Stereotyping Male Nurses

Nursing Students Male Students

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I understand that women are supposed to be the loving and caring type, but why do people think men can't be that way? I know the general view of a man is supposed to be masculine, strong, confident, etc., but why do we get stereotyped as gay or different by the general public? It just doesn't make sense to me.

Specializes in Med Surg.
I understand that women are supposed to be the loving and caring type, but why do people think men can't be that way? I know the general view of a man is supposed to be masculine, strong, confident, etc., but why do we get stereotyped as gay or different by the general public? It just doesn't make sense to me.

Being loving and caring is not always equal to being soft and sweet.

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

People associate females as nurses because that's what they see on TV.

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Specializes in Critical Care & Acute Care.

I am a male nurse and have 3 male nurses in my immediate family. I am best friends with a male nurse and all of us combined have only met one or two gay nurses! If someone has a backwards perception they obviously know nothing about nursing. Men make amazing nurses because we often demand more respect, genuinely get along well with others, and often advance in nursing. Anyone who thinks a make nurse must be gay is very unaware. There are gay men in every profession and nursing is no different; however, ones sexual orientation does not determine whether they are compassionate, caring, or skilled at their job. A good nurse can be any age, race, sex, or orientation.

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Specializes in Hospice.
"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." -Lynyrd Skynyrd

It would be interesting to ask why being mistaken for gay would make someone "feel inferior". Frustrated, yes ... always frustrating to be taken for something you're not ... but inferior? What's up with that?

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.
People associate females as nurses because that's what they see on TV.

Maybe someone should write a script with a male nurse as having the lead role...don't know how good the ratings will be for a show like that.

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It would be interesting to ask why being mistaken for gay would make someone "feel inferior". Frustrated, yes ... always frustrating to be taken for something you're not ... but inferior? What's up with that?

It may not directly apply here, but I think it's still a great quote.

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If you already do, nevermind. But when you begin working in the actual medical field you will find that this stereotype of male nurses is long gone. As I mentioned in another thread, there are just as many male nurses in our ED as females. And the females actually prefer working with males as they say we can handle stressful situations better.

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I absolutely hate this stereotype. I'm currently a nursing student (male) and I am the furthest thing from gay. I'm one of six guys in my program only one is gay. I've never felt like I've been singled out at all for being a male student. The one thing that I do get some strange looks for now and again is that I'm heavily tattooed and have a pretty burly beard I have to win over a new group of instructors every semester but I'm relatively sure it's my look not the fact that I'm a man. Usually by the end of the first few weeks I'm well liked by the instructors and the my looks don't seem to matter anymore. There's a girl who also heavily pierced with gauges and what have you. She seems to deal with the same scrutiny at the beginning but she also seems to have no problem winning instructors over after they get to know her. We both look very professional when we're on the unit I with long sleeves under my scrubs and her with piercings removed and we both do well in clinical settings. Stereotypes smereotypes!!

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Being a male nursing student is like being a male at home. You will be twisting off jar lids.

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Maybe someone should write a script with a male nurse as having the lead role...don't know how good the ratings will be for a show like that.

That show would flop. People who watch those types of shows are looking for drama...as a man, I avoid drama at all cost, and most of the men in my nursing program do as well, but on any given day at school, you're sure to hear one of the girls b*tching about how some other girl looked at her funny. Lol. Not all females are like this, but a great portion of them are. Sorry ladies.

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That show would flop. People who watch those types of shows are looking for drama...as a man, I avoid drama at all cost, and most of the men in my nursing program do as well, but on any given day at school, you're sure to hear one of the girls b*tching about how some other girl looked at her funny. Lol. Not all females are like this, but a great portion of them are. Sorry ladies.

Lol heaven forbid if a girl gives another girl the stink eye.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

That is true most men in general avoid drama. Hollywood would probably have him as a nurse by day, pimp by night. I was so dissapointed with the MTV Scrubing in "reality show"

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