Causes of Gender Bias in the Nursing Profession - Essay Example

Men in Nursing Introduction Though nursing is one of the worlds most diverse occupations in the world with a scope of variety of workplace settings, client populations and health care specialties and challenging and rewarding careers in direct care, administration, education and advanced practice nursing (Sherrod 2005), not many men are recruited and retained in this field. Nursing literature has revealed the domination of females in this field (Anthony 2004). It is important to identify and acknowledge these facts about gender bias and try to change them because, gender bias can be harmful to the profession and create a cycle that perpetuates bias and limits the role of male nurses (Anthony 2004). Causes of gender bias in nursing profession Though there is historic evidence of males in care-giver roles, the female domination of the nursing profession started as early as150 years ago when Florence nightingale became a role model for dedicated nurse (Anthony 2004). Infact, the nursing profession gained its importance since then because of efficient training, practice of good hygiene, emphasis on environment, careful data collection and analysis, high standards of character and good performance (Anthony 2004). Similar to the Nightingale model was the European religious sisterhoods model, which came after the Nightingale school and further extended the female domination of the profession. Thus nursing profession came to be viewed as those services provided by kind, caring, subordinate, nurturing, domestic, humble and self-sacrificing women (Anthony 2004). Men were not considered for the role of a nurse because they were perceived to be strong, aggressive and dominant (Anthony 2004) and did not fit into the role model of nurse. The need to change gender bias It is an obvious fact that the registered nursing force should reflect the diversity of the population they serve (Sherrod 2005). However, the trend does not seem to be so. Infact, females are 9 times more recruited than women (Sherrod 2005). The concept of nursing as a female profession came into vogue due to the popular Nightingale and European sisterhoods schools. But the true fact is that men have been care-givers since much before that. The priests and their assistants who were delivering health care in the form of herbal remedies and incantations in the ancient civilization were infact males. Similar services have been described in the Bible (Mosaic laws), Persian and Babykon literature, Greek literature, also (Anthony 2004). The role of male nurses has been described in the military and civil wars also (Anthony 2004). In the post- Nightingale era, men were infact specially trained as nurses to attend to the sick in the deplorable conditions in the South African mines where women couldn’t work (Anthony 2004). Also, in gender segregated care facilities, especially in the mental health arena where women feel insecure, the need for male nurse is established and nursing programs for men were started in the 19th century. Importance of male roles has been highlightened even in areas of cardiac, pulmonary, urologic care and orthopedic care (Anthony 2004). Also, there is looming shortage in the nursing profession as of now and hence there is a need to increase recruitment (Meadus 2007) and retain nurses which also means there is a need to recruit men for increasing the number to take care of shortage. Problems faced by males who have entered into the female-dominated nursing profession Reports have shown that male nurses who have entered nursing training find the academic load severe with no unique learning needs and differing communication styles of men (Anthony 2004). Infact being a minority in the group, they suffered from loneliness, isolation and developed fears of being perceived as unmanly for having chosen nursing. Also, these mens physical status would be taken as an advantage and they would have to do other jobs like assisting with heavy lifting and transporting patients. Thus men suffer from social isolation, refusal to address individual needs and not being acknowledged as a part of nursing profession (Sherrod 2005). In a study by Meadus and Tworney (2007), they reported that sexual stereotypes and gender bias continue to be barriers for men to enter nursing profession. Strategies to reduce gender bias and thus retain men in nursing profession 1. Prevent isolation of male nurses: This can be done by providing clinical experiences for males in which they are grouped with other male nursing students, establish mentoring programs in which male nursing students can interact professionally with practicing male nurses, seek nursing texts that positively portray males as nurses, thereby avoiding gender biased texts that reference nurses as women (Anthony 2004) and evaluate test items to avoid gender distinctions related to caring and care giving (Sherrod 2005). 2. Stress on the importance of role of men in the field of nursing: This can be handled by matching male nursing students with male academic advisors and integrate references about the contributions of males to nursing and professional practice (Anthony 2004). Strategies to increase recruitment of men into nursing profession In the study by Meadus and Tworney (2007), the participants of the study reported that inadequate recruitment and a lack of male role models in the media were barriers to deter men from choosing nursing as a career. Hence promoting visibility of men in the profession helps men to get interested in the profession. Also, promotional material in high schools, colleges and other educational and professional venues instills the role of men in the nursing profession (Meadus 2007). Conclusion Nursing has been a female dominated profession since years. Though men have played the role of care givers in ancient times, people seem to have actually forgotten it! There is now an increasing demand for men in this profession especially in certain important specialties like cardiology, pulmonology, orthopedics and psychiatry. Also, the dire shortage of nurses in the society also enhances the need for recruitment and retainment of men in this profession. However, many men are hesitant to take up these jobs due to lack of role model and social isolation. Hence appropriate strategies as discussed above need to be taken to enhance recruitment of men in the profession. References Anthony, A.S. (2004). Gender Bias and Discrimination in Nursing Education: Can We Change It? Nurse Educator, 29 (3): 121-125. Meadus, R.J., Tworney, J.C. (2007). Men in Nursing: Making the Right Choice. The Canadian Nurse, 103, (2): 13. Sherrod, B., Sherrod, D., Rasch, R. (2005). Men at Work. Nursing Management, 36(10): 46-51. Read More