Male nurses hired faster?

[Chemistry Sux]

I've heard there is a "glass elevaltor" for male nurses. My question is, do you think its easier for a new grad MALE NURSE to find a job that a female one? Also, I know that nurses can be very agressive with new nurses on a unit, does a MALE NURSE have a target on his back as a n00b in the unit especially as a new grad? I'm trying to decide between RT and ADN school right now (i've been accepted to both) and this is one of my concerns as a potential future nurse.

[Chemistry Sux]

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.

This is the impression given by instructors and professors in the pre req classes, not sure where they are getting that impression, but they sure are sharing it.

[mindlor]

I dont know ya fiveandtwo but I like ya :) You are so spot on :)

[Five&Two Will Do]

I dont know ya fiveandtwo but I like ya :) You are so spot on :)

Thank you

[Kezef76]

Just like in any career a good mix of males and females offers a a good variety of skill sets and perspectives. As a male RN I can head some problems off in the ED before they become serious issues with my size. Other times a female can come in with a gentler tone and succeed where I fail at calming someone down. I like having women around where I work and all of the women say they enjoy having males around.

[futureRN_Anastasia]

In all honesty there were 7 male nurses in my nursing school class. If anything I think they were preferred at our school. We had one gentleman (not all of male classmates were like this) he would show up late to clinical, and not in the proper uniform, wouldn't complete assignments, drinking the night before...& they let it go.... I really think I would be sent home for some of the stuff he did. That being said I don't have anything against him, actually helped him study. They let him get away with it so, it is on nursing instructors. I just say this to illustrate the point that I think they are treated well in nursing school. I also worked with male RN's on the floor & there was no difference...sometimes I think they were treated even better b/c they were are only "man" on the floor. I definitely think they also have the edge on applying to management positions...for whatever subconscious gender bias that people have about males in management. As a disclaimer I realized that this may not be the same everywhere:)

When I was studying human-computer interaction, it was the same for girls, since there were like 5 of us maximum in each computer science class (many-many more of us in our psychology classes though). We were very cherished.

[bftighe]

Once you have one nurse(female) with a hate on for you it spreads to the whole floor. It can be so bad that you don't want to come to work if there on. It's usually the over fifty nurses 90% of the time. My advice to male nurses is just ignore there rude comments and gestures(which can go on for weeks and months) and eventually they move on to another male or younger new female nurse.

[mr_nurse_drew, ADN, BSN, RN]

In my nursing school, being a male did not give you any advantage. We were treated the same. If you showed up late, not in proper uniform, or didn't do your assignments, you were given what ever was laid out in the school's nursing handbook and class syllabus as a punishment whether male or female. As far as selection goes, the school goes by a points system which is determined by grades, pre-reqs, number of classes taken, scores on NET, experience in medical field, and so on. Application didn't ask if I was male or female. After graduation (and tons of hard work), I was not hired based on being a male. I was hired based on my references, interview, grades, and work experience. Maybe you just need to decide what you really want to do and apply yourself to it instead of worrying about having an advantage or disadvantage about being male. Oh, and there is no target on my back. All of the nurses I work with treat each other respectfully as long as each is doing his/her job (pulling your own weight) and helping out whenever and wherever needed.

[Wickeddiaz]

What is a "glass elevator"?

I do not believe any of what you are concerned about is a male/female issue. I believe that all new grads are having a difficult time finding jobs. In determining your future career I would go with what you find the most rewarding to you. Don't let what others do influence your decisions. No career you go into is 100% perfect, but if it is rewarding to you that is what is important.

~Kris

[Wickeddiaz]

,,,,,,,

~Kris

[Wickeddiaz]

Once you have one nurse(female) with a hate on for you it spreads to the whole floor. It can be so bad that you don't want to come to work if there on. It's usually the over fifty nurses 90% of the time. My advice to male nurses is just ignore there rude comments and gestures(which can go on for weeks and months) and eventually they move on to another male or younger new female nurse.

I think this is very poor advice. If this is happening then talk to the director of DON. Most hospitals have some type of non-tolerace for this type of behavior.

~Kris

[tthor5220]

Speaking as a male RN with 17 years experience I have found where it may be easier to get hired (and I emphasize the "may") it is also easier to get fired. I have absolutely been discriminated against as a man in this profession on occasion. However, being a white male, I have ZERO opportunities to do much about it when it happens. (And yes, I have followed all the proper channels in most cases) I find the profession rewarding and would not change the decision I made to get into nursing. I truly do not know how I would be surviving today without the license. And currently I have an excellent job that is working out quite well. However, it is no walk in the park to be a male in nursing. And yes, there have been times when the target was very brightly painted on my back!

[RNAM1965]

I prefer working with male nurses for some of the same reason I think they might get promoted faster:

They don't act so dramatic. They don't take time to "vent", fuss, cry, complain, ***** or moan nearly as much (most not at all) as most female nurses I work with. They just get on with the work and keep emotions in check. THey don't seem to "have an issue" with any and every change, or seem so paranoid that all changes in hospital are motivated to make the nurses miserable. I know I am a female nurse and I don't mean to be insulting, but this has been my experience for years. Of course, there are exceptions to everything, but most female nurses I have worked with other the years who don't control their emotions very well and "throw fits" all the time at work don't realize that this comes across as less than competent to patients, doctors, and other professionals. I used to wonder why our docs and patients responded better to our male nurses so I started watching their interactions. Most the male nurses approach other professionals appearing more confident and state their case. Most female nurses I work with say "I'm sorry to bother you, but. .. blah, blah, blah, . . " Doesn't come across like a competent and confident professional. Certain days of the week we have a group of male staff on, and everyone always comments about how much more pleasant and less tense the atmosphere is on those days.