Men in Nursing

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Nov 21, 2004

Tom,

Way too much information for me, thanks :uhoh3:

jaycrue · Nov 21, 2004

Like everybody says:

1. Lots of good looking women who make me breakfast ,lunch and dinner. I never go hungry

2.A day off in the middle of the week is amazing, I work 12 hr. shifts and I would not change a thing

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2004

Hey if caring for someone and helping them back onto their feet after a misfortune or illness in their life qualifies me to be called gay/sissy/wuss/can't-hack-it-to-med-school, then call me so by all means.

I wonder if some of those "macho" men would like working in the OR or ER. Or comfort a dying patient.

I love this field. Half my fmaily still thinks that I will go on to take up MED school or I'll change my mind and become a "Physicians" Assistant. The more I get into this field, the less I think I will change.

JVanRN · Nov 23, 2004

some of the male nurses where i work are pretty hot...sorry totally unrelated to this thread...just had to share :smokin: anyway that said...i love working with most male nurses...none of all that catty gossip and they arent afraid to deal with difficult families and pts and they lift things :) (sorta kidding about the lift things part...i really do try to do for myself. (now i work nicu and don't need help with that sort of thing :chuckle ....k i'll shutup now...have a great day :uhoh21:

JVanRN · Nov 23, 2004

Though most of the male nurses i know tend to go into areas like ICU, OR or ER...why is that?...the only male nurses i cant stand are the ones that used to be paramedics or EMT's...(or female for that matter) for some reason some of them seem to be so cocky and frequenly overstep their boundaries of practice...maybe cuz they had more autonomy out in the field?(i dont' know...any thoughts on that one)

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 23, 2004

I'm a guy. Been an RN for 19 years. Great field. Some of the best nurses I've had the pleasure working with have been men...many who demonstrated that, yes men, can be nurturing and caring to others, generally very good men. It is good to see that. I think patients also respond to this and appreciate it.

bobmswrn · Nov 23, 2004

I've enjoyed reading the variety of experiences that we men folk nurses have. Here's one of the more bizarre for me. I turned 50 this summer and was recently in the first oklahoma men in nursing calendar! It's an awareness raiser to get more men in nursing here in Oklahoma... the majority of the calendars will go to high schoool job fairs, etc. But let me tell you how surreal this experience has been.

First, every woman nurse that I know somehow found out about it... and I got a bunch of ribbing from then...then we calendar guys went to the oklahona nurses association conference and were 'presented' to the crowd in the opening session. I turned three or so shades of red during that session, but survived it. I do hope that the calendar (titled- nursing, a real career for real men) does help recruit more men into this helping profession.

My 12+ years in nursing has had ups and downs, but it was certainly the best move for me (into nursing from the resturaunt biz)...

Bob

ps- it's nice to have a forum with other men in nursing...sometimes the estrogen level in my office can get rather high, and a little balance can help!

nursemike, ASN, RN · Nov 23, 2004

Just did a sociology paper on Men in Nursing. Came to most of the same conclusions posted here. A little prejudice, but not that bad, and getting better. Lots of lifting. A few disparaging remarks, but so what?

I did see one suggestion that the profession needs a new title--some guys are put off by the term "nurse." I think I'm against that idea. No, most of us are not lactating, but we are nurturing, and that's a fine thing. Also saw some good points about marketing. Are pin-up calenders an effective way to recruit men into nursing? Some men, possibly, but I'd rather see a calender of female nurses. And you rarely see recruiting ads during football games or Nascar.

I fell into healthcare somewhat inadvertantly. I thought I was applying for a job in facilities. When I got interviewed for Nursing Services, it sounded interesting, and I thought if nothing else, it would help my resume to show I could work for someone else and show up on a regular basis (had been self-employed for 25 years). Turned out I love my job, especially the patient care aspects of it. I do a lot of lifting and alternative-to-restraints stuff, now, so why not get paid twice as much for it? It feels really good to help people (although, I still say almost any job you do well helps somebody) and I like the idea of finishing out my career in a field where you never stop learning. Working in a matriarchal society is a big change, but not a bad one.

I see this is kind of an old thread, so I wonder what the OP thinks, now.

Oh, and I don't enjoy being taken for gay, but I don't freak out about it, either. Depends a lot on the context. I think if someone hits on you, a simple, "No, thanks." should be sufficient. If someone wants to disparage your manhood, you ought to be able to smack them, even if you are gay.

If a woman asks, I just assume she wants to know if I'm available.

P.S. I didn't mean to suggest that most female nurses are lactating. Less than half on my floor are, although several more will be, soon. But I'm doing maternity, next semester, so I don't mind hearing about girl stuff. Not that it would matter greatly if I did mind...

NurseGuy_in_06 · Nov 23, 2004

I am an ex-engineer that is making the career change because of the decline in textiles in this country. There simply are no good engineering jobs left in my area. I have found that I like nursing. I have encountered no prejudice from my fellow nursing students (so far). My class is a large one with the student's ages between 18 and 60. The only negative comments I have heard was when I did my last clinical. There was a male nurse showing me how to start an IV on a cantankerous patient when the patient made the comment about "boy nurses". :rotfl: I consider that a reflection of the patient's age and background rather than a knock on male nurses. The main problem I have had in the classwork is in learning to think the way they want us to, but I am starting to get the hang of that. After 6 tests and one more to go in the first semester (the final) all I can say is sofarsogood.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Nov 24, 2004

I am an ex-engineer that is making the career change because of the decline in textiles in this country. There simply are no good engineering jobs left in my area. I have found that I like nursing. I have encountered no prejudice from my fellow nursing students (so far). My class is a large one with the student's ages between 18 and 60. The only negative comments I have heard was when I did my last clinical. There was a male nurse showing me how to start an IV on a cantankerous patient when the patient made the comment about "boy nurses". :rotfl: I consider that a reflection of the patient's age and background rather than a knock on male nurses. The main problem I have had in the classwork is in learning to think the way they want us to, but I am starting to get the hang of that. After 6 tests and one more to go in the first semester (the final) all I can say is sofarsogood.

Learning to "think like a nurse" is tough, no doubt about it. I've heard it suggested that it's gender-related, but I'm skeptical. One problem I've had is a tendency to rely too much on intuition. "It just felt right," might be the truth, but it's not a rationale. It doesn't sound like stereotypical male thinking, either, although I do believe men in general are more intuitive than is recognized.

Anyway, I do think it is possible to learn to think like a nurse. Not easy, but possible.

Ross1 · Nov 24, 2004

I am certainly proud to be an out of the closet stark raving insane HOMOPHOBIC individual :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Overall this has been a really insightful, intelligent, and sensitive conversation. I'm really impressed with the many comments submitted by the male nurses in this forum. I am, however, rather confused by the above quote and left wondering if it is a sarcastic joke or a true statement. If it is a serious statement, as a gay man myself and member of this forum, I do feel somewhat attacked by it. While we all have a right to our views and certainly not everyone will agree with us, I just couldn't imagine a situation where I would come out publicly on this list identifying myself as prejudiced against an entire group of people.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Nov 24, 2004

It doesn't sound like stereotypical male thinking, either, although I do believe men in general are more intuitive than is recognized.

Or atleast as intuitive as the women folk. :) You're right - I found myself behaving like this too. I often will do things which seem like whims to most folks but to me it's "just because it feels like it".

However, I've been warned - "gut feelings" aren't part of "professional" practise