Did anyone judge you for being a male nurse?

systoly · Apr 18, 2014

if they have, i don't know about it

maybe it's because of my strikingly handsome appearance,

maybe because they think i'm from russia, which i'm not(but i

get asked that a lot), maybe because of my size, but mostly

i think, because of my good looks

PG2018 · Apr 19, 2014

In a hospital setting men are often thought to be the doctor, and I was often asked by older people how much longer until I would "make a doctor," lol. I guess in a way that was harmless judgement.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2014

In a hospital setting men are often thought to be the doctor, ...

I have all kinds of people call me "doc" even though I clearly introduce myself as a nurse, as well as look like all the other nurses, this is both ancillary staff members and patients/family/visitors.

Other than that, I don't think I have ever been "judged" as far as I can tell.

OldDude · Apr 21, 2014

I'm not sure that being called on for heavy lifting or subduing a fighting patient is being judged in the sense you are talking about; that's fairly common still today. But in regard to this question, I do recall being judged by other nurses when I went through L and D rotation during nursing school. For whatever reason they didn't think it was appropriate for me and another guy student in my class to be in the room for the delivery. Consequently we sat in the hall until there were babies to feed or diapers to change in the nursery.

exit96 · Apr 21, 2014

I'm not sure that being called on for heavy lifting or subduing a fighting patient is being judged in the sense you are talking about; that's fairly common still today. But in regard to this question, I do recall being judged by other nurses when I went through L and D rotation during nursing school. For whatever reason they didn't think it was appropriate for me and another guy student in my class to be in the room for the delivery. Consequently we sat in the hall until there were babies to feed or diapers to change in the nursery.

Typical discrimination...though no one wants to admit it

PG2018 · Apr 22, 2014

I'm not sure that being called on for heavy lifting or subduing a fighting patient is being judged in the sense you are talking about; that's fairly common still today. But in regard to this question, I do recall being judged by other nurses when I went through L and D rotation during nursing school. For whatever reason they didn't think it was appropriate for me and another guy student in my class to be in the room for the delivery. Consequently we sat in the hall until there were babies to feed or diapers to change in the nursery.

I didn't even go into the nursery but once to see a baby with jaundice. For my postpartum rotations I actually went into the OR and watched hysterectomies and related female surgeries. On the nursery rotation, I mostly helped out with a couple of circumcisions and went out to pick up everyone's lunch order at a local restaurant. During the actual labor rotations, I was present in the room and was able to see all the activity. I don't think any of the women cared remotely about me seeing their genitalia or delivery.

SierraBravo · Apr 22, 2014

While I was in nursing school, the first patient that I saw during my acute care rotation asked me where my dress was when I told him I was a student nurse.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Apr 22, 2014

I'm still a student, and usually I haven't felt like I have been judged negatively for being male. Only during L&D/OB rotations have I felt like someone had an issue with me being male. Not that it bothers me that much... I'm not exactly considering that as a future job. Quite the opposite, lately I have noticed that many of my male patients tend to open up to me a bit and become "less difficult" with me around them. Have I been judged? Perhaps... but usually not negatively!

OldDude · Apr 22, 2014

While I was in nursing school, the first patient that I saw during my acute care rotation asked me where my dress was when I told him I was a student nurse.

Good one!!!!! Thanks for the laugh. Yea, I lay awake at night worrying what other people think about me being a guy in a girls world. NOT!!!! As long as the checks contiue to cash I'm good.

systoly · Apr 22, 2014

I'm not sure that being called on for heavy lifting or subduing a fighting patient is being judged in the sense you are talking about; that's fairly common still today. But in regard to this question, I do recall being judged by other nurses when I went through L and D rotation during nursing school. For whatever reason they didn't think it was appropriate for me and another guy student in my class to be in the room for the delivery. Consequently we sat in the hall until there were babies to feed or diapers to change in the nursery.

wow, sorry to hear that

my experience was the opposite, i hated L&D, did not want to be there, but the floor

nurses were very supportive

AmyRN303, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2014

The floor nurses during my L&D rotation were cheerleaders to the male students in my cohort. Many of the women who gave birth at our assigned hospital were teens, and did not feel comfortable with a male delivery nursing student....though the nurses went out of their way to introduce each of them first to a prospective patient. Several did get to witness births, and often did spend much time in the nursery, where they were referred to as Uncle Bob or Stan by our instructor.