Do you think Patients would confuse me for a doctor if I'm South Asian and male?

[Samian Q]

I'll keep it brief: I'm male and South Asian (East Indian), and I applied to a few nursing programs already.

Hopin' I get some fat letters in early February!

I actually volunteer at a nearby hospital, and it's really a simple job.

I just end up sitting in the ICU Waiting Room and do homework, and escort visitors during visiting hours.

But one thing that always gets me is HOW often visitors will come up to me and ask me if I'm studying to be a doctor.

GRRR!!!

I tell them I want to be a nurse, though :)

I can't help but wondering... if I were in the scrubs and working in a hospital as a nurse, do you think folks'd assume I were the doc? :-/

[Mags_RN, BSN]

i once wore my light green scrubs and happened to be in the elevator with a family with 3 small children who kept on asking me if im a doctor. I said no and told them im a nurse. and then the girl told me " no you're not, you're wearing green and have that thing on your neck" - my stethoscope :) it was so cute

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

You would be confused for a doctor here at the local hospital. ALL of the doctors here are from India AND male except for one.

I hope you enjoy nursing!

[linguine]

For my job, I have to gather a lot of patient history. Because providers are usually known for doing patient histories (in the publics eyes at least) I always just introduce myself as a nurse to prevent any confusion.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

I'll keep it brief: I'm male and South Asian (East Indian), and I applied to a few nursing programs already.

Hopin' I get some fat letters in early February!

I actually volunteer at a nearby hospital, and it's really a simple job.

I just end up sitting in the ICU Waiting Room and do homework, and escort visitors during visiting hours.

But one thing that always gets me is HOW often visitors will come up to me and ask me if I'm studying to be a doctor.

GRRR!!!

I tell them I want to be a nurse, though :)

I can't help but wondering... if I were in the scrubs and working in a hospital as a nurse, do you think folks'd assume I were the doc? :-/

probably. Our society equates a male in scrubs/stethoscope as a doc and the female in the same getup as the nurse. Eh, whatcha gonna do.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

At least you're mistaken for a doctor. I'm a black female nurse, and I'm usually mistaken for a housekeeper, dietary worker, or an LNA.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

At least you're mistaken for a doctor. I'm a black female nurse, and I'm usually mistaken for a housekeeper, dietary worker, or an LNA.

I'm cute and blonde - I'm mistaken for an idiot. Not smart enough to be a nurse, doctor or other hospital worker. heh!

[sunnycalifRN]

I don't think South Asian has anything to do with it.

*clip*

Just old chauvinistic assumptions. Woman = nurse, Man = doctor. Pffttt!!!!

W. )

Yes, you are so right. I get called "doc" all the time by "old codgers". And, our female surgeons who are wearing scrubs are often called nurse. And, pretty much everyone wearing the full length lab coat, RT, NP, PA, PT, and OT are called "doc", too.

[BabyNurse1969]

Yeah...that. Ooops. Back to cultural sensitivity training for me. And I am married to a Puerto Rican. Double oops.

:)

[kayern]

Patients/families may mistaken you for a physician, it is up to you to correct them and say proudly "I'm a nurse"!

[lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN]

Not sure how being South Asian (East Indian) plays into the equation but yes, it's very likely people will assume you are studying to be a doctor.

In my community, which is small, 50% of our physicians are from India/Pakistan/Jordan, etc. Here, you would absolutely be mistaken for a doctor. Especially by old people. You could have REGISTERED NURSE tattood on your forehead and they'd still think that.

[TigerGalLE, BSN, RN]

Not if you walk in and say.. Hello, my name is _____ and I will be your nurse today.... :)

[GoneFishN]

I had a classmate in nursing school who was of Indian (Asia) descent who had many mannerisms to imply he was pre-med. The unnecessary long white lab coat he used during nursing skills lab/clinical and his high interest in discussing the pathology behind every disease. He even said he was interested in becoming a doctor but he was enrolled in nursing school with me? I found that rather odd. Unfortunately, he did not make it through the nursing program. I can see the potential mistake patients would have for anyone (regardless of nationality) who presents themselves in a certain way can be mistaken for a Doctor or pre-med student. I also understand that in the Indian culture... Indian male nurses are not common. A Indian doctor is most commonly seen. That's just my observation in the hospitals in California I've been to.