Sal,
nursemike nailed it.
If I was to add anything, or anything that I feel helped me, was to loose any apprehensions about being a male in healthcare. I don't go to work thinking I'm a male nurse, I go to work KNOWING I am an RN, I received the same education, had to pass the same exams as the female RN's. I'm a nurse by choice, I'm male by default.
When you enter the room to do your job act professional, look at how your female co-workers handle the same situations that are reversed, act accordingly.
For me it always worked out.. For every female pt that preferred a female care provider, there would be a male pt who was being a pig to the female staff. In these cases it was a no-brainer, I would readily take any of these types. I also wouldn't allow them to talk to me about my coworkers that way.
It's all about confidence and competence, you need both to do your job effectively. You have to work to gain each, it doesn't matter what your gender is. An incompetent nurse is an incompetent nurse, it doesn't matter what their confidence in their abilities are. A confident and conscious nurse, usually becomes a very competent nurse.
It's a long road to hike on.
Just remember to hang in there... Because hanging out of there is pretty embarrassing.
