Are females attracted to male nurses....or just really laugh at the males doing this?

GoalsInTransition · Apr 19, 2010

I think that your own level of comfort and general attitude regarding your chosen profession (and its implications on your masculinity) will determine how you are perceived by potential romantic partners. If you are a content, secure professional nurse, your partner will almost certainly feel the same way about you. If however, you cannot reconcile nursing with your masculine identity, she'll likely pick up on this attitude and you may both suffer the inherent issues.

Alot of women, incidentally, are attracted to a man who can show himself to be a capable caregiver. It bodes well for marital relations and for fatherhood. My own husband was a psychiatric aide when I met him (we both were, as we worked through school). I actually adored how well he responded to the needs- physical and mental- of his very challenging clientele. He showed character and compassion, and those are not at all in opposition to a masculine identity.

Best of luck with a tough decision. :-)

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 19, 2010

I am a male ICU nurse and there are several other male nurses in the ICU where I work. It is not uncommon for the female family members of my patients to hit on me and the other men I work with. As far as I can tell female nurses and other health care types seems to find male RNs attractive.

I live in a poor, economically depressed area and make >$85K/year. How much that has to do with it I don't know.

In my experience nurseing is a great way to meet women.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2010

If women can be attracted to jobless, lay-abouts why wouldn't they be attracted to guy who is a nurse? I have never questioned the masculinity of a nurse who is male. I think you will be just fine.

Seriously, you need to reframe your thinking. If you think there is something non-masculine about nursing ask yourself why. Stop calling yourself a male nurse. It is like when they called doctors who were women "women doctors". You will be a nurse. End of story.

A speaker at a conference once asked us to consider this.....If you have one son and one daughter would you be equally happy either of them to be a nurse? If not why not.

The sooner we collectively stop seeing this as a women's profession (feminine profession or whatever) that only a few men enter -- the better.

semester1kid · Apr 19, 2010

Not sure why there's anything to laugh at - I'm a 45 year old married male student. No one's laughed at me and infact, I've had folks mention their admiration for taking this direction.

Now to your point, I've had people ask me if there are other men in the course and if yes - are they gay...for one, how can I answer that when I've never asked them (not my place, business or reason for being there)...most gay people I know don't wear their sexuality on their sleeve, such as they are portrayed in movies. But I do know several of the other guys in my class are married. I think this is from an old stereotype of the old mid wifes in their white dresses as they only tended bedside by their patients. A lot of people (especially older people), don't realize how vast and diverse this field is. And if someone is gay, so what???

The only gender related question I have is why do I always hear the math - med calc tests are more difficult for women? As a guy, it's true that I had no problem with our test last week. But many women flew through with flying colors as well (I think a couple did have to retake the test)

gpatry · Apr 19, 2010

Alot of women, incidentally, are attracted to a man who can show himself to be a capable caregiver. It bodes well for marital relations and for fatherhood.

Definitely agree with this. That is a plus with a lot of women. Of course there are many more factors that will come into play for her to be attracted to you. If you're good-looking, confident, charming AND a nurse, you're doing well. But if you're self-conscious, awkward and also happen to be a nurse, it might be a little more difficult. But that's just my :twocents:

mpolo · Apr 19, 2010

wow....thank you all so much.

these are unbelievable responses, seriously starting to look at things in a different light.

maturity...yeah i guess being able to be mature about caregiving from a male perspective is intriguing.

so i guess when ladies see a bloke being mature and caring, and professional they see a side that is human and approachable perhaps....

wow...never thought of it that way.

thank u all

future healthcare professional.

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 19, 2010

wow....thank you all so much.
these are unbelievable responses, seriously starting to look at things in a different light.
maturity...yeah i guess being able to be mature about caregiving from a male perspective is intriguing.
so i guess when ladies see a bloke being mature and caring, and professional they see a side that is human and approachable perhaps....
wow...never thought of it that way.
thank u all
future healthcare professional.

*** My advice is to get into ICU or ER, especially ICU. Those are fields where nurses have considerably more autonomy over their practice. You will find a lot of other nurses in those fields who just happen to be men. Exactly half of the nurses in the SICU where I work are men. You are just as likely to hear discussions about fishing or football as anything else.

wifeandmomoftwo · Apr 19, 2010

I don't think you'll have a problem at all. I'm married and in the nursing program. There are guys in there and they are quite popular if you know what i mean

trae55 · Apr 19, 2010

It depends on the male nurse.

morningland · Apr 19, 2010

As a male nursing student, there has only been one time when anyone has shown me a lack of respect for being a man nurse... and that was from a bunch of turds who worked with me in a machine shop while I was completing my pre-reqs, lol. In the hospital setting, I get nothing but respect from from the nurses I work with "oh you are getting into nursing... good, we need more men in the field"

The whole idea of what mascalinity (spelled wrong) is in our society is so contrived and not grounded in any real wisdom whatsoever. Our society says that a man is someone who acts tough but I view it as pathetic because everyone will get frail and weak one day and the true strength is really in the meek and humble. A real man is one who cares for his wife and fathers his children... lots of men these days act hard but don't stand by their familys and that, in my book, makes them cowards and beyond any level of weakness I can even describe.

What I have learned is that, unfortunetly, many women are just as sexist and shallow as men... just and heartless and without compassion. The problem is that our world has become so cold that humility is looked down upon and pride is held in a high standard. I would not waste my time with a women who views me as less of a man because I have a desire to care for people... I view that person as a hopeless fool who is not worth my time.

Just be yourself... be as compassionate and warm and caring and full or tenderness as you wish because those things are the true foundation of not only a good man but a good human being.

Woman that gravitate towards macho men have no real understanding of what love truly is and they will only drag you down into their own egotistical, self-absorbed world. If you want to find a good girl, just be yourself for better and worse and let your own kindness turn away cold hearted and small minded women.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 20, 2010

I am attracted to the person, not their profession, it's not one or the other, either I am attracted to male nurses or I laugh at them.

I have seen some attractive male nurses that had great personalities, some not so much. I would never laugh at a male being a nurse. I don't feel it should only be a female dominated profession

I think one of the reasons I loved being in the ER so much is it was pretty mixed with male and females. It was nice!