“No one race, gender, or ethnic group has a monopoly
on the qualities of intelligence, scientific competence,
imagination, empathy, tenderness, concern for others,
or motor skill ability. To state otherwise is to deny reality”
(Christman, 1988, p. 75)
on the qualities of intelligence, scientific competence,
imagination, empathy, tenderness, concern for others,
or motor skill ability. To state otherwise is to deny reality”
(Christman, 1988, p. 75)
When one thinks of a nurse, one usually thinks of a woman in a white uniform whose j
ob is to take care of the sick and the infirmed. For centuries, there has been a common misconception that still exists in today’s society—the misconception that nurses are only females. Many people don’t know that the presence of males in the nursing field has been gradually rising over the course of time. Still, statistics show that the percentage of male nurses make up only 5.5% of the nursing population (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2007). The growth of men in nursing is not as one would expect in this modern age and time. Although this growth has occurred slowly, the number of men in the profession has definitely increased. Benefits that have influenced more men to pursue nursing include career opportunities, job security and salary (Meadus & Twomey, 2007). Nonetheless, despite all the positive factors and benefits that are inherent in nursing, there are also some barriers that push men away from considering nursing as a career pathway. A few reasons are the lack of effort in recruiting male nurses, the treatment they receive in school and in the workplace, and the questions that pursue them concerning their sexuality.
ob is to take care of the sick and the infirmed. For centuries, there has been a common misconception that still exists in today’s society—the misconception that nurses are only females. Many people don’t know that the presence of males in the nursing field has been gradually rising over the course of time. Still, statistics show that the percentage of male nurses make up only 5.5% of the nursing population (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2007). The growth of men in nursing is not as one would expect in this modern age and time. Although this growth has occurred slowly, the number of men in the profession has definitely increased. Benefits that have influenced more men to pursue nursing include career opportunities, job security and salary (Meadus & Twomey, 2007). Nonetheless, despite all the positive factors and benefits that are inherent in nursing, there are also some barriers that push men away from considering nursing as a career pathway. A few reasons are the lack of effort in recruiting male nurses, the treatment they receive in school and in the workplace, and the questions that pursue them concerning their sexuality.
According to Meadus and Twomey (2007), career opportunities, job security and salary are the advantages that encourage men to consider the nursing profession; the flexible hours may influence them to take on this career as well. As soon as men realize that nursing contains a good job outlook—especially in the future—more of them should have the desire to become a nurse. However, current recruitment efforts are not effective enough to attract men into nursing. Although the literature has identified barriers that deter men from entering the profession, nursing schools and other stakeholders have been conservative in their efforts to recruit men (Meadus, 2000). Recruitment of men to pursue nursing should be done more frequently and recruitment strategies should emphasize the benefits one would receive if one chooses nursing as a career. Recruitment strategies that will alleviate the shortage of men in nursing include proactive recruitment from diverse yet targeted groups, the use of role models and the exploitation of appropriate media sources (Villeneuve 1994, pg. 217). These recruitment strategies should attract more men into nursing and equalize the profession into a more gender-balanced line of work.
Many male nurses are competent to perform the same duties and offer the same professionalism, gentleness and compassion that are said to be inherent of female nurses (Villeneuve 1994, p. 219). However, there is a misconception that male nurses are used more for their “muscle power than for their cognitive ability” (Kelly, Shoemaker, & Steele, 1996). This stereotype causes men to be discriminated against unknowingly by their cohorts. According to Kleinman, men are placed in more “masculine” specialty areas such as intensive care, perioperative and emergency departments, which are fast-paced and physically demanding (pg. 80). Another reason as to why potential male nurses are wary about joining the nursing profession is the fear o
f isolation they might encounter from female cohorts in school. According to Stott, male nursing students tend to feel isolated and excluded academically and clinically. They witnessed “anti-male remarks" made by faculty in the classroom (O’Lynn, 2004) and felt excluded from gender-specific areas of care (Whittock & Leonard, 2003). To stem this discrimination, Burtt (1998) suggests that nursing faculty should eliminate gender-specific references to nurses from the curricula. In the workplace, a study has found that one-third of the female patients in a gender-specific ward had no preference for the gender of the nurse, “If we saw more male nurses on the wards, we would become less embarrassed” (Lodge et al,. 1997, p. 899). Registered nurse, Cudé proposes that to ensure that male students are properly received at school and at work, nurse educators and the nursing staff should inform patients that the nurses are of both sexes. By doing so, it creates a more gender-balanced atmosphere for everybody.
f isolation they might encounter from female cohorts in school. According to Stott, male nursing students tend to feel isolated and excluded academically and clinically. They witnessed “anti-male remarks" made by faculty in the classroom (O’Lynn, 2004) and felt excluded from gender-specific areas of care (Whittock & Leonard, 2003). To stem this discrimination, Burtt (1998) suggests that nursing faculty should eliminate gender-specific references to nurses from the curricula. In the workplace, a study has found that one-third of the female patients in a gender-specific ward had no preference for the gender of the nurse, “If we saw more male nurses on the wards, we would become less embarrassed” (Lodge et al,. 1997, p. 899). Registered nurse, Cudé proposes that to ensure that male students are properly received at school and at work, nurse educators and the nursing staff should inform patients that the nurses are of both sexes. By doing so, it creates a more gender-balanced atmosphere for everybody. A stereotype that sometimes accompanies a male nurse is the presumption that all male nurses are homosexuals. This assumption has prevented many potential male nurses, both heterosexual and homosexual, from considering the profession as a career. This sexual stereotype has developed into a stigma for many heterosexual men who are considering nursing as a profession. Including more men into the nursing field would not only equalize the gender inequality that is present today, but would also help dispel this stereotype targeting men in nursing.
