[sofaraway04]

I am out at work to all my colleagues and haven't expereinced any problems at all. my partner was invited along to a works night out (couldn't go in the end because we were ill), people were very happy for us when we got engaged earlier this year. I feel able to talk about my partner in the same way that other chat about their partners and familes.

I have never come out to a patient. I have never been asked either i don't "look gay" so it's not obvious when I'm in uniform. If I'm asked whather I'm married I just say engaged and let the patients assume whatever thye want.

I did read something recently about LGBT pateints feeling that it was positive for them to have out health care professionals.

[SÆLUM]

I'm starting my first full year in our college of nursing (will be a junior... already had a quarter of nursing-specific classes and prereqs before that), and I'm out to EVERYBODY in my cohort . During lecture one day (ie with all 80 of us present), our teacher did the diversity in religion/upgringing/race/etc (x50) thing where you go to front of the room if you are or know such and such. Of course, as we are walking back up to our spots after the "I know someone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender" where everybody goes up, she says, "I identify as lgbt." Turning midstride, I make my way back to the front, and break the ensuing moment of awkward/expectant silence with a good natured and slightly embarrased "yaaay," to which the room erupts in laughter, and I walk back to my male ROTC friends. I think there are eight guys in a cohort of about 80.

Yay for the cliché: be myself. I am open about my sexuality to peers, but usually only in passing or whatever would be normal in conversation... ie when talking about significant others, who's attractive, etc. I can't say about in the hospital, as I start clinicals this fall... though I hope to stay professional yet honest. Agreeing with Sofaraway04, if I were a gay patient, I'd feel good knowing my nurse (or whomever) was gay as well.

[jreed4]

I've had someone say "So do you have a girlfriend Josh?" I responded with "I am currently in a relationship." and then focused the conversation back on the pt and her care. I am there to get information from the pt. not vice versa.

[Miwila]

I am very evasive when patients ask about my private life. Coming from a conservative background I am very careful about offending people who might disagree with my lifestyle so I usually tell people I don't like the stress of relationships, or I'll make a joke about how I'm way too selfish to want to get married and support a family. So I tell the truth without telling the whole truth.

I find dealing with the questions of co-workers to be more trickier than patients because co-workers don't go away. You don't want to offend anyone but I have noticed in my working life it is the most homophobic people who are the most persistent in trying to find out about your private life, and they are persistent, I believe, because they already suspect I'm gay and want confirmation of it. Now if they suspect I am part of a "lifestyle" they don't approve of why even go there with me?

[Anubis]

My 2 cents....I am just starting out in nursing after spending 15 years in I.T. I never felt it necessary to discuss my personal life in the office, as it has no place there, period. I have never been ashamed of being gay, but I realized early on that it really makes absolutely no difference on how good I am at my work, so I never made an issue of it or allowed it to come to work with me.

I'm not effeminate, but I'm also not a knuckle-dragging neanderthal either. I'm a broad-chested, bearded, shaved-head bear, covered in fur and several tattoos...I probably look like a Hell's Angel to some people, but those who know me know that I'm really a big teddy-bear with a good heart. A lot of my co-workers never figured out the truth, but a few them did, and it was never an issue with them because they knew I knew my job well, and I was hard-working and dependable.

Just be yourself, focus on being the very best you can be at your job, and keep your personal life where it belongs. To quote Olympia Dukakis from my favorite movie, Moonstruck, "Don't **** where you eat."