Did anyone judge you for being a male nurse?

[ddane94]

How did you react?

[Rbeck911, BSN, RN]

I think she is trying to be ironic.... But it was just confusing.

[Medic2BSN13, BSN, RN]

I also work in the ED and don't know of any particular instances when someone has judged me for being a male nurse. I have had men of all ages make comments about wanting a good looking female nurse (usually joking). If I sense the patiet may be serious, I respond by saying they are welcome to wait back in the waiting room for another nurse. I have yet to have a patient return to the waiting room.

Frankly, I could care less what people think of me. I have no control what others think/believe. I have a military background as well as EMS prior to nursing. I have seen and done things that most would not be able to do. I am comfortable with what I do and don't care what others think of my career choice. I am not gay, or overtly feminine in the least bit.

[MikeRN84, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm not sure that being called on for heavy lifting or subduing a fighting patient is being judged in the sense you are talking about; that's fairly common still today. But in regard to this question, I do recall being judged by other nurses when I went through L and D rotation during nursing school. For whatever reason they didn't think it was appropriate for me and another guy student in my class to be in the room for the delivery. Consequently we sat in the hall until there were babies to feed or diapers to change in the nursery.

I know this exact feeling.

[Roy Hanson]

I confront them..NICELY, no sir or madam, I am NOT gay! So lets get to work. Where does it hurt. Do note the demeanour of Doctors.

OF if they LOOK at you strange, no sir, I am not gay or homosexual. I remember when gay, used to mean happy!

[ChronicSG]

During the course of my education, I have never experienced someone disrespecting me during my rotations. Even in OB. I guess if you just treat everything professionally and a matter of fact, you will be fine. Even the day someone decides to disrespect me, I'm usually a down to earth and composed kinda guy!

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

Not really. I never felt any kind of discrimination. I am older and I do pretty well with the public. I always thought I'll have problems with self image issues but to my surprise the opposite happened. I have always felt empowered when walking into a room and talking to patients and family members. They always seem to give me a lot of respect and confidence. Partly I think because even though they know I'm a nurse but they see me as a doctor and I take full advantage of this perception by others. I most often have to correct people saying "I'm not your doctor" but they still call me doctor.

[Roy Hanson]

its how YOU handle yourself. Watch how a doctor handles himself. If a patient objects to you, so be it! Let someone else.

[Bluebolt]

Usually the judgement I receive is that I'm in school to be a doctor or am presently a new young doctor. I've even had patients families know I am the nurse and awkwardly refer to me as "doc". I work in the ICU and typically the ICU, ED and OR are the area's you have a good bit of male nurses. I've never worked on the floor or any area that is mostly female nurses, that may be a bit awkward. Every once in a while I'll get the question of "So what made you want to be a nurse?". The person asking is trying hard to hide the connotation behind the question that a nurse is a girly career and what kind of guy would pick it. I usually answer by telling them it's a spiritual calling, to heal and care for another who is critically ill. I tell them about the excitement of shocking a heart back to life, receiving a crashing patient from the ED who needs titrated drips to live and occasionally how just holding an old woman's hand as she dies is a fulfilling career. Of course if all else fails and its a particularly stubborn guy you're trying to convince, I could just mention my salary and he's trying to get signed up for nursing himself! lol

[ChronicSG]

Usually the judgement I receive is that I'm in school to be a doctor or am presently a new young doctor. I've even had patients families know I am the nurse and awkwardly refer to me as "doc". I work in the ICU and typically the ICU, ED and OR are the area's you have a good bit of male nurses. I've never worked on the floor or any area that is mostly female nurses, that may be a bit awkward. Every once in a while I'll get the question of "So what made you want to be a nurse?". The person asking is trying hard to hide the connotation behind the question that a nurse is a girly career and what kind of guy would pick it. I usually answer by telling them it's a spiritual calling, to heal and care for another who is critically ill. I tell them about the excitement of shocking a heart back to life, receiving a crashing patient from the ED who needs titrated drips to live and occasionally how just holding an old woman's hand as she dies is a fulfilling career. Of course if all else fails and its a particularly stubborn guy you're trying to convince, I could just mention my salary and he's trying to get signed up for nursing himself! lol

*****! I'll keep the salary comment in mind! XD

[thevez]

It sucks that L and D oftentimes refuse male student nurses in the delivery room.

[Roy Hanson]

its the patients choice, get used to it!

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

its the patients choice, get used to it!

It is unusual for the patient to out right refuse nursing students on L&D, especially if the not first time moms.

It is the female L&D nurses that most often keep the male nursing students out of the room.