Is
it so unnatural for soccer fanatic, fast car or big bike loving,
woman-chasing MAN to be in this profession?
I get
asked a lot of questions about why I entered into the nursing
profession. I understand all the misconceptions. Yes, I get asked
about my sexual orientation, and if I didn’t know any better, I
would think that I am a “victim”
of sexism. Would anyone in their right mind outwardly ask a woman why
she chose to be a ?
(Enter any profession that comes to mind here.)
So why
should anyone question a man for wanting to be a nurse?
I
am finally ready to let you in on my reasons.
It’s no secret that nursing
is dominated by women; as of 2013, only 6% of nurses in Malaysia were
male. However, in a female-heavy industry, male nurses are often not
given the appreciation they deserve. This may not be the popular
opinion, especially when so many women these days go with the, “I
don’t need a man”
attitude, but this nurse really appreciates having male nurses
around. Male
nurses provide unique character attributes to the nursing
profession.
How? Let me explain.
- Gender Bias?
Stories of female patients
admiring their male nurses are not uncommon. Very modest women, even
in their most vulnerable state, have a great appreciation for the
care that a male nurse provides. It is a comforting feeling, as a
woman, to know a male is caring for you, even if it’s professional,
platonic care. In clinical practice, it appears that the open
acceptance of male nurses, even by the most modest of women, has
been the rule, rather than the exception.
It’s a common assumption
that female patients want female nurses. While this may be true for
some procedures or treatments, it’s surprising how many females
want and appreciate a male nurse. Little old ladies seem to be
smitten when a male
nurse cares for them. We have all heard countless stories about
how old Puan Hamidah would only take her meds for Staff Nurse Farish,
the night shift nurse. It is not uncommon to have patients who won’t
lift a finger all day, and then miraculously have the ability to
assist in turns, or even get up and walk, when a male nurse steps
into the picture. The dominating presence of a man is enough to make
many patients, male or female, straighten
up and act right.
- Physical Strength
We still call a code
“Man-power”
when we need support
for heavy lifting. It’s a wonder someone hasn’t tried to sue
a healthcare organization for this sexist term, but we use it daily,
without evening thinking of how chauvinist the words may come across.
Why? Men have more muscle mass then women and, naturally, can lift
things more easily than women. Simple reality: most men are
physically stronger than most women.
Friendly Competition
Many
female nurses don’t want to be outdone by our male
counterparts. Male
nurses offer different perspectives and
approaches to the practice. They present new ideas about information
because their brains are wired differently than females. As nurses,
we possess an amount of integrity that forces us to strive to be the
best at what we do; it’s one of our most valuable assets. Since our
goal is to deliver care to the best of our abilities, any challenge
that helps us meet this goal is always welcome. We naturally compete
with our male co-workers, as we do with each other. Whether it’s a
battle of the sexes, or simple hospital competition, male nurses make
us better nurses.
Gossip
It may
seem stereotypical,
but men tend to be less involved in gossip and cattiness. As
professionals, we should all avoid this type of behaviour, but we all
know it exists, and it’s a daily struggle to overcome gossipy
behaviour. Perhaps women don’t pull men into the gossip as often,
or men choose to end the game of telephone with them. After all, it’s
hard for rumours and gossip to spread if there are no willing
participants. This is not to state that male nurses don’t
participate, it just appears that they do gossip less often and
usually less dramatically than female nurses.
Great to Have at the Potluck
One
of the benefits of working
in nursing is
the camaraderie that you develop and share with your co-workers. And
since breaking bread with one another helps to facilitate those
lasting bonds, it’s no surprise that opportunities that involve
food are embraced well and remembered by all. Ask a male nurse to
join in on a potluck, and they’ll often have some wonderful
specialty item like a signature chicken curry or rendang,
or assam
pedas laksa
you’ve been craving since the Hari
Raya Aidilfitri.
Male Nurses Enjoy What They Do
If
you asked every male nurse if he enjoys being a nurse, chances are
99% of them will tell you: Yes.
Nursing is an overall enjoyable profession, with constant
opportunities for growth and change. Men and women should never be
bored in nursing because there is always the ability to do something
different and experience new things. As nurses, we are part of a
career that that can start in one place and end in another direction.
Because
so many male
nurses enjoy what they do,
they often are enjoyable to work with. No one wants to work with
Negative
Staff Nurse Siti, but everyone wants to work with Cool
and Collective
Staff Nurse Farish. As a minority in the workforce, male nurses tend
to pick their battles carefully and thoughtfully. When someone enjoys
their work, they encourage you to enjoy yours as well. Nursing needs
more individuals with different perspective, backgrounds, and ideas
in order to grow and improve.
Why More Men Should Pursue Nursing?
In
a time where male unemployment rates are higher than those of women
and the healthcare industry continues to expand, nursing is a much
more attractive profession for everyone to pursue.
So
female nurses, embrace
the male nurses in
your life. Don’t see them as a threat to our guarded practice. We
are not a secret female society; nursing is a growing profession that
needs the talent and commitment of men and women
in order to promote growth and innovation in healthcare.
Nursing
needs passionate individuals who have a desire to improve the lives
of others. We need forward thinkers, movers and shakers, and a
commitment to caring. We need X and Y chromosomes. We need more
nurses, male and female.
Therefore,
whenever I get involved with Education Fair or Roadshow, I would
definitely promote our Diploma in Nursing programme especially to the
male students because I assure you that this career indeed a noble
profession besides the salary offered is lucrative.
It
took some time for me to decide to become a nurse at my stage in
life. The most difficult part was changing my lifestyle so I could go
to school full time and completely focus on my studies. Despite
having some apprehension, everything fell into place. Now I can say
it's all been worth it. I'm in a career where I'm helping people
every day and proud to say, "I am a male nurse."
Happy
Nurses Day 2015
By,
Freddy
Bugang
Administration
& Student Affairs Executive
