Having worked in the nursing profession for 16 years, I have had the opportunity to work with male nurses. I confess that my initial reaction to this concept was anything but welcoming. Human nature tends to dictate that men are non-emotional beings. They are the hunters and the defenders of their domain. The strong silent species; using the right side of there brain; reacting to the here and now. How could such a being be a nurse? I look back on this now and acknowledge that this is a chauvinistic view point. I’ve come to realize that these are the same characteristics that have helped me to be the nurse that I am today. I’ve acted in a non-emotional way to crisis. I’ve hunted down doctors to meet my patients’ needs. I’ve defended my patients’ rites to receive or refuse treatment. I’ve stood strong in the wake of multitasking. I’ve been silent when listening to my patients concerns. I’ve even reacted professionally to a doctors comment of “here we go again” and “what the heck do you want now?” So, there in-lies the synergistic relationship between male characteristics and the nursing profession. They fit in just right!
Original Post:
August 28, 2007
It is estimated that by the year 2010, we will need one million new nurses. Where will these come from? One answer may lie with changing the traditional role of nursing. Nursing has always been primarily female. With more opportunities open to females now, no as many women choose nursing. This is adding to the nursing shortage and the nursing faculty shortage. As long as there is a shortage, more nurses will burn out and make more medication errors. With the field becoming more appealing to men, maybe they are our answer. The pay is certainly good as well as the opportunities and diversity. The only way to decrease med errors is for the nurses not to be overworked. The only way to accomplish this is to find more nurses. Male nurses may be the answer.
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forensic nursing chronicles
forensic nursing
forensic nursing theories
medication errors
Medical Errors
Tags: Medication Errors
Forensic Nursing Chronicles 