'Men in Nursing'

'Men in Nursing'

Introduction

Men have always played a vital role in the profession of nursing. In the third century, male nurses were the primary caregivers. As far as we know, the original nursing school was started by men in India around 200 BC. In 300 AD, the Parabola brothers established a hospital and started providing nursing care. In fact, the word nosocomial meaning “hospital acquired” came from 'nosocomi,' the men who provided nursing care in the ancient Rome. St. Benedict founded the Benedictine nursing order which is still around today. St. Camellias (1510-1614) is noted to have started the first ambulance service. The symbol of his order, the Red Cross remains the primary symbol of health care today. During the civil war men served as nurses on both sides (Lynn & Tranbarger, 2007).

Today, male nurses make up to 5.4 percent of the 2.1 million registered and professional nurses in the United States. However, now men are coming back into nursing for the same reasons as women, to care for the sick, receive better pay, find job security, and flexibility. While there is an influx of men coming back into the nursing profession today, I will discuss some of the challenges these men face as they migrate back into a women dominated profession, and the need for changes in the perception of male nurses. I will also discuss what nursing schools, hospitals, and nursing organizations can do to make the transition of men into nursing more beneficial to them.

Discussion

Challenges that Male Nurses Face in the Profession

One of the challenges male nurses face today is stereotyping .The nursing profession today is viewed as best suited for females. Females are associated with caring and nurturing. Many males entering the nursing profession are viewed as low achievers, having feminine like qualities or are usually perceived as homosexuals. Men nurses often find themselves being barred from obstetrics and gynecology. Many doctors, patients, and hospital staff in these areas feel uncomfortable with male nurses. Some female patients refuse to have male nurses take care of them which puts the nurse in an awkward position when staffing has to be rearranged to meet the needs of the patient.

Female nurses often see male nurses as a muscle to be used for their convenience. If there is one male nurse on the unit, then he will be called to help out with all the patients. Male nurses are perceived as more deviant than women in nursing. Male nurses feel that they have to prove themselves more than female nurses. Critics of the male nurse question their motives for choosing the profession, some feel the male nurses want to be near females for easy availability. Florence Nightingale did not approve of male nurses, and has been noted to have said that they have “honey hands.” Male nurses are also afraid of lawsuits by female patients who may get the wrong impression when a male nurse touches sensitive areas of their bodies for medical ...