Men Find Job Stability, Satisfaction in Nursing
When a male nurse walks into the typical hospital room, he might be greeted with surprise, apprehension or suspicion by some patients.
After all, since the days of Florence Nightengale, the word “nurse” has evoked images of a medically trained, maternal woman who cares for the sick.
But almost 6% of nurses are men; and they might beg to differ with that image. And the lure of a stable job in health care during this economic tsunami is certain to draw even more men into the nursing profession.
A study published in 2005 found that men choose nursing for the same reasons as women:
- Job satisfaction
- Job stability
- Excellent salary and benefits
And today, with so many traditionally secure jobs falling by the wayside, men are beginning to find their way toward a career that offers monetary and other tangible and intangible rewards to those who earn the coveted RN, or registered nurse, credential.
Former military personnel are often among those who pursue nursing after being separated from military service. And they are in good company, especially in nursing school, joining students from many diverse backgrounds who have decided to give nursing a shot.
Although nursing is not a one-size-fits-all profession for either males or females, it is often a good fit for those who are compassionate, hard-working, ethical and people-oriented. And in a field that continues to be dominated by women, male nurses can count on the majority of their supervisors and co-workers to be women.
Blended and online nursing programs are sprouting up across the country in order to stave off a nursing shortage of half a million that is predicted to take place by the year 2020. Students in rural communities are especially targeted by newly-designed online degree programs that hope to help fill nursing needs in remote geographical locations. However, the typical entry-level nursing student attends traditional on-campus training for at least 2 years, then is able to take advantage of online RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing) programs while working a full-time job.
Male nurses are changing the way the field of nursing is perceived, as demonstrated by ad campaigns that portray male nurses as manly, competent and caring.
So the next time you look up to see a male nurse in the hospital or in a doctor’s office — just smile.
online degree programs, RN to BSN, nursing, male nurse, health care, career, job, profession, nursing school, salary, men
Popularity: 7% [?]
Posted by vida
March 18th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
While minorities and women receive both preferential treatment and protection from employment and educational discrimination in both traditionally male and female occupations, males, especially caucasian males, have the benefit of neither. Thus, they are EXTREMELY vulnerable to discriminatory acts both overt and covert. Further, nursing is both a feminist and female occupation. This results in further discrimination against men in nursing.
The same makes nursing an inappropriate career for a “gentleman” who has that self respect and character which is an anathema to feminists.
The aforementioned also tends to encourage the “Gaylord Focker” type of male nurse to enter into, remain in, and to be successful in nursing.
What is the “Gaylord Focker” type of male nurse?
A “Gaylord Focker” type of male nurse is effiminate and/or gay, feminist, and trivial and/or inconsequential intellectually and emotionally.
The partial solution to the aforementioned is to give men the same inducements to enter into nursing that women have to enter the traditionally male professions along with the same protections against discrimination in employment and education that women and minorities have.
However, given the fact that women and minorities vote as a block and make up the electoral majority in the USA, this just solution is very unlikely to be promulgated.
I am a male R.N..
Post a Comment
March 30th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Although gender, race and sexual orientation continue to evoke discrimination in nursing — just as they do in other professions - attitudes are changing. Nursing students today experience greater diversity as males, and other minorities, pursue the nursing profession in growing numbers.
Men are often drawn to nursing for the technical aspects of the job, as well as for the excellent salaries and benefits it affords. However, the profession will experience its growing pains along the way. Still, nursing remains an admirable, respected and richly-rewarding profession for both men and women who seek a medical job in one of the hottest and fastest-growing careers.