So I'm a young, single, heterosexual male nurse, and I'm well aware that I'm somewhat of a minority, as most nurses are female, and the ones that aren't, are often gay (yes, I know that is just a silly stereotype, and there's nothing wrong with being gay, but that's beside my point).
Thing is, I'm not even remotely feminine- I have a beard, I listen to heavy metal, I climb mountains, I work out, etcetera. But I get paranoid that most people probably perceive me as a little "girly" or "possibly homosexual", when I talk about being a nurse. I feel especially insecure about my masculinity when I'm walking home wearing my uniform past some heavy set dudes doing roadworks or construction or something "manly". Sometimes, I've even lied about studying nursing at uni- I've sometimes said I'm studying engineering, to seem more masculine.
I'm not ashamed of being a nurse- I'm damn proud! But I feel a little insecure due to the silly non-masculine stereotypes associated with my career choice. I'm also single and looking for a girlfriend, but I sense that women might think I'm gay, or unmanly, due to my profession. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.
Anyway, my main question is- ladies, do you find male nurses attractive? Do you like the idea of a man taking care of you? Or does it seem unmanly and unattractive?
I skimmed through the comments an the side topics and just to give you the perspective of a guy who did trade work (arborist, mason tender, landscaper). restaurant work( line cook, server, bartender) and now 9 years in as an RN. Chill man lol. Yes there are girls who will seek out and date police officers, firemen, service men etc... the same way there are guys who will only date blonds, certain builds/measurements, no kids etc.. but most people don't care, AT ALL. If you are employed, confident, competent, (and good looking helps) you'll be fine. Honestly as a straight male working in the RN field, it is a lot like working in the restaurant industry. Most of you are young, most are single, and most are up for grabbing a drink and hanging out. without getting too blunt, it can get downright incestuous at work on some floors lol. I am off the market now but it was umm, not a challenge to meet people as a male RN when I was single
To put in in perspective... yeah we had a lousy GSW trauma, had to hold the guy down, we pulled a gun off him, he took a swing at one of our nurses and was psychotic so we tubed him to get him to CT. (sound feminine to you?) Or how about... I got to talk to a guy who did his 20 in the navy while we prepped him for surgery for his bowel blockage, he was serving during vietnam on a swift boat and had some interesting stories. It's perspective and to a lesser extent specialty that matters, not the RN field.
I mean one of our ER RN's who is now one of our hospital educators was a marine sniper back in the day. I agree there is an appeal to most women for a guy to be masculine, but in my experience that means not whiny, able to take care of himself, works for a living and is confident, none of that is excluded by being an RN. If you really feel that insecure about the profession try getting into one of the specialties that tends to attract more men like TNU, ICU, ER, Flight RN, OR, just to name a few. And FWIW, I ride and wrench on a bike, rock climb, have some ink and piercings, still go sqweee when i see a kitten and like to cook and garden. it's not an either or thing, just relax :)
and having done construction/tradework, one of the biggest things we complained about was the lack of women around us, so there's that lol
chicks dig what they dig man. if someone thinks youre gay, i dont think its the fact that youre a nurse thats going to push them in that direction haha. ive found that whatever you do, as long as youre competent, knowledgable and even somewhat passionate about some aspect of what you do, women will respond positively to it. and from personal experience, women love hearing crazy hospital stories, so that just makes you more interesting than the average Joe Construction Beard, talking about how he tore up a "wicked piece of sidewalk" yesterday morning lol
My husband was a nurse when I met him and I was a nurses aid (now nurse). And yes him being a nurse made me find him even more attractive. He was very caring and a great nurse. And the scrubs were a turn on for me. Can't speak for everyone though obviously.
Just thought I would throw out what I know off hand. I know of a couple very attractive ladies in their 20s who are dating male nurses...you know the type that you see and you immediately assume they probably go for the richest most muscular guy around...nope...now its just a couple that I know of..but they do indeed date male nurses and I think since nurses sometimes can make pretty good money that is also another factor that girls may like about male nurses since it would allow them to provide for a family.
probably more the proximity thing. If your the dude nurse there are prob like 5 chicks floating around you. unless you 1/10 at least one of them might find you ok to superhawt
This is still a field dominated by women. Well dominated is a strong word. but they do make up the majority. At the 150 bed facility I work at now, I am one of two male nurses. There is also a male CNA. In my class of 125 or so students there were 8 males including me- at least 4 were openly gay. I am heterosexual. These are just observations.
When I tell people of my career or they learn, they either respect it or crack a joke, "So, your a murse!?" Most women think it's respectable. It's usually men who crack the jokes. I think many guys are "homophobes" by nature, or at least they think they have to project that image to show how manly they are.
I direct response to the OP, I think in general a woman are attracted to the guy himself and probably don't have any pre-conceived notions about men in the profession. It's men who perpetuate the stereotype. However, coming off insecure or cautious about your profession would definitely not score you points.
Now, I used to have a cat. When a woman would come over and see the feline I would hear things like, "You have a cat? Dude that is so gay."
Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.
Hi
So I'm a young, single, heterosexual male nurse, and I'm well aware that I'm somewhat of a minority, as most nurses are female, and the ones that aren't, are often gay (yes, I know that is just a silly stereotype, and there's nothing wrong with being gay, but that's beside my point).
Thing is, I'm not even remotely feminine- I have a beard, I listen to heavy metal, I climb mountains, I work out, etcetera. But I get paranoid that most people probably perceive me as a little "girly" or "possibly homosexual", when I talk about being a nurse. I feel especially insecure about my masculinity when I'm walking home wearing my uniform past some heavy set dudes doing roadworks or construction or something "manly". Sometimes, I've even lied about studying nursing at uni- I've sometimes said I'm studying engineering, to seem more masculine.
I'm not ashamed of being a nurse- I'm damn proud! But I feel a little insecure due to the silly non-masculine stereotypes associated with my career choice. I'm also single and looking for a girlfriend, but I sense that women might think I'm gay, or unmanly, due to my profession. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.
Anyway, my main question is- ladies, do you find male nurses attractive? Do you like the idea of a man taking care of you? Or does it seem unmanly and unattractive?
Regards - Sykadia
I have absolutly no problem, regardless of gender preference......
Pythinia
71 Posts
So Lesbians and Gays are not 'hypercritical, judgemental or overly religious and harder to work with?