Tonight is #RNchat - 9pm ET. The role of sexism in the perception of Nursing.8/6/2010 15:17

rnchat:

Welcome, friends, to #RNchat. We'll get started in a few, but let's begin with introductions!Give 140 of yourself. :)8/6/2010 21:00

rnchat:

Good evening all. John Knowles here. I'm a student nurse in Indiana. #RNchat8/6/2010 21:03

jtknowles007:

@jtknowles007 Good evening! #RNchat8/6/2010 21:04

rnchat:

OK, we'll have one topic tonight - I'll break it into subtopics. Coming up in one minute!#RNchat8/6/2010 21:06

rnchat:

T1 The role of sexism in the perception of nursing. Do people (consciously/unconsciously)still enframe Nursing as a "female" field? #RNchat8/6/2010 21:08

rnchat:

Hola! Joni Watson, Austin, oncology nurse, director of @NurseOEP providing continuingnursing education #rnchat8/6/2010 21:12

joniwatson:

KNOCK KNOCK - Hello? Is this thing on? T1 I'd say yes-it is, and will be perceived as afemale field for quite some time. !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:13

jtknowles007:

@joniwatson Hola! We have one topic tonight - I'll break into subtopics if we need to.Welcome! #RNchat8/6/2010 21:13

rnchat:

T1 despite our best efforts, I think many still view nursing as a female profession. Proudto work alongside my male colleagues, tho #rnchat8/6/2010 21:15

joniwatson:

Sorry I'm late. Suzishepherd (Suzanne Tietjen) Neonatal NP at Children's Hospital ofIllinois. Post-call & stupid, but present. #rnchat8/6/2010 21:15

suzishepherd:

Lurking a bit tonight #rnchat Hi all.8/6/2010 21:16

bobfine:

@suzishepherd Welcome Suzanne! Here's our topic -http://twitter.com/RNchat/status/20513165506 #RNchat8/6/2010 21:16

rnchat:

T1 I know my family supports my decision to be a nurse, but I know several people whothink I'm aiming low by entering nursing !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:17

jtknowles007:

T1 RWJF has done a fabulous job highlighting male nursing and increasing nursingdiversity #rnchat8/6/2010 21:18

joniwatson:

Is it sexist of me to notice, but it seems there are more guys in ER and critical care?suzishepherd:

#rnchat8/6/2010 21:18

T1 It's as if they think I should be ashamed to be a man who is also a nurse! !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:19

jtknowles007:

@suzishepherd lol! Welcome...post-call brain and all. :) #rnchat8/6/2010 21:19

joniwatson:

@suzishepherd lol - well, I was ICU - but I think that's because I'm a control freak, not aguy ;) #RNchat8/6/2010 21:20

rnchat:

T1 this topic reminds me of @redhourben in "Meet the Parents" #malenurse #rnchat8/6/2010 21:21

joniwatson:

@suzishepherd - I don't think it's sexist to notice male vs female in a particular area. Itbecomes sexist (cont) !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:22

jtknowles007:

T1 As an example, are Police strikes perceived differently than Nursing strikes? If so,might sexism partially explain? #RNchat8/6/2010 21:22

rnchat:

@suzishepherd when we start to believe only a man or a woman belongs in a particularplace. !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:22

jtknowles007:

@jtknowles007 any clue what specialty you're leaning towards? #rnchat8/6/2010 21:23

joniwatson:

@joniwatson - undecided at this time. I'm keeping my mind open at this point and waitingto see what I find interesting. !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:24

jtknowles007:

Working, but i will say male nurses rock! RT @PhilBaumann: Where oh where are the#nurses tonight on #RNchat?8/6/2010 21:25

holisticnurses:

@jtknowles007 good plan! #rnchat8/6/2010 21:25

joniwatson:

@rnchat hmmm. Police vs. Nursing strikes. I perceive them the same. I have a prettystrong opinion abt public servant strikes anyway #rnchat8/6/2010 21:27

joniwatson:

@jtknowles007 Sorry, didn't read back enough. Got it. Enjoy my male colleagues and tryto be inclusive when I write about nurses. #rnchat8/6/2010 21:28

suzishepherd:

@joniwatson ok - then you're fair about it ;) ...still might there be a larger population thatreacts differently b/w the two? #rnchat8/6/2010 21:29

rnchat:

T1 as for the example - here in middle America, cop=man, nurse=woman, and sinceman=breadwinner it is ok for them to strike !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:29

jtknowles007:

@suzishepherd No problem. Obviously I didn't mean you specifically, I meant people'sperceptions in general. !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:30

jtknowles007:

@rnchat ha! Yes. Agree the public likely sees them differently; I do think sexism may playa role in that. #rnchat8/6/2010 21:31

joniwatson:

Lot of NICU parents (young) assume the men are doctors and the women are nurses (sonot true). I'd have thought we'd be past that. #rnchat8/6/2010 21:32

suzishepherd:

