Why is it MEN seem to get along better in this field than WOMEN??!!!

SmilingBluEyes · May 11, 2004

Wow your workplaces suck---- or do they??? I have MOSTLY supportive, caring and wonderful coworkers, some of which I consider friends (not all). The few who tried to " eat " me as a young 'un, well, I put em in their place. I let them know in no uncertain terms, they were picking on the wrong person. And they quit, never to bother me again. But I always treat them WITH RESPECT,and I do mean always. I don't work in Utopia, but it's very workable and most of the time pleasant to be around my coworkers.

I guess we sometimes we get what we put out. (karma?) Barring passive-aggressive and catty behavior on YOUR parts, as well as those you complain about, you can have a wonderful time with your female coworkers----but you have to take some initiative yourselves NOT to propogate it. We get what we GIVE often enough, really. That is not news.

I love where I work and we are ALL female. I have been there for many of my coworkers thru very tough times and they for me. When I was hospitalized, they visited me (it was a different hospital 20 miles up the road) and took the time to send a card and flowers. All females doing this? Very little backbiting and witchy behavior going on there. But I think it has a lot to do with taking responsibility for ones own behavior and refusing to participate in any catty behavior they DO see. Take the bull by the horns and take action to STOP it, if at all possible. It really does help.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 11, 2004

It's NOT because 'that's the way women are' or 'that's the way men are', it's a matter of how the people are. Stereotyping one gender or the other, or ANY people for that matter, will do nothing but make whatever problem that may exist even worse.

1BlessedRN · May 11, 2004

I tend to agree with HOTGIRL on this one. As everyone knows by now, I had a run in with a couple of nurses and they turned around and were sweeter than pie to my fiancee. Its sad to say but yes...women are catty and why that is?...Who knows. Competitive, jealousy perhaps. Even if we can't put a finger on whatever it is specifically, there is always that "sizing up" of another woman happening.
Men do it too but not on such an obvious level and they don't pick up when it happens too much so hence, no reaction.

I totally agree, but don't you think this is only playing into the nursing shortage? I know that pay, and other things are benefactors to the shortage, but NOBODY wants to spend 8-12hr in a stressful enviroment.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 11, 2004

The phrase should have been "SOME women are catty", to say that "women are catty" implies that all are, which is far from the truth.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · May 11, 2004

All I can say is Thank Goodness for the couple of guys we have on our unit...that bit of testosterone goes along way with all the estrogen. LOL

1BlessedRN · May 11, 2004

All I can say is Thank Goodness for the couple of guys we have on our unit...that bit of testosterone goes along way with all the estrogen. LOL

This is so true:p

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 11, 2004

Thank goodness for the PEOPLE that work on my home unit, THEY are good NURSES.

Soonstudent · May 11, 2004

Hey, I'm not going either way on this one because with nursing, I don't know, but face it, men and women are different. Thats a fact. Men are naturally better than women at some jobs, and women are naturally better at some jobs than men. Now I'm not saying that women can't do "men jobs" or vice versa. Some things just come easier to a certain sex. We all have some qualities that make us unique. What do you think? Brandon

1BlessedRN · May 11, 2004

Thank goodness for the PEOPLE that work on my home unit, THEY are good NURSES.

Well you are very fortunate because I can relate with this new nurse, as I stated before I don't know if it's due to being overworked or underpaid but it's only going to contribute to the nursing shortage and make the condition even worse, and if you and your fellow nurses are nice and helpful to everyone PLEASE stay that way for the sake of female nurses and our younger generation of nurses.:)

a soft answer turns away wrath

PJMommy · May 11, 2004

The difference? My theory is those people (men or women) who like themselves, are confident and certain of their worth and ability - these are the ones who are easy to get along with.

smk1, LPN · May 11, 2004

I think that in general it is an individual thing, however i do think that there is more "potential" for emotional responses at work with a group of women simply because of our make-up. However most professionals will reign in most emotional responses and let off steam elsewhere rather than at work. The problem is that the stereotype is already there (and there is a grain of truth to it in my opinion) and it only takes 1 or 2 out of the bunch to behave in a way that perpetuates the stereotype. so the question we all should ask ourselves is am I participating in behaviors that are negative stereotypes? ( ie.. gossiping, nit-picking, "my way is best" etc..) Actually everyone should be refraining from participation in these things but because women have the label of being prone to these types of things we should be ecspecially vigilant. INMHO

1BlessedRN · May 11, 2004

I didn't know this thread would get all this response SO QUICKLY but anyway I appreciate all that have been said but in reading, it seems as if the majority of the posts are saying MOST women in general are the weaker vessel in these situations whereas men on the other hand don't fall so fast to put themselves in these sticky situations I have read the men posts and I also agree with them on some of the incidents in the workplace gossiping, backbiting, etc. but what do you tell the new nurses that are coming into this field, full of so many high expectations, we all know because we all can relate to this post...do we help them or do we run them off?:stone