Experiences???

[marcs106]

Hello. After browsing the forums here, i haven't seen this question yet so if it has been asked, I apologize. I was wondering what the attitude towards males in the nursing field are these days and what experiences, positive or negative, have any of You experienced? The admin at my school says that males are fully excepted but the anecdotal evidence I am getting says this is not the case, especially when I tell people what I am going to school for. This has me worried to the point where I am thinking of changing majors to PT, OT, or maybe even Radiation Tech. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Marc

[kimmiejs]

Hello. After browsing the forums here, i haven't seen this question yet so if it has been asked, I apologize. I was wondering what the attitude towards males in the nursing field are these days and what experiences, positive or negative, have any of You experienced? The admin at my school says that males are fully excepted but the anecdotal evidence I am getting says this is not the case, especially when I tell people what I am going to school for. This has me worried to the point where I am thinking of changing majors to PT, OT, or maybe even Radiation Tech. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Marc

I will be the first admit, it is nice having a male nurse around when there is a heavy patient that must be repositioned frequently but then females prefer a female to place foley catheters, check vaginal bleeding, etc.... so this kind of evens thing out (if you understand what I mean). Now that that is said the type of nurse and person you are is what matters.

[kinnlee]

Hello. After browsing the forums here, i haven't seen this question yet so if it has been asked, I apologize. I was wondering what the attitude towards males in the nursing field are these days and what experiences, positive or negative, have any of You experienced? The admin at my school says that males are fully excepted but the anecdotal evidence I am getting says this is not the case, especially when I tell people what I am going to school for. This has me worried to the point where I am thinking of changing majors to PT, OT, or maybe even Radiation Tech. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Marc

Hi Marc!

I, too, did the research you speak of before entering the nursing program 10 years ago. After a long period of listening to others' opinions on the matter I finally decided to enter the program and take the career plunge based on my own life pursuits and interests. For me it was all about travel. I simply wanted to be a travel nurse. It can take you around the globe! The other careers you mention will not bring you nearly the income nor opportunities as will nursing. The choices in nursing are limitless. In seven years as a nurse (I specialized by choice in ER/Trauma) I have been a staff nurse, Charge Nurse in hella busy ED's, ER Case Manager, Administrative Nursing Supervisor, and ER Nurse Manager. I only have an associates degree! Don't be held back by an ideology which suggests there should be special catergorization as a "male" nurse. Just be the best nurse. Being male will be secondary to the reputation you develop simply from being excellent at your chosen profession. I could not be more proud of my career choice! You will too!

Warm Regards,

Lee Kinney, RN

[ntsaub28]

Hey Marc,

I'm pursuing my master degree in nursing and "male in nursing" issue is a hot topic to debate about. Some of my colleagues don't agree with men in nursing. Even though we enjoy having male nurses on our unit and they help out alot on the lift and physical aspect.
I agreed with Moo Coo, it really depend on your character and what you value. it doesn't matter where you employ, it's gonna be the same issue. Dude, I can say that many of us nurse enjoys working in a healthy environment. Not based on gender. Good luck and I sure hope you stick to nursing.

[Cammer]

I've been in nursing for only a few years now but I have had very few experiences that I would call negative which related to my male gender. When I am at work I am an extremely positive and upbeat person. I try to know everything I can about my department and be as helpful as possible. As a result I feel that I have become a valued member of my healthcare team and I seem to be the one that people come to when they have questions. I don't believe that I am seen as being either male or female. I am just another RN with the useful trait of being able to lift heavy things. This is partly because I don't see my coworkers as being male or female. I make no gender distinctions when I'm at work. In my mind gender is irrelevant to the job except when a patient has a cultural issue with it.

The point that I'm trying to make here is that gender is only a problem if you see it that way. Ignore the negativity that some people seem to thrive on and be a positive and energetic person. This kind of an attitude transcends gender differences.

Don't worry about being a male in a female dominated profession. Do your job well, treat others with respect and you will be seen as who you are, not what you are.

[SoldierNurse]

I've been in nursing for only a few years now but I have had very few experiences that I would call negative which related to my male gender. When I am at work I am an extremely positive and upbeat person. I try to know everything I can about my department and be as helpful as possible. As a result I feel that I have become a valued member of my healthcare team and I seem to be the one that people come to when they have questions. I don't believe that I am seen as being either male or female. I am just another RN with the useful trait of being able to lift heavy things. This is partly because I don't see my coworkers as being male or female. I make no gender distinctions when I'm at work. In my mind gender is irrelevant to the job except when a patient has a cultural issue with it.

The point that I'm trying to make here is that gender is only a problem if you see it that way. Ignore the negativity that some people seem to thrive on and be a positive and energetic person. This kind of an attitude transcends gender differences.

Don't worry about being a male in a female dominated profession. Do your job well, treat others with respect and you will be seen as who you are, not what you are.

I'm very proud to be a Male RN!

[SoldierNurse]

Hey Marc,

I'm pursuing my master degree in nursing and "male in nursing" issue is a hot topic to debate about. Some of my colleagues don't agree with men in nursing. Even though we enjoy having male nurses on our unit and they help out alot on the lift and physical aspect.
I agreed with Moo Coo, it really depend on your character and what you value. it doesn't matter where you employ, it's gonna be the same issue. Dude, I can say that many of us nurse enjoys working in a healthy environment. Not based on gender. Good luck and I sure hope you stick to nursing.

Excuse me? What is it that your colleagues don't like about men having EQUAL OPPORTUNITY in the nursing profession? BTW, we male nurses are NOT for just lifting patients.

[jv_625]

I was wondering what the attitude towards males in the nursing field are these days and what experiences, positive or negative, have any of You experienced? The admin at my school says that males are fully excepted but the anecdotal evidence I am getting says this is not the case, especially when I tell people what I am going to school for. This has me worried to the point where I am thinking of changing majors to PT, OT, or maybe even Radiation Tech. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Marc

Marc,
I just started nursing last year after quitting my job in science research. I thought that gender was still an issue in nursing. However, my encounters with peers and other people are mixed though mostly positive. True, I can get some raised eyebrows once in a while when they know that I am studying nursing but I really don't care since it's a decent and well paying job plus you can have flexibility in your schedule. I think that the increasing number of males taking up nursing will bring a positive impact in the profession. If females can take up engineering and penetrate other "male-dominated" professions, why can't we go into nursing? Hang in there, I think you're doing the right thing! Good Luck.

[MountainMan]

I am a 50yo General Contractor in Denver and have decided to change horses in mid stream. I still outwork most of the guys in their 20's 30's and 40's , not out of competition but simply out of ability. However I ended up in construction out of shear undirected coincidence. Caring about and for people is more about me than building houses. I care about the people I build things for, but that only gets you run-over in the end and cuts profits by a huge margin.
I quite confidently tell the tough-ass guys I've employed and worked with over the years I am becoming a nurse and to my face they take it very well, perhaps a little puzzled but very well. My friends all react alarmingly consistently "you would make a GOOD nurse', almost as if they expected it of me. I might add most of my friends are in health care, from Coding-Specialists to Doctors.
I may have the underlying knowlege that most anyone who thinks me effeminate or a sissy wouldn't last 2 hours working along side me in construction. Quite honestly it is a mid-level aerobic charge 10 hours a day 5 days a week, so I don't have a reluctance to state my intentions.
In the end it is about whether you are tough enough to be a nurse or not, regardless of gender. Some women are tougher than some men, and you, if you want to be a NURSE have to be tougher than most men!

[Dat Mann]

Personally, I don't want to be appreciated when there are heavy patients around. Men get back pain too. I want to be appreciated for being a nurse, NOT just for some male-specific tasks I can perform.