Male angels guard patients

While the phrase "angels in white" usually makes people think of female nurses rushing about while caring for their patients in a hospital, that preconceived image should also include men who also fill the ranks of nurses around the world.

May 12 is International Nurses Day and more than 40 male nurses are busy taking care of their patients in a mental hospital in Changchun, Jilin province.

A male nurse helps a patient get dressed. [Photo/chinajilin.com.cn]

The 34-year-old male nurse Li Xiaosong has been working at the hospital since he graduated 12 years ago.

"It was weird to tell friends that I am a nurse in a mental hospital at first," Li said.

"But I am proud of myself now, because male nurses in mental hospitals shoulder more responsibilities than female ones," Li explained. "For example, some psycholopathy patients have unconscious impulsive actions such as attempting suicide or self-mutilation, which is difficult for females to stop."

Guo Ping is one of the youngest male nurses in the hospital. He was moved by his sister who is also a nurse and learned nursing as his major.

Daily tasks including distributing fruit, feeding and helping patients take showers, or even cutting their nails are all part of Guo's work.

Guo is always calm and takes good care of every patient.

"Patients here (in the mental hospital) are not able to be accompanied by their family. Only we nurses can comfort them," Guo said.

A male nurse helps a patient cut his finger nails. [Photo/chinajilin.com.cn]

Jia Xuejun, who also works in this hospital, said besides taking care of them, nurses also need to prevent patients from hurting themselves and others.

Jia's waist was once seriously hurt when he attempted to calm a patient down.

"We need to learn how to deal with emergencies calmly to work in a mental hospital," Jia said.

Guo added "It is frustrating when patients' families do not understand but blame us, but when we see their smiles after patients get better, we feel our efforts is worthwhile."

A male nurse gives a patient an injection. [Photo/chinajilin.com.cn]