Out with "Nurse" In with...?

Alicia18 · Mar 17, 2005

Did male nurses (or even female nurses) go into the nursing feild for the title, or a job, or for what is in your heart to help others. Yes many are in it for the job, but many are also in it for the helping others and fullfilling the heart felt tug inside us.
There are female Doctors and they don't complain about their title that started out as a male dominated carreer.So why fix something that isn't broke.
Need a new title? No I don't think so. But I guess I am in the minority.

I agree with you whole-heartedly, TX_ER_nurse; if you're in the minority, than so am I. As I said in an earlier post, we (or for those like me who will eventually become RNs, will soon have) earned the title of nurse, and should be able to finally say proudly that "I am a NURSE."

jaimealmostRN · Mar 18, 2005

I somewhat agree with the OP. I think the term nurse has be abused by other people in healthcare to where it doesn't really have the same meaning anymore. For example, I met a home health aid (not registered or anything, just did it by word of mouth) who was a truly not great person (IV drugs, theft, etc). To her elderly pts that she helped at home with cooking, cleaning,etc, she called her self a 'nurse.' I personally use the term, RN when I am introducing myself and I think that sounds fairly asexual...so thats my vote!

LPNer · Mar 18, 2005

Maybe I didn't go back far enough. Wasn't nursing primarily done by men in Catholic orders? Of course, if one goes back too far then the whole role of nursing disappears, and all you have is doctors coming to people's houses and putting leaches on them and letting the family care for them.
I guess what I would like to know is when were the first hospitals established and were the nurses male or female. And what about psychiatric hospitals? Weren't they traditionally staffed by men?
The Veridican

Well, it's known that ancient Rome had hospitals and they did practice at least some method of disinfection and protection from bacteria during surgical procedures.

The staff, in anciet Rome were basically "doctors" in training. Therefore, the "nurses" would have been men. In ancient Egypt, there is documented evidence of both male and female assistants to the Doc.

My hubby is well versed in ancient history. He's looking for a link to validate what I have said. Hope he can find one! Cummulative knowledge is often hard to verify with a single link. :mad:

allamericangirl · Mar 18, 2005

Well you are almost an RN=Registered Nurse. There are other designations of Nurse= Practical Nurse and Nurse Aide. Are ALL male nurses RNs? A nurse is a nurse and a tyoe of profession like teacher and doctor. Nurse is not a Registered Nurse. The person you spoke of is impersonating a nurse, but is not a nurse! :)

I somewhat agree with the OP. I think the term nurse has be abused by other people in healthcare to where it doesn't really have the same meaning anymore. For example, I met a home health aid (not registered or anything, just did it by word of mouth) who was a truly not great person (IV drugs, theft, etc). To her elderly pts that she helped at home with cooking, cleaning,etc, she called her self a 'nurse.' I personally use the term, RN when I am introducing myself and I think that sounds fairly asexual...so thats my vote!

LPNer · Mar 18, 2005

Why change the title? The nurses that are working today reguardless of sex have had to work hard to acheive that title.
As today's culture is changing so much in the health care feild,leave what is left of our title alone.
I know that the addage "if you don't change you are not learning" is a very good consept for nursing because we learn every day. But what about our history, the reason we are called nurses. How are we to keep that and still change our title.
Did male nurses (or even female nurses) go into the nursing feild for the title, or a job, or for what is in your heart to help others. Yes many are in it for the job, but many are also in it for the helping others and fullfilling the heart felt tug inside us.
There are female Doctors and they don't complain about their title that started out as a male dominated carreer.So why fix something that isn't broke.
Need a new title? No I don't think so. But I guess I am in the minority.

I'll put my vote here too!

And for those who worry about the original or other meanings of the word nurse, just think about how many other words have changed in meaning over the years. We're nurses, we worked hard for whatever length of time we were in school to be a nurse. Be proud and don't worry about others who claim to be something they are not. Everybody they say it to will know within the hour they are full of "it"

jaimealmostRN · Mar 18, 2005

Well you are almost an RN=Registered Nurse. There are other designations of Nurse= Practical Nurse and Nurse Aide. Are ALL male nurses RNs? A nurse is a nurse and a tyoe of profession like teacher and doctor. Nurse is not a Registered Nurse. The person you spoke of is impersonating a nurse, but is not a nurse! :)

Actually I AM a Registered Nurse now....haven't changed my name yet .

(Does anyone know how to do that???)

allamericangirl · Mar 18, 2005

I don't know how to do that Jamie. I don't even know how to change my email address... :selfbonk: but I wish I did, because it is all about what I don't do anymore too. :idea: Why don't you email or post something to one of the managers about how you could do that?

=jaimealmostRN]Actually I AM a Registered Nurse now....haven't changed my name yet .
(Does anyone know how to do that???)

Alicia18 · Mar 18, 2005

Actually I AM a Registered Nurse now....haven't changed my name yet .
(Does anyone know how to do that???)

I tried to look that up for you, jaimealmostRN, and I just couldn't figure it out. Still working on it... When (and if) :chuckle I do get it, I'll let you know.

LPN1974, LPN · Mar 18, 2005

I tried to look that up for you, jaimealmostRN, and I just couldn't figure it out. Still working on it... When (and if) :chuckle I do get it, I'll let you know.

If you're talking about your name on this board, just email brian and tell him what you want and he will change it for you.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Mar 18, 2005

I think that we should keep the term "nurse."
I've known women who were cops, ironworkers, and mechanics. How far do you think women--a distinct minority in all of those professions--would get if they suggested changing the name of their profession?
Not........very.........far.

My sentiments exactly.

If one doesn't like the term "nurse," perhaps one should be something else?

Consider the meaning of the verb, to nurse. To comfort. To give solace and reassurance. To improve, enhance function and quality of living--even to foster and sustain life! How much more noble a calling can there be?

The profession has been changing at about the same rate technology has been growing. There is no longer the single mold, one pure idea of what a nurse is or does, but many to address the many aspects of human need and how we address it.

And the poor public. Do they really need any more confusion about who we are or what we do?

And I cannot imagine the little old ladies of the ANA welcoming this idea with anything like open arms! LOL....

But, you could be right. Maybe they would. (I just hope I don't live to see it. Took me too long and too much hard work to get here!)

ocb_dave_ocb, LPN · Mar 18, 2005

Personally I am a male. I have been working my behind off the get the "NURSE" title. I would want it to be called nothing less. Nurse does not automatically imply Female. Most people, however, do assume that. I think it should remain nurse, its a known term world-wide, why desrupt that?

David Smith S.P.N.

talaxandra · Mar 18, 2005

Someone posted about female pronouns being used when talking about nurses. It may not be deliberate in nursing texts, but in the social sciences female pronouns are often used for gender inclusivity, and to redress the historical use of male pronouns used for this reason.