Increases in Male Nursing.

The field of nursing is a very important one. There are over two-million nurses in the United States alone, but the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, AACN, says there is still a shortage of nurses in our country. The nursing shortage has led to a new marketing strategy for the field, geared toward men.
While a female in white scrubs may be the first image coming to your mind when you think of nurses, the American Nursing Association says that image is steadily changing. Approximately six percent of nurses in the U.S. are men, but the amount of males in nursing school, is increasing slowly each semester. Kasey Baldwin, Nursing Instructor at Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, says she's witnessed the increased herself. "Every semester I've taught there's been at least three or four male students, which is a much higher number than when I was in nursing school," Baldwin said. She only had one male in her graduating class.
The reasons males are becoming more interested in the nursing field are believed to be widespread. Ryan Massicot, Nursing Manager at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, says he believes the ease of entry into the field has caused more men to consider it. "It's an easy program with a definite job at the end with good pay starting out," Massicot said. But others like James Maryman, registered nurse currently working in neonatal intensive care at Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, believes the economy could also play a large part in the field's gender dynamics. "It's a stable job. I know I'll have a job tomorrow, even if I got laid off, I could get a job somewhere else," said Maryman.
But for Brandon Torres, nursing student at Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the medical field is just something he enjoys. "I joined the military when I was eighteen, and I was a medic for the military, the navy. I really enjoyed it, it's what I became interested in, so I wanted to go to nursing school when I got home," Torres said. Maryman also said he's in it for greater reasons than the money or economy. "To watch a mother feed her baby for the first time, or hold her baby for the first time, whether the baby is days old or months old. To see their eyes light up. Those are moments that stick in your heart," Maryman said.
The view of men in nursing is also changing. Movies like "Meet the Fockers" may have stereotyped male nurses and made fun of them, but Baldwin says those days are in the past. "I've never seen a male getting made fun of. Never. Not in even in the workplace. I think people have realized men can bring a lot to this field, and it's become accepted in society," she said. Massicot agrees the society is much more open to males in the field, but doesn't feel the men are always treated the same as their female counterparts. "I'm sad to say I don't think doctors response to male nurses the same," he said. But patients and coworkers tend to accept the men and response well. Massicot said only older women tend to have issues with him caring for them. "Mostly older women, when it comes to personal issues. They feel uncomfortable talking to me about it. It's not what they're used to or grew up with," he said.
But all of us can benefit from what males bring to patient care. Men can lift more than most women, making them well-desired in adult patient care. Baldwin said men also add a different perspective to the care of patients. "I think if we all come together, and nursing is a joint effort, a team, the patients will benefits from the different perspectives and diversity we bring," she said.

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[Tindamayor]

nursing is a vocation. I'm a bodybuilder and a proud agustinian Registered nurse. nursing is not about money or the work its about love and service to humankind. doctors cure,nurses cares. I hope that when time comes you will be sick and ill,a male nurse will take care of you. there's nothing wrong with male nurses,we just care for you.God Bless you friend!!

[CHRISLEX33]

GEOGIA37890 W/T/F ? I LOVE MY JOB !

[ExNihiloJimmy]

@sublikeaboss still at uni. it's a great career. full of chicks too ;)

[chrissline77]

@Tindamayor ..........I DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE. I'M DOING NURSING FOR THE MONEY.

[sublikeaboss]

@chrissline77 Looking forward to it

[sublikeaboss]

@ExNihiloJimmy How is your nursing career going? I'm a male thinking of becoming a RN.

[RaCeRx2285]

theres really alot of sexist employers out there, & alot of guys are wanting to be in nursing so they can "hook up" with female nurses & get a nice paycheck to boot, ive seen it happen 2 many times, doctors hitting on nurses constantly, its pathetic, my wife is a nurse as well & she had to change jobs a few times because of bs, but she can call in & never get a warning, i call in once & get chewed down & written up, im thinking about getting into personal training now, screw nursing & its drama.

[RaCeRx2285]

it's definitely easy to get a job in the hospital as a male nurse, working in the ER as a paramedic/rn was fine but i got tired of the cluster and not being able to spend enough time with each patient to build that patient/caregiver relationship, so i decide to take up home health and found that they dont have much of a demand for "male' caregivers, i applied for a job and called a week later just to hear oh i never contact you because we dont have anyone requesting a "male" caregiver right now

[ExNihiloJimmy]

i am male and am in my second year of nursing, awesome job

[15KJO]

i cant hear the second nurse talk

[eddyhourani]

there is a nursing shortage because of the stereotype about gay male nurse

if there were more male nurses there would be no shortage