Men in Nursing...What has been your greatest challenges?

zenman · Nov 2, 2004

The greatest challenge has been having females view me only as a hunk and not acknowledging that I have feelings. I hear their comments about my butt when they think I can't hear. They are always trying to get me to do things prior to sending me flowers and a couple meals at a fancy place.

walnuttree91 · Nov 2, 2004

One of my problems is that I work in ED and patients and families automatically think I am the doctor, despite frequently reminding them that I am not. It leads to a lot of confusion regarding their treatment.

mattsmom81 · Nov 3, 2004

I'm not a guy but I work with a lot of guys. The consensus is for them 1) sterotypes about being gay/20 questions from staff and patients if you're a male nurse and

2)female nurses expecting them to do all the heavy lifting, handle all the problem patients for them, etc just because they're bigger and stronger..

How do the guys here feel?

hbscott · Nov 3, 2004

I got tired of the "failed physician - homosexual" stereotype and the implications of that societal label. I have left nursing (but I still come to this board to check on a few friends now and then) and I must admit life is very good for me now. Nursing was an important "stepping stone" in my life and career but that is all it ever will be for me. My advice is to you is find the thing you love and do well (and then stick with it). You won't be disappointed in the long run.

-HBS

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 3, 2004

I just want to chime in with my support of men in nursing. We need you, and I welcome you. Just as women have had to endure years of stereotyping, harassment and other foul treatment other careers (military comes to mind for me personally), you will endure and prevail. Do what I do, forge forward, unfettered and unworried by others' opinions of what you do and who you are. Fight if necessary against discrimination and for your rights. It's what women have been doing all over since the dawn of time.

2ndCareerRN · Nov 3, 2004

The greatest challenge has been having females view me only as a hunk and not acknowledging that I have feelings. I hear their comments about my butt when they think I can't hear. They are always trying to get me to do things prior to sending me flowers and a couple meals at a fancy place.

Yea, that. But I ALWAYS hold out until after a good meal. Hey, a guy has to eat!!

:rotfl:

bob

mrdoc2005 · Nov 3, 2004

Keep in mind that I am still in school here. My beggest problem would be lack of respect from the teachers, nurses on duty during clinicals, gay sterotype. By lack of respect from nurses I mean that I am treated total differant from the other (female) students in clinical. I had on nurse tell me I should not even be allowed to go to nursing school since I am a guy. One of my fellow students was listening and our clinical instructor was the DON at that hospital, well it got back to her and I have not seen that nurse since. Don't know for sure what happened, but the clinical instuctor (DON) called me at home that night and told me how sorry she was and that I would never have to work with that nurse again.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Nov 3, 2004

Where do I sign up for meals and flowers. :)

Yea, that. But I ALWAYS hold out until after a good meal. Hey, a guy has to eat!!
:rotfl:
bob

mrdoc2005 · Nov 3, 2004

The greatest challenge has been having females view me only as a hunk and not acknowledging that I have feelings. I hear their comments about my butt when they think I can't hear. They are always trying to get me to do things prior to sending me flowers and a couple meals at a fancy place.

That must be bad.

adnstudentnurse · Nov 4, 2004

The whole doctor stereotype in the hospital. Wow since a guy is here he can take care of the rowdy patients and such or lift this for me.

I know I will get ragged for this but bathing female pts. That is my hardest one to overcome.

Flame me for that but oh well I am honest.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2004

I got tired of the "failed physician - homosexual" stereotype and the implications of that societal label.

I get that all the time. Seriously, the next time I meet someone and they ask me "Oh! Have you seen the movie "Meet The Parents" I will box their ears! :angryfire That Homosexual/Gay stereotype gets my goat for a number of reasons - including the fact that they are abusing the services of nurses and second demeaning homosexuals while they are at it. People who act smart and try to make 'witty' comments like "But that's so GAY!" get absolutely no respect from me. As if being gay = being a loser. :angryfire :angryfire

Half my family still can't believe I'm doing nursing - they consistently urge me to try out for a Physicians Assistant. Many still ask me when I'm graduating and going on to Med School... :rolleyes:

I also concur with the lifting objects bit. "Hey Roy! Ummm, we were wondering can you help us move this"? There's three of them there but when I put my shoulder to it, there's only one girl helping out....

One of my fellow students was listening and our clinical instructor was the DON at that hospital, well it got back to her and I have not seen that nurse since. Don't know for sure what happened, but the clinical instuctor (DON) called me at home that night and told me how sorry she was and that I would never have to work with that nurse again.

Wow!

I agree with the discrimination bit. I agree that women have been discriminated against for years and years. But studying in this profession has already shown me that men can be discriminated against too.

But you know what? The days when my friends are sick and come to me for help, all their ridiculing and joking stops. They are meek as sheep :chuckle