Published Feb 12, 2008
jman21050
21 Posts
I have to write a paper for my sociology class and need to ask a few questions. The thesis of my paper is:
Men in the nursing profession are given more respect by medical professionals (doctors, co-workers) and younger patients than females but are often mistaken for doctors by elderly patients and even looked down upon by society as a whole.
If anyone is willing to help me out I would greatly appreciate it.
1. Will you consent to the information you provide to be used in my Sociology paper?
2. Do you feel male nurses are respected more by medical professionals (doctors & co-workers) than female nurses?
3. Can you provide any specific examples to correspond to your answer in question #2?
4.Do you feel that younger patients (kids, adolescents and young - middle aged adults) are more respectful and accepting of male nurses?
5. Can you provide any specific examples to correspond to your answer in question #4?
6. Are male nurses often mistaken for doctors by elderly patients?
7. Once the elderly patients find out that the male is actually a nurse, how do they react? (surprised, shocked, unwilling to accept treatment, disrespectful)
8. Are male nurses respected or looked down upon by society in general?
9. Can you provide any specific examples to correspond to your answer in question #4?
I want to thank everyone in advance for their help.
I read a post once that said surveys were not allowed so I apologize to the board if I'm not allowed to ask for this type of help. I'm still kind of new here and am unsure if my post is ok or not.
Justen (pre-nursing student)
MauraRN
526 Posts
I work in LTC. Sometimes the confused/demented ladies won't take a med, shower, allow a treatment or even eat a meal because they want to talk to the "doctor". I have observed other nurses grab a male CNA and introduce him as Dr. so and so. It always seems to work, but I still feel it is dishonest and can lead to problems.
RNfromMN, BSN, RN
294 Posts
Yes.
I don't necessarily feel this, no.
-I've worked with nurses who have told me they feel uncomfortable working with certain other nurses only because they are male. Occasionally, these nurses have cited flirting or inappropriate jokes as their reason for feeling uncomfortable around these male nurses, but often times it's simply, "I don't know - there's something about him that just makes me uncomfortable."
-I would think, if anything, a younger patient would find a female nurse more comforting than a male nurse.
-sorry, no. Just my opinion.
-Absolutely. I don't think it's just the elderly, either. I've seen more than one male nursing student be mistaken for a doctor during school.
-it's been my experience that the patient seems to not really care; maybe those patients are just embarrassed by their mistake & try to hide that embarrassment by acting as if it doesn't matter.
-I think male nurses are probably looked down upon. Many are probably assumed to be gay, or doing a "woman's job."
-No.
Good luck with your paper!