I am thinking about being a nurse. I have all the pe-reqs to get into a BSN program, but I have some concerns. It seems like there are many people in the field that are unhappy. I am also wondering if the stereotypes against male nursing would plague me. I want to work in pediatrics and it seems like there are even more stereotypes for male nurses in that area. I only plan to work in the hospital for a few years then become a nurse practitioner. All I know is I want a career that is worth wile and helps people. Am I being hard headed, is the field that bad/corrupt?
remmycool2009-06-23T16:36:13Z
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Nursing is a very tough job. If you're not passionate about it, you won't be very good at it and you probably won't last. But if you really love helping people and you don't let your ego get in the way, you can make a real difference in people's lives.
I don't think you'll face many stereotypes and discrimination inside the hospital. Male nurses are becoming more common and medical staff are professionals. You might get an occassional snide comment from a patient, but unless you have zero self-esteem it shouldn't be an issue.
The one thing you should consider is the public image of male nurses. Male nurses might be accepted inside the hospital, but you're definitely going to get some raised eyebrows when you meet somebody and tell them you're a nurse. As long as you love your job and keep a sense of humor this shouldn't be a problem, but it is the type of thing that would really bug some people.
Just follow your gut. If you want to be a nurse, go for it. Even if it doesn't work out you're helping others and getting great work experience. 10 years from now you might be a teacher or a firefighter or a paramedic because of your nursing background.
The nursing occupation is currently stereotypically female, because men shifted to other occupations during the industrial revolution.
Nursing as a field was started by males in the patriarchal society, women rarely worked outside the household.
The major shift in the US was in the late 1800s, but there were male who were assigned as nurses in both armies throughout the American Civil War. In the 1960s the number of men in nursing dropped to around 1%. By the 1990s it was 7%, and by 2007 over 25% of all students in BSN programs surveyed were male. There is a major shift in the population, especially as the industrial job market drops off.
Males make effective nurses, though tend to be found in the acute care settings, like the ER, OR and ICU more than the less acute areas of medical surgical and pediatrics. The reason is more psychologically based than stereotypical. Most males tend to be task oriented, which makes them prefer areas with frequent tasks, and high levels of movement. Women, generally, are more process oriented, and are more comfortable with the process heavy areas involved in patient management on the wards.
Many males advance in to some form of advanced practice nursing, such as Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist or Clinical Specialist. Others who are good at organization and management get advanced degrees in Nursing or Health Care/Hospital Administration.
I am a RN. The stereotypes are going away. In fact, some male nurses have an advantage of getting more respect from elderly patients and physicians. People treat them as though they are physicians. I've used male nurses to get confused patients to cooperate. Of course, the male nurse knew why I enlisted his help. :)
Nursing is a great and rewarding profession. It is important that people don't go into it for the wrong reasons. Compassion and intelligence are a must. The opportunities are endless. You are no longer restricted to bedside nursing. I have found that men tend to gravitate toward ICU's. That may be because it is very technical. I, personally, would rather work with a male nurse than with a female. The profession can be catty at times, so watch your back. Be self sufficient and you'll do fine. Good luck!
The burnt out nurses are going to be more vocal about their misery so their stories will stand out. As for the stereotypes of males in nursing, you're contributing to it yourself by referring to your gender in association with the word nursing ("male nursing"), so you'll need to get over that. You would become a nurse, not a "male nurse", as there are no "female nurses". We are all nurses.
I've known plenty of men to work in pediatric settings. Rarely, I've known men to work in L&D and women-care settings. You can do whatever you want, your passion for your work will make you excel and you will break barriers.
its worth it if it's just a step in your career get more experiences and qualifications then take the next step dont listen to the thought of a male nurse that means nothing aslong as it pays the bills you enjoy it and your not just doing it for the sake of a job