TL;DR - Recruiter told me they don't hire dudes. Firestorm ensues. I get a PRN job.
Recently I did an online "Talk with a Nurse Recruiter" session as I have moved to a new city and I'm looking for some PRN work. This was a fun conversation (organization name and recruiter name protected) as you can see below where I'm told that the hospital doesn't hire male RNs into women's services or NICU/SCN/Nursery.
Once I was done with this nice, but uninformed recruiter I sent off an e-mail AND snail mail copies to the SVP of the entire system as well as the president, CNO, and VP HR of the local facility. Oh boy did that set off some fun. Less than 24 hours later I had a call from a system level HR director telling me that she doesn't know what that lady was thinking and that certainly wasn't correct information. I played up how caught off guard I was by how blatantly she told me they won't hire male RNs (even if she thinks it, don't say it! especially in a recorded chat room, that's just not very smart). Also, it apparently only applies to RNs because they will consider male STs.
Long story short, ended up interviewing, shadowing, and getting a job offer because as it turns out I'm pretty awesome and the staff wanted me to join them. I may have also bribed them by offering to bake cookies, but that is totally beside the point!
You would be wrong. I've worked in OB for 15 years, and most women just want a compassionate, knowledgeable, and caring nurse, and really DGAF their sex.
Except that’s not at all what I just said in my scenario. I said if asked if they do have a preference, those that do have a preference I guarantee want a woman.
You would be wrong. I've worked in OB for 15 years, and most women just want a compassionate, knowledgeable, and caring nurse, and really DGAF their sex.
I definitely would have cared. I can’t speak for everyone but I honestly am confused how some people here are acting like that’s ridiculous. I don’t want a male provider or nurse involved in my pregnancy and birth. I sought out a female OB and would have requested a female nurse if a male one showed up at my bedside. It’s nothing personal it’s just my comfort. I assume everyone they hired at that excellent hospital is equally qualified, but for my own comfort it just is what it is. I’m basically naked during labor at various points there is zero modesty, and I prefer to be supported by other women. I don’t think men should be barred from that speciality, but I do think hospitals should be allowed to consider that it is an all female patient population and figure out their hiring needs that way. If they want to hire a man, awesome! But he wouldn’t be my nurse.
I definitely would have cared. I can’t speak for everyone but I honestly am confused how some people here are acting like that’s ridiculous. I don’t want a male provider or nurse involved in my pregnancy and birth. I sought out a female OB and would have requested a female nurse if a male one showed up at my bedside. It’s nothing personal it’s just my comfort. I assume everyone they hired at that excellent hospital is equally qualified, but for my own comfort it just is what it is. I’m basically naked during labor at various points there is zero modesty, and I prefer to be supported by other women. I don’t think men should be barred from that speciality, but I do think hospitals should be allowed to consider that it is an all female patient population and figure out their hiring needs that way. If they want to hire a man, awesome! But he wouldn’t be my nurse.
Key word: "I"
You are one person and can NOT speak for anyone else nor "most" women. The topic isn't about whom YOU would want as a nurse so why are you so bothered?
Having said that, I am not going back and forth with you on YOUR OPINION. Everyone has one, but that isn't the point. Regardless of your opinion, or anyone else' including mine, discrimination in hiring practices based on sex is illegal, full stop. There is no male/female only aspect of providing nursing, or any healthcare for that matter, to any patient. The fact some of y'all are going super hard to validate discrimination makes me wonder how y'all treat patients or their family. There is no justification for discriminatory hiring practices.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
21 minutes ago, Mommyandcareerchangertobe said:
Except that’s not at all what I just said in my scenario. I said if asked if they do have a preference, those that do have a preference I guarantee want a woman.
What you said: Most women, if asked, probably do have a preference for women.
And I responded: in my experience, that is not true at all. Most women do not, in fact, have a preference, and just want someone who's good at their job.
You are one person and can NOT speak for anyone else nor "most" women. The topic isn't about whom YOU would want as a nurse so why are you so bothered?
Having said that, I am not going back and forth with you on YOUR OPINION. Everyone has one, but that isn't the point. Regardless of your opinion, or anyone else' including mine, discrimination in hiring practices based on sex is illegal, full stop. There is no male/female only aspect of providing nursing, or any healthcare for that matter, to any patient. The fact some of y'all are going super hard to validate discrimination makes me wonder how y'all treat patients or their family. There is no justification for discriminatory hiring practices.
There is a reason that OBGYNs entering the field are overwhelmingly women. I think it probably does have something to do with patient demand.
I just said I don’t speak for all women. But I’m giving my own perspective having been the patient.
The fact some of y'all are going super hard to validate discrimination makes me wonder how y'all treat patients or their family. There is no justification for discriminatory hiring practices.
"You are one person and can NOT speak for anyone else nor "most" women. The topic isn't about whom YOU would want as a nurse so why are you so bothered?"
While you are correct that not ALL women have a preference. I believe that it's widely accepted knowledge, that MOST women feel uncomfortable with being nude for extended amounts of time in front of men. This is exactly why women and men have different changing rooms. Whether it's cultural, social conditioning, or biological, modesty is important to women, and being complete naked in front of men can be at the very least embarrassing. Being supported by people that have the same parts as you is comforting for many women.