T1 and don't forget the media plays a large role in our views of "who" nurses are. I feel arant coming on....#rnchat8/6/2010 21:33

joniwatson:

@philbaumann I'm sorry I'm unable to tune in--or even lurk tonight. I'm at OVO! #RNchat8/6/2010 21:33

KPNurseRecruit:

RT @joniwatson: T1 and don't forget the media plays a large role in our views of "who"nurses are. I feel a rant coming on....#rnchat8/6/2010 21:33

holisticnurses:

@joniwatson And so, regardless of the inherent ethics of N striking, might then sexismadd an extra emotional layer to the debate? #RNchat8/6/2010 21:34

rnchat:

@KPNurseRecruit No worries. Cheers! #RNchat8/6/2010 21:34

rnchat:

@rnchat definitely. Great point, Phil. #rnchat8/6/2010 21:36

joniwatson:

T1 What do you think about this claim?: "Modern nursing was forged as a female-dominated profession w/in a male-dominated society." #RNchat8/6/2010 21:41

rnchat:

RT @cerner: Healthcare providers, insurers lay out plans to boost EHR use:http://bit.ly/bmIm0w #HCIT #HCSM #RNchat8/6/2010 21:44

hoyce:

T1 great ? I must agree with it. Females *really* stood up to make nursing a trueprofession. #rnchat8/6/2010 21:45

joniwatson:

T1 for example, the ANA & most state nsg associations were started by groups of womenb4 they even had the right 2 vote. *a-maz-ing* #rnchat8/6/2010 21:47

joniwatson:

@joniwatson T1 RE: ANA & nrsg assocs. hmm...I'd never considered that before. Greatpoint. !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:50

jtknowles007:

RT @joniwatson: T1 for example, the ANA & most state nsg associations were started bygroups of women b4 they even had the right 2 vote. *a-maz-ing* #rnchat8/6/2010 21:51

rnchat:

T1 men have had and continue to have an unquestionable impact within the nsgprofession. #rnchat8/6/2010 21:51

joniwatson:

So, what can be done to address any sexism out there? How to raise awareness if someof this is latent? #RNchat8/6/2010 21:53

rnchat:

Are men still being discouraged from some fields? It's been done in the past. #rnchat8/6/2010 21:54

suzishepherd:

What can be done to address sexism? Didn't someone mention the media before?Changing media stereotypes would do wonders. !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:55

jtknowles007:

I keep going back to it, but I really believe the TV media can help. 5 seconds ofdiscussion here, a strong male nurse role there...#rnchat8/6/2010 21:57

joniwatson:

It wouldn't hurt if men would be vocal about their contributions to nrsg and let everyoneknow its ok for a man provide care. !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 21:58

jtknowles007:

Male nurse bloggers are also helpful, I think. Telling it like it is. In their own voices.#rnchat8/6/2010 21:58

joniwatson:

@suzishepherd I haven't seen much, but once in Nsg school, an instructor said in a quietvoice that men shouldn't go into Maternity. #RNchat8/6/2010 21:59

rnchat:

@suzishepherd ...I asked her how she felt about male obstetricians. Her answer: "that'sdifferent". #RNchat8/6/2010 22:00

rnchat:

@jtknowles007 Lot of residents R surprised at the kind of care MDs provide. Grey'sAnatomy let them think their work was like ours. #rnchat8/6/2010 22:01

suzishepherd:

Our society certainly discourages. RT @suzishepherd: Are men still being discouragedfrom some fields? It's been done in the past. #rnchat8/6/2010 22:01

joniwatson:

Well, this was a small but very cozy group tonight! Let's wrap up in a few. Any finalthoughts on nursing's perception in 2010? #RNchat8/6/2010 22:02

rnchat:

People's perceptions are changed when they see us at work OR when we tell our stories.#rnchat8/6/2010 22:04

suzishepherd:

RT @suzishepherd: Peoples perceptions are changed when they see us at work ORwhen we tell our stories. #RNchat8/6/2010 22:06

rnchat:

Agreed! RT @suzishepherd: People's perceptions are changed when they see us at workOR when we tell our stories. #rnchat8/6/2010 22:06

joniwatson:

Educate the patients: doesn't matter if an RN is a male or female, as long as he/she canprovide competent, compassionate care. !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 22:07

jtknowles007:

OK, everyone - a great time. I'll revisit this in another chat sometime. Transcript will be uplater. Thank you!!! #RNchat8/6/2010 22:07

rnchat:

It was fun y'all! Stay cool. #rnchat8/6/2010 22:07

joniwatson:

Good night everyone! !fb #RNchat8/6/2010 22:08

jtknowles007:

@jtknowles007 @joniwatson @suzishepherd Good night! :) #RNchat8/6/2010 22:10

rnchat:

Reading through tonight's #rnchat tweets. Interestingly, I'm a female RN who is oftenmistaken for a doctor.8/6/2010 22:50

Geek2Nurse: