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Nurses Men

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Men,

Do you feel like you should be compensated more because you are asked to always help lift a patient out of bed,

raise them up in the bed, trouble shoot a peice of equipement or to start an IV on a patient ?

:smokin:

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I'm not a nurse yet but, I guess female nurses could argue the same when it comes to other issues. For example: I've never seen a male nurse place a foley catheter into his female patient. The men that I observed usually ask a female nurse to do so.

So I guess, when it comes down to it, the raises should equal out and both male & female nurses should get the same pay.

Funny, I have been asked to place a foley in female patients by other female Rns on several occasions. Mute point.

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Specializes in Emergency.
I dont have a problem lifting a patient, my max on the bench press before I started my FNP clinicals was 405 lbs, now its down a bit and i gained some weight but since i graduated I started exercising more intensely.

I tell my coworkers at work to protect your back, stretch out those muscles, work those abs , do pilates.. i dont do pilates of course.. ha ha

We men get called to help lift another patient from another floor or unit, both me and another male RN got called to help lift some dude who was on the floor.

This happens all the time

ANother thing they use me to do is to de escalate psychiatric situations with potential combative and confused patients. I work at the VA and im a veteran myself, so I know. sometimes ive had to use force, most of the time its matter of just talking to the patient like he is another veteran, i violate the rules, I go in their with a diet coke, ask him whats wrong. most of the time the dudes are just frustrated, I know I have been their.

Great numbers on the Bench Press, but... the amount that you can press shouldnt have much to do with lifting a patient...sorry buddy. I'll take deadlift and row stats though.

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Specializes in Family Practice/Primary Care.
I'm not a nurse yet but, I guess female nurses could argue the same when it comes to other issues. For example: I've never seen a male nurse place a foley catheter into his female patient. The men that I observed usually ask a female nurse to do so.

So I guess, when it comes down to it, the raises should equal out and both male & female nurses should get the same pay.

Inserting a foley is not the same as lifting a patient. One takes a small amount of time, one puts great strain on your back, and if you do it with patient who decided to "help" by jerking around, it can be quite painful, for years to come.

Misti, the team attitude is what makes nursing work, and an attitude I strive to maintain. I often will peek in when they call for the nurse to see what it is. Half the time, I can fix it, half the time I just get their pain rating/location and give it to the nurse, which in turn often saves him time. Working as a team is the way to get things done for sure.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Inserting a foley is not the same as lifting a patient. One takes a small amount of time, one puts great strain on your back,

Hmm. I was thinking the same thing, but reversed. Lifting a pt takes seconds. And yes, at my weight I still have to lift 400+ lbs pts. I get help from whoever is available. And if done properly it shouldn't strain your back. Yes, even morbidly obese pts can be moved/rolled/lifted properly.

Now placing a hard foley can be hard on my back. Sometimes they can be quite difficult, and I have yet to see a man in my department put one in a female. Nope, that's my job.

Ever try working in an ER as a women? All I did was witness/assist with: foleys, rectals, pelvics, etc, etc...

If you don't like helping the pts and staff out by helping, then don't. I only want help from people who are able to offer it without strings or anger attached.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Great numbers on the Bench Press, but... the amount that you can press shouldnt have much to do with lifting a patient...sorry buddy. I'll take deadlift and row stats though.

Cant do deadlifts because of a parachuting injury when I was in the Army for competition. The most I will pick up to stretch out my back is 275. I do single arm dumbel rows with 60 80 and 100 lbs and pullups. I cant squat anymore either, its not worth the risk

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Not sure about hospitals but in LTC UGH...

Every five seconds... Stanley!!!! Can you help us transfer so and so? Stanley!!! So and so is being combative.

What the heck??? What do they do when no men are scheduled?

As to having to witness? :) Women caused that so no extra pay for you!!! :D

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Not sure about hospitals but in LTC UGH...

Every five seconds... Stanley!!!! Can you help us transfer so and so? Stanley!!! So and so is being combative.

What the heck??? What do they do when no men are scheduled?

As to having to witness? :) Women caused that so no extra pay for you!!! :D

I'm sorry but that is too funny.... Can't you just have a meeting with them and lie to them, saying, "My wife is complaining about my stamina in bed." My back is killing me and You all are ruining my marriage or sex life. LOL!!!

But I guess, then you will be labeled as Lazy and your job will be in jeopardy.

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I'm sorry but that is too funny.... Can't you just have a meeting with them and lie to them, saying, "My wife is complaining about my stamina in bed." My back is killing me and You all are ruining my marriage or sex life. LOL!!!

But I guess, then you will be labeled as Lazy and your job will be in jeopardy.

Oh HECK NO!

I'm not married. I do believe if I actually complained about it that the water, so to speak, at that particular oasis would dry. If you know what I mean. ;)

Can't have that. No sir... :D

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To answer the question asked.....YES!...I say this because I missed approx 3 weeks of work due to a pinched nerve mid-back...but in reality...NO...I think that the point was really that some nurses will go out of their way to ask a male to help lift when in reality anyone should be capable of the task..same with IV starts...the load should be shared equally among all....sort of like when a nurse will bypass a room that has a call light on and go out of their way to find the UAC to go into the room.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

In my previous, unlicensed position, transfering pts from bed to chair, wheelchair to bed, floor to bed, etc. were part of my routine duties. As an RN, that experience continues to serve me (and my coworkers.)

Not long ago, I was asked to go to an adjacent unit to help with a pt on the floor. Very heavy, and when his nurse explained what they wanted to do, I could see right away we were all going to end up on the floor. So I organized a safer lift for all concerned, having the pt lie on a blanket and 8 of us lifted him to bed. I was the only male lifting, and could easily have let a female take my place, since we were each lifting 40-50 lbs (closer to 40, I estimate) each.

As much as I can, I lift with my brain. I would be embarassed to get extra pay for it. I ask women for lifting help numerous times each shift. We don't have enough guys to cover all the lifting, and patients still get moved, even when none of us are there.

I do start my own Foleys, IVs, etc, but I'll ask for help if I need to. (I agree--I'd rather help with a lift than start a Foley, especially on a female. Grab and heave is easier for me than poke and hope.)

I rarely ask a female to witness for me. Maybe that's dumb, but I do offer the patient the option of having a female do intimate care, if she prefers. Most are okay with me.

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