Among twenty leading female-dominated professions, registered nurses (RN’s) are the second most occupation that employed women in 2006¬. Similar to many traditionally female professions, the percentage of male in nursing is small. In fact, male nurses only comprised eight percent of RN’s in 2008. Although much effort has been made to recruit more men into nursing, many contributing factors have driven them away from this profession. Those factors include poor nursing image, negative public perception, low economic status, and gender stereotypes. One of the most significant factors that deter men from entering the profession is stereotypes. Research shows that men might be more likely to encounter stereotypes than discrimination; however, gender discrimination throughout the society still exists, which may discourage them from entering the profession. Gender segregation has separated male nurses into the minority group that faces many obstacles within the profession, in which negative stereotypes are the primary obstacle for men who want to enter the nursing force. Although women historically have been the majority in the nursing workforce, the earliest record of male nurses known to perform nursing duties was between the fourth and fifth centuries. The first removal of men in nursing noted in the sixteenth century due to the destruction of many monastic institutions . In the mid-nineteenth century, Florence Nightingale initiated the idea of nursing as an exclusively woman’s profession. Nightingale believed only women had the capability to do nursing work because it was natural to them. Her vision caused the complete dissolution of male workforce in nursing . Only until 1955, for the first time, the military allowed men to se... ... middle of paper ... ...ity Indianapolis, 2005), pp. 51, 52, 65. Web 12, April. 2012. https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/handle/1805/1675 “What is Behind HRSA's Projected Supply, Demand, and Shortage of Registered Nurses?” Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA, 2004). Web 22, April. 2012. http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/healthcare/pdf/behind_the_shortage.pdf Williams, Christine. “The Glass Escalator: Hidden Advantages for Men in the ‘Female’ Professions.” Social Problems (1992), pp. 227-240 “Women's Bureau (WB) – 20 Leading Occupations of Employed Women.” U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2006). Web 22, April. 2012. http://www.dol.gov/wb/factsheets/20lead2006.htm “Women’s Bureau – Quick Facts on Registered Nurses (RNs).” U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007). Web 22, April. 2012. http://www.dol.gov/wb/factsheets/Qf-nursing-08.htm
The biggest stereotype about nurses is that they are all women. According to the website Esquire.Com, people believe that men should be doctors, algal field monitors, independent
In particular, the use of Florence Nightingale’s theory of nursing as the basis of my new practice had allowed me to begin with the basics and work my way forward toward a more modern and holistic approach to nursing care. While Florence’s work focused mainly on the military and her care of soldiers, she began to establish schools of nursing to promote nursing education and to encourage people to view nursing as a viable profession, (Alligood, 2014. 63). Nightingale’s focus may have been care of the military, but she made great strides on getting recognition for nursing and her theories still affect the practice of nursing today. In the article, Nurses as Leaders, the author proposes that nurse leaders have made great strides since Nightingale’s time when nurses were conscripted to help care for wounded soldiers. Such a setting required these early nurse pioneers to rely on critical thinking and quick action in order to save lives. The author goes on to discuss how a change in nursing occurred in the early 20th century as new management styles emerged, most notable the “Scientific Management,” model. This style placed doctors at the top, then nurse managers, and on down to bedside care staff. Though this did allow some nurses the ability to move upward, nurses resented a doctor being in charge of their teams as the work of a physician and that of a nurse are two very different practices, ("Nurses as Leaders," 2016). This is quite different from the modern concept of a nurse executive as leader of
Shawn Brodess joked “Yeah, in nursing school, I felt like I had to do more than a female. Like I had to prove myself. I had to sign up for every job task that was considered a female role.” Most males will attend nursing school with thinking of the challenges ahead of them. During clinical, a patient might not prefer a male nursing student. When I was in clinical for my nursing assistant, we were in groups of three. Our group had the only male in the class. Our first patient was a patient with dementia. We all went in and introduced ourselves. The patient looked at the male and asked him “So are you a pervert or something. Wanting to take care of old women.” The boy face was bright red and he never came back to school after
The nursing shortage most likely does not mean a great deal to people until they are in the care of a nurse. The United States is in a severe nursing shortage with no relief in sight due to many factors compounding the problem and resulting in compromised patient care and nurse burnout. Nursing shortages have been experienced in the past by the United States and have been overcome with team effort. However, the current shortage is proving to be the most complex and great strides are being made to defeat the crisis before it becomes too difficult to change. Researchers anticipate that by 2010, the United States will need almost one million more registered nurses than will be available (Cherry & Jacob, 2005, p. 30).
Although the nursing profession has emerged tremendously since the 19th centuries and many great accomplishments and changes has taken placed over the years, however there were presented issues from the film “Sentimental Women Need Not Apply” that were striking to me as they are still very relevant in both the nursing field and in our society.
In this job field the men are outnumbered by the women, and they are the minority so they may feel like they deserve something. In the last few years, there has been a rise in male nursing student. Because of this inequality they know they will get paid more than the other nu...
