Hi there, I am entering university for my first year of nursing in Sept. I have been working in retail for 12 years, so I am good at handling all sorts of people. The thing is I am 6' tall 200lbs, have a shaved head and a goatee. Now I have never really cared what people think about the way I look, and more than a few have told me that I look intimidating, and some have said I am down right scary.
Looking scary or tough is nice when I am walking around the bad neighborhood, but I have found that some people go on the defensive very quick because they seem scared or intimidated. I am good at diffusing tense situations; I have talked my way out of some real hairy ones. I feel I have a positive attitude and try to encourage all those around me to be their best.
I guess when I think of what a nurse should look like, even a male, I do not see the image of some bald ugly guy as the ideal. I just wonder if this will cause more problems than it can solve. Yes I am very strong physically so I would not have too hard of a time moving patients, heck I used to unload trucks that were filled with frozen meat, and the hunks of beef weighed almost as much as a person.
I wonder will a tough looking exterior give people the initial impression that I am not possible of nursing, and lead to needless verbal confrontations. Are there other men in my situation? Again I am referring to first impressions, I am very polite and respectful of those around me. After I talk to most people they see that I am really harmless. I just worry about those people who will refuse to know me because they feel so intimidated.
Anyways have gone on too long I just thought that I would air this curiosity of mine and see of there are any other men that have this problem or maybe thought the way I did. Ohh yeah, is there a way a male nurse should look?
