New name for nurses who are men

[midlife101]

New guy here.

I'm a 46 yr old single dad of 3 daugters (that accounts for some of what's wrong with my brain).

I've decided to take the plunge and start the prereqs at my local community college with the intent to become an RN...hence, my presence on this board.

In the last couple of weeks, since I've been here, I've read alot of threads about men in nursing and some of the stereotypes (real or imagined) that go along with the term "male nurse". I, myself, will admit to feeling a bit of a feminine connotation associated with the term, probably due to the association with "nurse" and breastfeeding.

It occurs to me that if we put our heads together, we should be able to come up with a better term that we could then quietly promote in our day to day activities.

We've already heard "murse", RN with prostate and some others but I'd like to hear other ideas too. I'll profer a couple of suggestions of my own to get things started:

RN-DG (RN - Differently Gendered)

RN-NSG (RN - Non Standard Genitals/Gender)

Well? Let's hear it folks (yes, you ladies too!)

[SycamoreGuy]

I didn't read through the 6 pages of this thread but here are my 2 cents:

We don't need a new name for "male nurses" we need more NURSES who are MALES! It is utterly ridiculous to think we need a different name for nurses of different genders (although I believe the OP was joking). Can you imagine having a different name for female Doctors, Lawyers, and Soldiers? We don't do that, and over time we have lost the stereotype that all Doctors, Lawyers and Soldiers are male. As a matter of fact I have seen more female doctors in my life time than male. Once the level of men in nursing reaches about 50% I think society will forget that Nurse = woman.

[DoGoodThenGo]

Personally, I think the term "murse" is stupid. I'm a nurse. Period. JMHO YMMV

Not wishing to cause offence, but "Murse" sounds like someone who should be skipping down the wards wearing a pinny and cap.

Male nurse went out with orderlies and for that matter "lady doctor". Leaving aside some very specific patient requests a nurse is a nurse is a nurse.

[DoGoodThenGo]

I hear you...

The term/word "nurse" needs to be revisited and perhaps modified to make gender neutral! The same happen with the word stewardess changing to flight attendant.. the latter is definitely gender neutral!

For now, I propose the simplest of terms:

MRN = MISTER NURSE (Male Register Nurse)

or my initials

MANR = MAle Nurse Registered

Hey! It could be worst! In the UK, I believe they use "Sister" instead of "Nurse"... I can only imagine to male nurses at a busy hospital: Hey! Sister John! can you push that crash cart out of the way!!! Sure Sister Bruno!!! LOL

Seriously! Change is needed!

Use of "sister" for UK and Commonwealth nurses dates back to when women in religous orders (both Catholic and Anglican) provided a bulk of nursing care. Also for this reason many nursing caps worn by such nurses resemble the coifs of nuns.

Today in the vast hierachy of UK nursing Ward Sisters rank above staff nurses but below Matrons and are probably best described from an American point of view as charge or head nurses, that is senior staff on the floors/wards.

http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/287784/003312.pdf

FWIW many hospitals in the UK have ceased using "Sister" and gone to the less sexist sounding Ward Manager. This was also done partially in response to the increasing numbers of men entering the nursing profession as well.

Sexism kills off the ward Sister: Hospitals abolish job title as 'too gender-specific' | Mail Online

[zieglarf, LVN]

Instead of running away from the term "murse" we need to OWN it. So when you see another murse on the floor just ask - "Wha's up murse?" and keep it going like a beer commercial. If a non-murse uses it then stare hard at them and say coldly - "You aren't allowed to use that word."

[Dudenurse73]

I just like the term badass...

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Instead of running away from the term "murse" we need to OWN it. So when you see another murse on the floor just ask - "Wha's up murse?" and keep it going like a beer commercial. If a non-murse uses it then stare hard at them and say coldly - "You aren't allowed to use that word."

this made me spit tea all over my keyboard!

[DoGoodThenGo]

Instead of running away from the term "murse" we need to OWN it. So when you see another murse on the floor just ask - "Wha's up murse?" and keep it going like a beer commercial. If a non-murse uses it then stare hard at them and say coldly - "You aren't allowed to use that word."

Have it your own way, but next time going to and from duty in uniform/scrubs and someone cracks "mursey, mursey, I need an angel of mercy" don't come boo-hooing to me.

[nursel56]

Next thing you know all the Smurf nurses are going to demand to be called Smurses. Is there no end to the madness?

[Anoetos, BSN, RN]

Instead of running away from the term "murse" we need to OWN it. So when you see another murse on the floor just ask - "Wha's up murse?" and keep it going like a beer commercial. If a non-murse uses it then stare hard at them and say coldly - "You aren't allowed to use that word."

I will be implementing this this evening.

[Magelan]

I wouldn't change anything since "nurse" gramatically does not imply to gender (good thing about English) :)

In my country (in most Eastern Europian Slavic countries)... OMG... If you are a female, your legal title is "medical sister". If you are a male, your title is "medical technician" since "male" and "sister" (obviously) gramatically do not go together :)

We don't have a lot of male nurses over there but people often call them "medical brother" rather than techs (silly), and your frinds will sometimes joke with you calling you "a sister"

[blackvans1234]

Here's a good one:

Female Nurse = Nurse

Male Nurse = Nurse

[blackvans1234]

Instead of running away from the term "murse" we need to OWN it. So when you see another murse on the floor just ask - "Wha's up murse?" and keep it going like a beer commercial. If a non-murse uses it then stare hard at them and say coldly - "You aren't allowed to use that word."

It's kind of like how certain ethnic groups refer to each other as a derogatory term as though it is acceptable, but if any other group refers to them then it immediately becomes derogatory again.