Any black male nurses out there?

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I am curious to know if there are any black male nurses out there?? I personally only know of one!! So just wondering if any exist :) , and where? I am from NC, and don't see a lot of them around.

Specializes in Step-down ICU.
I believe the preferred term is: extortionist health care providers.

But I could be wrong.

Ok I am assuming you are being sarcastic...right??

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Specializes in Step-down ICU.
Hey Y'all

Wondered for years about this demographic being underrepesented in our field. Thought it must be because of the association of male nurses and being gay. (From reading and talking to the black guys I've known over the years--being "punk" is more anathema in the black community than in the white-bread-suburbs where I grew up.)

Lately I've met several. A couple in Baltimore and now in TampaBayArea. All of them seem at ease and of high caliber. Maybe the 'pioneers' could be thought of as the 'cream of the crop'?

Papaw John

You make a very valid point about the association of male nurses and being gay. I think this could be true for any man of any race. Especially those who are "old school" and think nursing is only for women. Anyway, I would love to see more minority males represent in the field of nursing. Thanks for responding!

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
Ok I am assuming you are being sarcastic...right??

Yeah, just kidding. Not really meaning to be sarcastic, though--just a play on words. I'm not someone who gets too bent out of shape over the "male nurse" label, although I can understand the angst. "Black male nurse" is an even narrower label, and in some contexts could offend, though it's clear you didn't mean it that way. Plus, there's the whole "black male" vs. "blackmail" thing...

Even here in WV, there are men of color who are nurses, but not a lot of them. In my class of 80, there was one black man and one Asian woman--but that's about representative of our population.

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You make a very valid point about the association of male nurses and being gay. I think this could be true for any man of any race. Especially those who are "old school" and think nursing is only for women. Anyway, I would love to see more minority males represent in the field of nursing. Thanks for responding!

i too, would luv to c alot more male nurses, especially of color. i try to sell the job to my nephews, they're not hearing it. so, im left with my hopes. its hard to find african american men in the medical field period, especially as nurses.

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Psych.

I'm black, male, and a soon to be nurse (applying this semester)!

CrazyPremed

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Lots of them in CT :)

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Im a demographic minority in nursing too. Although I dont know that the numbers are that small. In my BSN class there were 5 or 6 of us. When I went to Univ of MD, there were an average of 3 in each grad class. Ive never been to influenced by stats though. No matter what demographic your in, nursing is the place to be.

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I think that any science field has very few black men. I have had two careers, Architecture, very few black men, and my current one, Computer professional. I see very few in this profession also, unless you count the Asian Indians (joke). I have met two black male nurse in my area and 2 black CRNA's. This coming May I will be making the switch from Computers to Nursing, then on to CRNA.

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Specializes in Step-down ICU.

Hi CS_2_RN

Thank you for posting. I was wondering what made you switch to nursing after your other professions?

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Hi CS_2_RN

Thank you for posting. I was wondering what made you switch to nursing after your other professions?

Well, as far as Architecture, most people think Architects make a lot of money. Most don't. I got tired of the 60 - 70 hour weeks for the same pay. Also, when I started, computers were just starting to make their way into the field. So I started working more and more with Computers.

I eventually saw that computer professionals were making more than me and working 40 hour weeks. So I got a BS in Computer Science. Now the field is so unstable, it changes to much, and businesses want you to work whenever the computer is working and espescially when it's not. If you look at the job descriptions now, the requirements are staggering. As you know, they want you to know every OS ( Unix to Windoze ), Security, programming, networking, have an MCSE, CCNA, Disaster recovery, and the list goes well on. Now after 10 years in this field and having all these qualifications, I still only get two weeks of vacation a year...WHAT!!!!!

So, I'm kind of switching to a stable career (CRNA) that starts with 4-6 weeks of vacation, has flexible working hours and is more rewarding. Although it seems like I'm switching, if you look at it closely you will see an underlying theme of technology running through. I like technology just not the business of it. So, I will be using my computer skills in the ICU and in Anesthesia. I see it as another system to make stable, just going from computer systems to human systems.

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Specializes in Step-down ICU.

Cool,

I am glad you chose to enter nursing. I hope it will be a rewarding field for you. Good luck to you!

Well, as far as Architecture, most people think Architects make a lot of money. Most don't. I got tired of the 60 - 70 hour weeks for the same pay. Also, when I started, computers were just starting to make their way into the field. So I started working more and more with Computers.

I eventually saw that computer professionals were making more than me and working 40 hour weeks. So I got a BS in Computer Science. Now the field is so unstable, it changes to much, and businesses want you to work whenever the computer is working and espescially when it's not. If you look at the job descriptions now, the requirements are staggering. As you know, they want you to know every OS ( Unix to Windoze ), Security, programming, networking, have an MCSE, CCNA, Disaster recovery, and the list goes well on. Now after 10 years in this field and having all these qualifications, I still only get two weeks of vacation a year...WHAT!!!!!

So, I'm kind of switching to a stable career (CRNA) that starts with 4-6 weeks of vacation, has flexible working hours and is more rewarding. Although it seems like I'm switching, if you look at it closely you will see an underlying theme of technology running through. I like technology just not the business of it. So, I will be using my computer skills in the ICU and in Anesthesia. I see it as another system to make stable, just going from computer systems to human systems.

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hey..I'm a black male nursing student!!!....Atlanta, GA

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