More Men RNs = More $$$ for All?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2006

Take a look at California. They have the highest wages in the country and they have a ratio law. The women there rock!

michellesrndream · Oct 18, 2006

Yeah they do rock! I'm in the Los Angeles area and the pay is awesome (cost of living is totally ridiculous). The women have made great progress with new contracts implemented with great raises & upgraded benefits. So they are definately kicking some butt!

I just wonder if men would meet such resistance and lack of respect for the field of nursing. Let's face it, doctor's need us! We're the reason they're playing golf on Tuesday at 10am! Hee! Hee!

Thanks for the input!

nyforlove · Oct 18, 2006

Interesting question....A Management Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania hypothesized that nurses made significant gains in employment pay/conditions in the 1980's as more men entered the profession and became more vociferous in demanding improvements...If true, is it a matter of a sexist society giving greater respect to men? +/or Men being statistically less likely to quit as they have a family to support? (please no politically correct e-mails: this is hypothesizing based on statistics--I'm not judging what's right/wrong) +/or Men beating up more people on the picket line???

Hello everyone,
I'm not a newbie, but more of a lurker. I've posted a few, but really have more fun reading what's out there as I wait for acceptance letters for Jan. 07
Anyway, here's a question for everyone. There is so much resistance in re-evaluating nurse salaries and benefits and appears to be an uphill battle to say the least. Not to say, it's ever easy to justify a nice size raise, but I really feel that if this was a more male dominated profession the pay would be extremely different and would receive much more respect. Anyone agree! If more men got involved in the rallying in the fight in the politics of it all do you think it would make a diference?
Just curious...share you thoughts!

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 18, 2006

I think adding males to the profession will not make a difference. The profession as a whole still carries a female face. In general our country has been very disrespectful to female dominant professions. And so wages increased not because men entered the field but because woman and men are fighting to better salaries. In addition, many nursing schools back in the 80s closed their doors since the demand for nurses decreased. Now there is a shortage created by the lack of schools and by our aging population.

gitterbug · Oct 18, 2006

This argument/opinion has been floating around since the 80's, The guys I went to school with have not made greater strides in salary. In fact, a few worked a few years, moved to other areas, looked around and got jobs out of nursing. These were awsome fellows, good skills, good demeanor with all patients, and always there to give a helping hand to fellow staff members. They just got out of the off-shift, holiday's included, never enough time to get it all done rat race. Construction in Florida, running a golf course, and writing a cook-book were the winners of these skilled nurses. One told me he missed it, but would never go back to the stress.

piper_for_hire · Oct 19, 2006

I think there are some simple that need to change in nursing. This post reminds me of a few:

1. We need to stop using the term "as a profession" or "the profession". This seems to only remind people that nurses need to be taken seriously. It's as if we're consantly reminding people that it's actually a profession, which everyone already knows.

2. Why do we tolerate calling the volume of jobs "a nursing shortage"? In the 90s when there were tons and tons of high tech jobs, nobody called it a "shortage". Makes us sound like factory workers. There's not a shortage, whatever that means. Nurses are in high demand.

3. We need to not tolerate all being paid the same rate. This is what is keeping salaries down. It's individual negotiation that drives salaries up - not bulk negotiations. Agencies seem to be a step in the right direction. However, I often hear nurses say that they are paid enough!? Music to the hospital's ears and to the fans of "the shortage"

Okay - thanks for listening - flame away!

-S

PANurseRN1 · Oct 21, 2006

Hello everyone,
I'm not a newbie, but more of a lurker. I've posted a few, but really have more fun reading what's out there as I wait for acceptance letters for Jan. 07
Anyway, here's a question for everyone. There is so much resistance in re-evaluating nurse salaries and benefits and appears to be an uphill battle to say the least. Not to say, it's ever easy to justify a nice size raise, but I really feel that if this was a more male dominated profession the pay would be extremely different and would receive much more respect. Anyone agree! If more men got involved in the rallying in the fight in the politics of it all do you think it would make a diference?
Just curious...share you thoughts!

I think it's difficult for someone who isn't yet in nursing to understand the complexity of the issues surrounding pay, professional respect, etc. It's also a bit sexist to suggest that we need to be rescued by men.