Why are male nurses looked down on?

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I am a female nursing student but I dont understand why male nurses are looked down on. They are human beings too.

To the best of my knowledge and memory, no one's ever looked down on me for pursuing nursing, either.

I, too, would like to know your source of information. Seems inaccurate...

Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers. There's not a lot of positive representation of male nurses out there - actually, can't say there's much of women, either.

I do think it's naive to think that men in nursing isn't a concept that bothers some people, for whatever their reasons. But apparently, you guys in this thread know far more polite people than I imagined existed if no one has ever ragged you about it.

;)

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I've had nothing but positive experiences, especially in the clinical setting. Patients usually have an impressed look on their face when I tell them I'm a student nurse.

Then again, I am from Canada where society tends to be quite liberal leaning. I'm sure in more conservative parts of North America, male nurses may run into a few stereotypical problems here and there.

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Hollywood isn't good at portraying realities.....!

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I have not had any problems with Nurses or instructors. Only one problem with a pt that wanted a female nurse. And I was happy to switch with another student.

Dabuggy

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I have worked with many male nurses and respect 99.8 percent of them. Probably better ratio than some of the female nurses I work with. The more men in nursing the better. They add a much needed perspective on sooo many issues. They are an asset.

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I am not in clinical yet. I am a CST in surgery. I haven't any differences other than some women want a room staff of female only (usually on female procedure). It is always granted as it should be.

I have not seen the looking down upon part. If anything I think for some reason I am held in a higher respect among co-workers.

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I am not in clinical yet. I am a CST in surgery. I haven't any differences other than some women want a room staff of female only (usually on female procedure). It is always granted as it should be.

I have not seen the looking down upon part. If anything I think for some reason I am held in a higher respect among co-workers.

So by the term "room staff" does that include the surgeons and anesthesiologists as well?

They must be female as well?

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Not at all. Only male nurse or techs.

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playing devil's advocate, i have wondered if the same attention would be given if a male asked for an all male room.

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That's what I thought.

So I guess these female patients don't mind a male surgeon who, by virtue of his job, has no choice but to "see everything" because he's somehow above being sexually inappropriate with them.

But male nurses and techs might make her uncomfortable because they apparantly are not above being sexually inappropriate with patients or may get some thrill out of seeing her exposed body.

I understand the modesty and comfort level issues. Surgery is stressful enough without making someone even more uncomfortable or self-conscious/embarrassed.

It's the double standard between a doc and a nurse that I don't understand.

I guess I just don't get the mentality of a woman being ok with having a male doc (think Ob/Gyn) yet refuse a male nurse to cath them or allow them in the OR during "female" procedures.

What difference does it make?

They still roll out to PACU when surgery is over and guess who receives them and is looking under the covers at dressings and drains and placing peri-pads?

Yep, me....the male RN.

It's part of my job.

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playing devil's advocate, i have wondered if the same attention would be given if a male asked for an all male room.

heck no.

they'd be laughed at right out of the room upon requesting such a thing.

men aren't supposed to feel things like modesty and most certainly aren't supposed to feel intimidated or threatened by women seeing them exposed.

in fact, they shouldn't complain and should instead be enjoying the attention according to our current cultural standards.

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Men aren't supposed to feel things like modesty and most certainly aren't supposed to feel intimidated or threatened by women seeing them exposed.

Life would be so much easier if that were true. The times where I requested someone of the same sex do the intimate stuff or at least have a male chaperone present I was laughed at, ridiculed, or scoffed at. :uhoh3:

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