Guys in Nursing...What's your Input?

[MarcusKspn]

Hello fellow nurses.

I'm a 21 year old male practical nursing student. I have worked in nursing for a little over a year now as a CNA and CMA. One think I have noticed is the very small percentage of males in this profession. I know the stereotype of male doctors have opened up to accept women doctors, but it seems that nursing is still an all women profession in many people's mind. Many of the ladies I take care of in the nursing home adress me doctor, only because I am a man (although it comes in helpfull when feeding sometimes "The doctor said I need to eat", but I always correct the patient when they refer to me as a doctor, don't need any felony charches for impersonating an MD, lol). The few people who are used to see guys in nursing always ask me if I am gay. (I am happily engaged and getting married next september .:roll )

What I would like to know is your experiences with guys in nursing, is it this unusual for a straight guy to consider nursing as a profession. I really love being in nursing.

[nakitamoon]

Only comment I want to make here,,,,, as I have no statistics,,, Is the men I have worked with rock! Be as a nurse or CNA~

Yes with my geratric population,,, have had a few,, in begining not wanting males to take care of them,,,,, Once they got to know them,,, There was no problem,,,, I feel do to the care which they provided,,, and the way it was given

As far as sexual preference,,,, None of my business,,,, I only care about their performance at work,,,,

I have only had one problem with a male CNA,,,, he came to work,,, stethoscope around his neck,,, allowed my residents to think he was doctor,,, or Charge nurse,,,, after several,,,, write ups,,, Had to let him go,,,, Couldn't deal with fact he had no problem with telling ppl he was a doctor,,,, (one of those ppl who want the recognition and not willing to do the work,,,,) During the time he was working for me,, he was accepted into nursing school,,, lasted six weeks,,,, of course he had excuse (sickness),,,, truth is he couldn't handle it!!!!!

This wasn't a gender issue,,, just a staff issue,,,,,

My 2 cents,,, ~kitamoon

[researchrabbit]

Originally posted by Mattigan

Where in the world is Burns Flat?

Isn't it out in the panhandle?

[Ted]

What's my input? I'm a guy and I'm a nurse!

Pretty cool, huh! :)

Ted

Sometimes, though, the thought of wearing a white mid-lengthed dress nursing uniform with white stockings is awfully appealing!

[studentOH]

Don't worry about it. You will run into ingnorance in ANY profession where dealing with people is the norm. Can't help you with the gay accusations...when people say "are you gay or something?" to me I usually respond with "Is that a proposition?" Follow your dreams and don't apologize to anyone for them.

Brian

[MarcusKspn]

Burns Flat is on I-40 in western OK, about 60 miles from the texas border.

[meandragonbrett]

My mom doesn't think men should be in nursing. But obviously I think otherwise. We try not to discuss that issue with each other.

Brett

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Is it all in the "name".. the "word"... NURSE?..that brings up visuals of which gender is to fill that roll?

I remember in the Air Force the "medics" were male or female. Nobody ever questioned their choice or their role. EVER. It was never even a topic...medics were medics..regardless of gender.

NOW...follow up on that...use the word "nurse", and suddenly everyone has these visual images of what that should be! (as in which gender) ! WHY !?!? Conditioning? Picture books from way back when? Black and white TV shows from the 50's? Saturating the mind's eye with Betty Boop type nurse cartoon images?

Yet as medics, we did a LOT of "nursing care"...and no one ever thought there was a difference between a male/female "medic".. it was accepted as "routine" and "normal". So what's the deal? Is it simply the word "NURSE" that automatically implies FEMALE?

[NMAguiar]

I'm entering my fifth-week of first-semester clinicals. As a male nursing student in his 30s, what drives me crazy is not that the mentally-challenged think I'm gay. It's the opinion:

"Aren't you smart enought to be a doctor?"

Oh, well. The dull are everywhere!

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

So now you know how WOMEN have felt all along ! I remember the days when female Dr.'s were a rarity. Still know folks who won't see one! Thought was.."only men are Dr's." Rubbish !

Tit for tat !

Somehow, though, I still think this is a "cultural" issue. I have not found these preconceived ideas in other countries.

[azgirl]

There was a tv program once with a family setting and the young man wanted to go into nursing and the family were all in mourning because his being a NURSE. They kept trying to tell him that men were doctors. I wish now that I had written a letter instead of turning off the program with disgust.

Our neighbors think it odd that my husband is a nurse. Not macho enough for them. LOL

[micro, RN]

Originally posted by Rustyhammer

WOW! Did I suddenly get transported back to the early '70's.

Is this for real or just an Oklahoma issue?

-Russell

I just gotta stick with Rusty's response. Glad we are not prejudiced in this society or in our career of choice. It would be a shame to look at someone differently if they were different than I.

micro

[pebbles, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by azgirl

There was a tv program once with a family setting and the young man wanted to go into nursing and the family were all in mourning because his being a NURSE. They kept trying to tell him that men were doctors. I wish now that I had written a letter instead of turning off the program with disgust.

One of the main characters in Coronation Street (UK) is a nurse, and he's married with kids. I thought that was neat... and I know they did storylines about people thinking he was gay or sissy for becoming a nurse when the character decided to go to nursing school, and he told them where to go. There ARE positive portrayals just as there are positive real experiences too... :)