Running head: GENDER IN NURSING

Gender in Nursing
Hotel Dieu
Michelle Mendoza
The University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1302
Paul Vierra
October 13, 2015

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Abstract

Hotel Dieu, French for hostel of god, has a long history throughout Europe. The hospital
was established by St. Vincent de Paul after he saw how impoverished people required medical
attention, which he then took to scouting females from rich families to help care for the ill. Hotel
Dieu first came to El Paso in 1892 to help care for the tuberculosis patients that had been
attracted to El Pasos warm dry climate, which was then believed to help ones health. Once the
hospital was established it began to attract more people to the area who were seeking medical
aid, which meant there was a growing increase for nurses. During the expansion demand for
nurses also grew, which is how to Hotel Dieu School of Nursing came about. The story would
not be complete without telling about the challenges nurses faced in their career field. This
literature review is to inform the reader about issues nurses have had to face which are not highly
publicized in order to create ways in which to manage these problems.

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Introduction

Hotel Dieu was established in El Paso on February 3, 1892. It came as a request from
Reverend Ferrari for the Sisters of Charity to come help care for the sick (Montoya, 1972, pg. 1).
The reverends request was granted and three nuns were sent out initially to begin the task at
hand. At first the hospital was established in a small brick building that after just a month, with
the dramatic increase of patients, the hospital had to be relocated to John Dieters home. Even
with the new relocation the needs of the patients could not be met. With the rising number of
patients also came a demand for nurses, this need was met with the development of the Hotel
Dieu School of Nursing. On January 25, 1894, the first wing of the freshly built Hotel Dieu was
opened for the public (Ramirez, 1952, pg. 25). After the hospital began acquiring patients, it
became evident that nurses were not properly trained as previous knowledge would demonstrate,
which is why the School of Nursing was separated from the hospital and became affiliated with
the University of Texas on September 26, 1938 (Montoya, 1972, pg. 4). The hospital no longer
exists today but is still considered the ground breaking monument, which has allowed El Paso to
expand the citys population rapidly, while also being the stepping stone for the abundance of
healthcare that is available today all over El Paso.
The journey for this monument to establish its root in the city of El Paso and for the
expansion of other health care facilities to open in El Paso would not be complete without the
hardships that were faced along the way. In order for the Sisters of Charity to become a part of
their organization, they had to face many difficult obstacles; ironically, they cared for the ill out
of their selfless service but neglected their own well being to help others and serve who they
believed to be their lord and savior God. Not only did they have to face harsh treatment from the
organization they were working for, but they also faced gender discrimination from the nursing

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field. Gender discrimination does not only apply to women but men as well; however, the
discrimination against men is not as highly publicized as that against women. This conflict is not
as often addressed because men are not as inclined to discuss their feelings regarding such a
matter which is why the public needs to me more educated on this silent problem. For these
reasons it is important to further discuss the following questions:

Is gender discrimination an issue in nursing?

What did Hotel Dieu contribute to the El Paso community?

What have been the positive benefits in changing the nursing school from the
hospital to its own institution?

What challenges did the Sisters of Charity face working for Hotel Dieu?

These questions will help to understand the silent issues that nurses face working in their
profession in order to create awareness of the problem and to help create solutions for these
challenges while also making a connection to El Paso.
Is gender discrimination an issue in nursing?
Typically, when someone says discrimination, they think of either women or African
Americans. Kouta (2011) describes that in order to understand gender discrimination in nursing
the full spectrum should be unveiled to help alleviate this silent issue. A cause of this was men
were viewed as pigs with no self control and all they were good for was fighting wars and taking
part in creating children while women were viewed as having caring nurturing ways which made
them more suitable to be nurses (pg. 59). Society has always had stereotypes for men and women
in which society followed in fears of retaliation. Kouta goes on to describe that men were
discriminated against for even the thought of wanting to become nurses which is why men
avoided this profession to avoid the ridicule and retaliation that came with what was then

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believed to be a profession associated with feminine ways of caring (pg. 59). A flyer from
World War II provided by the Office of Emergency Management (Fig. 1) demonstrates a woman
wearing a combat helmet sitting next to some medical
equipment it reads More nurses are needed! All
women can help- Learn how you can aid in US Army
Hospitals. The US Army Nurse Corps was asking for
more female nurses encouraging women that any of
them can be of help to the organization. This flyer
demonstrates the gender discrimination that was
occurring at this time period, since the flyer was

Figure 1WWII Flyer Source: Office of

Emergency Management 1942-1945. More
Nurses are Needed! Retrieved from
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/513648?q=women
%20in%20nursing.

specifically seeking females for nursing position within

their organization and not males. Society created a
stereotype that women were the suitable sex while the

men belonged on the battlefield fighting for their country. This would back up the claim that
Kouta made about women being sought for this profession since they were viewed as having
caring nurturing characteristics, which was then believed men did not obtain. This clearly
demonstrates the roles in which society believed that men and women belonged to during this
time period.
According to Montoya (1972), when the founder of Hotel Dieu began looking for nurses
to care for the ill he began by recruiting women who belonged to rich families (pg.7). Partly
because they and their families had the financial means, but also because of the roles men and
women held at the time. This would back up the claim the World War II flyer and Kouta made,
that more women were sought for this profession because of the beliefs society had as to what

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roles each gender belonged to. The beliefs society had created a limitation for men that wanted to
become nurses.
While the number of male nurses is increasing, nursing is still a predominantly female
profession. According to OLynn (2007) even if a man chose to be in a highly valued career field
such as nursing society would look down on them for not selecting a profession in which society
believed to be fit for a man. This created a wall for men who wanted to get an education in
nursing but in recent studies there has been new evidence that demonstrates that men have been
12.00%

10.00%

8.00%
Registered Nurses
6.00%
Licensed Vocational and
Practical Nurses

4.00%

2.00%

0.00%
1970

1980

1990

2000

2006

2011

Figure 2 Men in Nursing Source: U.S.Census Bureau, 1970 DecennialCensus, 1980, 1990, and 2000 Equal
Employment Opportunity Tabulation, and 2006 and 2011 American Community Survey.

putting the stereotypes aside and the number of male nurses is actually increasing. Landivar
(2013) states that although the nursing field is still a female dominated profession and gender
discrimination has discouraged men from choosing nursing as a career recent studies have shown
that there is actually an increasing number of men going into nursing beginning in 1980 all the
way through 2011 (pg. 3). The US Census Bureau has discovered a rise in male nurses (Fig. 2).
Landivar (2013) further elaborates that although there are more females in nursing typically, men

GENDER IN NURSING

out earn women in nursing, this being on account of most men who choose a career in nursing
typically; choose to specialize in the higher paid nursing careers such as nurse anesthetist, which
is the highest paid nursing specialty (pg. 4). With recent studies showing the rise in male nurses,
Evans (1997) suggests that the key to being successful male nurses, men must put aside all their
bias opinions along with their masculinity in order to flourish in their careers as nurses (pg. 226).
While gender discrimination has been an issue, there is a rising awareness in the problem which
has demonstrated an increase in the numbers of male nurses in recent studies.
What did Hotel Dieu contribute to El Paso community?
Hotel Dieu, El Pasos first hospital, has a long list of contributions including some firsts,
such as the first x-ray equipment. Hotel Dieu had humble beginnings that began in a small two
story brick building that within a month due to overcrowding was relocated to John Dieters
home (Montoya, 1972, pg. 2). Even
with the relocation the rapid increase of
patients was growing at such a fast pace
that yet another relocation was required.
As stated in the Hotel Dieu Hospital
Collection (1939) over the course of
Figure 3 Groundbreaking ceremony Source: Trish Long 2012.
Hotel Dieu. Retrieved from
photos.elpasotimes.com/2012/06/06/archive-photos-hotel-dieuschool-of-nursing/#1

time the mentality of what used to be

viewed as just aiding a patient evolved

into helping the patient make an overall healthy recovery. This was a contributing factor to the
expansion of Hotel Dieu which prompted the move to a larger facility which would not only
accommodate more patients but would also nurture an environment in which patients could
remain until they made a full recovery. Trish Long (2012) is showing a photograph of the

GENDER IN NURSING

groundbreaking ceremony for the construction for Hotel Dieu (Fig.3). The evolving mentality of
healthcare mentioned in the Hotel Dieu Hospital Collection (1939) prompted the historical
moment in time that is depicted in Longs photograph demonstrating the groundbreaking
ceremony of Hotel Dieu, which was a big accomplishment since it paved the way for future
health resources that would come to El Paso after the completion of this historical monument.
This moment in time lead the way for more modern healthcare that would come as a
result of this historical monument. Montoya (1972) describes how scattered throughout its
history, Hotel Dieu contributed many first accomplishments, which included first x-ray
equipment in the SouthWest, first maternal-child program, first laboratories, first pediatric
department, first units for premature babies, first hospital womens auxiliary, first blood bank,
first successful cesarean section, and the first artificial kidney machine (pg. 5). Among the many
first accomplishments throughout its history Hotel Dieu also brought an ambulance to the city
which consisted of a horse drawn carriage with fringe on top in the early 1900s (pg. 4). Dieter
(1981) then further indicates that the progress described by Montoya helped expand the El Paso
community. The rapid growth of incoming patients made it vital to create more room for their
care. With all the growth that was occurring in medical care there became a demand for nurses as
well.
What have been the positive benefits in changing the nursing school from the hospital to its own
institution?
Healthcare teams involve various professionals which provide a patient with effective
healthcare, being understaffed could pose a decline in the care provided to the patient. Montoya
(1972) indicates that when health care services began to boom with the establishment of Hotel
Dieu, it became more difficult to provide proper patient care making it evident there was an

