Does the term 'Nurse' bother you?

Nurses Men

Published

  1. Are you bothered by the term "nurse"?

    • 225
      Nope, I don't mind being called a nurse one bit.
    • 73
      Yes, being called a nurse bothers me, I think it should be changed to...

298 members have participated

I've been on the receiving end of quite a number of male "nurse" jokes ever since I started college for my BSN. I have not been phased one iota, but now that I'm in school and am around other men, they seem to want to change the terminology to something other than "Male Nurse" (something like "masculine health care technologist" or whatever).

Anyway, I thought I'd do a little research and poll the fine folks here. What do you think: Are you bothered by being called a nurse?

For the record, I am not.

Specializes in Cardiac Care.
You need to market that. I would buy one.

I'd buy one, too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
I'd buy one, too.

So would I, now that you mention it.

Crap. It would be sort of ironic, or something, to bust my butt getting through nursing school, then strike it rich in the haberdashery business.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Care.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

And don't forget the wonderful world of T-shirts, mugs and calendars!

But seriously, I love that slogan.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

And don't forget the wonderful world of T-shirts, mugs and calendars!

But seriously, I love that slogan.

hmmmm...It would make a cool scrub top too.... you better hurry and market that slogan before one of us does.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I've been on the receiving end of quite a number of male "nurse" jokes ever since I started college for my BSN. I have not been phased one iota, but now that I'm in school and am around other men, they seem to want to change the terminology to something other than "Male Nurse" (something like "masculine health care technologist" or whatever).

Anyway, I thought I'd do a little research and poll the fine folks here. What do you think: Are you bothered by being called a nurse?

For the record, I am not.

'Masculine health care technologist" I'm sorry but, :rotfl: Anyway, I wouldn't worry about the term nurse. But, I can also see your point. "Nurse has been gender deemed female for so long I can see where it may bother the male nurse. But, you can do better than the "masculine health care technologist.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in GI Onc,RadOnc, Surg Heart/Lung, MS Tele.

I'm not bothered by the term 'nurse' at all. I'm another one of those bothered a little by being called a 'male nurse' in situations where 'nurse' fits just fine, as if I differ professionally from any other nurse.

But..let's face it guys - we knew what we were getting into when we signed up for the classes. Trying to rename Nursing into something else based on 'gender pride' for lack of a better term, is like trying to get everyone to call women who work in police/fire 'policepersons' or 'firepeople'.

I've been on the receiving end of quite a number of male "nurse" jokes ever since I started college for my BSN. I have not been phased one iota, but now that I'm in school and am around other men, they seem to want to change the terminology to something other than "Male Nurse" (something like "masculine health care technologist" or whatever).

Anyway, I thought I'd do a little research and poll the fine folks here. What do you think: Are you bothered by being called a nurse?

For the record, I am not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
But, you can do better than the "masculine health care technologist.

For the record, I did not come up with that absurd terminology, some other guys were talking about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, Research, Midwifery Student.
I have no problem being a nurse.

This is my problem: the term, nurse, is a description as opposed to doctor, which is a title.

This site has alot of insight into why nurses aren't treated like 'professionals'. Maybe part of it is because 'Dr.' Smith refers to the bedside nurse as 'Kelly', or 'Amanda', or in my case, 'Tim'.

I used to know a little bit of Russian, and like many languages, Spanish included, Russian conjugates verbs into 6 forms: I, you (informal), we, they, you (formal), us. You talk to peers and those above you in the formal 'you'. You talk to friends, children and subordinates in the informal 'you'.

DR. is a formal 'you' address. Referring to you by your first name is a very informal 'you' address. While I will submit that this arrangement between doctor and nurse is the evolutionary model of nursing's past, it is not a recipe for 'professionalism' in the future.

I do not object in the least to being referred to as a nurse. I object to the fact that my training and experience are just so many useless letters AFTER my name instead of a key address IN FRONT OF my name. And even then, my objection is only because, that isn't very 'professional'.

~faith,

Timothy.

I agree with Timothy! We are professional health care workers, and part of the health care team - why don't we get a pre-title? I'm not a man, but I don't like the term "nurse" and especially don't like the term "male nurse." Nursing conjours up visions of feeding and suckling to me. I wish we could go by a different, more professional term, as well as one that addresses us by a title. I think if we had a title that more suited our education, knowledge and expertise that we would receive more respect from our peers and patients, rather than being viewed as a maid or servant or medication dispenser.

I also agree with another poster about saying, "I'm a RN," instead of "I'm a nurse." I have found a lot of people that do call themself nurses, but are techs. So, I definitely think we need to coin a name all our own! ;)

Just my two cents! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, Research, Midwifery Student.

Oh I also wanted to add...

In Spanish the term for a nurse is enfermera which comes from the word enfermo meaning sick... someone who takes care of the sick. I like that the Spanish term is very different than the word "to nurse (an infant)." It is a distinct word that only means one who cares for the sick. I just wish we had a word/term like that that would be unisex and distinct from something so female in origin.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm started Nursing School in 2 Weeks, and I CAN'T WAIT until one day I will be able to say WITH GREAT PRIDE..."I'm A Nurse" A Nurse is WHO I AM! I have No Problem being called a nurse in fact I LOVE IT! It gives me goose bumps! My family Even Calls me "NIT" Nurse In Training, and when people ask me..."Why not just be a doctor?" I say Don't insult me please...I'm gonna be a NURSE! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Trauma.
I've seen a slogan on a couple of ball caps that said:"American by birth, West Virginian by choice."

I guess I could say Male by birth, Nurse by choice. I'd need a royal blue ball cap, to go with my uniform. Or a white one, I guess.

Mike, I'm putting this up for recommendation at our next nursing clothing sale at school

"Male by birth. Nurse by choice" - nursemike (danceswithcats)

How 'bout that? :chuckle

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
Mike, I'm putting this up for recommendation at our next nursing clothing sale at school

How 'bout that? :chuckle

Fine idea! I'm still planning to get some made, too, but it has been turning out that nursing orientation is almost as busy as nursing school. Okay, well, nowhere near as busy, but still pretty busy, and the silk-screen place keeps weird hours.

I'm also thinking a plain white ball cap with a red cross could be a modern, unisex alternative to the traditional nurse's cap.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment