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

Nursing Students Male Students

Published

Hey guys, I highly encourage you to try hard and strive for excellence during your nursing school career.

But I just came here to vent, because I have graduated from a BSN nursing program last year, May 2014.

Come to find out that several of my FEMALE nursing classmates are working as some kind of RN. Whether it's in a care home, long-term assisted living facility, an acute-care hospital job (which is very hard to get here in my area, if you have ZERO experience as an RN!!!), several of my FEMALE classmates have RN jobs.

Life is so #(*U#$*^%# unfair!

For me, I have been working as a nurse aid/tech at a hospital in my area, since July of last year.

I am proud to work for the facility that I work for.

However, I have passed my NCLEX-RN board exam, have my state RN license, yet I am working as a tech?

Here in my neck of the wood, you have to work as an aide/tech for certain amount of time before you're eligible to apply for an RN new graduate program. This program is offered at the hospital that I work for. However, to get admitted into this program,...there is stiff/high competition. I also heard through the grapevine that applicants need to be a member of one of the hospitals committee to get into this program. So far, I am not invited to join a committee, let alone, I have asked one of the floor managers if I could join his committee, only to have him change the date and time of meeting last minute, to prevent me from attending the montly meeting (which I thought was downright dirty!).

Anyhow, getting back to the point of my thread, I found out last week that a female classmate of mine, who was a good friend of mine, is working as a med-surg RN at a hopsital in town!

She has zero experience in acute care nursing. Yet, how the hell did she get hired to work med-surg at that hospital?!!!

For me, I am working as an aide, waiting to apply for a new graduate position.

I have also submitted job applications for RN positions at other hospitals in my area, only to get no phone calls, or when I call their HR office, they tell me that my application is on "hold" because there are no openings available.

Furthermore, I also saw another female classmate's picture, in one of the local newspaper's article (featured a story about that hospital's healthcare system). The caption read " XXXXX (

For her, I am happy and proud that she's now working and getting RN PAY RATE.

But for me, I am getting flustered and frustrated that I am 'behind the curve' not getting paid what I should get paid, not using my RN skills that i have learned in school.

I don't know guys.

Overall, I still feel that there is heavy discrimination against males when it comes to the hiring process of RN's and even nurse aides/techs, in not only my area, but other parts of the US.

I am also upset because I called up that former friend classmate, asking her about her job, how she likes it, etc, only to have me leave her a voicemail to call me back. I also sent her a text message and email, asking her to email me back, or call me back.

So far, no phone calls.

Seems like my former classmate and friends in school are smug/complacent that they're working as RN's, while as for me, I am dreading everyday, and waiting and waiting for me to get admitted into my hospitals "new graduate" program for nurses who recently graduated from school, with zero/zilch nursing experience.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry.

Everyone tells me the opposite where I'm from. I'm told that because I'm a male I'll stand out during the application process.

Seems you may have to move to a remote area. And gender discrimination does occur both ways in the workplace I'm not sure why some of you think it's wrong to be critical about some hiring processes. To stifle someone's criticism on the basis of gender is inherently discriminatory so I encourage everyone to remember it.

Seems you may have to move to a remote area. And gender discrimination does occur both ways in the workplace I'm not sure why some of you think it's wrong to be critical about some hiring processes. To stifle someone's criticism on the basis of gender is inherently discriminatory so I encourage everyone to remember it.

No one here is "stifl(ing) someone's criticism on the basis of gender" -- we're just suggesting that a single, anecdotal impression is not, by itself, evidence of employment discrimination.

No one here is "stifl(ing) someone's criticism on the basis of gender" -- we're just suggesting that a single, anecdotal impression is not, by itself, evidence of employment discrimination.

Read post #20. That is what I am addressing.

The only discrimination I have seen is the idiotic quota system that our society endorses. I am doing my prereqs right now and have gotten straight A's. I only have A&P2 and stats and I can apply to nursing school. I did get nervous though watching some youtube stuff about people not getting in despite having perfect grades. So I called my advisor and asked her what my chances are. She told me my grades were great and to not worry about it (most get in at my school with a 3.2 or higher). Whew, load off right? It is what she added after that that irked me. Because I am male (and older) I have a greater chance of getting in so they can fill some stupid quota.

Screw that, I am busting my butt and making good grades. What the hell does me being a man have to do with my ability to be a good nurse? It's insulting.

And it also begs the question how many less qualified males have gotten in when a female did a better job? After the quota system was revealed to me it makes me sexist against male nurses if I get sick. How do I know he knows his job and is not just the "token member".

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
The only discrimination I have seen is the idiotic quota system that our society endorses. I am doing my prereqs right now and have gotten straight A's. I only have A&P2 and stats and I can apply to nursing school. I did get nervous though watching some youtube stuff about people not getting in despite having perfect grades. So I called my advisor and asked her what my chances are. She told me my grades were great and to not worry about it (most get in at my school with a 3.2 or higher). Whew, load off right? It is what she added after that that irked me. Because I am male (and older) I have a greater chance of getting in so they can fill some stupid quota.

Screw that, I am busting my butt and making good grades. What the hell does me being a man have to do with my ability to be a good nurse? It's insulting.

And it also begs the question how many less qualified males have gotten in when a female did a better job? After the quota system was revealed to me it makes me sexist against male nurses if I get sick. How do I know he knows his job and is not just the "token member".

