I'm a nurse not a "Male Nurse"

[suanna]

I wonder if in my lifetime I will be recognized as a nurse without the modifier "male". I don't see a "male doctor", or see a "female mechanic". 33% of the nurses on my unit happen to be men but even my peers and supervisors can't help but point out my gender as if it were part of my title. Does this bother anyone else?

[XYnurse2B]

Seems to be some sort of anomaly with this profession. It's so redundant. Really, the label doesn't bug me too much. It's more the fact that if I tell someone I'm going to be a nurse, it's because that is an unknown. I'm a man! Why state the obvious?

[sassiebaz]

I wonder if in my lifetime I will be recognized as a nurse without the modifier "male". I don't see a "male doctor", or see a "female mechanic". 33% of the nurses on my unit happen to be men but even my peers and supervisors can't help but point out my gender as if it were part of my title. Does this bother anyone else?

Although I cannot relate (as Im female and not yet a nurse) I can only imagine how irritating that must be. I think the name "nurse" just resonates in most people as a female? Maybe just years of history of nurses mainly being women?? I actually assume when someone is talking about a Doctor, that he is probably male, which is funny because most of my Docs are female. I think there are more and more men choosing this profession however, and Im glad. I also think over time this may not be such assumption for people. I hope atleast!!

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

I wonder if in my lifetime I will be recognized as a nurse without the modifier "male". I don't see a "male doctor", or see a "female mechanic". 33% of the nurses on my unit happen to be men but even my peers and supervisors can't help but point out my gender as if it were part of my title. Does this bother anyone else?

In general, I don't mind when a patient asks, "so you're a male nurse?"

"Yes, i am a man, and I am a Registerd Nurse." is my matter of fact reply. Actually, when I worked in ambulatory care, I was called Doctor many, many times. The stereotypes go both ways

Is Suanna your first name & what you're called on the unit? If so, they may use the adjective as "your nurse is Suanna," may be confused with Susanna, for example.

I'd confront them directly. Continually refering to you this way may qualify as creating a hostile work environment.

BTW, in years past I used to hear about lady doctors, lady lawyers, lady cops all the time. As more men enter nursing, it should decreas.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I wonder if in my lifetime I will be recognized as a nurse without the modifier "male". I don't see a "male doctor", or see a "female mechanic". 33% of the nurses on my unit happen to be men but even my peers and supervisors can't help but point out my gender as if it were part of my title. Does this bother anyone else?

Doesnt bother me a bit, I am a male and proud of my chromosomes. I fI had a preference I would rather be Golfing Nurse, or Nurse Golfer,

Of course I would rather be Tiger, with all his money

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

Oh the famous..."you're a male RN?" thing.

I am going to petition my board of nursing to put XY-RN on my license. I think that "Jay, XY-RN" sounds better than "Jay, Male Nurse."

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

one of the historical quirks is that some places ( including the UK ) did have seperate registers for Male and Female RNs a one time

[Belinda-wales, RN]

I am married to a nurse I am female he is male it makes me so mad when I am asked what my husbands job is I say nurse as well bacause I am one- oh is he a male nurse then people are so stupid I answer with no he looks after females as well!

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I am married to a nurse I am female he is male it makes me so mad when I am asked what my husbands job is I say nurse as well bacause I am one- oh is he a male nurse then people are so stupid I answer with no he looks after females as well!

a long long time ago My poor wife. People would ask her what I do for a living. She would tell them I was a nurse. They then would ask, "Is he Gay". My wife would answer 'Yes, He is very happy"

[CaliNicuRN]

I agree completely and as a fellow nurse, thank you for reminding me I'm not a female nurse any more than you need to be termed a male nurse. I absolutely love the mix that having both men and women in our profession brings!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

In most of my interactions with people it's "nurse" and not male nurse. So perhaps it does get better. I put "male nurse" under my sig because some people think Tweety should be a female. :)

[WinstonWolf]

Heh. While I was in school and working as a tech, I'd tell my patients I was studying to be a nurse. They'd of course say "oh! You're going to be a male nurse!" To which I would generally reply "Well, it would be pretty tough for me to become a female nurse!"

I generally find the male adjective to be extraneous. When I was an EMT I remember the general rule was "There is no sex in EMS." This would seem to apply to nursing as well, and in fact all of healthcare IMO.