There was seldom a mention of male and male students choosing to become nurses. Along with the belief of nursing being a career choice more female-directed, there was also the repeated mention of the career being for middle-class women (Price, 2008). Historically, women have been the dominant face of nursing and it has always been considered a suitable career for women, whereas most careers in the past would never be acceptable for a female. For some of the female students who were interviewed, this stereotype was part of a deferent to choosing nursing. They did not want to be thought of as a stereotypical women, and be casted into a mould of what most women choose (Price, Hall, Angus, & Peter, 2013). In a modern society, more and more women are wishing to push the boundaries on what use to be referred to as a male dominated territory. This is true in careers as well. Many females second guess their decision in choosing nursing due to
When people think of a nurse they normally come to the conclusion that most nurses are women. I would have thought the same, due to the qualities I have mentioned. I would like to research why men are entering the nursing profession. I feel that a male would join the profession because of the hours a nurse works. Men who like to fish and hunt can work as a nurse three days a week full time and have four days to enjoy leisure activities. The nursing profession is drawing more men into the field and usually thought for the same reasons as women. By a series of an observation, a survey, an interview, and a personal history, I will prove that men join the nursing profession because of money.
As time passed following the shift in the workforce of nursing. Men, either working in nursing or thinking of pursuing a career in nursing, began to see the effects of gender stereotyping that was now firmly associated with it. During World War II the Army Nurse Corps banned male nurses from joining because they believed that males being nurses were less professional than if they had been regular physicians. There are also many beliefs that the male nurses are not able to be as compassionate, sensitive and caring as females that are in the same field (Goddard). Later in the 1970s, it was taught to high school students that females became nurses and males became physicians, it was also believed that females who crossed the line and became physicians were courageous and brave. On the opposing
Currently in the nursing industry males make up as little as 10% of the nursing population in places like the UK (Whittock & Leonard, 2003a) even though many male nurses state that nursing is a rewarding and meaningful career (Rajacich, Kane, Williston, & Cameron, 2013). Nursing is still seen as female dominated industry (Hoffnung, 2013) and as stated by Sherrod, Sherrod & Rasch, nursing has yet to break the gender roles that other professions have managed to (Rajacich et al., 2013) even though women have to reach a higher standard to progress in male dominated professions (Hoffnung, 2013).
Furthermore, the lack of male teachers and male role models in nursing education programs enhance the discrimination issues. In the absence of male teachers, male students remain exposed to a female dominated teaching faculty, in addition to feminine orientated interpretations of the nursing profession (Mohamed, Mohamed, 2015). It was perceive male and female student’s encounter different learning experiences, however this was based on the sexist fact men lack maternal instinct. Also observed in practical classroom settings teachers generally selected males for gender role-play activities and rarely selected males for the nurse role. Evidently, nurse educators frequently refer to a nurse in a female context during teaching situations, furthermore nursing textbooks project a strong feminine tone. The exclusion of male nursing students from certain practical and clinical training programs can negativity impact a students future career decisions (Kouta, Kaite, 2011). Improvements to teacher training and the updating of nursing resources, acknowledging nurses of both gender, can facilitate positive male student nurse outcomes to future career pathways (Mohamed, Mohamed,
Today, most people perceive nursing as a women profession. Men who enter this field have been looked at as outcasts. Many individuals feel that a man does not belong in a "feminine? profession. I believe that statement to be untrue and unfair. The issue of gender discrimination in nursing is the same as other professions. The only difference is nursing is dominated by women, and men are the minority fighting for equality.
According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, we live in a society of conformity that is, "in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members . . . the virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion" (Emerson, 21). Since Civil War Nursing, women in the work force have been faced with this dilemma of self-reliance and conformity. As women have been discriminated against, and referred to as inferior to men, it has not been an easy task to over come the social barriers, without giving in to conformity, especially when it comes to the work place. As their role in the Civil War, nurses "fulfilled more of a replacement mother position, rather than a healthcare provider"(Hamway, 2001).
They serve by giving care to patients and providing leadership (Evans, 2016). According to Pfeffer (2012), “Hospitals want to hire more male nurses because they offer a new energy to the unit.” Men bring diversity and valuable skills to the profession. This improves the nursing profession which, in turn, improves the quality of care patients receive. The strength male nurses have contributes tremendously to the field. For example, since nursing is a field that requires heavy lifting, frequently female nurses get injured attempting to move patients who weight much more than they do. This is not only dangerous for the nurse, but also the patient as they could be dropped or injured. Male nurses lend a helping hand in situations like these because of their physical stature. Also, when there are challenging patients or patients are posing a threat, a male nurse can be particularly helpful in dealing with those patients. Plus some male patients feel more comfortable with a nurse of the same sex when performing certain activities or procedures. Therefore, it is vital for patient care to have nurses of both genders in field. Since there is already a shortage of nurses worldwide, why would we want to discourage men from entering the profession? A Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine (2011)
Stereotypes of taking up a female position, lack of male interest in the profession, low wage, nursing job nicknames, such as Sister and Matron, and the assumption that male nurses will have a harder time in the workplace carrying out their duties are just a few examples. There is a shortage of male nurses at the moment, but there is no sign that they suffer in their career. Despite equal opportunity legislation, nursing has continued to be a female-dominated profession. For instance, the male-to-female ratio of nurses is approximately 1:19 in Canada and the United States. Evidence suggests that male nurses can be fast