Male nursing tends to be a hot button, as males in this profession often have societal norms to overcome. People have strong opinions about them in the nursing field – both patient and fellow nurses – and often these opinions clash. When it comes down to it, do female nurses like to work with male nurses? Here’s the consensus – but first, let’s start with what men seeking to be nurses are faced with:
A Rare Career Path
Even the most politically correct person, whether consciously or not, may scratch their heads when they see a male nurse enter their exam room. In the U.S., women outnumber male nurses 10 to 1, so it’s no wonder it’s commonly questioned why some men choose to go against to proverbial grain, and choose nursing as a career.
Men are not frequently encouraged by others to choose nursing, so their motivations for choosing this career are often quite sincere. Family and cultural influences on the choice to become a nurse are a rarity in our current society. The rewards of nursing for men are parallel to what women might say: helping people. Practical incentives include career agility, geographic flexibility, and financial security. No doubt, most women would agree – so why the stigma?
Added Difficulties
Any profession requiring as much schooling and grit as nursing would be difficult, but men are often up against further barriers that don’t end when school does, but continue long into their career. To name a few: stereotypes, the notion that nursing is a conventionally female profession, and a preference among some patients for female nurses.
Rather than encouragement, many men who pursue nursing cite discouragement from their family and peers regarding nursing school – imagine working so hard without the support of loved ones!
Some men feel as if they are used as "muscle" by their female colleagues, and others encounter the belief that men are not "caring." Additional challenges include being considered inapt for certain nursing specialties, such as OB/GYN. Many men reported problems with being viewed as "failed doctors”, and are even confused for an orderly by patients.
Male or female, every nurse has a story full of its own difficulties, but some things universally faced by men in nursing are worth considering (just as women universally face obstacles in other professions).
Working Together, Male or Female
Back to the original question – do female nurses like working with male nurses? In general – yes! The majority of men report being accepted as part of the team. Being outnumbered by women in the workplace is (sadly) uncommon, as most workplaces are dominated by men. This gives male individuals in the nursing field an inside glimpse of what many women across the country face in office environments.
Thus, female nurses have an appreciation for their male counterparts. As long as they do their job well, male nurses will receive the same affection as anyone else.
As nursing becomes more widely respected as a profession, the stigmas associated with it (women in short skirts) will fade, benefiting both genders who choose this worthy vocation – no, calling.
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