Sexism in nursing

[RNGuy12]

I find that as a man in nursing, I encounter a lot of sexism from my female coworkers. When I am doing my shift in labor and delivery I'm always called out of my patient's room if one of the nurses wants help with lifting heavy patients or things and instead of helping me lift, they stand and watch as I do the lifting.

They make remarks about me being a "male nurse" which I find to be a sexist term. I don't call them female nurses.

The unit secretary also makes very sexually suggestive remarks to me constantly. I mean, if I said to her the things she says to me, I would be fired in a heartbeat.

I've tried to explain that some of their behavior and phrases are sexist and as such offensive, but my concerns are dismissed. The reason I was told is that, I am a man and men have been sexist against women for years. So I should be able to handle women being themselves.

Anyone else run into issues like this?

[figureskating]

I understand the physical differences, but I don't think that is a good excuse. I was a tech before a nurse, and I don't have a problem helping. But I have experienced, numerous times, at different facilities, men being the first call for lifting people. I have a herniated L5 S1, and now a likely torn cartilage in my knee. I want to maintain as much quality of life as any of my lady counterparts, so yeah, don't call me first. I could say I'm not built to move people anymore too, maybe moreso, because I have the injuries to prove I have not bailed on my duties. When we hired on, being able to do all of the job was in the description, so do all of your job.

If you have a medical problem I understand that , but I still don't see the problem with asking the person you know can lift better first. My male tech's always got me if there was something that needed to be done with a female that made them uncomfortable or the female patient uncomfortable. It really doesn't matter what the job description says , either way women don't have the same upper body strength. Even if I don't ask a man for help I asked for one or two other women to help.It's kind of dumb for a man to think or expect that a women can do what he can or do it with the same ease. I think people are too politically correct and sensitive. I've pretty much always tried to help whoever asks me for help as much as possible and my co workers did the same, even if they were male and got asked to lift.

[RollTide_Nurse]

One of the requirements to be a nurse is to have thick skin.

[Boozer4life]

To all of you:

We are equals. We were made differently but we work together to accomplish the same goals. Just because some men are physically stronger than some women does not give anyone the right to exploit the guys. Listen up men..... Since all nurses are on the same team you should be happy to help out the ladies when needed. Lets put on our big nurse scrubs and work together people. Notice I said people.....not children.

[Anna S, RN]

I'm sorry, but welcome to our world.

Women have been putting up with similar stuff for many years. Ya'll won't shrivel up and die if you happen to experience just a little of it yourselves. Take comfort in the fact that women, on average, still make 78 cents for every dollar a man does for same job/experience/education.

Besides, men are physically stronger than women. It's just common sense that they would be asked for help with lifts.

Cry me a river, guys.

[Boozer4life]

Call me. I got your back. Ask my co workers at Hancock Regional Hospital!

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

I'm a short small boned nurse and it is hard for us women to move around patients especially if the patients are bigger men. We're not made the same physically as men. I really don't think you should take it so hard that they are asking for help moving patients. It's not sexism. Most of the men I know usually don't mind helping a girl if they know she has trouble with the lifting and moving.

It's probably sexism however when the nurses see you come to the unit and the first thing they mention is how glad they are to have some muscle to help move patients, as opposed to first mentioning how glad they are to have another NURSE. Big difference.

[Concerto_in_C, BSN, RN]

Using the term "male nurse" is derogatory, kind of like "black doctor". Hey, did you know Jerome is a black doctor? Holy cow! Really? A black doctor!!

We should stay away from that term as much as we can. We are all nurses, period.

[ixchel]

I understand the physical differences, but I don't think that is a good excuse. I was a tech before a nurse, and I don't have a problem helping. But I have experienced, numerous times, at different facilities, men being the first call for lifting people. I have a herniated L5 S1, and now a likely torn cartilage in my knee. I want to maintain as much quality of life as any of my lady counterparts, so yeah, don't call me first. I could say I'm not built to move people anymore too, maybe moreso, because I have the injuries to prove I have not bailed on my duties. When we hired on, being able to do all of the job was in the description, so do all of your job.

My dear frustrated nurse who happens to be strong and also male,

You know the nurse on the other side of that patient doing the lifting with you is struggling with the same injuries, too, right? We are ALL breaking our backs and knees doing this. I take great pride in being one of the smallest, but one of the strongest, but it doesn't mean that I'm not grabbing the strongest man working if I end up with a 400 lb patient getting q2h turns. I'm physically incapable of moving that patient, you understand? Physically incapable. If I only have the ability to get ONE other person to help me, I'm grabbing the one person who will offer success while preserving dignity of the patient together.

