Murses

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. What is your reaction toward the term "Murses" for male-nurses?

    • 30
      I am male and I find it offensive or irritating
    • 102
      I am female and I find it offensive or irritating
    • 13
      I am male and I find it funny
    • 26
      I am female and I find it funny
    • 3
      I am male and I have no opinion
    • 5
      I am female and I have no opinion
    • 7
      I am male and I am ok with it as long as the intent is good
    • 12
      I am female and I am ok with it as long as the intent is good
    • 7
      I am male and my reaction is not listed in the options
    • 15
      I am female and my reaction is not listed in the options

220 members have participated

What is your reaction toward the term "Murses" for male-nurses?

Funny how some words just give a vivid image in your mind. This "murse" discussion came up at a dinner party the other evening (Of course, being the smart alec that I am -- I felt the urge to bring int up in a group of 12 -- 6 nurses and spouses) There were some really hysterical responses from the nurses -- spouses were a bit more serious (which isn't typical with this group -- we are all certifiable and could probably be committed somewhere -- or should be) Anyhoo! -- the spouse people were saying how it "cheapens" the title, that it would reduce the respect for the profession, and how it "would further devide an already fractionized group" :stone (how's that for intelligent sounding? She came up with that at around 1AM -- after a banana split and 3 Mt. Dews!)

The nurses in the group were merely coming up with other titles we could use -- that would more vividly capture what we DO:rolleyes: . -- It was a little gross (Of course, there were 6 NURSES there and we were all tired and buzzing on a sugar fix -- how could it be anything else)

The conversation was hysterical -:rotfl: - and of course migrated into nurse stories that made us all laugh 'til we cried (repeatedly). So, while we may not ever solve the "murse mystery" gotta thank you for raising the issue -- we had a blast with it!!!!

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This thread is straying off topic. The topic Dan put out there was how people felt about the term sometimes thrown around when referrring to a "male nurse", "nurse who is a man", "nurse who isn't female" or however you want to say that the nurse over there is of the male gender. His point was not to offer to change the term for nurse! He just wants to know how people react when someone uses the term 'murse'.

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Here are some interesting male nurse related items.

Where did you get the "Warning - Beware of Male Nurse" ? I espeically like this one.

-Dan

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Firefighters are mostly men so does that mean that term should be changed now that there are many women in the profession?

Police officers are mostly men so does that mean that term should be changed now that there are many women in the profession?

Nannies are mostly women but men are breaking in, does that mean we should change that term?

Do you see where I am going? the whole thing can get out of control and is ridiculous!!!!

Police officers or firefighters or whole bunch of other labels have a gender neutral connotation. Nanny and nurse do not have a gender neutral connotation right now. Many 10 years from now, it will have a gender neutral connotation if enough men are in it.

As for Nanny, there is already a slang term call "manny", believe it or not just like "murse".

Again, as previous posted, this poll is not to suggest that we make a new term "murse" since it already exist in slang form (I can make another poll that talks about it however and get everyone all upset). This poll is asking your reation to it when it is used.

Maybe a different way of putting it since this poll was not design well in terms of how the questions were ask.

If you are a male nurse and you hear the term used in reference to you, what will be your reaction? Are your reaction the same under all context or it depends on the context? Again, since the term already exist in slang form, you probably will eventually encounter it if you have not already.

If you are a female nurse and you hear the term used in reference to one of your male colleague, what is your reaction? Same under all context or it depends on the context? If it bothers you and if it also bother your male colleagues, would you defend your male colleague?

-Dan

-Dan

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Funny how some words just give a vivid image in your mind. This "murse" discussion came up at a dinner party the other evening (Of course, being the smart alec that I am -- I felt the urge to bring int up in a group of 12 -- 6 nurses and spouses) There were some really hysterical responses from the nurses -- spouses were a bit more serious (which isn't typical with this group -- we are all certifiable and could probably be committed somewhere -- or should be) Anyhoo! -- the spouse people were saying how it "cheapens" the title, that it would reduce the respect for the profession, and how it "would further devide an already fractionized group" :stone (how's that for intelligent sounding? She came up with that at around 1AM -- after a banana split and 3 Mt. Dews!)

