Sadly, discrmination against male nurses still rampant in job applic process

[Nursynursenurse, ADN, RN]

Yeah OP, it's most likely you. I will openly state, as a male I would not have been interviewed if I were female for my current job.

I find this a far more likely scenario for a male nurse looking for a job. Studies have shown that interviewers determine applicants are more qualified with identical resumes if there is a male name on it. This has been repeated many times with many different careers. This is a generalization, but overall, our culture views men as more trustworthy and competent. Even if people wont admit it, at a subconscious level, a male professional is deemed trustworthy more so than a female of equal experience. In many professions, respect is given to men simply for their title, but women throughout history and today have to work extra hard to "earn" the same level of respect.

In my experience, patients just LOVE male nurses. Nursing is still a female dominated field. However, female nurses are for the most part very accepting of male colleagues despite being a marginalized group in society. Imagine the hardship a women car mechanic might face getting a job in an all male shop. Men as a whole are far less accepting of women infiltrating their "masculine" jobs. Many feel that there are jobs women "shouldn't" do to protect their all boys club and egos. The reverse isn't the case in female dominated careers.

I don't believe what you are experiencing is discrimination. Its a tough market with loads of competition. If anything, you are at an advantage for being a male nurse and this privilege may HELP you to land a great job eventually.

[PVCCHoo]

Dude, you live in Hawaii? No wonder it's so hard to find a job. Who wouldn't want to live in Hawaii. Go somewhere else to find a job. These other girls that got jobs obviously have something that you don't - better attitudes for starters.

I live in a small town in VA and we have new nurses in our biggest hospital that are hired all the time from other areas (like California) where it is very hard to get a job as a new grad.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I have found in my personal experiences, throughout life, that when someone cries "DISCRIMINATION!" it is frequently in a situation in which no discrimination has occured. But then, if not for the ability to blame 'discrimination', how does one reconcile the fact that one cannot get ahead? Perhaps the simple answer is that people would rather have an external 'not-my-fault' explanation, rather than the one that causes them more pain: it's their OWN faults they are not getting ahead.

Food for thought.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

You need to stop focusing on the gender issue and take a good look at yourself. Ask yourself what other reasons there might be, that are within your control, to improve on. Your "life is unfair" comment seems pretty immature. If you stack the deck in your favor with skills and education, you will get a job. Luck and circumstances can play a role this is true. Find someone at work that you have a good relationship with, and ask them for some honest feedback. Or perhaps a nursing instructor you can talk to. Look forward to what you can do to make yourself rise above your peers in a job search. Good luck.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I make it a practice never to try to contradict anyone who says s/he is the victim of discrimination. Anyone who has been on the receiving end of an unpleasant circumstance is always more sensitive to it's presence than those of us who have not had the same experience. Their 'antennae' are attuned to pick up vibes that we're oblivious to. So... I'm not gonna call "foul" to OP's perceptions.

But - (you knew it was coming) it's pretty much impossible to change the attitudes of "discriminators / haters" by any sort of argument or individual effort. So if there is some discrimination going on, OP's choice of effective options is very limited and have already been pointed out by several PPs.

I just want to wish good luck to OP & hope that the sitch changes for the better very soon.

[YanMinor]

I only graduated in December, and three of my best friends are guys I met in the program. All four of us have found jobs in the last three months (all in critical care, no less).

It's a bit premature to say that you don't have a job "because discrimination". If anything, I think nurse managers and recruiters look upon male candidates favorably, perhaps with the exception of L&D or Women's Health units.

[Jedi_fk]

I've seen it both ways. School was particularly difficult for me because I was one of the only 2 males in the program. The work env. is a mixture of pros/cons. The sexual orientation issue seems to be a big factor as well. Being a Hetero male in certain units and shifts is very alienating where I work.

[jrost80RNBSN]

Passed my boards on a Friday, had a job offer that Monday and oh yes I'm a male!!! #getoverit

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

It is hysterical to me than any male would cry discrimination in the work place, unless they were also a minority. The 10% of males that make up the nursing profession make up a disproportionate # of leadership positions in my hospital. Next, male nurses make more than female nurses; if you google it, you will find multiple articles from reputable sources that state that fact. You should never come on a website that's full of mostly women working in a profession that is oppressed and often underpaid & cry discrimination.

On a positive note, think of your situation as temporary. Don't give up. You'll get a job that brings you satisfaction.

[ORNurseCOS]

I agree with the 1st response but I can sympathize none the less.

Having been in a similar situation, I find it's all about attitude.

Stop looking at your current situation as a negative and view it as a positive.

Your there for a reason, learn from this experience and be present in your current role.

You'd be surprised what might happen for you, or who you can meet that can get you to where you want to be.

Humility is the right state of mind in this situation.

The action is in the trenches sometimes - take what you can while your there, it won't be forever.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Something no one has stated yet--you are a recent grad working as a tech. You do realize that you have been "interviewed" all along, right?

We've had a lot of techs hired, and a lot of techs weren't. The difference is the opinions that the RNs gave to the nurse manager about the techs. You didn't pass muster, apparently.

[RN/ICU]

Stop blaming others for your failure to find a job. Start looking at what you can do to improve yourself and make you a best choice for the next job interview. Just a thought....