshine up your butt.....because the things you've listed cannot be determined from an interview. You obviously haven't read this entire thread, or atleast didn't read my last post.......OR I'm still not making myself clear about what I'm trying to figure out.

Actually you are right in one way. The things I listed before cannot be soley discerned from an interview. It will also rely upon references and answers to strategic questions. In the end, however, what I truly think about someone that would pose such a question to a forum of many good nurses, is that you are looking for the job that will provide you the most personal gain based soley on whether or not you sit or squat. Caring for the sick, in whatever capacity, is a priveldge not some gender enhanced right that anybody has, male or female. No woman is more suited to nurse than this man, and you surely aren't more desireable jut because you might be able to lift a few more pounds than some of the 5'1" woman that'll work cirlces around 3 nurses half their age that I have seen. If you are looking or the easy way, this ain't it friend.

Five&Two Will Do · Apr 25, 2011

Male nurses have had to fight to prove that they can be just as caring, compassionate, and nurturing as their female counterparts for many years. This job that we are in has never been for those who are there only for what the can get, rather what they can give. There is enough negative stigma to the "male nurse" in the media and society already. The world of nursing does not "need" males any more than any other industry. I just find it amusing that students have heard somewhere along the line that there is some sort of mystical "glass elevator" straight to the top based soley on his gender. Come on nurse educators, keep it real for the students in your classes.