Does being called a male nurse annoy you?

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I don't know why but being called a male nurse annoys me. You meet people, or people you know or whatever "so you are a male nurse" do you call females in law enforcement a "female cop" or "female firefighter"....

I'm a nurse, who is male. I am a professional, I am good at what I do. A nurse is a nurse just like a cop is a cop or a firefighter is a firefighter etc. regardless of their gender. I'm just saying.....

Specializes in Med./Surg. and paramed. exams.

Just about every week I am referred to as, "the male nurse"...or my nurse is "the male nurse", I just let it slide off like water, but it is kind of aggravating sometimes, just depends on how it is said, like when its followed by, "oh, so you are a doctor in training?" I think sometimes it may aggravate the "female nurse" more than me because even though I make the distinction that I am their nurse, they often refer to me as the doctor and call on the "female nurse" they see walking by the room for nurse stuff. The "female nurse" doesn't get confused for the doctor. One of my favorite sayings is, "no, I'm not your doctor, the lady that just left your room is your doctor, I'm your nurse". Or when you walk in the room, introduce yourself as their nurse and the patient or someone else in the room says, "oh so are you a male nurse?" Well, duh...I just said I was the nurse, I'm 6'9", weigh 300 lbs, and wear a size 18 shoe...yeah, I'm a male, too. I often want to say, I am your Murse (combo of male nurse), but haven't yet. Another thing I joke about is that I went to "male nurse school".

One instance that did aggravate me was during orientation last summer. The nurse manager was showing a new doctor around the unit, came to me, and the nurse manager introduced me as, and I quote, "He's our new nurse, he's our male nurse." Its like I was some kind of quota, I'm sure if the doc was any kind of doc, he could have quickly figured out I was male, also the HE part kind of states I'm a male.

Another thing that is frustrating is when I get a call to give report to another facility. They've called for the nurse, the call is put through to me, and then the "female nurse" on the other end still asks for the nurse after I've answered the phone with my deep voice. Then I tell them I'm the nurse, they pause, like they have to think about it for awhile.

Other than that I just let it roll off my back as I bend my knees to help everyone lift.

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Specializes in ED.
Does not bother me at all being called a male nurse.....For those of you whom it bothers.. which part do you object to... male? or nurse?

I'm with ya on that. Maybe I'm different than most, but identifiers don't bother me. If I am in a room with 12 people with different skin colors than mine, I don't mind someone talking about me as, '...that white guy over there.'

The only time being called *anything* bothers me is when there is an intent to slam me, regardless of the epithet.

DC, ED MURSE :)

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Yes! And it gets on my nerves when people are like "you see more and more male nurses every day...some of my favorite nurses were males" as if they're trying to make you feel better about your profession. lol. I feel like some female nurses and male nurses are equally great at nursing. All I know is that I can run laps around some of the other nurses (both male and female) in doing IVs on my unit ;)...just sayin'

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I don't know why but being called a male nurse annoys me. You meet people, or people you know or whatever "so you are a male nurse" do you call females in law enforcement a "female cop" or "female firefighter"....

I'm a nurse, who is male. I am a professional, I am good at what I do. A nurse is a nurse just like a cop is a cop or a firefighter is a firefighter etc. regardless of their gender. I'm just saying.....

why would you get annoyed are you not "male." i bet if they just called you 'nurse' you would still get angry. You are just that "a male nurse" that's why there is 6% out there,

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I am in school to be a nurse and people ask me what I am in school for and I say nursing then they say to me "oh a male nurse?" I feel like answering "nope, going to be a female nurse" it reminds me of the comedian bill engvall. look him up on youtube he is very funny this reminds me of his "here's your sign" routine look it up.

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A colleague of mine at my first job out of school (>25 years ago) used to get that a lot -- the "Oh, are you a male nurse??" He used to respond (v. pleasantly) with, "No, I take care of females, too."

just saw this after my other post it happens to me also whenever i tell people i am going to be a nurse

I am in school to be a nurse and people ask me what I am in school for and I say nursing then they say to me "oh a male nurse?" I feel like answering "nope, going to be a female nurse" it reminds me of the comedian bill engvall. look him up on youtube he is very funny this reminds me of his "here's your sign" routine look it up.
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Well, I don't like the word nurse personally because it makes me think only of sucking milk through a nipple.

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And that is somehow a problem?

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And that is somehow a problem?

Nah, not if you like milk, lol.

Around here nurses are referred to as LPNs or RNs by everybody. Most people don't know what the difference is, but "she's an LPN" or "he be a RN."

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Nah, not if you like milk, lol.

Around here nurses are referred to as LPNs or RNs by everybody. Most people don't know what the difference is, but "she's an LPN" or "he be a RN."

He BE an RN? Let me guess. Small rural community hospital. Lol

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He BE an RN? Let me guess. Small rural community hospital. Lol

Try small, rural state, lol. Arkansas.

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Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.

It's like someone said, PC everything. Male nurse, single mom or single dad (you're a mom or a dad); Why the delineation? And this has crept into every aspect of our society, even when it's obvious by looking at gender or race you might be, someone will label you, restating the obvious. Even worse, is when the individual themselves feels compelled to restate the obvious, as if we are stupid or blind.

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