"discrimination in hiring practices based on sex is illegal, full stop."
I agree, but there is a CLEAR preference for female nurses in this particular population of patients. This population is almost 100% female, with the exception of trans-men. I believe that only in very select areas, such as: a women's homeless shelter, female domestic violence center, or L&D units, employers should be able to accommodate and consider the needs of that specific patient population. What IRKS me about Male Nurses demanding employment in L&D units, while threatening lawsuits, is that these Male Nurses are insisting that female modesty is IRRELEVANT. They believe that discriminating against males, trumps female patient's preferences and comfort.
"There is no male/female only aspect of providing nursing, or any healthcare for that matter, to any patient."
I think many would disagree. Whenever I visit a Gynecologist, I am asked if I would prefer a female. I believe that this is strong evidence that there is a clear preference within the female patient population for a female provider, when it comes to intimate medical examinations. I am pretty positive that the VAST majority of woman that walk into a L&D unit do not want a male nurse. Many women may feel uncomfortable voicing their preference, for the fear of being call a bigot.
"There is no justification for discriminatory hiring practices."
I believe there should be some exceptions, when it comes to female intimate care, to consider the needs of population being cared for. There are reasons that hospitals are resistant to hire more male L&D nurses, and why these male nurses are resorting to lawsuits, or bullying with the BON, in order to get what they want. Those reasons are patient preference. Most hospitals have to compete with other hospitals for clients. They want to provide the best birthing experience possible so clients come back and recommend to others. Male L&D nurses decrease client satisfaction, and lead to unhappy birth experiences. Hospitals don't want this, so it's clear there is a mild resistance to hire more men. Again Male Nurses don't seem to care about this, and demand to be in a area where frankly they are unneeded and unwanted. There are dozens of other areas of nursing where male nurses are desperately needed and wanted.
The fact some of y'all are going super hard to validate discrimination makes me wonder how y'all treat patients or their family. There is no justification for discriminatory hiring practices.
I treat my patients and their families with compassion, kindness, and dignity at all times. I believe my comforting and emphatic nature, is my strongest quality as a nurse. I may have a few controversial opinions, but I keep them private, and conduct myself in a profession manner. Even though my comments on this site are very impersonal, in real life I'm a very happy go lucky and friendly person.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
SilverNova, You REALLY need to edit your posts, because nobody has any idea what is quoted, and what are your words. I've skipped all of your posts in this thread because I have no idea what you're saying.
SilverNova, You REALLY need to edit your posts, because nobody has any idea what is quoted, and what are your words. I've skipped all of your posts in this thread because I have no idea what you're saying.
that is ok. I put an argument in quotes, and write my counter argument under it.
"There is no justification for discriminatory hiring practices."
I believe there should be some exceptions, when it comes to female intimate care, to consider the needs of population being cared for. There are reasons that hospitals are resistant to hire more male L&D nurses, and why these male nurses are resorting to lawsuits, or bullying with the BON, in order to get what they want. Those reasons are patient preference. Most hospitals have to compete with other hospitals for clients. They want to provide the best birthing experience possible so clients come back and recommend to others. Male L&D nurses decrease client satisfaction, and lead to unhappy birth experiences. Hospitals don't want this, so it's clear there is a mild resistance to hire more men. Again Male Nurses don't seem to care about this, and demand to be in a area where frankly they are unneeded and unwanted. There are dozens of other areas of nursing where male nurses are desperately needed and wanted.
I'd like to see this data. My hospital system can attest to higher satisfaction with many positive comments since hiring myself and 3 other guys across the different locations. I haven't been at one of the locations for about 6 months and patients still ask for me to be their nurse because of their friend or provider recommending me.
2 hours ago, Mommyandcareerchangertobe said:
I totally respect your perspective as a male labor nurse, and I’m sure you are great at your job and have your own reasons for being drawn to the field. However, it is an avoidable fact that labor and delivery is the only all women patient population in a hospital (the only except is trans men but I’m not sure how frequently they present to labor and delivery). I’m not saying all women have a preference for female nurses, but I bet no woman comes to the hospital and Actively wants a male labor nurse (Unless they know you personally as you’ve said). Most women, if asked, probably do have a preference for women. I just don’t think this one division can be compared to every other unit for this reason.
but as a woman who has labored twice and been so positively impacted by her labor and delivery nurses that I want to become one myself and eventually be a CNM, I thank you for all you do.
I hope that if we ever work together as CNMs that your preference doesn't translate to the patients we care for. In fact, ACNM recently came out saying they want to be more supportive of men going into midwifery.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I would like to see the data as well. It sounds like the statement "Male L&D nurses decrease client satisfaction and lead to unhappy birth experiences" was pulled out of someone's butt, to be honest. In fact, I would be VERY surprised if there is even a study examining this topic, as there are so few male L&D nurses.
Mommyandcareerchangertobe
13 Posts
Except that’s not at all what I just said in my scenario. I said if asked if they do have a preference, those that do have a preference I guarantee want a woman.