When I first decided to enter the nursing profession, I really had no idea what I was getting into. I hadn’t grown up wanting to be a nurse, nor did I give it much thought beforehand.
But I was bored and miserable working for the U.S. Postal Service and had to find something that was a lot more mentally stimulating. My mother, who is a nurse, suggested that I pursue nursing. I thought, “That’s a woman’s profession! Why would I want to do that?”
MYTH #1: NURSING IS A WOMAN’S PROFESSION
The idea of nursing being only a “woman’s profession” has given way to the idea that anyone can be a nurse. The number of men in nursing is steadily increasing, and that’s a good thing. There’s plenty of room under the nursing umbrella for both men and women.
Many so-called “manly men” like policemen and firemen pursue second careers in nursing after they retire. The step seems to be a logical one, since policemen and firemen are caretakers (of sorts) to begin with.
Variables such as flexibility of schedule, excellent pay and the daily challenges of nursing make the job very rewarding. The scientific and methodical approach to nursing is also what I would call “man-friendly.”
MYTH #2: MEN AREN’T EMOTIONALLY SUITED TO NURSING
What drew me to nursing, not as a man but as a human, was the interaction with people and the reward of helping others. That is a universal truth for nurses, be they male or female. I like to get people’s stories, finding out as much as I can about them, the way they live and who is around to assist them with their needs.
These are important aspects of caring for patients that only nurses think about while devising a plan of care. I believe that the nursing approach of caring for the entire individual should be the standard for all of those working in the healthcare field.
MYTH #3: MALE NURSES ARE JUST “WANNA BE” DOCTORS
Yes, from a man’s perspective, there are a lot of positive and negative aspects of nursing. One negative aspect is the assumption that we couldn’t hack med school. That’s obviously not the case for most of us.
Interestingly, being a male nurse truly gives us an advantage when dealing with most doctors. Doctors treat male nurses a bit differently than our female counterparts. I’ve seen many doctors talk to female nurses in ways they never would to a man.
BUT FINALLY, SOME TRUTHS ABOUT MALE NURSES
Even though I’ve debunked some myths, there are still a few “stigmas” about being a man in nursing. First, for the most part, you won’t ever get to work in a maternity ward! Second, I’ve found that a lot of young female patients are embarrassed about having a male nurse. (I always thought this was peculiar, though, seeing that most of their doctors were men!)
If a patient was uncomfortable having me as her nurse, I never took it personally. Being a nurse, I adapted and improvised. I’d simply switch that particular patient assignment with one of my female coworkers, and the problem was solved.
SO WHY SHOULD MEN PURSUE NURSING AS A CAREER?
Males are actually ideally suited to both the pressures and excitement of nursing. I’ve always liked comparing the nursing approach to that of the U.S. Marines: They adapt, improvise and overcome. Working just one nursing shift will prove that point!
Men also have a very different perspective than women on a lot of things, and it’s a good thing having them in the profession.
All in all, I love the label “male nurse.” When people ask me, “What’s it like being a male nurse?” I usually reply, “The ‘male’ part I’ve got down—it’s the ‘nurse’ part that takes a lot of hard work!”
[main image: Wong Illustration | iStock Exclusive | Getty Images]
Could not have said it any better myself. “The male part I have down, it is the nursing that takes a lot of hard work.” … “Boom goes the dynamite” Bravo! Well said. Another Male Nurse in OR .. I also teach Surgical Tech classes, an am a Board Member of the AST. I am very proud to be both, a nurse , and a male. *Big Grin*
By Feix 62 on May 22, 2009 at 10:02 am
The hardest part is getting patients and the public to understand we are nurses, not male nurses.
Oh, are you a male nurse? – No. I’m just a nurse. And I happened to be a male.
Thanks for the sounding board.
By Sean on June 25, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Great perspective! It is only on the rare occaision that I have had to switch an assignment because of my gender. I still get the questions, “Are you a doctor?” I tell them “No, I WORK FOR A LIVING!” For those men whowant see a different side of nursing join the military. The military has ~ 40% male nurses, compared to `5% in the civilian world.
By Terry on November 24, 2009 at 9:49 am
Hi Jim,
Nice article.
I echo Sean’s point on the term “Male Nurse”
It’s true about obstetrics. It’s funny. When I was in nursing school, OB was my favorite unit. In my clinicals, I had no problems with either the Dad’s or the Mom’s.(Good thing we didn’t have many Somali’s back then, or that would have been different) I had BIG problems with the women who were OB/GYN nurses. I have never been around a group of people who hated men in every way shape or form. They were unpleasant and brusque with the dads, and they were condescending and very unpleasant to the men in my class who were doing their clinicals.
To Terry’s point-you can also try working in the VA medical system, there is a higher percentage of men in that health system, as well.
By Steve on December 9, 2009 at 4:53 pm
What an awesome article, Jim! It is so true what you had mentioned about us being “wanna-be-doctors” – I had people, in nursing and outside, ask me regularly when was I going to go on to the medicals school… At first, I kept taking offense to that, but then I realized that it was OK, they were just curious.
Anyway, I find it interesting that a lot of people who don’t know that I am a “male nurse” ask me what I do and are taken aback when I tell them – I just happen to like bodybuilding, have large tattoos all over my arms (hence why I have to wear long sleeves and people at work don’t know that I have them, until I change scrubs)… so, it is no wonder at all that manly man – especially police officers and fire man would go into nursing for the sake of helping people and enjoying seeing what they do pay off at the end of the day. It is very rewarding.
By Valentine on December 11, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I know I laugh a lot more than most of my friends in traditional roles and when I was young and single…I felt like a rock star.
By DAVID H BROOKS on December 12, 2009 at 3:55 am
Great article! Noticed you are from Nanuet, NY. I grew up in Suffern, NY and got my associates degree in nursing from Rockland Community College! My very first solo patient asked my if I was gay after a few frustrating attempts to tell him I was his nurse ( I worked night shift then).
By Mark Rosenthal,RN on December 14, 2009 at 11:42 am
One truth you didn’t mention is that male typically get the heifers more often then the females. I also notice male nurses where I work seem to get more isolation patients than the female staff.
By Jerry on December 15, 2009 at 9:04 am
As a man in this profession, you are ALWAYS the first person female staff looks for when they need a lift.
By Steve on December 15, 2009 at 3:38 pm
When asked ” how long have I been a male nurse?” I have responded that I have been A nurse for 10 years but only a male for three!
By tony on December 29, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Nice article. My generic response to “are you studying to be a doctor?” is, “No, are you?”. I’ve had more patients than i can count tell me men are better nurses than women.
By Dan Wieleba on February 17, 2010 at 8:16 pm
I’m 15 and I was trying to decide if I wanted to be a nurse, and this article offered a lot of insight. I think I’m gonna go for it.
By Devin on March 9, 2010 at 12:28 pm