Breaking stereotypes: Rise of male nurses in healthcare

The nursing profession is predominantly dominated by females but now perceptions are changing. The healthcare sector has seen growing presence and acceptance of male nurses in recent years. Historically, nursing was considered a natural role for women, perceived as caregivers by the instinct rather than profession and were referred as ‘sisters’ but now ‘brothers’ have also entered the domain.

All leading hospitals have male nursing staff and the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) leads in the arena with 25 per cent of the total nursing staff being men. The Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) has 48 male nurses of the total strength of 1,182. The Civil Hospital remains the only one where there is no male nursing staff.

Anil Edward (54) is working as a male nurse with the CMCH for the past 33 years. Edward has his entire family into the noble profession, including his wife, son, daughter and son-in-law.

Edward is now ward in-charge. He says: “People generally confuse us for doctors.”

Not only specialised duties, he also performs routine duties such as direct patient care, including administering medications, monitoring vital signs and educating patients and their families.

“We explain procedures to patients and relatives, offering assistance from female colleagues, if needed, ensuring compliance with ethical standards during all medical procedures. It’s not limited to any gender. I would say that the role of nurses is increasing and becoming demanding each passing day. Male or female is not the issue, everything depends on how politely and patiently you listen to your patients and give them respect. Once you are able to strike a chord with your patients, gender doesn’t matter,” says Edward.

Abhishek Bhatti, a staff nurse at the CMCH is into the profession for the past one decade. “My mother was an employee at the hospital and that ignited my interest in healthcare, seeing the respect for staff there motivated me to become a healthcare worker,” he said.

Abhishek’s duties revolve around OPD, OT, rounds and vascular unit. “Despite nursing being female-dominated, I’ve experienced acceptance and support from patients. The increasing presence of male nurses has positively influenced acceptance by patients over time. It’s only elderly women patients who do not feel comfortable with male nursing staff sometimes,” he says.

Patients sometimes refer to Abhishek as ‘brother’ and sometimes as ‘staff’.

Male nursing staff at the DMCH is assigned to critical care sections to perform special duties, including CPR and other emergency procedures.

Akshay Sanan, who is a nursing shift supervisor, said he had not faced any issue related to gender. In fact, male nursing staff also work in labour room OTs to perform deliveries.

Bibin Devasya, another male nurse from the DMCH, said though nurse is a gender-neutral term and applies to both male and female nurses, people generally perceive nurse as a female. “Patients refer to us as “nurse” or “sir,” while many do call us “brother,” he added.