What does being a man have to do with being a good nurse? Nothing. But it does have to do with getting more diverse people in who otherwise might not pursue nursing because it is viewed as primarily a women's profession. Increasing diversity has good intentions but, there are pitfalls. However, as I mentioned before, (and you don't know this yet since you haven't even gotten through A&P2 and stats yet) but there are plenty of ways of equalizing the situation. Don't worry about it. Stop stressing over it (like you did in the thread you started regarding the same issue). If you are meant to be there, you will be there and you will make it through and you will pass NCLEX and you will get your license and it will have nothing to do with measures that attempt to increase diversity. Stop it. You will have plenty of more important things to get butthurt over when you're actually in nursing school.

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

It's about diversity. Same way in reverse in that the last 3 people to be promoted to Sgt in my husband's police department have been women---they need to fill a "quota". Smarts, doesn't it?!

The only discrimination I have seen is the idiotic quota system that our society endorses. I am doing my prereqs right now and have gotten straight A's. I only have A&P2 and stats and I can apply to nursing school. I did get nervous though watching some youtube stuff about people not getting in despite having perfect grades. So I called my advisor and asked her what my chances are. She told me my grades were great and to not worry about it (most get in at my school with a 3.2 or higher). Whew, load off right? It is what she added after that that irked me. Because I am male (and older) I have a greater chance of getting in so they can fill some stupid quota.

Screw that, I am busting my butt and making good grades. What the hell does me being a man have to do with my ability to be a good nurse? It's insulting.

And it also begs the question how many less qualified males have gotten in when a female did a better job? After the quota system was revealed to me it makes me sexist against male nurses if I get sick. How do I know he knows his job and is not just the "token member".

New grad RN positions are very hard to come by these days. There are so many people vying for limited positions. It has been my experience that it really is a "who you know" kind of world when it comes to getting a job. With computer generated applications, it is hard to stick out among the pack. You might want to do some things to help yourself such as getting help with your resume (computers pick up buzz words) and joining committees. You usually don't have to be asked to join them and sometimes meeting times and dates do have to be changed. It probably had nothing to do with you. It sounds like you are reading too much into this. I would also suggest that you avoid talking negatively at your workplace. Managers do hear these comments and take note. Just keep working hard, keep a positive attitude, and prove yourself. Doors will open up for you if you stand out among the pack.

As for male discrimination, I believe that you are totally off base. When I was in nursing school, the professors practically worshiped the male students for entering the nursing world. I do work in the hospital setting, and we have a lot of male nurses. Male nurses are actively sought as your natural strength is viewed as an advantage, and everybody likes having male nurses around when dealing with confused, irate patients. Male nurses are particularly wanted in the ER setting. You should definitely rethink your position on male discrimination. It may be your attitude that is holding you back.

Specializes in General Surgery.

I didn't read previous replies as I have to be up soon BUUUT...

Could it be that there are MORE females that graduated nursing school and therefore it appears as if MORE females are being hired. Just a thought.

Also...focus on YOU not them.

I'm a male nurse and tbh I have NEVER felt discriminated against regarding my gender. Not to say this is right because it's not but as a male you're basically applauded by all (except older generation) for working in this profession. I've attained jobs that I wouldn't have if I were the opposite sexy (heavy lifting). If anything I would feel women could feel that way.

And it also begs the question how many less qualified males have gotten in when a female did a better job? After the quota system was revealed to me it makes me sexist against male nurses if I get sick. How do I know he knows his job and is not just the "token member".

Who are you, the token member police? I can turn around and ask the same question about you vs some other female applicant that got turned down. Being male has no correlation to being a good nurse. And when you do get hired will you tell the HR person that you don't want any kind of affirmative action that got you the gig, and in fact turn it down if that was the case? I'd like to see that. You sound like the guy crying hunger with two loaves of bread under each arm.

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.

I think the OP is wrong. I have now talked to 2 nursing advisors who have said my gender is a bonus in both school, and getting a job afterwards. That being said, when people say that women get paid less for job 'X' than a man they either do not know all of the facts, or they leave them out.

Yes, in many cases men do make more than women. But this is not because of some grand sexist plot schemed up by evil men. It is a societal thing because the norm is that a woman will very often take time off to raise children, hence the average woman will not be in the workforce as long as the average man. That is the reason for the disparity in pay, and there should be a disparity. If you don't have as much time in at a job as someone else you should not receive the same pay. Now if you don't like that than I suggest you talk to your child's father as far as who it is who will stay home and watch the kid. You will get no sympathy from a man like me who is male, going to nursing school, and being a stay at home dad while my wife works. And in addition to that I am older than most, so on day 1 I will be making less than a woman doing the same job I am doing (being an RN), and that is the way it should be. If a woman my age has been doing this for 20 years and I have only just started why should I make the same money she makes? Conversely, had I been hired the same day as a female and we both work as RNs for 20 years, why should she make as much money as me if she took off 6 years to raise her child until the child could go to school?

When you take the child variable out of the equation there is no wage disparity.

As to why men are in more senior nursing jobs I would have to guess it would be because a male who wants to be a nurse may have a bit more passion for it. This is not meant to be a sexist remark, just given the way that male nurses are viewed by society you have to go through more stereotypes than a woman would have to go through. So if you are willing to put up with 'are you gay' as a constant question being asked to you because you want to be a nurse, you may have more drive than most.

Also, the stats that I have seen say that while most RNs are female, the proportion of male/female nurse practitioners is almost equal.

+ Add a Comment