"I didn't know you were gay"

Nursing Students General Students

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twice this week, I've mentioned to acquaintences of mine that I plan to get into nursing, and the reponse has been a joking "Don't you have to be gay to do that?" sort of response.

Does that stereotype actually still exist? Sheesh. I'll have to let my girlfriend know the bad news. :chuckle

All I have to say is that there is nothing sexier than either a man in uniform or in scrubs!!!

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Actually, there are a lot of men in our class. Thank goodness, because without them I would be completely insane right now! lol. Most are married w/ children and I know they aren't gay. In fact they are so not gay that I forgot some people still think about that stereotype. The combo of catty women and catty gay men =not good social/work enviorment! lol.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
I take turns being charge on my unit w/ a male RN. We have discussed the "male nurse=gay" thing, and he has never been accused pf being gay. It would come as a big shock to his wife and all his kids if he were!

I have another guy RN friend. He has a good comeback for when pts/acquantances/etc say to him "You're a male nurse?"

He replies "Well, I'm a nurse, but I don't deliver the mail."

He gets a kick out the confused looks he gets using that line.

I enjoy working with male RNs, and glad that men now feel comfortable pursuing nursing as a career.

Excellent post!

Not all male nurses are gay!

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
... The combo of catty women and catty gay men = not good social/work enviorment! lol.

:chuckle

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All I have to say is that there is nothing sexier than either a man in uniform or in scrubs!!!

I agree with that 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
All I have to say is that there is nothing sexier than either a man in uniform or in scrubs!!!

Thanks! :coollook:

2_14_Jan_05_RC_OBC_89.sized.jpg

Me & my wife at my AMEDD Officer Basic Course [RC] graduation on 14 Jan 2005.

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Since starting nursing school I am feeling so very gay...Gayer than I have felt in years. :rotfl:

Where does this stuff come from?

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gee, and i hate that just because i'm entering a "women's field" (coming from a male-dominated hard science) people assume i'm straight!! :p

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
twice this week, I've mentioned to acquaintences of mine that I plan to get into nursing, and the reponse has been a joking "Don't you have to be gay to do that?" sort of response.

Does that stereotype actually still exist? Sheesh. I'll have to let my girlfriend know the bad news. :chuckle

I would probably get offended if I were a male and would not laugh at all. Being a male nurse has nothing to do with their sexuality.

I also don't think it's fair for anyone to even begin to stereotype our gay members to any field (whether female traditional or not). Same goes for the gay females who are stereotyped for entering a predominantly male profession.

My aunt is gay, a nurse, a wife, a hairdresser, and an auto mechanic :p

This is another case of: (the public needs to be more educated).............

Jess

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

When I did my first degree my father was encouraging me to enter nursing for the career stability and opportunities. I was very opposed to the idea because I felt I'd be a horrible cliché being gay and a nurse. When I graduated with a BA I had a hell of a time finding a decent job and wound up substitute teaching for a year I reconsidered things.

I'm finishing up an accelerated second degree BSN. Of course, as other posts would indicate most of the men in my class are a) straight and b) married. I think it is still more acceptable for gay men to enter nursing compared to straight men because we don't have to worry all that much about people thinking we're gay. I'm proud of who I am and while I don't care to be stereotyped, it doesn't bother me whether people think I'm straight or gay.

When patients ask me, I typically outright lie because I'm there to care for them and don't want them to feel uncomfortable. Why the sickest patients think people are attracted to them is beyond me. I tell my patients that not all male nurses are gay and that historically men have always gone where there is money. Nowadays, the money is in nursing and surprise! Here we are.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I couldn't be a nurse if I weren't sensitive enough to deal w/ that particular stereotype w/out getting upset. . . (among others - some at the opposite end of the spectrum: I've heard it said a time or two that male nurses just want the chance to look at naked females and call it work. They OBVIOUSLY aren't nurses. . .)

Does that mean I'm gay?

NO.

But, it MIGHT mean I'm just the type of guy all those women out there say they want . . .sensitive, straight, and not living w/ my mom.

And here I am all single w/ such a good income.

Go figure.

And the irony: Tweety gets alot less of those looks than me because he's wearing a ring, and I'm not. . .

~faith,

Timothy.

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All I can say is...:nono: Who the heck cares if you are gay or straight. And your comment .

"I think it is still more acceptable for gay men to enter nusing compared to straight men because we don't have to worry all that much about people thinking we're gay. I'm proud of who I am and while I don't care to be stereotyped, it doesn't bother me whether people think I'm straight or gay."

Is rediculous. It is more accepted for gay men to enter nursing? Who says? I spend a lot of time reading professional magazine, going to job fairs and as President of my chapter of SNA I go to a lot of conventions and NEVER ONCE has the conversation of "GAY MEN IN NURSING" ever come up.

I do not care who thinks I am gay or married. I do not care that you are gay or not. Who the heck cares about your sexuality. Does anyone ever say look at that Lesbian Nurse over there. And I have never heard anyone referred to as a "Lesbain Nurse". That is a sexual preference and not a bit of anyones business.

While Gay people are fighting for equality and recognition you go out there and make as dumb a statement as I have ever heard in my 44 years. You my friend are part of the reason why Gay people are singled out. You just did it to yourself.

Now I think I will go kiss my wife...Or better yet get a job as a mechanic or truck driver just to prove to the world that I not gay. :p

have a great weekend, Dave :wink2:

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