We will both work together. We can trendelenberg the patient, we can lift the bed up some, and we can work together on this. At 5'2", 115-120 lbs., I am lifting that exact same patient with you, only you are physically more equipped to do it. I'm sorry. If I could grow myself even stronger, I would do it. My spondylolisthesis of L5/S1 and significantly narrowed disc at L4/5 makes it hard to do that, though, and I can only promise you I do try my best.

Love,

Every nurse who has ever asked you for help

[JustKeepDriving]

I feel so lucky to work the places I have worked. I'm part of a team and realize that knowing your team members strengths and weaknesses, and knowing when to ask for help is paramount to good patient care and overall unit safety. Maybe it's the area of nursing where I've found myself, or the regions where I've worked, or even just the overall team dynamics... but I've never be left to hang out to dry because "that's not my patient/unit/job"... and I would never do that to someone else. When my 200+ aggressive patient needs to be placed on a backboard, lifted onto a stretcher and transported to the restraint room? There are 20+ people from various units in the hospital ready to help with that. If I have a patient ready to go off? I'll choose the staff member with the MOST rapport with them to help deescalate. I don't care if it's you, me, male, female, nurse, tech or even security... I'll choose the person that I feel has the best chance at helping the person (99% of the time they self select). If I'm working with a white supremacist male with a history of aggression that has a problem with male authority figures that is self harming and needs to be placed in restraints? I'm going to send in a Caucasian female staff member and not one of my awesome African American male staff members. If I have a known sex offender that is complaining of genital pain and needs an assessment... I'm not going to send in my pretty young female RN... I'm going to send in my old male prior Army RN.

I've also never turned down helping out on another unit if they need me. You don't feel comfortable entering the seclusion room with a riot shield so you can medicate the antisocial that just sent his peer to the hospital by beating his face in? I'll do it. Security calls my unit at the end of my shift because a different unit received an emergency admit and I have to extract a violent, naked and smeared with feces patient from the back of a police transport vehicle (and the nurse on that unit doesn't have experience doing that)? I'll stay late and run the code. You got floated to my unit and assigned medications and you don't feel comfortable administering meds on my violent behavioral offender hall? Okay. I'm totally happy to do that for you.

Just my opinion but nursing to me is all about the teamwork. Everyone should feel comfortable where they work. This means respecting one another's professional boundaries and making sure they have the help and coaching available to them to successfully provide care to their patients. It sounds like you're working with a team that is not the right fit for you and doesn't respect your boundaries. Some people are okay with banter (I work in a male dominated area with a lot of former police, military and corrections and we're all under a lot of stress... the humor and banter can be quite inappropriate - but to me? You call me "sugar tits" I'll call you "candy panties" and both of us are laughing and no one is offended) and some aren't. You have established your boundaries and it sounds like they aren't respecting those. I'd go to HR or try checking out a different facility (I've worked a few and they all have different dynamics/cultures)... you might find you're happier there.

[BonhamsGhost]

Questions for the guys, is it sexism and/or does it feel like sexism when your inherent charateristics are appreciated and asked for? Physical strength, protective instincts, stature type stuff. (If you possess those).

And how does the staff respond if you offer those up? Offended or appreciative?

From my perspective/experience, I can see through any BS and shirking of duties. I feel good about myself and my capabilities when they are appreciated and not taken for granted or used as an excuse for someone to be lazy and focus on their own comforts. I am, I believe, the epitome of a team player. If you are there for me, you won't even have to ask me for help, I will be there. To be more accurate, I will be the first to help without being asked, but don't take my kindness for a weakness. I know how to play the game, if that's what is going on. Patient safety however will never be compromised for said "games." I'm just a very loyal coworker, and I accept nothing less.

exit96

[BonhamsGhost]

Is it me or does the majority of the MEN, have problems being, MEN or MALE for that matter?

Geezus.

You're a man for christ sakes.

If you get called to help with heavy lifting and your FEELERS get hurt get out of the biz.

You sound like some wussy calling "Sexism" and BS like that because you get asked to help.

Boo EFFING hoo!

Don't do it if you don't like the moniker.

Never mind, I replied previously...Boohoo

[Boozer4life]

I am a nurse and i have your back. If you need help just call me!