When someone mocks you for being a nurse

Nursing Students Male Students

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I just had a really ****** night where I was mocked for going to school to be a nurse. I can't explain how frustrated and ******* ****** off I get when people mock me for my decision to be a nurse and make a positive difference in people's lives. I feel like so many people think nurses just put band aides on people's fingers. I hate this and just needed somewhere to vent, people are idiots, if there weren't nurses the healthcare system would collapse faster than a ******* popped balloon.

It should take more than that to make you angry. There will be some very difficult people/patients to deal with. It's nothang but a thang. People do things man. That's just how it is.

Specializes in PCCN.
I earn more than I did as an engineer at the same phase of my career and I get paid handsomely for my overtime as opposed to donating it as I did during my engineering career.

There are at least 20 times more nursing jobs around here than there are engineering jobs... no more relocating for work.

Nursing is a much more stable job than is engineering.

As a nurse, I leave the job behind the second I walk out; as an engineer, it was always with me and I was always thinking about how to get ahead of schedule and make up the budget variances.

I'm already married but were I not... yep, lots and lots of ladies around.

It's a good job... if you can get a good job.

You have no idea how happy that makes me! I am coming over from software engineering - and at 40 you are pretty much done, nobody will hire, and you're competing with $70/day outsourcing people in 3rd world countries (who program like crap, but the managers see only accounting, not that its garbage they are getting back), as well as H1B here in the US depressing salaries and work opportunities. It got to the point where I was working 48-52 hours a week regularly to make up for idiotic scheduling and overselling of our capacity. Quality and accountability went out the window. I want to be able to care about my work, and the results.

But even more important to me is that I will be working with people, not things, and the work will have more meaning than busting my butt for a Chief-level executive to buy his 3rd mansion. I've done some of this as a volunteer (CNA work), and I came home tired, but a lot happier than at my regular job. I look forward to advocating and caring for my patients.

I know it is hard but blow them off! You know you're out there making a difference every day! BTW... Just an FYI, the best nurse I have EVER had care for me was male. A nurse is a nurse regardless of gender! I for one am glad to see more men coming into this over-estrogen-filled field. Maybe if more men did, there wouldn't be so much cattiness. Thank you for doing what you do!!!!

I went out for dinner with old friends from high school and they know that I am in my final year of nursing. I've told them from the start that I was going to become a registered nurse after high school. One of them who is studying computer science and programming decided to try and mock me inside a restaurant while we were eating. He said things like "when I get old, you can do my bed bath hahaha, I'm going to call over the intercom and ask for you directly to do my bed bath". I was so furious because not only this was not appropriate for a restaurant conversation but, he just insulted me. I confronted him right there and then. I told him, to learn some respect and to shut the Bird up. I literally put him right there in his spot and told him to walk home because I was the one who drove to the restaurant. He didn't laugh after that. Not only am I the only one who is graduating after four years of university but, I am also the only one with a girlfriend, a high paying and stable job and also I have a brand new spanking car. Seriously we need to reinforce to everyone that we are males nurses. If you're a nurse wear that title on your sleeve. Being a nurse is a wonderful title to hold. If you don't the respect that you deserve... Fight for it, don't take anyone's crap. It was tough getting through nursing school as it is. Don't let anyone step over you, judge you or underestimate you. Everyone man the "bird" up and be proud of who and what you are. No one will ever walk over me and talk crap about me because I am a male nurse.

Had a lot of friends make fun of me and they became cops, they are now in nursing school after not getting a job.... Im a neurosurgical icu nurse engaged to another hot nurse with our own house. I have life by the balls and its all because when I was in seventh grade thats what I wanted to do. I wish nothing but the best for you, roll it off.

I would ignore them, there are a lot of male nurses around who are just as amazing in their work than any other person. I once had a student in my class who complained about the same thing to a clinical nurse instructor and the instructor commented saying that when it comes to people who mock you for being a nurse just because you are a guy then there are two things to remember, 1. you will most likely get paid more than them and 02. a nurse saves people's lives everyday! Definitely keep moving forward. (plus being a male nurse definitely interest the ladies more ;))

keep on rollin'!

This is part of it. Some belittle us, but they need us. Have you seen the movie Girl Interrupted? She calls the nurse played by Whoopi Goldberg a "lowly little nurse maid", but that character is her source of strength throughout the movie.

Do this:

Take a good look at them (up and down, then up and down again) and say, "Yep, you look like the type that comes into the ER who 'fell' onto that large bottle"

I worked as a CNA for a while. Took a better paying job though until I can finish school. Anyway, the way I handled people mocking me was usually just to ignore it. Most of it was just not even worth getting in to an argument about it.

There was one time, however, that I was going to give a male patient a bed bath, and his son called me an effing ******.

Crap didnt meant to hit send... Anyway, he basically said i was gay for doing that. I walked over, handed him the sponge and said be my guest. Dont miss the nooks and crannys. Lol i probably could have handled it better, but I just needed to distance myself from that guy before I karate chopped his aorta.

But my best advice would be to just develop a thicker skin and brush it off. Most of the time it isnt even worth your breath to say something.

Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Look 'em straight in the eye and say, "non-exempt at $50/hr and a defined-benefit pension." If they're not an idiot, that will shut them up.

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