By Kylie Bouphaphanh Ferris State University

Women in Nursing Men in Nursing Determine the career differences Determine the pay differences

Florence Nightingale declared nursing as women’s work First nursing school established at St. Thomas Hospital in London First nursing school in United States beginning of 20 th century

Byzantine period and through the Middle ages Approximately 250 B.C., first nursing school in India First nursing school for men in U.S. was 19 th century at Bellevue Hospital in New York City  (Cude & Winfrey, 2007)

Men More advantages in leadership positions More physical Strength and better able to deal with combative patients (Cude & Winfrey, 2007) Women Less in executive positions Employed full-time or part-time Nurturing, empathetic and compassionate

Men prefer employment ICU, OR, ED, PSYCHIATRY (Cude &Winfrey, 2007) Pay scale differences In executive positions $78,956 -$81,549 (Rozier, 1996). Women No limitation on employment preference Pay scale differences In executive positions $73,845-$76,439

Therapeutic touch-comfort, nonverbal form of communication, "caring touch”(Estabrooks and Morse 1992) Cultural background, gender, and body parts are to be considered. The expressive touch of a female nurse was more readily accepted by patients than the expressive touch of a male nurse Touch is a useful tool in performing nursing tasks by calming and reassuring a patient (Routasalo, 1999)

Defined by Goode(1960) as the difficulty one feels in fulfilling one’s perceived role obligations. Four types of role strain: role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload, role discontinuity. Role conflict is when one is subjected to two or more contradictory role expectations that one cannot satisfy simultaneously. There is a natural role strain experienced by men in female dominated fields (Tzeng &Chen &Tsai, 2009)

The registered nurse interacts with and contributes to the professional development of peers and colleagues The registered nurse: Interacts with peers and colleagues to promote congeniality in the work environment Maintains compassionate and caring relationship with peers and colleagues Contributes to a supportive and healthy environment (ANA, 2004)

The registered nurse collaborates with patients, families, and others in the conduct of the nursing practice The registered nurse: Collaborates in creating a documented plan, focused on outcomes and decisions related to care and the delivery of services. That requires communication with patients, families, and others Partners with others to effect change and generate positive outcomes through knowledge of the patient or situation (ANA, 2004)

Male nurses are hired when they are the most qualified candidate for the given position As staff and patients become more accustomed to male nurses, gender barriers will dissolve. Barriers restricting where males can work should be removed. Of course, patients have the right to refuse care from a caregiver with which they are uncomfortable Increased advertising showing men working as nurses should be displayed and advertised on television and billboards where men can see them.

Orient all nurses to issues that may arise with male nurses operating in a traditionally female profession. Establish and enforce protocols between male nurses and patients regarding the touch-theory Gender discrimination is not tolerated between staff members, but patients have the right to refuse care from any nurse that makes them uneasy, for any reason

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