What do you think of this statement?

[delirium]

This statement was made by my professor during class yesterday, so I pose this question to all nursing students, as well as anyone else who'd like to participate.

I am interested in hearing your responses and will post mine later in the thread.

"We need to bring more males into the nursing profession so we will finally have the political power to achieve more favorable working conditions."

Any thoughts? Agree/disagree?

[Rapheal]

I think his statement-for good or for bad - is true.

It has been my observation that male nurses get treated better on the job- and not as well off the job because many people feel that nursing is not a noble profession for a man. I give credit to all of us nurses who care for our patients.

The quickest and fastes way for nurses to get respect is for us all to put aside our differences and unite for better conditions. The healthcare deliverary system is in crisis. Our situation as nurses is like a pot on the stove that is getting very hot. One day it will boil over and demand our full attention. I do not know what situation, what tragedy or perhaps what person will emerge as our leader to finally turn up the heat enough to cause that pot to boil over. But I believe the day is coming. And when it does I will be ready to join the cause and demand the resources and respect that will enable me and other nurses to provide the best care for our patients.

Ooops ...... trips while stepping off her soapbox.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Can't say i completely agree that the male nurse on our floor gets more respect or is treated better.

I've overheard several patients ask if he got rejected from med school. He's been hit on by several homosexual patients (he's straight). This hasn't been a problem with the females. But it's just my observation that when people come in and learn that he is their RN for the night, they look at him completely differently, and not in a good way either. And it'll be hard enough with my own stereotypes and all, but i've seen it and even he has said it, that the women are taken more seriously than he is. But that's just one case in point.

[agent]

Is this instructor male or female??

Its funny after all these years everyone is still afraid of the white man.

I guess its a good time for me as a white male to enter the nursing field

[caligirl]

Kinda off the topic but kinda not...

I read in a magazine that male nurses are paid higher (on the average) than women nurses. I was in Information Technology before I went back to school and I have witnesses firsthand the pay uh.. 'differences.' But I was shocked to read it was the same way in nursing. In fact it was in a lot of women dominated career fields... (teaching etc etc..) Pathetic huh?