SHAH ALAM, May 12 — Although nursing is often associated with women, the presence of male nurses is increasingly needed, especially in critical situations requiring physical strength and swift action.
While not always the first choice for some female patients, male nurses continue to play an important role in complementing the healthcare system in hospitals.
For surgical nurse at private hospital MSU Medical Centre, Mohamad Fadzwan Alamansa, 25, he chose the profession due to wider job opportunities as well as the need for male manpower in certain situations.
“I chose nursing because the profession is dominated by women and there is still a shortage of male workers, so job opportunities are still plenty.
“For men, I think the advantage is physical. Nurses are often asked to transfer patients to wards, lift items, and move patients from bed to wheelchair,” he said when met by Media Selangor.
He also stressed that male nurses must always be mindful of patients’ sensitivity and privacy, particularly among Muslim women.
“For female patients, we usually knock on the door and ask for permission first to ensure they are prepared, especially if they are not yet wearing a headscarf,” he said.
Agreeing with him, emergency nurse Mohamad Adam Zulrushdi, 25, said his job goes beyond providing treatment, requiring him to manage patient behaviour and emotions.
“One of the challenges for nurses is handling aggressive patients, where we need to isolate them, identify the cause, and take further action such as calling a manager if the situation is not under control,” he said.
He added that while the scope of work for male and female nurses is the same, men may have physical advantages and can help stabilise situations during high-pressure emergencies.
For Kaleemullah Jan Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, 23, being mistaken for a medical assistant is a common experience throughout his career as a male nurse.
“Some people assume nurses are only women and think male nurses are medical assistants,” he said.
He said the shortage of male nurses has increased demand for them, including overseas job opportunities.
“There is high demand for male nurses from abroad because there is still a shortage of male manpower in this field,” he said.
This need is echoed by Mus’ab Mohd Narawi, 24, who recalled a challenging moment in the emergency department when he had to continue CPR despite the patient suffering internal injuries.
“In that situation, I could feel the patient’s ribs had fractured, but I had to continue to save the patient’s life, and thanks to Allah, the patient survived,” he said.
He added that although nursing is often seen as a female-dominated profession, it should not deter men from entering the field, as patient care depends not on gender but on sincerity and commitment.
For the record, in 2025 the Ministry of Health (MOH) aims to increase the number of male nurses in the country from 4 per cent to 10 per cent.
There are only 2,823 male nurses currently, out of a total 70,653 nurses.
Today, May 12, marks International Nurses Day.
