Splockster

I'm sure you're not "dumb" , just the fact that you approach your problem the way you do shows this. We're all clever in our own way , at the start of nurse school ( at least in Denmark) is full of anatomy and Latin words that can be intimidating. I found researching where the word comes from and how it was used Back in the day to be a great help. Later in the education it starts to focus more on the humanitarian part of nursing and becomes a little easier for those a natural skill for dealing with people and a wish to help . Please don't give up if nursing is what you want to do, it's a very rewarding life and needs people with a desire to connect with people during the most vulnerable times of their lives. That being said if the grades are stopping you and you are not academically inclined, there are other positions in healthcare less focused on " book smarts" im not sure of the US term but " nurse assistant " " nurse helper" and social and health assistant are all positions in and around the nursing trade that focus more on the hands on approach on the path to caring. I hope this helped, the terms don't really translate to English but I'm sure others here know what I mean :) good luck on the road to the caring profession !

1. What made you want to go into the nursing profession? When i was on deployment in Afganistan , we had some army nurses teach us some basic field triage. That sowed the seed for me, many years later after the army and a move to Denmark i went for nursing . 2. Did you have any reservations about it specifically since you are male? (I am trying to determine if stereotypes actually are a barrier to men entering the field) No reservations because i'm male no, about the pay ? yea 3. Do you feel as though your nursing education is tailored to meet the needs of male and females alike? (One study I read states that men do not feel as though they were taught how to properly clean a female or even how to properly touch a female. They assumed it was because if you are a female nursing student you would already know how to do this and it didnt need to be explained) I wouldnt say it was tailored to either sex however some of the older text books were , the doctor was always he and the nurse always always a she. also the Danish title for RN is "sygeplerske" which is a female Word.. kinda like "seamstress" or "actress" . I cant say it bothers me though 4. Do you feel like you are or have ever been discriminated against because you are a male in the nursing field? I would say that some will have a certain expectation of you because you are male, for example at an interview for an abdominal Ward i was told i would be expected to do alot of personal care and she knew men didnt like that. Nothing worse than that sort of thing. Well and maybe the odd look of suprise when new colleagues find out i'm not gay . 4. Do you find that coworkers either do or do not ask you to do things because you are male? ie. heavy lifting, female exams Yes sometimes, i'm a big strong guy and get asked often to help with moving heavy patients but that's understandable really, i dont feel discriminated against. 5. Do you feel as though you need to be cautious when caring for a female pt? (I had never given it any thought but three of the men I interviewed said that they are always aware of what they are doing or saying to female because of the fear of the pt. thinking they are being inappropriate I felt a bit awkard the first few times i helped bath a female patient or put in a KAD, now i take the same amount of care with everyone as it's just as invasive for men as women. I find people can tell if you feel comfortable, if you do so do they. 5. is there anything you would like to add specifically about being a man and a nurse? I feel it's sometimes easier to land a job being male, i think only 2% of nurses in Denmark are male and are sought after .

thank you all for your input , i'll Lau that worry Down at last :) As far as the rectal temp goes it's the standard her and in my admittedly limited expirence nothing else comes close for accuracy exept the bladder catheter one. thanks again glad to be here :)

I am male nurse in Denmark , just turned 40 and nearly a year as a RN, I was a soldier and a chef before this most excellent carrier change. Male nurses are rare in Denmark, I don't know why and I don't really think about it too much but one episode keeps turning through my mind that effects my interaction with female patients still. I was working in the ER one evening and was admitting a young women with suspected appendicitis , I went through the usual routine helping her into hospital gown taking vitals . A rectal temp is a very important part of this routine and I could see the patient was uncomfortable with this , many are. I not sure how the subject came up but I could tell she assumed that I was gay ( typical stereotype here) I'm not ,but the stereotype doesn't bother me, what bothers me a little months after is the fact that I did not correct her assumption of my sexual orientation . There is no denying she relaxed when I didn't correct her and began chatting away to me with no further issues. My question to you allele and female nurses is should I of corrected this young woman? I felt at the time that it was easier for her and for me but when I reflect on it I may of broken the trust that has to exist between nurse and patient . feel free to discuss

We have strict rules for documentation here in Denmark too, management will of course ask for perfection but are also understanding if we need to prioritize certain things. So while I have been tempted many times to falsify a journal by clicking iv flushed , I don't ,I leave it blank if there simply isn't time and let the next shift know why. Thankfully I haven't given in to the temptation falsify because of laziness and I find that honest documentation is the best way even if it makes me look less than perfect.... because I am less than perfect. I think that if management shows understanding and trusts the nurses judgement with time management, falsifying records may become the realm of lazy bad nurses rather than harried / stressed nurses trying to avoid being fired .

It's very nice to get a thank you but I never expect one, it's not why I do the job. If a family member or patient is less than polite I try to remember they're under a great deal of stress and let it flow by.