Men In Nursing Issues

Nurses Men

Published

I need your input! I am in a debate in nursing school. The topic is "Men in Nursing." (I'm on the "pro" side of the debate). If any of you have ever had an experience with a male nurse, or you are one, please, send me your thoughts on the care, how you felt when receiving the care, the possible stereotypical feelings you had, what this nurse contributed overall that surprised you, and ultimately, how this affected you in the end. ALL the feedback I can get would be so greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

Specializes in ER, ICU.

So you can comfort a patient, and I can comfort a patient AND pick them up... Hmmmm... lol Wait- what was the debate again?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

what an odd topic for a debate. What is the con side of the argument? Your teacher is just promoting silly stereotypes. There are bad male nurse and good male nurses (as there are for women).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How is this even a devate in 2013? Maybe you could debate the pros and cons of women voting or segregation?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

I know this will be off the track for this thread but... Just this morning on one of those newsy topic commentator short -type TV show spots was a short piece on men entering nursing. I think it latched onto the fact that it's Nsg Week.

Reporters/guests commented that men are SIGNIFICANTLY entering the nsg profession, but then they started noting some interesting details.

- for many men, nsg is a second career. Nsg jobs are avail where their first choices/jobs have been closed out

- men are NOT staying at the bedside, but moving into specialties and management/administration

- advanced education is a given usually

- salaries for men in the field were more than that for women. Early in their practice and as they moved up the ladder

They gave statistics and percentages that I would like/need to check for accuracy/veracity.

At first, that last info disappointed and angered me. But then I remember how salaries and general public perception of teachers and the education profession evolved post-WW II.

There was a need for more teachers post-WW II for the new baby boomer generation being born. Returning GIs took advantage of the GI bill and went on to school to earn their teaching credentials as the jobs were out there. Initial salaries & working environments left much to be desired for a traditional women-dominated profession.

But men entering the field weren't going to settle for such minimal wages/benefits. Remember that these men were trained, ex-military and many previously employed in a unionized labor workforce and they were needing to be the financial support for their families (women were still June Cleaver/Donna Reeds). The field/plight of teaching IMPROVED with time to today's standards. The guys brought up teaching to professional status.

Think about academia today. So many professors, deans, provosts, presidents, etc of our most prestigious facilities are well educated, credentialed men who are VERY well paid. Women are trying to get there, but they do lag behind. Women still staff the lower grade schools (where the bambinos are). Is this saying something to us???

I can go o & on about an aging baby boomer population (needs similar to the other far end of the age spectrum). And we are still a female-dominated profession. I see it changing but it will take time. I see men in the field as positive change.

Sorry for the soap-box.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Men shouldnt be in nursing. Who would ever entertain such a horrific idea?!

Seriously what is there to debate?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Informatics, Orthopaedics.

As was said before, just having posted this perpetuates the man vs woman debate. You could easily have this same discussion about women working a "man's job", which afaik is not even talked about anymore...so why even have this debate?

Having said that, the stereotypes and discrimination are still alive and well thank you very much. But it's not something I can't roll my eyes at and move on.

Probably 25% of patients I have seen have asked for a female nurse instead. I respect this as merely a personal choice, not that I should be offended or whatever.

In other words, the only "problems" I have had are with instructors and other nurses, but they will get over it eventually. Hopefully.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Is OP even still here, or is s/he trolling us?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU.

Good lord, what year is this? Next topic: Pros and Cons of Women Voting. If you're a good woman voter please send me your stories!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Well, the one thing that can't be argued is that nursing is dominated by females (not that there's anything wrong with that!). As many times as I hear a nurse referred to as "she" or "her" reinforces to me that most people imagine a nurse to be female. When I make a telephone call and introduce myself as "so and so," a nurse at "so and so," I often received a "Yes maam - I mean yes sir;" indicating the subconscious connection between nurse and female. This week Medscape put out a special report of "The American Nurse: As Real As It Gets," in observance of nurse week. There are 15 photos with corresponding bios. 14 are female and 1 is male. That's OK, once I was able to extract myself from the perils of a guy in nursing school I've been welcomed into the club.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Here's my take on men in the nursing profession. The future in nursing for men is good. As more men get into the nursing profession more responsibilities are going to be given to nurses. This is not a sexist statement, just my observation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do they debate if women should be Doctors on the MD forums?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.
Do they debate if women should be Doctors on the MD forums?

yeah sometimes the whole issue makes me rethink nursing school and just become a PA, but guess what , according to latest stats, PA's are quickly becoming female a dominated profession. The whole debate is silly...to the poster I'd like to know if there are any men in your class???...my class has 7 men, we are definitely growing in numbers and here to stay. The future is nursing is going to change and it's men who are going to help with that. This debate will dare not happen in an MD class...one word lawsuit! When will we stop treating nurses, men and women , like second class medical professionals!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment