Male nurses: where to work

[momerath]

I'm a 74yo male nurse with 4 degrees (2 master's) and attended 7 major universities, degreed from Univ. of Illinois (Urbana-'67), UCSFMedCntr-'72, and OHSU-'89. CCRN by exam. 32 yrs of broad experience from orderly to pro... 4 institutes in Illinois to every hospital in SF (staff relief, private duty)... to many in Portland. After ten years of really bad treatment by fem nurses, I began my career in the Veterans Administration at Palo Alto, Staffed by residents and interns from local Stanford Univ. Practicing only at VAs associated with medical schools became permanent. Title now: CCRN, MSN, CNS (ICU), ANP. Voted into: Who's Who in American Nursing ('89). Published research (New England Jour. Vet. Med., '67). VA was best in every category. You get 30 days/yr vacation, a week's leave (charged 5 days) lasts 11 days - so you can get 66 days/yr off...plus 2 weeks sick leave and education leave. You work with real doctors, not tired private practitioners in an institute with the primary goal of making money. 96% of your patients are male (easier care than female patients)...the atmosphere in an institute served by medical schools is strictly professional and you quickly get absorbed into it. Plus you're working alongside the latest technology with physicians who actually relate to you as a co-professional. That, coupled with a great deal more client autonomy and resources which you, as the primary care giver, will coordinate...leaves one with a solid sense of satisfaction that you're doing what you wanted...and that it feels better than you hoped. You'll take pride in your work, want to get better at it. The government opens the gates when it comes to our folks. You need not be concerned about cost - a primary consideration in private hospitals. Just concentrate on client care...this is what you wanted...something close to pure, idealized nursing. The salaries are above local average, advance pretty quickly with promos given for real performance with no limits for 20 years. The OHSU surgery team performed the 1st liver transplant but used the attached, new VA hospital ICU to recover him. With some 4+ months in ICU and totally wired in every body tube, he lost his mind, couldn't speak, just cried. In 2 weeks, 1st liver rejected, plus sepsis...in an immuno-suppressed client. Second liver took, but at an expense of about $700K...no charge to the patient. Feminine discrimination is much less evident in VA hospitals, where the sexes largely work well together...in a milieu of support groups such as lab and x-ray...on a 1st name basis. The Veteran's Administration was where I was able to practice as I had always wanted, for a fair salary that recognizes education and experience, and it's "honest". It's only purpose is to care for veterans, so you feel as if you had helped them. Of all experiences in 42 years of practice, I'd chose the VA as tops. But there is no OB or peds, etc. Not having practiced for 20 years, I don't have a clue about male nursing relationships of today. I was largely lucky in the early '70's, but at that time, I would have strongly advised any male considering nursing as a career to forget it. The education was dreadfully bad. You will face a steady state of discrimination in general. You're a symbol of the bad boyfriend, the abusive husband, every bad experience with men...not to mention the occasional serious enemy. The bias is always there. In private, you're on your own. In the VA you have many serious corrective options. It is easily the best institute for male nursing practice, in my humble. The patients actually do not get flirty with the nurses, they appreciate competence and seem to prefer male nurses as better care givers. With things as I guess they might be now, I'd double the VA advice and I'd get the MSN +...and avoid any management position. Stick to expert practice of some sort...banker's hours and no headaches.

[momerath]

You might check out "Male nurses - Where to work" if you're male and thinking about it.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I would have loved to work for the VA, but the couple of times I tried, I was told there was a "hiring freeze." Now I am jealous of my friends that are getting great benefits and retirement from the VA!

[momerath]

You'll need a clean record, good references. Service hitch very helpful. Degree very helpful as is experience. If there's a "hiring freeze" (which happens from time to time), try again. Ask the personnel officer if you can be notified when the freeze ends...or called when positions are open. Go more than once to keep your name in lights. Try another VA and/or ask yours to check others for positions and consider moving if you're youngish. Good Luck.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Agree - in most areas, VA facilities are 'da bomb', and even the less-than-stellar ones have improved dramatically over the last decade. However, I noticed that there is a HUGE problem with providing adequate care for female vets, particularly those who have suffered traumatic injuries. In my local VA (terrific, very modern facility) they had problems with even basic logistics like female dressing areas in rehab treatment areas. I guess that no one anticipated the influx of female patients associated with the ongoing war.

Discrimination is certainly an interesting phenomenon. Although we can appreciate the ramifications, the true costs and effects don't feel 'real' unless they affect us personally. That's why I always accept claims of discrimination at full face value - because, just like descriptions of pain - the recipient's perception is the only reality that counts.