For quite a long time, being a nurse was often seen as a women’s profession. But just like rules, stereotypes were made to be broken and slowly but surely, the statistic of men in nursing is beginning to rise.

So, what is it about nursing which makes it a ‘feminine’ job? Why are only a small percentage of the nursing population men? And what needs to be done to get more men into the nursing industry?

It’s time to explore the world of male nurses and what makes them so important to the nursing industry.

What’s the perception that fuels the stereotype?

As we briefly touched on above, the nursing field is dominated by women. Many of us may be wondering why this is the case, as men are perfectly capable of doing the same role. The stereotype that women should be nurses is largely based on old-fashioned beliefs. Best Colleges nailed it by saying, “While the nursing profession has always had male practitioners, the perception that the field is feminine is an excellent example of embedded misogyny. Simply put, caregiving and nurturing are perceived as primarily female pursuits, one that is subordinate to the authority figure of a medical doctor. That the archetypal perception of a doctor is also incorrectly perceived to be male is another facet of this ingrained stereotype.”

This stereotype also dates back to early days as mentioned above – when men were seen as ‘doctors’ and women as nurses, as women were never able to hold positions of authority. These stereotypes which have been ingrained in our brains still hold power over us to this day. Many people don’t assume men are nurses, as it is portrayed in movies and tv shows that nurses are generally women. In the 2004 movie, Meet the Fockers the main character – a male nurse – is often made fun of by his father-in-law for his chosen profession. It is these types of portrayals that are further adding fuel to the fire that is men in nursing.

Why men are important in the nursing industry

Male nurses often can connect with male patients often in a way women nurses can’t. Open Colleges say, “just like how some female patients may prefer a female nurse, male patients may prefer a male nurse. This could be for a few reasons, including cultural reasons. Having a nurse of the same gender can often help patients feel more comfortable while they are undergoing what could be a very stressful time.”

Having a diverse workplace is a good way to balance out cultural issues, as well as offering a different perspective and set of views. The diversity and gender balance having more men in the nursing industry provides also gives more male patients the option to choose a man nurse to look after them if desired.

As the world we’re living in is constantly changing and adapting, it’s time to break down some of the stereotypes in the medical industry – specifically having only women nurses and only man doctors. Each man that enters a career as a nurse breaks down the nursing stereotype a little bit more and provides a positive role model for young boys growing up who may take an interest in the profession. The nursing industry is currently in high demand for staff and men can bring a unique perspective to this women-dominated role.

The perspective male nurses can offer

We’ve spoken a lot about male nurses and the unique perspectives they can bring to the field, so we thought we should get the input from someone who has first-hand experience in the field. We reached out to nurse, Rory Tanner, to hear about his experiences in nursing. Here’s what he had to say:

Biz Care: What made you want to go into a career in nursing?

Rory: I was very interested in the human body, how it functions and how to maintain the body's health and wellbeing. I came from a role within aquatic rescue where we provided prehospital first aid response and care which left me eager to know more of the medical side of things.

BC: What do you think some of the benefits of being a male nurse are?
R: The conversation starter and relationship building! With men still representing a very small percentage of the nursing workforce, I have always found my gender to spark interesting conversations with others and assist with the building of relationships along the way.

BC: Do you feel like you face any adversities or challenges when it comes to being a male in the field?

R: Ah look, every male nurse takes a hit when old Betty asks for a female nurse to shower her, and in some of the clinical environments you work in, there are no other males in the nursing team. I find these both challenging. I also find it challenging how some others look down upon nursing and working as a nurse if you are male.

BC: What advice would you give to any male wanting to enter the nursing industry?

R: I’d give the same advice for anyone considering doing something new - do what makes you happy, what interests you and what drives you to turn up today and come back tomorrow. For me, it was working and specialising in anaesthetics and continuing to work and be involved in education.

Working as a man in a women-dominated industry certainly meets its fair share of challenges. While it may take years for the stereotype of men in nursing to break down and become a new ‘normal’, it’s important for young men looking into the career pathway to know their career choice is a valid one, with plenty of room for growth into a range of different specialist fields.

Whether it’s your first day on the job or you’ve been there for years, Biz Care offers a range of scrubs for both men and women – for nurses in a variety of roles. To find your perfect pair of scrubs, head to your closest Biz Care stockist.