Why more men are needed

Nurses Men

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Why do you think more men are needed in nursing? And if you don't think so why?

I think one, it balances the work place a little, no offense but a lot of women can be catty while the guys tend to be more laid back. Also I think if more men enter the field a different perspective on nursing may develop to where society, which can be ignorant about what it really takes to be a nurse, won't think of it as a feminine profession and might give it a little more respect. Just my opinion... What's yours?

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I think we need to concentrate on being kinder and more considerate of each other. The worst lateral violence I have EVER experienced in the 35 years I have been a nurse were from males......both were jockeying for a higher position and intimidated by intelligent competent females...2 different men 2 different positions. They were more underhanded and vindictive than ANY female I had EVER encountered.

I think you can add whatever demographic but it won't change until we start treating each other differently. Continuing to cater to stereotypes, strong men weak women and that anything feminine can't be respected, will only contribute to image issues.

Personally...... I think some men are uncomfortable with being associated with a female profession and feel that they must dignify it somehow to justify why they are in this feminine field.

I think we need to concentrate on being kinder and more considerate of each other. The worst lateral violence I have EVER experienced in the 35 years I have been a nurse were from males......both were jockeying for a higher position and intimidated by intelligent competent females...2 different men 2 different positions. They were more underhanded and vindictive than ANY female I had EVER encountered.

I think you can add whatever demographic but it won't change until we start treating each other differently. Continuing to cater to stereotypes, strong men weak women and that anything feminine can't be respected, will only contribute to image issues.

Personally...... I think some men are uncomfortable with being associated with a female profession and feel that they must dignify it somehow to justify why they are in this feminine field.

I can agree with that. And responding to the specific part where you said we don't feel comfortable, if more men enter nursing it can take away from the notion that nursing is feminine and just for women and they're would be a better level of comfortability and no need to overcompensate to prove that it's not just a woman's role.

What is this? The 1960s? Male nurses have been on the rise in recent years, and it is already largely accepted that men can be nurses. Very rarely however you can get a specific person of some other culture who would rather have a female nurse, which in that case you'd hand the patient over to another nurse's care.

You'll be fine.

What is this? The 1960s? Male nurses have been on the rise in recent years, and it is already largely accepted that men can be nurses. Very rarely however you can get a specific person of some other culture who would rather have a female nurse, which in that case you'd hand the patient over to another nurse's care.

You'll be fine.

You didn't get the point of this thread. The question is if there is a need for more men in nursing and why if so?

I work on a women's health and postpartum floor, no male nurses (I guess no one is interested?) and we're getting along fine. Not that we wouldn't welcome a guy, I mean we have male docs, but I don't feel the need or a lack or anything. It probably makes for less drama, really.

You didn't get the point of this thread. The question is if there is a need for more men in nursing and why if so?

That was a response to your last post. My point was there there doesn't need to be anymore male nurses in the United States to prove that it isn't an entirely feminine career choice. In other cultures/societies, sure. Maybe more male nurses would help ease the stereotype that male nurses are feminine.

As to the actual male vs female nurse, it has been discussed in other threads. They should effectively deliver the same care. Sure, men can lift more. However the job only requires a nurse be able to lift 30 lbs (usually). Being able to lift a patient alone is nice and all, but if you get injured you will be out of the job and told that you should have used the equipment/resources available to you. As to the actual care; it doesn't matter as long as the nurse can be empathetic, and deliver competent care with prudence.

In the end, I don't think it's wise to get more people into this career path with the amount of unemployed graduate nurses. Just leave it to the people who are passionate about it. If a man really wants to be a nurse, the concern of whether it's too feminine should be out of the question.

As to the actual male vs female nurse, it has been discussed in other threads. They should effectively deliver the same care. Sure, men can lift more. However the job only requires a nurse be able to lift 30 lbs (usually). Being able to lift a patient alone is nice and all, but if you get injured you will be out of the job and told that you should have used the equipment/resources available to you. As to the actual care; it doesn't matter as long as the nurse can be empathetic, and deliver competent care with prudence.

This. Saying that a particular group of people is needed to do a job, where that group's qualifications are based on anything other than education and experience, is fomenting inequality and prejudice. If you don't understand why this is, then you should read the book, "Affirmative

Action Around The World: An Empirical Study" by Thomas Sowell. I for one want to make it in this profession on my own, and I don't want anyone to be able to say that I was given preferential treatment due to my gender.

If you want to encourage other men to become nurses, go right ahead; I think that is a good thing. However, saying that it "would be nice" to have more men in nursing is not the same as them being needed.

You hear all the time that we need more men in nursing, that we should encourage more men to enter the field, why is this in your opinion and do you agree?

You hear all the time that we need more men in nursing, that we should encourage more men to enter the field, why is this in your opinion and do you agree?

No, I don't hear it all the time.

If more men want to come into the field, that's fine. If more women want to come in, that's fine, too.

I'm sick of there being some standard that we have to uphold by having X number of men, X number of women, X number of Hispanic nurses, X number of white nurses, etc etc etc. It's a workplace, not a cake mix, and there is no recipe or "perfect" mixture of demographics that makes a place better or worse.

If you want to care for patient and you give a ****, come on in. If not, stay the heck out!

I never heard those statements until I started telling people that I planned on going into nursing. Maybe those people are just making small talk and don't really believe the statements. They may want to be encouraging to the man with whom they are talking. They may just be repeating or actually believe the flawed reasoning that leads people to think that the makeup of any profession should perfectly match the makeup of the general population.

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I think it is important to have a balance. just as there are women that prefer women providers/nurses, I see men that would prefer male providers/nurses. I am on a urology floor and there are some men that don't want another "messin' with my junk" but others WANT a male b/c anatomically, they "get it". There is no way that I can know what it is like to have a member.

Most just want good care.

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