OK we get it STUD, you're straight

[bigrigcowboy]

Something has been bothering me for quite some time on this forum and I have not known exactly what it was. Well I figured it out and y'all may not like it.

So often when reading posts on the Men in Nursing or Male Nursing Student sections I feel like I am part of one of the most homophobic systems I have been a part of since I left the US Navy.

If I read one more post in which the man feels he must refer to himself as "Normal", "Married", "not one of them", "Real Man" etc. [not kidding, direct quotes] I am going to scream. You can say it STUD, we get it, you are straight and we're damn glad for you. [better you than me]

One question I want to ask you students is just how the hell do you know for sure which of the guys in your class are "abNormal", "unMarried", "one of them", "not a Real Man" etc. have your instructors had everyone disclose their sexual orientation during introductions? I have seen pretty well adjusted men turn up the testosterone so far when in the presence of a known gay man that they loose all sense and become flaming A**HOLES to prove that they are not "one of them". Not a way to become part of the team sparky.

Let me give all you Normal, Married, Real Men a reality check. The cold hard truth is that there are gay men in nursing. Thank goodness nursing has been a profession that really didn't care one way or the other as long as you were a good nurse. Unfortunately the schools and media in an effort to make sure everyone knows all male nurses aren't gay [Are you man enough campaign?] that it feels like we are being pushed back into the closet.

Last piece of advice and I will shut up. DO NOT ASSUME. I assure you when you meet me you will not know that I am gay; I love NASCAR, Rodeo, Horses, Motorcycles, camping, just like a real man. The only difference is that my SO is a man. The one stereotype I will admit to here is I can be one vindictive ***** and I will not be receptive to your good ole boy jokes or you making sure I know you are not "one of them".

So yes there are more and more men entering nursing which is a great thing, but like any change their will be growing pains, we need to identify them, not sweep them under the rug and hope they go away.

[morecoffeepls, BSN, RN]

What a dumb original post and series of comments. Except for this guy: "Realllly... who gives a toot?" & anyone else who said something similar. So I might as well "contribute" to this inane thread by saying that in my next life I will be single in nursing school. 10:1 ratio, but I survived. I don't mean to downplay anyone's experience or opinion, but it really is a non-issue to anyone with any sense - which is to say that evidently it's an issue with most people. It's late, I need more coffee.

[lancedac]

Frankly, I never thought of this at all when I decided recently to become a nurse. Thinking about it now, I would prefer if no one assumed or wondered if I am gay. But if they do that's their bother. I will be too focused on this new challenge to give a damn!

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

What a dumb original post and series of comments. Except for this guy: "Realllly... who gives a toot?" & anyone else who said something similar. So I might as well "contribute" to this inane thread by saying that in my next life I will be single in nursing school. 10:1 ratio, but I survived. I don't mean to downplay anyone's experience or opinion, but it really is a non-issue to anyone with any sense - which is to say that evidently it's an issue with most people. It's late, I need more coffee.

How very deprecating and patronizing.

I found it beneficial to have a cogent stance on the issue when a very upset SO drew a weapon on the unit because she felt her companion was not being treated appropriately, because of her orientation. I found reasoned argument to be highly effective in dispelling heated emotion, before the advent of tasers.

But "many" lack the immediacy of experience to focus their thinking on given issues...

This is a "hot-button" issue for many (on both sides), as is being AA/Hispanic/inthecountryillegally/female/maleina femaledominatedfield/etc.. The issue is not so much the "problem" but the individuals' strong identification with a subculture. In psych, are you not working with individuals attempting to develop integrational models with society, to attain positive developmental resolutions...?

[morecoffeepls, BSN, RN]

Eh ... okay. I did say it was late & that I needed more coffee, though. I meant to address the issue itself & not the people posting about it. Most "hot-button" issues exist because people are irrational and/or self-important, on either side. I'll try to be a "real man" & admit that my tone was imprudent instead of getting defensive.

My real "issue" perhaps is spending time on here reading a series of comments, regardless of the topic, that range from idiotic to pedantic instead of doing homework or banging my head against a wall or something. Right, I shouldn't project.

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

My real "issue" perhaps is spending time on here reading a series of comments, regardless of the topic, that range from idiotic to pedantic instead of doing homework or banging my head against a wall or something. Right, I shouldn't project.

...but homework is soooooooo boring.