The number of male nurses is on the rise, which is a great thing! When you picture a nurse, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are, you’re thinking of a woman in scrubs – and there’s a reason for it. According to Zippia, an estimated 81.9% of all Registered Nurses are women, with 13.6% being men. However, the phenomenon of nurses being mostly women is fairly recent in the larger scope of history.
Having diversity in nursing is extremely important. Diversity includes sectors such as race, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, socioeconomic status, and others. The more diversity we have in nursing, the more opportunities there are to provide quality care to patients. Having more male nurses, and nurses of any gender for that matter is one way we can increase diversity within our healthcare system. Here are some of the benefits that can result from this.
Increase in Patient Comfort
It’s common for female patients to want a female nurse and doctor to care for them. So, it might not be a huge stretch to assume that male patients may prefer care from a male nurse and doctor. While this might not be the case for everyone, if a patient requires an exam or treatment of sensitive nature (such as a genital exam or treatment), they may feel more comfortable with a healthcare provider of the same sex or gender as them. More male nurses could lead to increased comfort and better patient experiences across a wider spectrum of patients.
Reducing False Stereotypes
There are, unfortunately, a lot of false stereotypes that male nurses and nurses in general encounter. Many of these stereotypes are related to gender stereotypes. A common myth is that there are more female nurses because women are more nurturing. However, this explanation disregards the fact that nursing is highly scientific and assumes that men are automatically less caring than women, which is untrue. The more male nurses or nurses of any gender there are, the less the nursing profession will be associated with one particular gender and therefore linked to gender stereotypes and biases.
Providing Different Perspectives
The beauty of diversity is that it provides a multitude of perspectives. Since nursing is a highly social profession that requires problem-solving skills, having a staff of diverse individuals is ideal. As we mentioned earlier, increasing the number of male nurses can help create more diversity than is currently present. Having the perspectives of male nurses can also be helpful when trying to understand or solve issues related to patients, particularly male patients.
As our country grows more diverse, we are excited to see diversity grow within the nursing profession as well. If you’re a nurse and want to meet many different types of people around the country, consider becoming a travel nurse with TheraEx Staffing! Our experienced recruiters will be able to find the perfect job for you! Contact us today!
SOURCES:
Why Is Diversity In Nursing Important?
More Male Nurses Can Improve Healthcare Quality
Time To Recruit More Men Into The Profession of Nursing