The gender imbalance in the nursing profession may be partially due to discrimination that potential male nurses fear and are reluctant to face. As has been shown here, there are many barriers that prevent men from pursuing a career as a nurse, including lack of recruitment efforts, potential isolation in a historically female-employed profession and false stereotypes relating to men's sexuality. However, men in today’s society should also look into nursing as a serious profession, rather than discarding it due to the present gender imbalance. “Care giving is not feminine—it’s universal” (Hebert, 2002).
FOR MORE RELATED TOPICS AND MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THESE WEBSITES:
http://feminismnursing.blogspot.com/
http://africanamericanmeninnursing.blogspot.com/
http://hispanonursing.blogspot.com/
http://ccle.ucla.edu/mod/resource/view.php?id=6879
http://www.minoritynurse.com/ – a helpful site for minority nursing professionals, teachers and students.
http://www.malenursemagazine.com/press.htm - a site full of articles relating to men in nursing and what they are facing.
http://www2.nurseweek.com/Articles/features.html - a site containing many articles about nursing in general.
http://youtube.com/user/jerryERRN - click on this link to view some videos of Jerry Lucas, a male RN and the founder of malenursemagazine.com. He provides his own insights of being a male nurse.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered nurse (RN), and nursing careers, jobs, and employment information. Retrieved January 28, 2008, from Career Overview Web site: http://www.careeroverview.com/nurse-careers.html
Burkhardt, M.A., & Nathaniel, A.K. (2007). Ethics & issues in Contemporary nursing (3rd ed.). Canada: Thomson Delmar Learning.
Burtt, K. (1998). Male nurses still face bias. American Journal of Nursing, 98(9), 64-65.
Christman, L. (1988b). Men in nursing. Imprint, 35(3), 75.
Cudé, G. (2004).Do men have a role in maternal-newborn nursing? The male student nurse experience. AWHONN Lifelines. 8,(4) 343-347.
Hebert, E. (2002, June 6). MedZilla Asks: “Why Are There So Few Male Nurses?”. Retrieved January 28, 2008, from Medzillaasks.com Web site: http://www.medzilla.com/press61102.html
Kelly, N. R., Shoemaker, M., & Steele, T. (1996). The experience of being a male student nurse. Journal of Nursing Education, 35(4), 170-174.
Kleinman, C.S. (2004).Understanding and capitalizing on men's advantages in nursing. Journal of Nursing Administration. 34, No 2, 78-82.
Lodge, N., Mallett, J, Blake, P., & Fryatt, I. (1997). A study to ascertain gynaelogical patients’ perceived levels of embarrassment with physical and psychological care given by female and male nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25, 893-907.
Meadus, R. J. (2000). Men in Nursing: Barriers to Recruitment. Nursing Forum, 35(3), 5–12.
Meadus, R. J. & Twomey, J.C. (2007, February). Men in nursing: making the right choice. Canadian Nurse, Retrieved January 27, 2008, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17326582?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
O’Lynn, C.E. (2004). Gender-based barriers for male students in nursing education programs: Prevalence and perceived importance. Journal of Nursing Education, 43, 229-236.
Stott, A. (2007).Exploring factors affecting attrition of male students from an undergraduate nursing course: A qualitative study. Nursing Education Today. 27, Issue 4, 325-332.
Villeneuve, M.J. (1994).Recruiting and retaining men in nursing: A review of the literature. Journal of Professional Nursing. 10(4), 217-228.
Whittock, M., & Leonard, L. (2003). Stepping outside the stereotype: A pilot study of the motivations and experiences of males in the nursing profession. Journal of Nursing Management. 11(4), 242-249.
Williams, D (2006, March 21). Recruiting men into nursing school. Retrieved January 28, 2008, from http://www.minoritynurse.com/features/men/03-21-06e.html
PHOTO/ARTISTIC CREDITS: (in order of appearance)
http://www.unc.edu/courses/2005spring/nurs/096/001/week6/img/male_nurse.jpg
http://hospitals.unm.edu/UNMH/images/PtGuide_EarTemp.jpg
http://www.uu.edu/programs/seconddegreenursing/MaleNurseWithBaby.jpg
http://www.douglas.bc.ca/__shared/assets/male_nurse44413.jpg
http://www.medzilla.com/images/MZ-male_nurse.jpg
http://www.capstonerx.com/images/Nurse%20-%20Group%20Men%20and%20Women%20260x173.jpg
