Why are male nurses looked down on?

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I am a female nursing student but I dont understand why male nurses are looked down on. They are human beings too.

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A curious comment. Why do you say so?

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Specializes in ER.

They aren't. Lots of threads here talk about how great it will be when we get more male nurses.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Can you give specific examples? I have worked with many male nurses and they are treated equally.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Yes, would like OP to elaborate on this, too. I, too, have seen no difference/s......

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I've never been disrespected or looked down upon that I'm aware of.

I think your presumuption is inaccurate.

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Specializes in Dialysis (All Modalities) , Ex-CVICU RN.

The women like me :) . But no i haven't been look down upon (yet).

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I don't look down upon them!

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I'm 6'2"--VERY few nurses look down on me . I have only encountered a few that do not like me due to the fact that I am male. Most of them are like that because they have had it with men in general, not male nurses. I have on the other hand had the comment made to me, by an INSTRUCTOR in nursing school no less, that men did not belong in nursing. I won't even get into how that one turned out--wasn't pretty:angryfire .

Tom

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Never one negative comment to date. Only positive. I think some of the younger docs look at me a bit askance, but a lot of the older docs are very, very positive. I have only had one female patient request a female nurse for personal care. Never an issue...

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I have had nothing but positive experiences from the hospital staff, nursing home staff, and instructors. I don't sit back and act like a wallflower though. I tell my primary that I will help with any grunge work if they will get me for even the most mundane procedure. In my class there are three students (all men) actively involved in the lectures and granted we do joke some in class, but the instructors really enjoy the humor. I came from a pretty macho profession before this and I do get some goodhearted flak from my buddies. You want to know what shuts them up about na na na, male nurse, yuck, yuck? I tell them I have a really long memory, and I will be in control of the pain med. It shuts them up every time. Feel free to use it.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

To the best of my knowledge and memory, no one's ever looked down on me for pursuing nursing, either.

I, too, would like to know your source of information. Seems inaccurate...

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