How do people feel about male nurses?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2016

I can't count how many times I've said, "He needs a man to take care of him." There are sexually inappropriate patients who can't abuse a man like they can a woman. I have also had obnoxious female charge nurses demand that I go in a room alone with a physically abusive patient, i.e., "There is no reason for more than one person to be in here!" I once had a male R.N. come to my rescue when someone started a nit-picking argument. I do agree that we need good nurses like one poster said.

In which case, you tell the patient his behavior is inappropriate and involve security if need be. That patient doesn't need a male nurse, he needs boundaries. I don't see why you would ever engage a patient in a nit-picking argument.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Jan 25, 2016

If anything being male can be an advantage if you are looking to move up the management ladder at some point in your career. It does seem that when equally qualified male and female candidates exist the male is hired more often. Now that our one male bedside nurse has left our only male nurses are the DON and the ADON so both top management positions are held by male nurses.

Farawyn · Jan 25, 2016

Meh, bad joke.

I won't quit my day job. No worries.

Farawyn · Jan 25, 2016

If anything being male can be an advantage if you are looking to move up the management ladder at some point in your career. It does seem that when equally qualified male and female candidates exist the male is hired more often. Now that our one male bedside nurse has left our only male nurses are the DON and the ADON so both top management positions are held by male nurses.

Sadly, yes.

caffienate_me · Jan 25, 2016

I want to address the backlash the OP received. I have been a casual reader of allnurses for years and after reading some of these posts I had to register and comment.

The self-righteousness of some of the replies is revolting! Do you all not see how you come off to someone who is genuinely interested inthis field??? Gaffing at the fact that he would even question about being a male in a majorly predominately female profession. Stop and think for 2 seconds! He is in the infantry, which means his buddiesare male, his bosses are male, his bosses boss are male, and not only male, alpha males. Without a shadow of a doubt when he brings up going into nursinghe gets snide remarks from his peers. How am I so sure, it happened to me. I ama male nurse, and I felt as though I had to defend my decision to become anurse all the time when my friends would joke and call me Focker. Which bringsme to my next point, he is not in the field currently, so what does he see inthe media and when he researches nursing, FEMALES! Think of the shows ER,Scrubs, Greys Anatomy... Or when you search for nursing schools and all the"students" pictured are ecstatic young females with books and backpacks.Get over yourselves and stop eating the young! It was a perfectly legitimatequestion that didn't deserve the scoffing

Now to answer your question, YES! There is a demand for malenurses, there is a demand for female nurses, nurses who are fluent in ASL,Spanish, Korean, etc. There is a demand for nurses with business experience orcomputer expertise. If you have a passion for helping people there is a demandin nursing for you. As far as fitting into a certain demographic such as'male-nurse' like many of the posters said there are two sides to the coin, youwill be asked to not take part in certain things that your female counterpartsdo without question. Example, in my nursing school all the males wereprohibited from being in the Labor and Deliver unit for lady partsl deliveries,even though the obstetrician was male. I get asked all the time for helplifting patients and specifically for my 'muscles' (i have no more musculardevelopment than an average male

A lot of your friends will give you a hard time about yourdecision to enter the nursing field, because they also are only going off ofwhat they see in the media. If you want to do it, go for it. If you areinterested in being a military nurse private message me, the Army has a ton ofprograms that you can either stay enlisted or get your commission. Good luck in whatever you choose!

Elliot.Kane · Jan 25, 2016

My friends have never given me a hard time about my career decisions. Maybe I have more supportive friends?

I've never worked with females that weren't just as willing and capable of lifting and turning as any of the men on the unit. Turning a 400lb patient takes a toll on anyone's back. As far as drama, that seems to be a personal decision--not a gender based predisposition.

When I was starting school and before I made the decision to go to nursing school, I thought being male would make the work different or more challenging or what not, but after working for a while, I've learned that no one cares. It's not an issue unless you make it one.

calirican70 · Jan 25, 2016

Hey there..I'm a male nurse....i just graduated in 2014...BSN...just do it..it is a female dominated occupation as history has shown..but nursing isn't about gender..its about compassion,giving and caring beyond borders and beyond stereotypes, beyond gender and race...when I went to nursing school the ratio was about 70/30 women to men....so take this profession and run with it..there are so many opportunities to help and enrich peoples lives..I am a proud MURSE = Male nurse

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jan 25, 2016

I love murses!!!
(Male nurses)

So if murse is male nurse can gurse be girl nurse? I was gonna say wurse but that's no bueno!

Edit: What about furse for female nurse!

SweetandSalty · Jan 25, 2016

I think the demand is not gender specific. I have had some great male nurses. Go for it!

Dogen · Jan 25, 2016

There is no particular Demand for male nurses. We are not entitled to any affirmative action benefits and are not a protected class.

Oh man. I'm a 30-something white guy. All I need is some affirmative action at my job and I'll be the most privileged human this side of Justin Bieber.

Due to years of oppression... you know, as a Caucasian male... I would like reparations in the form of a pay raise. And a bagel.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2016

Oh man. I'm a 30-something white guy. All I need is some affirmative action at my job and I'll be the most privileged human this side of Justin Bieber.
Due to years of oppression... you know, as a Caucasian male... I would like reparations in the form of a pay raise. And a bagel.

Yes, but can you rock the Bieber hair??

%D#2 · Jan 25, 2016

So if murse is male nurse can gurse be girl nurse? I was gonna say wurse but that's no bueno!
Edit: What about furse for female nurse!

Yes I think that's a great idea and we should make it happen!