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How did you get into nursing?
Strictly by accident. I certainly did not grow up with
the idea of becoming a nurse.
I started working in the diet kitchen at a small hospital.
That's where I met my wife, who was also a nurse. It
was the exposure to nurses and their encouragement in
those early years that led me to nursing school.
Do you have a favorite nursing memory?
I am not sure if it was a favorite nursing memory or
a nightmare. My first reaction was "Oh, God. Please
don't let this happen to me!" I remember my instructor
telling me that the birth of a baby was a natural process.
That experience delivering twins was really as good
as it gets in my obstetric nursing career.
I delivered the twins in a car while on duty in the
emergency room. I was the only nurse on duty in the
ER at the time with only limited experience as an OB
student. Men were not allowed in the delivery room where
I trained. I did, however, have the knowledge base (read
the book) and knew what was happening when the delivery
took place.
I really learned a lesson in life seeing infants born
before my eyes, and twice. That day I felt proud to
be a nurse. I had done something to help bring life
into this world.
It is too bad more men are not allowed to work in labor
and delivery. This arena is one of the most protected
and prejudicial areas in nursing. We certainly long
to be a part of this discipline, but barriers continue
to exist. I feel sure that if doors were opened and
men were given the opportunity, they would quickly embrace
the beauty of labor and delivery as a profession. Those
prejudicial walls would disappear.
Any challenging incidents you recall?
I remember how disappointed I was to discover toward
the beginning of my nursing career that prejudice toward
men and minorities existed. There were even whispered
comments about my sexual orientation. That was one of
the most difficult periods of adjustment for me.
Often, it is difficult for men to fit into the mold
of being a nurse simply because we are fighting an image.
Pictures often depict the white, female nurse caring
for male patients. Men have to work twice as hard to
prove themselves capable in nursing.
Because of our minority status, we are sometimes discriminated
against, which leads to fewer promotional opportunities.
What do you see as the greatest draw
to bring men into nursing?
The greatest draw is the men who are nurses themselves.
Who can better tell the story than the ones who have
experienced it? They will share a positive work experience
and feel the satisfaction of seeing patients get well.
They also will develop excellent working relationships
and share a common bond with their co-workers, female
colleagues and physicians. Most importantly, they will
have a feeling of "belonging" and know that
prejudice and harassment against men does not exist.
Men in nursing will be appreciated for what they do
rather than who they are.
What is the future for men in nursing?
Men are viewed as an "untapped resource"
(like we haven't been around for a hundred years) in
solving what has been created over years of poor planning.
In spite of this, some nursing schools still continue
to retain gender-biased admission policies. Too many
women are admitted and not enough minorities and men.
Male nurses did not really come about in Louisiana
until the famous "Position Paper for Nursing Education
in 1965." That was a landmark document. There was
a tremendous lack of opportunity for men to enter the
nursing profession. Consequently, Louisiana has not
produced its fair share of male nurses.
Luckily, men now are beginning to enter nursing in
larger numbers and, because of the nursing shortage,
receive more publicity.
Do you see an easy or difficult road
ahead?
I think the question should be "How are we as
nurses going to survive in this profession?"
Nursing boards, as I view them, remain dominated by
women ... for women! How can men begin to make an impact
if they are vastly outnumbered? Our views and opinions
are seldom heard or recognized. Men in the profession
certainly are not the answer, but can be a part of the
solution if allowed to share in this responsibility.
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