[ihave206bones]

I don't think being gay affects how I practice as a nurse. If anything, I'm more able to compartmentalize my emotions easier than my colleagues. It's hard for me to really answer most of your questions, since I don't know if my coworkers are gay or not, mainly because I haven't been at this job all that long. I just know that I work with a lot of competent, highly skilled nurses.

[organichombre]

Hey Mike,
Tough questions? Not so much since I've been doing this for 20 years but here are some honest answers...
How does being a male nurse effect your male image? Do some patients assume your gay? How is it working with gay male nurses?
My image when I started was a compassionate male who liked being around women! Yeah I actually thought it would be cool to work with women since I had spent the last 10 to 15 years getting close to them anyway. I needed a job that I could depend on and since I did not have the time or sense to become an MD, there I was! I knew the cliche' of male nurses= gay would be all around me but hey I was macho enough to just let my actions speak for themselves! I knew some nurses who were gay and frankly I did not fit in with them so it wasn't a problem. You are right that gay men respond differently than straight men when expressing emotions and that is why you are gay and I am not. The expression of emotions in the presence of a critically ill pt is dangerous. Your pt should look towards you for strength and a calm, rational presence, and not see someone who is out of control. Gay men do not have anymore compassion than straight guys do, and you will have a helluva time with that research project mainly because there are too many variables that would invalidate your research! One of the men who talks at my church is gay and I gotta tell you he is one of the most spiritual persons I know. But I would not want him around me when the **** hit the fan because he would become a nut case. That does not mean that he more or less compassionate than me, but he expresses his emotions so well that it would be detrimental. As for getting things done with women, I've had much success with that with my peers, but management is another thing altogether. I have sat back for years and watched how women treat each other and I am amazed at how mean they are! I have had a wonderful career as a nurse and now I am teaching nursing school which is fantastic! The students appreciate the fact that I have "been there" and offer a unique opportunity to see nursing from a different perspective. Thank you for that stimulating question and I hope I have not offended you, because I bet you are probably a great nurse!