Annoying female coworker conversations

GreyWolf · Feb 19, 2014

Sorry, cannot support you too, much, maybe so twenty years ago when I was your age, but now, I like hearing about my coworker's lives, because by just casual listening, I have an idea of how this may affect there work, mood and dealing with patient's. You are going to encounter this multiple times as a male nurse, you can either go with the flow, or stress yourself and have one more irritent that will ulimately affect your performance later. You chose this field, and be thankful if the converstation is as mellow as the one you discribe. It could be alot worse. You will get better at either just going with the flow, listening passively or taking part.

vanessaem, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2014

What do you expect when you're working around mostly women? If you were not interested in the conversations women may have, why choose this profession? There will be women who will talk about their boyfriends, their kids, their husbands, shopping, etc. They are talking about their lives and sorry to say it won't center around maybe the things you would like to hear. It is what it is. At one of my old jobs(pre-nursing days), my department was about 90% men. I had to endure them talking about women, what they did with these women, sports, and the various parts of the male and female anatomy. Since I was around predominately men, it sort of went with the territory. I put my headphones on and tuned them out and went about my work.

If you would like them to talk about things that interest you, perhaps you should start a conversation about more neutral topics. We had male students in our class and we had absolutely no problems talking about a wide variety of topics with them. So either join the conversation and talk about what they're talking about, talk about what you want to talk about, tune them out somehow, or disappear when the boyfriend/husband and kids talk begins.

caliotter3 · Feb 19, 2014

When it particularly gets on your nerves, I would just excuse myself and physically move away from the annoying speaker.

Sam J. · Feb 19, 2014

I'm glad to hear she is so fond of that child- it bodes well for her and her boyfriend's future that they may be able to reaise the kid with two parents, rather than one, which is becoming ever more common- for the worse or the better is open to debate.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Feb 19, 2014

Anytime anyone, regardless of gender, talks about anything incessantly I'm going to tune them out and just focus on my own happy thoughts...or change the subject.

mindlor · Feb 19, 2014

recently I was subjected to listen to a conversation about merkins...(look it up)

Pulmonary · Feb 19, 2014

recently I was subjected to listen to a conversation about merkins...(look it up)

Hahaha.... Good lord. Idk about that one.

kool-aide, RN · Feb 20, 2014

What do you expect when you're working around mostly women? If you were not interested in the conversations women may have why choose this profession? [/quote']
I think that was a *tad* harsh. I'm just saying, when you hear about the same old thing multiple times a day, everyday, it gets a little old. Just looking for a light hearted conversation here, nothing more!
Thank you for your opinion!

kool-aide, RN · Feb 20, 2014

recently I was subjected to listen to a conversation about merkins...(look it up)

I did have to look that one up, I thought it was some kind of shoes.....wow....who spends money on something like that?!

Emergent, RN · Feb 20, 2014

I find it amusing when male nurse have overly macho conversations. Snowmobiles, hunting, car parts and car repair, guns...

LOL!

bloodorange · Feb 20, 2014

Merkins - ha!

I'm a woman, and sorry for butting in on the Men in Nursing forum, but I also tune out when coworkers blather about their children (no one cares about your 3yo's potty-training adventures), and frankly I find most "small talk" exhausting anyway. Just wanted to point out that this problem is not limited to men working in "woman-centric" professions.