man new to nursing.

Nurses Men

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Hello all.

My name is Mathew and I have just accepted a place on a degree for adult nursing. I have always wanted to be a nurse and I am finally taking the plunge and giving up my job of looking after the company systems across the UK and two departments.

I am not worried about working in an environment of predominately women or having the stigma which I have already experienced of going to be a nurse who happens to be male.

However I was wondering is there good way to address this stigma which people clearly have towards blokes as nurses, and whether anyone has a quick fire solution to it?

Also as I haven't experienced ward or actual nursing work yet, what sort of reaction can I expect from colleagues and patients alike?

It would be great to hear from you.

Magichands

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Hey Buddy!!!

There is no simple way to deal with the 'male-nurse' thing in an intellectual way. What the word 'nurse' or 'nursing' means is---well, we're mammals, right? So what's a person lucky enough to have XY chromosones gonna do?

There's this 'nurturance' and 'nurturing' thing that I chose to focus on. It's really a very 'daddy' thing to 'nurture' and protect the helpless, sick and injured. And that works for me. I am (in my own mental eye) a protector. Which is very compatible with the male/masculine image.

I bet that if you offer to give comfort and assistance to your patients in a warm and dignified way--you'll be amazed at how welcome you are!!!

It's been a constant theme through my career that people I care for, appreciate me SOOO much. I bet that the same amazement I feel can be yours.

Stay the course if you can, it's a great career if it suits you.

Papaw John

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.

Hey Magichands, this is 2006 not 1986. ;)

The bottom line is you want to become a nurse, so make it happen.

:beer:

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In my experience, the whole problem went away when I made the decision not be be self-conscious about it anymore.

To begin with, I kind of hedged around saying I was becoming a nurse. I got a couple chuckles back then.

Now I don't even think about it. I connect me to nursing without batting an eye, and I get nothing but positive responses.

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