Skip to content

It’s Time to Ditch Stereotypes About Male Nurses


Men become Nurses for the same reason women do, to take care of people. And even though Male Nurses are becoming more common, they still face constant stereotyping on the job.

In order to provide optimum care and reduce health disparities, our healthcare professionals should be as diverse as the patient population they serve. This means Men must become equally represented in the Nursing field.

Increasing the number of Men in Nursing is seen as difficult because of social stigmas and stereotypes. Some common stereotypes that must be crushed are:

Women’s Work

Nursing is viewed as a female dominated profession, but that is changing. Back in the 1960’s Men made up about 2% of Nurses in the United States. In 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that number is closer to 13%.

People tend to associate caregiving and nurturing with women’s roles and simply because of their gender, Men are believed to be lacking these things and can’t be a good Nurse. This of course isn’t true.

This misconception can dissuade skilled and caring men from entering the field, preventing them from truly helping people.

“In my neighborhood, especially my old friends, they always thought that being a Nurse was a job for females,” said Geovany Ruiz, who plans to work as an Oncology Nurse. “So, I put off being a Nurse for a long time. But when it comes down to doing the job, it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female. We can both do the job.”

Sexual Orientation

Other stereotypes that branch from the field being female dominated is Men’s sexual orientation, including the belief that male Nurses are Gay. Or the opposite belief that Men join the profession with a higher female to male ratio with the idea that they have a better chance to achieve relationships.

“It’s important to note this stereotype is often fueled by a patient’s own insecurities and fears. Don’t take it personally; keep calm and be patient with them. Again, educating patients on the evolving role of Nursing and how it’s not a gender-specific role can help combat this stereotype,” advises George Zangaro, RN, FAAN, Associate Dean at Walden University School of Nursing.

Doctor or Failed Doctor

Some people see a Man in scrubs or with a stethoscope and assume he is a Doctor. Other people assume that when a Male Nurse isn’t a Doctor it’s because he failed to become one. This harmful stereotype is rooted in the belief that Nurses are inferior to Physicians and that Nurses are Women and Doctors are Men.

Television and movies have a strong influence on society’s perception of Men and Women in healthcare.

Mark Gustin, RN, at Brandon Regional Hospital said, “The worst thing for Men in Nursing was ‘Meet the Parents’ because it emphasized the social stigma that Women are Nurses and Men are Doctors, Directors, and CEOs.”

A great way to combat these stereotypes is by educating patients that Nursing is not gender-specific and that Women are also entering a number of typically male-dominated fields.

Topics: male nursemale nursesnursing professionmale nurse stereotypes

Benefits of Going to College

Education or training beyond high school is important. A college degree gives you more opportunities and a better life. "The purpose of college is not

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Going Back to School to be a Registered Nurse

Want to change careers? See how becoming a registered nurse offers a relatively quick option for professionals to jumpstart a new, fulfilling career. In 2019,

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

College Prep for High School Seniors

Parents - Are you staying on top of your high school senior student with important dates and tasks as they explore their next adventure after

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

October Info Sessions Now Available – Enrolling for January 2024

Sumner College is accepting applications for BSN, LPN and RNBSN classes. If you want to jump-start your #career in nursing, register to attend one of

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Tips to Stay Health in Nursing School

The key components to staying healthy during your nursing education and going forward are to minimize stress, a proper nutritional daily intake, and an active

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Sumner College Student of the Month: July 2023

Congratulations to ADN student, Kindra, for being awarded the Student of the Month for July 2023. Kindra was introduced to the nursing profession through their

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Sumner College Student of the Month: June 2023

Congratulations to PN student, Evan, for being awarded the Student of the Month for June 2023. Evan embarked on his nursing journey after hearing glowing

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Sumner College Student of the Month: May 2023

Congratulations to ADN student, Jerald for being awarded the Student of the Month for May 2023. Jerald is a dedicated Sumner College student on a

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Nursing and Care Staff Working in a Heatwave

During a heatwave, it is important we keep both staff and patients safe. It doesn’t matter if you work in a hospital, GP surgery, clinic,

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day! Here's to all the hard-working individuals who make our lives a little bit easier every day. Let's celebrate with some rest, relaxation,

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Attention all nurses!

Attention all nurses! Continuing education is vital in expanding your skillset and staying one step ahead of the competition. Investing in further education brings many

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

New September Info Sessions – Registration Required

Are you looking to jump-start your #career in nursing? How about exploring Sumner College's BSN program? Aspiring nurses, join us for an information session in

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

School Nurse International Organization

School Nurses International provides a forum for nurses around the world working with school children to come together in a stimulating intellectual and happy environment

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

SNOW – School Nurse Organization of Washington

School Nurse Organization of Washington (SNOW) is a non-profit professional organization started in 1956. Mission Statement SNOW supports school nurses in the delivery of health

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Oregon School Nurses Association

The Oregon School Nurses Association (OSNA) advocates for the health and success of all children through equitable access to school nursing services. OSNA is the only state association

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Back to School Tool-Kit – School Nurses

Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! Whether you are seasoned school nurse or in your first year on the job, NASN’s back-to-school toolkit highlights the

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Nursing Scholarships

Trying to figure out how to pay for nursing school? If your desire is to earn your BSN there could be a nursing scholarship, grant,

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Start a new career journey – Attend a BSN Info Session and learn more about the Sumner College’s BSN Program

Have you been considering going to nursing school? Learn more about the new BSN program offered at Sumner College by attending one of the August

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

#Hiring

#Hiring at Sumner College! We are recruiting for a few great candidates to join our team at the Portland, Oregon Campus. The following positions are

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Classes Start Every Month – Phlebotomy – Mesa, AZ

Get ready to embark on a rewarding career in the medical field with Sumner's Phlebotomy Technician Program! Designed with convenience and quality in mind, our

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

The Importance of Phlebotomy to Medicine – New classes starting every month

Phlebotomists are skilled medical specialists who study in drawing blood after patients, typically for medicinal testing. Meanwhile, blood tests can offer data concerning a patient’s

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Practical Nursing – Get Started Today

Passionate about healthcare and eager to make a difference? Sumner College's Practical Nursing Program can pave your way to a rewarding career as a Licensed

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

BSN Classes Enroll Now

Sumner is committed to helping aspiring healthcare professionals realize their dreams. We're thrilled to announce that enrollment is open for our Bachelor of Science in

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

New Career – New YOU

Start a healthcare career when you graduate from Sumner's 8-week Phlebotomy Technician Program. Our program will prepare you for opportunities to work in hospitals, long-term

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

How to Become A Pediatric Nurse

This article is shared from Forbes. If you remember the scraped knees and splinters from childhood, you might also recall reluctant trips to the doctor’s

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Phlebotomy – Mesa

Looking for a comprehensive, flexible, and personal phlebotomy training program? Look no further than Sumner! We are proud to announce that enrollment is open for

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Nursing Classes Start Today!

Welcome to Sumner College. New BSN, PN and RN to BSN students start classes today. Congratulations on embarking on your healthcare career journey.

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

The Vital Role of Phlebotomy in Medicine

Phlebotomy, or taking blood specimens, has been a part of medical care for centuries. Because drawing and handling blood samples are very crucial and strictly

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Veterans Benefits – Thank you for your service!

Sumner College | VETERANS BENEFITS Thank you for your service to our country. We are honored to help you continue your education and provide the

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn

Happy 4th of July – Enjoy your day

Sumner College Campus is closed today, to celebrate the 4th of July.

Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn