1 of 32 nursing students

[Jazystudent]

Hello everyone

As the title says, I am 1 out of the 32 nursing students in my class that is male...the only guy. I am currently half way through my second month of the LPN program and have already started to notice a difference. Also the fact that I am very young ( 19 ) and probably the youngest in my class may play a role but I have noticed that there seems a difference in the way not only my students but instructors interact with me.

With the instructors I seem to be the favorite one to pick on (in all good fun) or the one who is volunteered as a pt for labs. Where as with students it seems to be hot or cold, I am a CNA have have a good amount of experience when it comes to basic nursing. This has either worked in my favor with some students who say they need help, or backfired and resulted in me being in the "mr.know-it-all" category. Which doesn't really bother me except that come time for clinical I have to work with some of them.

I am just curious as to if any one else has had these things happen to them and if there is anything else I should be expecting as being the only male student come time for clinical rotations?

[CareteamRN70]

I don't think that the male experience in clinicals can be pinpointed to "It will be this way or that way because you are male".

I would treat each clinical rotation as a unique experience to YOU.

I went through a few clinicals with another male, and with the exception of being male, we had nothing else in common and both had completely different experiences even when on the same floor.

Our OB rotation did highlight the difficulties males can face. I had trouble getting in to see a lady partsl birth, the other male didn't. I have no desire to work ob and the preceptor saw to my duties being done mostly on postpartum, while the other male stated he would like to work nicu and most of his rotation was in nicu or the nursery.

Most staff I ran into perpetuated the belief that because I was male

A: I was a walking talking forklift

B: an instrusion into nursing (this happened very rarely and I think they resented me being a student more then being male), or

C: I was gay - which I did have some fun with because I am not. They would make a comment at the nurses station about a new resident and dating prospects and I'd lean over the desk stare at the resident until he looked uncomfortable and would state "yea, he's got a cute butt"

which brings me to the last point...

Watch your comments made to female nurses. I have been in the middle of some of the raunchiest conversations with my co-students. They will talk about everything and anything..sex with their sig others, menstrual problems, dirty jokes etc...find out which students you can joke back with "safely" or better yet just don't join the conversations...its amazing how the same thing from a male mouth that was just said by a female mouth becomes sexual harrasment.

As for teachers most of my female teachers either treated me like all the other students, or some mayhave seemed to favor me just a tad, but not much. Male teachers I had would go out of their way sometimes to make me reconsider nursing. I had someone tell me that male RN teacher's see themselves (just as female ones do) as the gatekeepers to nursing and they want to make sure any males they let through have high standards to combat any negative stereotypes.

At any rate, good luck to you

remember your experiences for the most part, are yours, not predetermined by your sex.

At the end of a shift you aren't wearing a tag that says male or female..it should just say nurse.

[Bob_N_VA]

I feel for ya bro. I'm the only guy out of about 25 or so. One thing is for sure, as a guy, you will stand out. Instructors know your name after the first day. Matter of fact, after the first semester or so, everybody in the school probably knows something about you. You will never be just one of the crowd. And thats fine, you can work it to your advantage. As for the age thing, I'm the oldest in the class, and I don't know if that hurts me more or helps. At nineteen though, you are very young and us older folks will tend to see you with much less life experience and take what you say with a grain of salt. Kindness, patience and a willingness to be open to others thoughts will go a long way to the old farts thinking this kid has a lot on the ball, he will go far.

On the other hand, with your CNA experience, you do have a leg up on the competition, and don't kid yourself, women can be just as competitive or more so as men. I'll also echo our new graduate nurse CT70, do watch your comments as they can be twisted around real fast. Some of the ladies have a good sense of humor, but some you just don't know. Give it some time till you know which ones you can be sure about and err on the side of formality and caution. Just sayin. Good luck.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

We're running about 1/8th of the BSN class cohort being male. In other words, of the 23 people, three are dudes.

[Oldmalenursestudent]

I am older, 52 and in my second month, one other guy(gay) and I feel like everyones whipping boy. I guess it's part of the game but i am having a hard time dealing with the situation and my teachers are no help. Just hang in there and good luck.