What's special about male nurses?

[GBS_Fan]

Hi everyone,

I'm pre-nursing, and everyone keeps talking to me about how male nurses are in demand and what an asset it's going to be for me. I get that men rarely enter the profession, but I don't see why there is all this buzz or what people think men can do differently. If anyone would care to share their perspectives on this I'd appreciate, cuz I'm not seeing it!

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

Oh my Gosh YES!!!!!

Well, for one thing men are "usually" physically stronger. That could be an obvious benefit right there.

In my experience men are just easier to work with. They don't do the backstabbing and griping that women tend to do. I woudl MUCH rather work with a bunch of men who will tell you what the problem is instead of talking behind your back.

[Nursonegreat]

i have noticed when we get a male nurse when its been just a bunch of women the extra amounts of testosterone really do do wonders for the moods and aura of the dept. perhaps its cause i love to have men around, or maybe its a ying to our yang.

[Alpha13]

Please lets not allow ourselves to buy into these stereotypes! I assure you that I can make blatant lies about my coworkers behind their backs and still act like the victim's best friend just like any female can!

Oh and how is everyone today

[phoenix72]

My first thought was that there is a shortage of men in the field. I use to recruit for a cable company. I was constantly hounded to find female installers because our Equal Employment stats were low in that area. In addition, diversity in any field is a plus. The more of it you have, the more differences you can experience and grow from. Those are my thoughts.

Shaun

[PANurseRN1]

It's been my experience that the women who complain the most about nurses being back stabbers are themselves the worst offenders.

[tgb3rn]

As a male nurse I will simply reply by agreeing with all that the others have said.:) The only thing that I will add is that as a man, you will be better able to understand what your male pt's think and feel. Even if the female nurses don't want to admit it, they just don't understand--It's a man thing.:roll

Good luck

Tom

[grace90, LPN, LVN]

In my experience men are just easier to work with. They don't do the backstabbing and griping that women tend to do.

Bingo! That seems to be what I've noticed, too.

[Calgon-take.me.away]

Let's see...lifting help....opening a door for me...not backstabbing....good for at least one laugh a night...moving a bed to another room...walking me out to my car at night and waiting to see that it starts...and occasionally a bit of eye candy...it's all good guys. I have had the extreme pleasure of working with a few highly skilled RN's, male in gender, that respected me being an LPN,,,not looked down on me cause I was just an LPN.

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

You mean during your whole nursing career you haven't worked with a male backstabber? I've met with at least twenty, and I haven't been a nurse that long.

In my opinion it is because the USA is still a faith based society who deems men more important than women. Therefore their nursing judgement, coupled with the ability to haul more body weight than women is far more revered. As with all violent societies, people are less likely to mess with a male than a female.

[anne74]

I love murses! It's just nice to have a guy around to break up the female monotony. Also, murses are usually exceptional people because they're brave enough to go into a field that's traditionally female. They're confident enough to not let Florence Nightingale jokes get to them. I have enormous respect for male nurses.

And I also agree about how men typically don't put up with the poor treatment that many females do. So having more men in the industry can be very beneficial. Not to mention that perhaps nursing will get more respect as a profession if it's not seen as just "women's work." Which is a bunch of crap, because it's much challenging mentally and physically to be a nurse than to sit at a desk all day. I know, because I used to sit at a desk all day before I became a nurse.

And on another note, I agree with the poster that men can be back stabbing too - I experienced that in the corporate world. Men aren't backstabbing about personal, gossipy issues - they're backstabbing in the sense that they'll give their buddy a job even though you're more qualified. Or, they'll take credit for something you did. Ever heard of the old boys club?

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

Well, I suppose I just love well meaning people regardless of their sex.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

A male hospice nurse visited one of my terminally ill patients today. She continually referred to the male nurse as "the doctor", even after I corrected her and told her that he was a nurse.

Male nurses, in general, are treated more respectably than their female counterparts by doctors, patients, family members, ancillary staff, and colleagues. In addition, male nurses are stereotyped as being great at critical care specialties such as emergency nursing and ICU.