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immediate demand for nurses. When Hotel Dieu Training School opened in 1898, the training
included two months probation for students, no entrance fee, free board, laundry, and a five
dollar salary for the trainees that remained the full three years (pg. 4). The establishment of the
training school became a matter of high urgency because the public saw the importance of
having nurses in the medical field. As Ramirez (1952) stated the profession of nursing was
viewed as one which requires a lot of hard work and dedication because our bodies are temples
of God (pg. 44).
In order to provide effective medical care, the professionals who make up the healthcare
system need to be properly trained, especially nurses since they participate in crucial roles in the
overall healthcare system. In the video The Hospital Experience (2006) the narrator describes
that the nurses had a vitally important role in the treatment and care that a patient receives,
beginning from the time the patient is admitted to when the patient is discharged. Smith (1971)
describes that failure to produce productive nurses then shed light on a different issue separating
the training school from the hospital to its own institution in order to provide more adequate
education for nurses. In order to meet the growing demand for nurses and provide proper
education, the Hotel Dieu School of Nursing expanded into what it is known as today, the
University of Texas at El Paso School of Nursing (pg. 3). While Smith points out that the school
was made a priority at the time in order to meet the needs of the growing healthcare system,
Ashley (1976) highlights that this was not always the case as the public did not believe in the
importance of educating women (pg. 115). Ashley further states that even when faced with
evidence that internship alone was not a useful way of training nurses, the public failed to create
changes (pg. 115). DAntonio (2013) describes the point in time in which the mentality Ashley
describes began to change which was during a time of war (pg. 22). DAntonio further specifies

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that among the changes that came during this time amongst the most important was the publics
views on the roles of men and women (pg. 22). Education today is available to anyone who
wants an education; however, this mentality would have not been possible without the challenges
those generations before had to face.
What challenges did the Sisters of Charity face working for Hotel Dieu?
The nuns that made up the Sisters of Charity often worked out of selfless service. They
never sought to gain much if anything from helping the impoverished and ill. Montoya (1972)
describes the humble beginnings of the organization which was started by St. Vincent de Paul
who saw the need for healthcare amongst the poor people, which is why he sought women of
wealthy families to help aid the poor people requiring medical attention (pg. 7). The nuns first
began in France and then slowly expanded to different locations all around the globe. Stone
(1836) stated that the nuns were easily brainwashed because of their strong faith in God and
made to commit heinous crimes, such as murder (pg. 9). Malka (2007) is quoting a nurse from
the era which feminism took off where the nurse is saying in other words that nurses do all the
dirty work. Nursing was not an easy job and as Malka states nurses did the all the labor in the
medical field.
Most of the time the nurses received very slight compensation for their immense efforts.
Nutting (1907) describes that even with the knowledge that the reward was not significant, many
women chose to take on their position as nurses. As Olsen (2004) describes their decision was
further troubled when nursing took on a negative perspective which was due to women leaving
their housewife duties in order to pursue an education and employment (pg. 139). Andrist
(2006) states that when the feminist movement came about it brought about a new change in the

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relationship between a nurse and a physician, during this time women began to speak up and
demand their rights as equals to their men colleagues, they began demanding respect.
Women have endured years of maltreatment for various reasons which have motivated
women to retaliate. In order to alleviate some of these issues Bowne (2002) suggests that studies
about ethics and women will help to find ways in which to manage this ongoing issue (pg. 74).
Bunkley (1855) states that even with the struggles she endured while serving for the Sisters of
Charity, Bunkley was still grateful. Her experiences taught her to realize what was important in
her life and to help educate others on her ordeal in order to help someone avoid these same
troubles. In order to make nursing a critical role in the healthcare system these struggles need to
put out in the open. Once these problems are talked about it is our obligation to find solutions
that work for everyone. When those solutions are found is when the best possible care can be
provided for the patients, which should always be the main priority.
Conclusion
Hotel Dieu has a rich history from its roots in Europe to its establishment in the El Paso
community. The establishment has a high importance in the city of El Paso because without its
development the healthcare that is available today would not be possible. As of today Hotel Dieu
has been demolished and nothing is left of the monument other than the lot that it once sat on.
Although it is no longer in existence there has been an ever growing rapid expansion in the El
Paso health care system from the chain of Sierra Providence hospitals, the construction of the
new William Beaumont, to the various urgent care clinics that have been recently or are currently
being built throughout El Paso.
The uprising of such a large number of medical facilities being built also brings about the
question as to what type of new health care innovations and discoveries are being made at all

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these new health care facilities. This would give us a good topic to research and talk about on a
different literature review. As of now we have seen the challenges that have been faced in the
uprising of nursing leaving readers to analyze the information in order to find solutions to
improve this problem. After all, the healthcare system impacts every single person in the
population, including the El Paso community.

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References

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Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/
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Ashley, J. A. (1976). Hospitals, paternalism, and the role of the nurse. New York: Teachers
College Press.
Bowen, S., & Prez, E. (2002). Women's studies on the border: University of texas at el paso.
Women's Studies Quarterly, 30(3/4, Women's Studies Then and Now), 73-81. Retrieved
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Bunkley, J. M. (1855). Miss bunkley's book. New York: Harper & Bros. Retrieved from http://0galenet.galegroup.com.lib.utep.edu/servlet/
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The hospital experience. Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Films Media Group and
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