Thinking of becoming a childrens nurse

[jambonsambo]

Hi there ,

I have recently decided to change careers and I am right now choosing between childrens nursing and Psychiatric mental health nursing . A friend of mine who is a nurse said that as I am a male I would be more suitable for Mental Health Nursing as she said that most parents of children would prefer to have a female nurse take care of their child . I would like to hear from some other guys what it is like to work as a childrens nurse . Do you ever come across parents who would prefer a female nurse to treat their child and what is it like to work in such a female dominated area ?

[elkpark]

I'm not male myself, but I hope you don't mind me commenting. One of the two pediatric instructors in my nursing program (many years ago) was male; he had been in pediatrics for many years at that time, and I never heard him mention having had any problems. I happened to be in the clinical group with all the male students in my class, and didn't hear of any of them encountering any concerns from parents during our peds rotation. My own specialty is child psych, and I've worked with quite a few male RNs and LPNs over the years in that specialty (including in my current position), and never heard anyone mention any difficulties or concerns from parents.

A lot of these kind of statements (like that made by your friend) are more a matter of that individual's personal views (and, maybe, predjudices) than the reality of day-to-day life in healthcare. That's not to say that it would be impossible for that situation to ever occur (parents objecting to a male nurse caring for their child) -- just that that's not a reason to avoid peds if that's your main interest. :)

(Also, keep in mind that every area of nursing is a "female-dominated area" -- males still make up less than 10% of nurses.)

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

I've worked NICU, peds ICU and Peds ER, and parents love good, caring nurses, whether or not they are men.

Some of my best experiences have been caring for kids!

My advice is to go into school without having chosen a specialty ahead of time...I thought I wanted to do adult ER, and ended up hating it :)

[Bob_N_VA]

I'm working on a career change as well. As far as what specialty or area I will go into, I really don't have a clue right now. For sure, it probably wont be L&D, but I don't see any reason why you or I couldn't work with kids. I think part of it will be determined by where I can get hired, so really I think most options are open.

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

I disagree with your friend completely. I'm a guy and I work as a tech. in a Pediatric Emergency Department and I have only had 1 patient so far that has asked to have a woman take care of them (I've worked their for over a year now). There is one guy who is a nurse and another guy who is a tech. and we all seem to do just fine. I know there are a few guys up on the Peds. Med/Surg floors and they do just fine. Its all in your personality and showing that your an intelligent, caring professional. I'm actually surprised how many teenage girls don't mind having me do their EKGs but that's because I make a point of perserving their modesty and dignity when I do it. I make sure to fully explain the procedure before we start, I give them the option of asking for a female tech. (without making them feel guilty) and I make sure to use a towel to keep them as covered as possible while I do it. Its not something that my female colleagues work as hard at doing, I've walked by more than one open door just to see half clothed girl because of careless colleague. Parents are more open to having a guy nurse take care of their kid then you might think, especially if the child is a boy.

!Chris

[pedimac]

I agree with Steve...I'm a male, I work in a Pedi ICU, worked as a tech on a general peds unit for 2 years in nursing school. Parents enjoy anyone who shows they care about their child, male or female. Don't let snot nosed brats control your life.

But, all areas are unique. I enjoy pediatrics, but others don't. Keep your options open through nursing school, enjoy the ride, and find what you enjoy through clinicals, externships, and shadowing opportunities. Good luck!

[nursel56]

Hope you guys don't mind another female chiming in-- I worked in peds the majority of my career with many male nurses- what your friend said is bunk from what I've observed. I've never heard a parent say that. I've found that people who like children in general and can develop rapport do best. Peds isn't for everybody but gender is not a big issue.

[trrinatl]

I've never done much Ped's nursing except during my ER work years and my Ped's rotation in my FNP program. BUT, I can tell you something that I found to hold true. Most guys are just big kids anway, given the chance, we'll "shoot" a basket with a wet paper towel, or go "bowling" down the hall with office keys. Guys THINK differently then females and sometimes see things from a different perspective (not a bad thing, just the way we are wired). I can honestly say that my Peds rotation in grad school was my most fun. I had a great preceptor who gave me lots of space, but mostly I found out that kids love me. Trust me, i'm not cut out to be a peds nurse by any means. Maybe it's cause I'm a big chubby white guy, they all think i'm Santa or something (LOL!).

I will never forget the 18 month old that came into the MD office. He was crying and holding his teddy bear, snot running down his upper lip, his shirt covered in slobber. He rounded the corner from the triage room, spotted me in the hallway, and made a sprint toward the leg of my brand new dress pants. About 3 minutes later, I was able to pry him off my leg, now covered with more upper airway secretions than I care to remember and he puts his arms around my neck and proceeds to tell me about how he didn't want a shot for his ear. (he presented with ear pain and ultimately was Dx with otitis media). After having a short converstation with "teddy" about how we only give shots to little boys who are very sick and they can only get well that way; he decided that he'd let the triage nurse take his temp and ascultate his heart rate (and clean the snot off his face). My clinical preceptor just smiled and said "your a natural". BUT I know in my heart that the moments of joy I had wiping snot off my new pants could not compare to my love for adult critical care.

In my ER assignments, I've spent way too much time huddled under sterile drapes with GI Joe figures while some youngster got his laceration sutured, I've crawled into "forts" made of bed sheets and side rails to give TD shots, and I've made jet neb adapters out of foam cups so that toddlers would actually get their asthma meds instead of having them screaming and infusing the room with albuteral. Kids are fun, but just not my cup of tea.