I plan to become a male nurse.

1. I am 31 and going to transfer to a nursing school next year.
   Of course, I am excited to have a professional career as a nurse, but there are some things that concern me.
   
   First, whether I can successfully pass IELTS exam is an issue to me. As a non-native speaker, I am required to take the test, which is overwhelming. Hopefully, people from non English speaking countries are able to respond to this problem.
   
   Secondly, I wonder if theres any gender discrimination in nursing field simply because I am a man.
   
   Lastly, to current male nurses, what are your pet peeves?
   
   Thanks.

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2. 7 Comments

   Comment
3. 
   Apr 21, '13

   I think you should just become a regular nurse rather than a specifically male one. If you're already male you can concentrate on that part later, why add all the stress and study now?
4. 
   Apr 21, '13

   My pet peeve when I first started in nursing over 30 years ago was little old ladies asking me, "Are you a MALE nurse?" I finally started answering, " I wanted to be a female nurse, but I couldn't pass the physical", accompanied by looking down inside my shirt, as if double-checking my gender. That usually got a laugh. Seriously, I've never had any problems as a male RN, but when I was a nurses' aide, I was always asked to do more than my share of heavy lifting, trash emptying, and other "male" tasks. I don't think that's tolerated as much these days.
5. 
   Apr 21, '13

   Good on you to become a nurse :3 There are a butt load of male nurses so that's never a worry about being one Good luck on your exam!
6. 
   Apr 21, '13

   Pet Peeve- People that ask about gender discrimination in nursing
7. 
   Apr 21, '13

   I agree. Just focus on becoming a nurse. Let the "male" come naturally
8. 
   Apr 21, '13

   Theres plenty of male nurses out there, your not the first. There is very little discrimination, in fact, many of the female nurses drag me (i'm a male nursing student) around and show me things on patients over many of the females (i believe its because i'm competent and confident in what i do)
9. 
   Apr 22, '13

   I enjoy being a nurse. There is always a lot to think about. I am always busy. Some of what I do is very mundane but some of it is quite complicated and skilled.
   
   As a male in nursing, and I hope this doesn't sound too creepy, I absolutely love working with women, well, most women anyway. I'm not a womanizer or a player, but I like being around women.
   
   That said, after a few shifts of being the only guy on the floor, I often can't wait to escape and go have a beer and do something stereotypically masculine, like grill steaks or shoot a gun.
   
   It gets complicated.

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