Question for the fellas....

Nurses Men

Published

I am asking this directly of the male RNs in this forum (not female sorry)...I am 2 months from getting my BSN and I am doing preceptor hours in an ER. The people in the ER seem to think I can get a job there after graduation easily...there is sooooo much negativity on this message board, but I have to say I feel more confident about getting a job being a guy and having a BSN + preceptor hours in ER. I am wondering if men have a slight (in reality possibly more than slight) advantage in securing employment as an RN in the current market. 6% of RNs are men...this seems like a serious minority.

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I would say that your interview skills and intellect would be more important than being a "minority". Critical care areas such as ER and ICU require excellent critical thinking skills as well as the ablility to multitask. Show those attributes in an interview and you will be more likely to get the job

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Specializes in LTC.

Working on BSN, LPN 07-09, graduated RN 12/09, magna cum laude, lambda chi nu honors, phi theta kappa international honor society. been to two home health agency interviews, no luck, cannot get an interview in acute care all want experience. All my experience is in LTC. I am beyond frustrated. gonna have to extend my commute radius to 100 miles I guess.

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Specializes in ER, Renal Dialysis.

You will get noticed as a male, but it won't affect much how the hiring process will be. If they like you, they'll hire you.

The recent trend of employment that I noticed (at least where I am ) seems to be that employers have the tendency to filter applicants based on their training. A certain nursing school tend to be blacklisted, as reflected by the type of new hire that they took. I am ashamed of the bias, but that is just reality.

I am currently unemployed, but this is due to choice. Waiting for deployment to another country by a work agency.

I can say that I had my fair share of work experiences and getting a job because of this factor has not been a hassle. I have turned down MANY offers because I felt that a certain job is not suitable for my lifestyle and personal stance.

The truth is there is a nursing shortage, but they are only taking in experienced people. Can work immediately with minimal supervision and almost no training - but unfair to new people. Those who do got the job seems to be those that got their training in-house where employment is stated as a bond.

Or those who accept less for more. You know what I mean.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I think the only difference it makes is with bosses who are either "anti men" in nursing, or the opposite- want to flirt with you. It probably evens out overall. Just present yourself as reliable, knowledgeable, personable, and a good nurse. Good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

There are advantages once you get the job, but I haven't seen anything in the hiring. It depends on the manager you are talking with. Considering most managers come from the specialty they are managing, it seems to follow that you will get a fair shake in ER/ICU/CCU since (in my experience at least) there is more prevalent bias in others.

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Yes.. we have a decided advantage...For example...

We are in this profession for the long haul... we don't take time off to have babies... be stay at home moms till the kids are out of school... go part time... or quit when we get our MRSMD degree.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

It's not what you know but who.

Networking!

That you are in the ER will greatly increase your chances of employment

after graduation. Work hard, ask questions, and get to know the staff.

If you don't catch the attention of the nurse administrator/director then

use your preceptors as references. They will have influence and can have

an effect on a managers decision.

Show that you're a person of integrity, a hard worker, and that you're

interested in the ER. They are more likely to take a chance on YOU than

someone that might take off after orientation or after they get a little

experience.

Good luck.

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Yes.. we have a decided advantage...For example...

We are in this profession for the long haul... we don't take time off to have babies... be stay at home moms till the kids are out of school... go part time... or quit when we get our MRSMD degree.

You forgot to mention which nursing journal this came from...:rolleyes:

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You forgot to mention which nursing journal this came from...:rolleyes:

I have to be honest, I am disinclined to read any nursing journals. I find them juvenile and vapid. Since my speciality is science based ( Anesthesia ) I tend to read medical journals related to anesthesia.

As for asking for a reference... The concept was one I wrote a paper on while getting my BSN completion about 20 years ago prior to CRNA school.

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I have to be honest, I am disinclined to read any nursing journals. I find them juvenile and vapid. Since my speciality is science based ( Anesthesia ) I tend to read medical journals related to anesthesia.

As for asking for a reference... The concept was one I wrote a paper on while getting my BSN completion about 20 years ago prior to CRNA school.

I guess my sarcasim was either lost or you ignored it, but the fact that you wrote the paper 20 years ago explains a lot.

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Specializes in ED.

*IF* anything, I would say that *all* else being equal, being male *might* help get you into an interview. And that's a big "if", and a big "might".

Beyond that, I doubt it helps or hurts in any way toward getting a job.

My personal opinion (and nothing more than that) is that the industry is counting on the schools to help improve that low 6% ratio.

DC, ED RN

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