Special Priveledges for Male Nurses

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The proportions of males getting into the nursing profession is exponentially increasing. However, Nursing is still far from being considered free from stereotyping as a female profession. Also, nurses are still predominantly female with male nurses having only about 5 to 10 percent of the nurse population.

My questions are:

1. What do the employers preferred most when they hire assuming that a male and female applicants have equal competencies? I would like to ask this question since people believe that most women have a kind of natural gift to care just like the care of our mothers when compared with men (empirically, it is true i think). And also many people are not as gender sensitive as others are.

2. Is there a special priveledges just like signing bonus or something to encourage males for a rewarding career in nursing(Philippines and abroad)? I just like to ask this because i remember my mother years before telling me that male teachers here in the philippines were actually given some special grants in order to encourage them to teach in public schools here in the philippines. Being teaching a predominantly female profession too, I just want to know if there is also a similar case with male nurses.

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Specializes in MedSurg.-Tele, Home health, LTC.
the proportions of males getting into the nursing profession is exponentially increasing. however, nursing is still far from being considered free from stereotyping as a female profession. also, nurses are still predominantly female with male nurses having only about 5 to 10 percent of the nurse population.

my questions are:

1. what do the employers preferred most when they hire assuming that a male and female applicants have equal competencies?

whoever applied first, you get hired. they will also based it on your work experience, and the way you answered the questions on the job interview.. they don't choose female nurses over male nurses just because it is considered as a female dominated profession..if they do that, that will be a gender bias or discrimination.thats why they have this thing called " equal opportunity employment rule"

i would like to ask this question since people believe that most women have a kind of natural gift to care just like the care of our mothers when compared with men (empirically, it is true i think). and also many people are not as gender sensitive as others are. come on, nowadays, there is no such thing as i can't do your job because i am a female...or " i won't lift a finger because i am a man of the house...." my point is, we all been to nursing school, and we studied the same subjects, been to clinical rotation, wether male or female, we are all trained and subjected to the same skills, so what's the difference? none. in nursing, men and women are equal, well, except if a 15 years old patient, request a female nurse insert a catheter instead of her male nurse, that's a different story.

2. is there a special priveledges just like signing bonus or something to encourage males for a rewarding career in nursing(philippines and abroad)? no. why would male have special incentives, or priviledges?

i just like to ask this because i remember my mother years before telling me that male teachers here in the philippines were actually given some special grants in order to encourage them to teach in public schools here in the philippines. that's because it is based in the philippines..and teaching maybe considered as unmanly? being teaching a predominantly female profession too, i just want to know if there is also a similar case with male nurses. sadly, maybe only in the philippines, men feel that way...........:lol2:

here in the u.s., you can be a nurse, a soldier, a carpenter, a chef, an astronaut! fear not, nursing doesn't make a man less of man, or something like that. i work with the most handsome, gorgeous nurses, so to let ya know:monkeydance:
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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

In the US - discrimination based on gender is against the law. We have come a long way in ensuring there is equal pay for equal work. Hope that helps.

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here in the u.s., you can be a nurse, a soldier, a carpenter, a chef, an astronaut! fear not, nursing doesn't make a man less of man, or something like that. i work with the most handsome, gorgeous nurses, so to let ya know:monkeydance:

hahaha. thanks for the a very frank comment. i understand your point. you see, just like you, i also want equality and gender sensitivity in the workplace. you see it is very common that when employers hire they state it like this. for receptionist requirements: female, 21 yrs. old, single, etc. for collectors: male, 25 yrs. old, knows how to drive a motorcycle. i hope that this do not happen after i graduate because i really hate it when my opportunities are limited just because of insignificant factor. i believe though that this injustice seldom happens on professional jobs just like nursing, medicine, law, etc.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

1. The applicant's gender should not factor in the decision on which applicant to hire. But since you posed a hypothetical question about a male and a female applicant having totally equal competencies, the decision will be entirely up to the manager as to her preference for either gender.

2. There are efforts to increase diversity in nursing not only in terms of gender disparity but disproportionate racial distribution as well. But a lot of that is not carried out by way of monetary incentives or grants. Usually, there are campaigns and print media put out by nursing organizations that promote a positive image of men in nursing in an attempt to encourage more men to enter the nursing profession.

Some state universities and colleges also employ affirmative action of some sort with nursing school admissions to ensure diversity in their nursing student population. My home state, however, recently passed a law by referendum, outlawing the use of affirmative action in state government hiring and admission to state-funded educational institutions.

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Hahaha. Thanks for the a very frank comment. I understand your point. You see, just like you, i also want equality and gender sensitivity in the workplace. You see it is very common that when employers hire they state it like this. For receptionist requirements: female, 21 yrs. old, single, etc. For collectors: male, 25 yrs. old, knows how to drive a motorcycle. I hope that this do not happen after i graduate because i really hate it when my opportunities are limited just because of insignificant factor. I believe though that this injustice seldom happens on professional jobs just like nursing, medicine, law, etc.

That is in the Philippines, not the US. And you will not see that in any nursing ad. We also do not have an age limit as to when you can start nursing school or start working as an RN.

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thank you so much for everybody who participated in this thread. As a pre nurisng student i am truly convinced that i would be very happy with the profession i chose.

thanks to all!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Hahaha. Thanks for the a very frank comment. I understand your point. You see, just like you, i also want equality and gender sensitivity in the workplace. You see it is very common that when employers hire they state it like this. For receptionist requirements: female, 21 yrs. old, single, etc. For collectors: male, 25 yrs. old, knows how to drive a motorcycle. I hope that this do not happen after i graduate because i really hate it when my opportunities are limited just because of insignificant factor. I believe though that this injustice seldom happens on professional jobs just like nursing, medicine, law, etc.

You wouldn't find any gender requirements in the nursing profession, don't worry. Not even in the Philippines...:D probably with other professions like what you mentioned, but not in Nursing..:monkeydance:

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Remember my phrase always:

A nurse is a nurse is a nurse. Makes on difference to anything else. We all offfer special things that make us unique and that makes us better nurses as well.

Best of luck with your studies.:balloons:

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