Odd observations.

[THAT Nurse., MSN, RN, APRN]

As a guy who will graduate this coming spring I have noticed an interesting way people talk to me, and am curious if others have similar experiences. I am not just referring to randomly being called Doctor either.

I currently am finishing up my fourth semester, so I have 4 semesters of clinicals, plus I work at a local hospital, and have for nearly a year. While not a huge amount of real world experience, it is what I have. (This includes clinical and work experiences).

Male nurses: All pro's, no cons to working with them. It is like we automatically accept each other. The floor I work on has a whopping four guys (2 FT RNs, 1 PT RN, and 1 Nurse Tech (me)). That is all shifts, all levels, myself included. I can always hang with any of them, though the full-timers are easier to get along with I think mainly because I see them more/know them better.

Female nurses: Cons: half the time they love my back more than any other part of me. Occasionally I cross a good rabid feminist, who seems put out that a man dared entered the woman's field. Pro's: The ones I work with are great. My opinion is respected, they have run interference for me when a female physician wanted to go nutty on me, and they don't mind helping me when I ask. While I don't always get their conversations, and sometimes they all turn red when I walk in (I still don't know what the big deal about waxing was, granted, I did not know chicks were big on waxing their cars), but the odd moments always make for funny ones. And of course, the fact that more than half are downright beautiful sure does make life easy on the eyes. (Hey, a man can respect her looks and her brains.) Also, FNP, CRNA, any type of female nurse falls into this catagory. They are all really good to me.

Male patients: They don't seem to mind much. I get asked the why nursing a lot, but when I tell them I liked it so I stayed they seem to accept it. Unless they are mental I generally get along well with them.

Male physicians. I debated putting them above male patients. (I made this list also showing how I perceived they view men in nursing, the higher up the more I think they are pro-us). A majority seem to freely accept conversation, and some even treat me quite well. I have had times where I stood and had conversations about how to care for the patient with them at the patient's bedside. (Ideally, the nurse would have done that, but the nurse cannot always round, and when I am there taking vitals, why not confer?) When I have done that, they seemed willing to talk and discuss things. Some were less open than others, but I expect there to be some who want to come in, assess, write orders, and leave. I will probably never forget the patient one who asked me to follow him around (it was a clinical day in the PICU) and he showed me quite a bit, and taught me a lot. Nice old fellow. He was a great teacher and had the right head.

Female patients: Yah. Usual issues, they are fine with a male physician, a female nurse, but the moment I stick my mug in their and say hello it is GET OUT!. Granted, it is rare, but it happens. I have never had a male patient toss me. I have had a load of women get really wierd just because I was a guy. One in particular was a very nice woman, and when we first met she was VERY acutely ill. We all thought she belonged in an ICU, but I digress. Once we got her better, she suddenly no longer wanted a guy. Female patients could be just plain strange. I never did see a pelvic exam, or many other OB related things during that rotation because the patient refused. Still, the majority are friendly are respectable.

Female physicians. The absolute worst. I loathe female physicians. I have not yet met one I would want working on me, and have met quite a few I would hate working with. It is like they have a giant desire to treat male nurses (or maybe I look like I want beaten with a whip) like garbage. Of course, I know a few treat female nurses like trash as well. They just have a huge ego, and are rarely willing to listen to anyone but themselves. To them, it seems healthcare is not a team effort, but one they themselves do, and everyone else is just an ancilliary player.

What about you guys, what have your experiences been like?

[greygooseuria]

I have an easier time with female patients than male patients actually, and I have never had one mind me.

I find female physicians MILES better than male physicians. MALE physicians are the ones with huge egos and I can't stand that they'll go off on a female nurse but not even on a male RN student.

I also find male nurses to be miles better than female nurses and I will probably never let a female nurse touch me again after what I have seen almost universally among them. Female NPs are ok in my mind, but after seeing female RN behavior...no thanks!

[THAT Nurse., MSN, RN, APRN]

What specifically have you seen female RNs do that is so bad? Aside from sadly questionable hand hygiene all around (even I am guilty at times), I haven't seen anything widespread that makes me cringe at female RNs in general. Male nurses are WAY easier to work with. I never have to worry about whether a fart will bother them, or stuff like that.

Just Monday in class, I scratched an itch which sent half the girls laughing and started gossip galore. The guys who heard were just happy they did not see me scratch myself. Beyond that, they didn't care.

As for physicians, the only ones I have ever seen go off are the women. Dudes always seem laid back around here.

[greygooseuria]

Maybe it's your specific hospital then. I have seen this in numerous hospitals in New England, the midwest, and in PA.

Female RNs that I've seen are usually gruffer with their patients and just don't have the demeanor that a male RN usually has. I don't care about working with people; I care about how they treat their patients. I had one male MD tell a patient flat out he didn't deserve a heart transplant because he had uncontrolled diabetes. NICE!

[THAT Nurse., MSN, RN, APRN]

Wow. yah, that MD? Would not have a job around here. (Tennessee). Our female nurses can be gruff, and they can be hard, but they are often very very pleasant. And they still get the job done. Maybe it is a North vs South thing?

[Bobylon]

Wow. yah, that MD? Would not have a job around here. (Tennessee). Our female nurses can be gruff, and they can be hard, but they are often very very pleasant. And they still get the job done. Maybe it is a North vs South thing?

I grew up up north, but have lived in TN for several years, and have nothin but great experiences during clinicals with any and all nurses we've interacted with. Don't necessarily think it's a geographical thang, more likely just luck o' the draw as to who you work with any particular day..... I dunno :)

[elzbthpem]

Female physicians. The absolute worst. I loathe female physicians. I have not yet met one I would want working on me, and have met quite a few I would hate working with. It is like they have a giant desire to treat male nurses (or maybe I look like I want beaten with a whip) like garbage. Of course, I know a few treat female nurses like trash as well. They just have a huge ego, and are rarely willing to listen to anyone but themselves. To them, it seems healthcare is not a team effort, but one they themselves do, and everyone else is just an ancilliary player.

What about you guys, what have your experiences been like?

Hah! My brother and I who are both in nursing school were parked infront of a hospital waiting for a tow truck because his car would not start...a female doctor parked in front of us and we tried to tell her we were waiting for a tow...she YELLED at us "I don't have time for this I have to see a patient"...she kept on walking even though she could have just parked in the small parking lot next to the street that was fully empty and free...Also...at the pediatric practice I take my son to there is one female doctor...and she talks to me like I am an idiot...she laughed in my face when i asked about the urine crystals in my son's diaper...

[THAT Nurse., MSN, RN, APRN]

pem,

I would have simply had the tow truck move her car for her. Even if I had to pay him, it would be worth it.

[ImMrBill3, RN]

It's the med students I have problems with, arrogant and ignorant. I pity their patients.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

You know I always found it funny that a male pt never had a problem with me inserting a catheter but Ive been thrown out of rooms when trying to turna female pt. Its some of those things that you just deal with. The worst the female pt give me is why JUST a nurse. Like im not smart enough to become a doctor and i am just settling to be a nurse. Nothing else bothers me except that.

[Skeletor]

Greygooseuria

I love your name :chuckle