Man = muscle, being taken advantage of

[DrkCocoMurse215]

How many guys have felt taken advantage of being the man on staff? I'm a cna and nursing student and I'm always being called to do the heavy lifting and a lot of times even left alone to do certain heavy tasks alone simply because I'm a "strong young man". Half of my shift is helping other staff and I don't mind helping and being a team member but sometimes it does feel like I'm the go-to guy and when I need the help no one is there.

[greyL]

I don't think it's taking advantage as long as it's not keeping you from getting your work done. Everyone has different strengths to contribute and physical strength is one of yours.

[#NurseB]

Yes Peyton Manning Children's Hospital in Indianapolis. PS: He's a VERY nice man in person. And does many, many wonderful things for our patients and their families you will never read about.[/quote']

Makes me like him a little more :))

[greyL]

@kevin0xf

I am under the impression that a lot of people believe that having more men in the nursing field will help increase the salary and respectability of nurses because men tend not to put up with the crap that women do. But personally, I'm not really sure how it's supposed to help.

I think it's also just a part of how we (as a society) have been trying to professions have a more equal female to male ratio. Just like how a lot of schools are trying to include more females in their engineering and science programs!

[#NurseB]

I am an aide in a busy hospital plus a newly minted LPN who just got my nursing license. I am frequently asked to help lift turn, and reposition patients because I am male and perceived to be big and strong. No I have never felt as though I am being used or taken advantage of. I would rather help with it than see some petite small female nurse who is like six months pregnant try to do the majority of this. In a way I'm actually flattered to be asked believe it or not - maybe it's just the male ego thing rearing its head, I don't know. But in any case, I've never really minded.[/quote']

Such an amazing attitude! :) I bet you are awesome to work with!

[Screen name]

We have the opposite problem, actually. Night shift is male dominated. On any given night there are equal to, or more males in our Cardiac ICU. We get everyone up to the chair. Dead weight or not. Then the day shift gets there who might have one guy if they are lucky and complain they can't get people back to bed...

Oh well. Betterment of the patient :)

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

One thing Ive noticed is that it's dangerous to try and transfer/lift a pt with someone who's ridiculously weaker than you. When a small, female CNA asks me to help transfer a resident out of bed, I just do the whole transfer myself and have her quick shove the w/c under them.

And, though I don't complain about it, it really can become a burden to male nurses. I stop my med pass 4-5 times each day to help the aides get people out of bed. My female counterpart (who works my unit on my nights off) admitted to me she's never asked to help with transfers.

Again, not that big of a deal. But, yeah it does happen.

[jose2010]

That happened alot at the lrc i use to work but i wasn't the Guy to go the other one was... I was the one trying to find help....

[GrumpyRN, NP]

Recently had a patients family ask me to 'lift him up the trolley'. This man was larger than I am, when I said no but.... before I got a chance to say I will get some help the immediately said "well will one of the girls do it?" I have to admit I got annoyed a bit (I am well named Grumpy) and (almost) shouted at them "if I won't do it what makes you think a girl half my size is going to do it". Perhaps they thought the girls would magic him up.

In answer to the OP, I did not feel taken advantage of when I was younger and would lift anyone and anything, however, 30 years later my back hurts and I require painkillers every shift and have a spinal stenosis. Use the hoists and proper lifting techniques. Do not feel you have to be the 'big strong man'.

[chuckz, BSN, RN]

Nice reference to Stuart McGill. I never thought I would see somebody reference him in here. Good stuff. Thank you for that. His vids are very good and he is wonderful on knees too.

As a competitive powerlifting and also a Male nurse I am stronger relatively than most people. I don't mind helping people. I always take the side that pulls to turn a pt and allow the other person to stuff the pillow. I always will be there if a pt becomes abusive as I feel it's my job to protect the others who can't protect themselves in those situations. I always am asked to help lift Pts and get them up in aChair. I don't mind any of that. It's the same everyplace I go. I understand that.

The problem I have is that there sometimes may be others that are capable of doing the lift but they will tell others "chucks the strong one, he will help." Or there will be another male sitting that is capable to help but they will come get me from another unit to help them move or turn or whatever. I don't mind helping but sometimes I feel that like anything it can be taken advantage of. I'm not the only guy nor just bc I am strong should I always be the first one asked. Move it around. Rotate who you ask. If there is something like a very hard Pt I'm ok with it and I will always be ok with being asked but please utilize all your resources as I am not the only resource you have.

[cdsga]

No one should compromise their own health just because they are male, big, muscle-bound etc. We have the technology are educated and encouraged to use proper techniques and devices. The problem is enough personnel and access to said devices.

[lost soul]

the female nurses take advantage of the men constantly. That was my experience.

May have something to do with my back failure, and fusion and being disabled now.

[ANnot4me]

Male or female, in acute care our back is our living. Repetitive strain is what causes the most damage and why should a man risk their career more than a woman?