Volume 10 Number 7 - July 13th

When the nursing profession is suffering a shortage, the solution can’t be gender biased.

Though a male in scrubs is not the typical image that comes to mind when one thinks of a nurse, men are making their mark in the nursing field.

Men, as well as women, are eager to work in a profession that boasts job flexibility, career opportunities, high salaries, large bonuses and job security. More so, men are jumping into travel nursing as a way to receive all the aforementioned benefits, plus a chance to see the country.

Gary S., a telemetry RN, said those were among the reasons he became a travel nurse. “At the end of the day, I wanted to think that I did something that was productive,” said Gary, who knew he was going to travel while he was still in school. “It’s a great way to see the country and it’s a good learning experience.”

Gary wasn’t going to let the female majority keep him from working as a nurse. And his experience has been pleasant so far.

“There are some other males [on staff],” said Gary, who’s been traveling for nine months. “We are outnumbered of course, and I have no problems with that. I haven’t had any problems.” Gary added, “I think it’s a good thing to have variety. Men and women should be able to do what they want.”

But there are challenges to being a male nurse traveler, as experienced by Pat K., an OR RN.

“Males can be more outspoken and it’s easy to step on peoples toes when you say what you think,” said Pat, who currently has no other males in his unit. “And if [the staff] is predominately female, it easy to be perceived as a threat; you can experience certain hostilities.”

A way to overcome some of the challeges that arise during traveling as a male nurse is to be flexible and go with the flow, said Pat.

Pat said he’s felt the tension from the male’s side as well. “I have worked with male nurses who were territorial,” he said.

Both Pat and Gary travel with Access Nurses, a healthcare staffing agency. Access Nurses works with many male travelers, sending them to assignments all across the country. Gary likes the competitive rates he found at Access. For Pat, it’s all because of his recruiter, Jessica Nesbitt.

“Jessica is the reason I travel with Access,” said Pat. “She has my best interests at heart. I feel like I get personal service from Jessica.”

A major factor for the lack of male nurses in the field is the femininity attached to nursing.

Gary agrees that many men notice the stigma that nurses are feminine. “I think a lot of males don’t even consider [nursing as a career] due to the fact that it’s associated with women. It’s ego and what not.”

Kevin Hook, an adult and gerontology nurse practitioner, sees hope for the future growth of male nursing. “There is a push in nursing to become more diverse in general because we’re serving a population that’s more diverse,” he said.

“If you’re only aiming at 50 percent of the population, then you’re missing out on the other 50 percent who could consider nursing as a career,” said Kevin. “Any career is better served with gender balance. Patients benefit from both forms of care that women and male bring to the table.”

Kevin is heading up the “Men in Nursing: Contributions to the Health of Men and the Profession of Nursing,” 32nd Annual Conference of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing. This year’s conference will cover such topics as nurse recruitment and retention, which are crucial for both the future of the growth of male nurses and the nurse shortage.

Pat, who understands the shortage, emphasizes a key fact. “A nurse is a nurse. It’s about your patient care skills and people skills.”

Travel Nurse City to See: Austin, Texas

Find yourself in Austin…

Appropriately named the “Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin has a vibrant music scene situated around several night clubs downtown and the annual South by Southwest festival.

Located on the Colorado River, Austin is mostly flat, except for scenic rolling hills on the edge of the Texas Hill Country. This area of the city boasts fantastic views. The city is also home to the scholarly University of Texas at Austin, where thousands of students study every year.

Hot Travel Nursing Jobs

Contact your recruiter or call Access Nurses at 1-866-687-7390 to inquire about the following jobs!

Austin, Texas
ER
Positions: Seven
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: ASAP

Walnut Creek, California
ED
Positions: Three
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: October 1

Ocala, Florida
ER
Positions: One
Shift: Nights
Start Date: ASAP

Overland Park, Kansas
L&D
Positions: One
Shift: 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Start Date: ASAP

Overland Park, Kansas
ER
Positions: Two
Shift: Flexible day schedules
Start Date: ASAP

Denver, Colorado
OR
Positions: Six
Shift: Any
Start Date: ASAP

Albuquerque, New Mexico
ER
Positions: Five
Shift: 12-hour days and nights
Start Date: July 30

Frisco, Colorado
L&D
Positions: One
Shift: 12-hour nights
Start Date: July 23

Everett, Washington
ER
Positions: One
Shift: 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Start Date: ASAP

Nursing Site of the Week

Nurse House

For more than 75 years, Nurses House has extended short-term financial assistance to registered nurses throughout the country. Nurses House is the only national fund dedicated to helping RNs in need.

Check out the Website to learn more.

Featured Forum Topic

Advice about Per Diem vs. Traveling

I’ve been talking with a recruiter about working as a travel nurse for the first time. What’s the deal with per diem shifts? Is it really better than traveling on 13-week assignments? I’d love to hear back from those of you who’ve done both and can give me some insight. Pros/cons?

Read more/reply

Humor

What I Learned After a Hospital Stay

Trying to cover yourself with a hospital gown is like trying to make an invitation list for a wedding…

…No matter how hard you try, someone or something important is always left out.