The nurses in the group were merely coming up with other titles we could use -- that would more vividly capture what we DO:rolleyes: . -- It was a little gross (Of course, there were 6 NURSES there and we were all tired and buzzing on a sugar fix -- how could it be anything else)

The conversation was hysterical -:rotfl: - and of course migrated into nurse stories that made us all laugh 'til we cried (repeatedly). So, while we may not ever solve the "murse mystery" gotta thank you for raising the issue -- we had a blast with it!!!!

Thanks for sharing this:rotfl:. It is really interesting the spouses took it seriously and the nurses just thought it was totally funny. I wonder why?

I am interested the vivid alternative titles your group came up with. You can pm me with these and I promise, I really promise whith all the people on this thread as my witness that I won't put it up as a poll or something. :)

-Dan

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This thread is straying off topic. The topic Dan put out there was how people felt about the term sometimes thrown around when referrring to a "male nurse", "nurse who is a man", "nurse who isn't female" or however you want to say that the nurse over there is of the male gender. His point was not to offer to change the term for nurse! He just wants to know how people react when someone uses the term 'murse'.

Thanks Pennylane. Yea... this thread is getting a bit off topic. But I am learning a lot. Like how to make a poll that is more clear (we'll see if I learn my lesson in the next poll... did I hear someone just go "Oh no! Not another poll by Dan!!!!!").

I am also learning the different emotional attachment to the title "nurse" that different people have. For example, some people have a "sacredness" attachment to the title which is very different from most other professions.

This is very educational for me so far.

-Dan

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Police officers or firefighters or whole bunch of other labels have a gender neutral connotation. Nanny and nurse do not have a gender neutral connotation right now. Many 10 years from now, it will have a gender neutral connotation if enough men are in it.

As for Nanny, there is already a slang term call "manny", believe it or not just like "murse".

Ok, I am replying to my own post. Actually Police Officers or firefighters might not have a gender neutral connotation since most are men.

But there are something difference between police officer/firefighter and nanny/nurse and I am trying to get my finger on it. I do know the difference is not at a logical level but at some other level, probably at a psychological level. Have to think about this more...

-Dan

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

This is all so cute

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"Again, as previous posted, this poll is not to suggest that we make a new term "murse" since it already exist in slang form (I can make another poll that talks about it however and get everyone all upset). This poll is asking your reation to it when it is used."

ummm . . . . we are reacting to it since you used it. I don't see how this conversation is veering off-course.

Tom - you are enjoying the image of women in high heels way too much :chuckle :chuckle

The term "nurse" is not going to change except in fun free-for-all conversations fueled by ice cream and Mountain Dew or in polls on bulletin boards . . . .

A nurse is a nurse is a nurse.

If males are going into nursing at the same percentage as 30 years ago maybe that is always going to be the same. Maybe that is ok.

If someone used the term "murse" to a male colleague of mine I'd let him react to it. If he didn't like it, I'd back him up. If he thought it was demeaning, I'd back him up. If he thought it was hilarious, I'd laugh with him.

steph

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Tom - you are enjoying the image of women in high heels way too much :chuckle :chuckle

steph

steph- i think tom was enjoying the image of my friend MICHAEL in his 4 inch stilettos.

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Where did you get the "Warning - Beware of Male Nurse" ? I espeically like this one.

-Dan

I PMed you, danu3.

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and i would like to add, that if we continue to contemplate the connotations that we defer to in terms of gender, we are only exacerbating the sexist prejudices that prevail today.

if we ignore the perceptions of those gender-oriented professions, then the interest and the stereotypes WILL fade away.

if we choose to enable the rampant sexism that is so pervasive, then yes, by all means, let us differentiate between male and female nurses. :stone

leslie

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