Comments on: Male Nursing Trends

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:16:55 +0000

As for gynecologists and obstetricians, we are just now beginning to see a large enough number of female gynecologists and obstetricians for women to HAVE a choice…until the past couple decades men dominated the world of physicians also and now the enrollment in medical schools is 50/50 or MORE female! And with everyone going “doctor shopping” now (there’s even specific websites set up for this) that shouldn’t be an issue anymore. Women should be able to pick a female OB/GYN if they so choose. As for abuse victims, I do agree that patients should be able to choose, but it may also show them that not all men are bad or “predators” if they have a kind, helpful, caring male as their nurse in their time of need. It may also make them anxious as you say, but I think it definitely depends on the victim and on the situation. There’s no definitive solution. All that us “male nurses” can do is show them that we’re good people who are professional and only there to help and do our jobs well.

By: Mr Ian

Mr Ian — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:27:44 +0000

Cali: “but the question that I am posing here is, why does this not occur in doctors like, ie male gynecologists?”

It should. But I cannot speak for how the medical profession chooses to run itself.

Cali: “MEN coming into nursing profession is maybe what we finally need to get some respect, decent pay, recognition. just my opinion!”

A sad, but probably true, indictment of how sexist our society remains – “As the world is the way it is”.

By: cali

cali — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:59:09 +0000

another thing… i love it that men are in nursing. The reality of nursing today is that its a tough job requiring brains, hard work and assertiveness to advocate for your patient, emotional toughness. it is well suited toward men (as well as women). Its not the same job anymore as it was 50 years ago. As the world is the way it is:
MEN coming into nursing profession is maybe what we finally need to get some respect, decent pay, recognition.
just my opinion!

By: cali

cali — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:54:57 +0000

the patient always should have the choice but the question that I am posing here is, why does this not occur in doctors like, ie male gynecologists?

Because they are used to doctors being men?
because doctors are viewed as more professional?
Is it a bias against nursing as a profession?
thats my point !

By: Mr Ian

Mr Ian — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:17:11 +0000

“In your response the problem is that you have placed me like other males in the “sexual predator” role again”

I disagree with your comments Jerry – I thought Marjorie was talking about the patient’s feelings and fears – not commenting on the type of nurse you or I might be. I don’t think she was even considering that male nurses might actually be sexual predators but that it is not right to force gender insensitive care on patients.

We’ve done this debate at length before and so won’t repeat it here (for fear that even more nurses display their ignorance and shallow empathy to the world) but I am generally confused with your article that is declaring to present a homogenous issue of male nurse trends – yet just speaks of a couple of old nursing issues that effect nurses in general.

By: Jerry R Lucas RN

Jerry R Lucas RN — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:58:32 +0000

The patient always has the right to choose who will care for them and in which manor that cares will be delivered. This week I had a patient that wanted a female and I traded with one of the ladies to meet this need.
In your response the problem is that you have placed me like other males in the “sexual predator” role again. Many patients have been victims of bad people from nurse aids, to doctors, to nurses but, have you not noticed that when it is a male nurse it will make the national news, yet when it is a female it really does not get as much play.
I feel bad for any patient or person that is made to do anything they do not want to do, but I am proud of the care I give to patients of all sexes and ages because I am not a “sexual predator” nor do I force my care onto any patient. No I am a father, husband, brother and most of all I am a nurse

By: Marjorie Star

Marjorie Star — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:25:36 +0000

I commend all nurses for all the hard work they do. However, there is an element of the population that should be afforded the choice of nurse gender. This element of the population are the sexually abused and the sexually abused where the abuse happened in a hospital or a medical setting. When this happens, there is a loss of trust creating anxiety in an alrady ill patient. Some of these victims have ptsd. Imagine you’re having a stroke and the hospital is trying to force male employees on you for your intimate needs. You don’t hear about most of us because we neglect our health and would rather be dead than to enter into an element like hospitalization where the possibitties for humiliation are endless. It’s time the medicl community put the needs of the patients ahead of an employees right to work.