During an interview at a nursing school some time last week, my friend, Tom, was asked to tell the interviewers about some advantages of male nurses over the female nurses.
We had done some preparations for the interview, but never thought that there would be some sensitive questions like this one.
Tom tried to be objective, and avoid bias in this kind of situation, but the interview, according to what he told me, was 10 minutes in time.
After he had listed four or five points about some advantages of male nurses over the female nurses, he said there were still 5 to 6 minutes left. Of those four interviewers, two of them are female nurses. He was so nervous that he lost his mind, I thought, and that's why he said some silly things, like, (11), Menstruation may lower the female nurses' performanace, (12), Female nurses will have to take maternity leave after their pregnancy is confirmed, and their tasks and job duties will be rescheduled or assigned to their co-workers.
Although, some of his points are indisputable facts, but the points (11) and (12) have created a bad impression, I think.
He was depressed and felt regreted of having said those words out.
I don't think he can get in the nursing school because of his biased opinions.
What would you tell the interviewers or would you do if you are asked to answer a question like that?
The only thing I can think of is that because there are fewer male nurses then female, there are sections of our population that are not adequately served. Some religions (Jewish is one) do not care for any touching between opposite sexes. While you can get dispensation for these things due to medical reasons.. if there is a male nurse available for the men it's normally a preference. Just as they prefer female doctors, when available, for things like childbirth.
I cannot even imagine any sort of interview that would deliberately introduce such an inflammatory topic - unless there was a hidden observer recording data for a psych experiment. If it did occur, it was unbelievably foolish and served no purpose. From a logical standpoint, why would you ask a potential student any question about the inner-workings of the nursing profession, when that individual doesn't have a relevant frame of reference?
BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN
3,520 Posts
I call troll on OP and definite idiot on her friend, if indeed this tale is even true.