Question for nurses that are male...

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So I'm an avid reader of corny advice columns, just can't seem to get enough lol. Stumbled across a column this week. A nurse wrote in regarding some problems his wife had with his career choice as an RN. The part of this that stood out was he identified himself as a Nurse who is male and not a "male nurse" because he found that term to be offensive. I had never thought much about the term male nurse and didn't realize it could be construed as offensive to some men. Now I am curious as to how you nurses that are men like to be identified and/or how you identify yourself. I realize we don't say she is woman nurse so I got to thinking why it is many of say he is a male nurse, instead of just being a nurse. What do you think?

Specializes in ICU + 25 years as Nursing Faculty.

Hmm... 35 years in this business. I guess that makes me grumpy.

I am a nurse.

If you add unnecessary modifiers, it doesn't harm me... but it makes you look foolish. We have plenty of fools in this business. There is no need for you to add more foolishness to the mix.

"Murse"? PLEASE tell me that that is a typo. :no:

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Specializes in Vascular Access.

We had a patient yesterday that was having some problems. I was asked to go start her IV. In the meantime her primary nurse, CNA, and respiratory therapist were all male and all present in her room. She takes a look at all of us and comments how nice it is to have so many men taking care of her. She also stated earlier in her life there were nearly no men in our profession and she really appreciates us taking great care of her.

I thought that was a nice comment.

To comment on the original question, no. I don't take offense at all. I think eventually the tendency to describe the male will fade as most things do when it comes to these issues. I have never been referred to as a "murse." I have a busy day and don't much care about how people describe me. I can think of much worse descriptors. And if I'm asked what I do for a living, I'm a registered nurse.

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I don't get offended by it, but I can see why others might. I don't think many people use the term "male nurse" in a derogatory way. Our society just has a stigma to it that males belong in certain professions and females in others. But I'd never call someone a "female cop" or "female firefighter". I just have more important things to worry about in the workplace other than what someone refers to me as.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

I've not really thought that this was an issue. I mean, I'm not offended when people refer to me as a male nurse, but it seems redundant. Anyone who meets me in the clinical setting can see that I'm male and wear a badge that identifies me as an RN. Outside of the clinical setting, if asked about my occupation, I tell the questioner that I'm a nurse.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections.
I don't take offense to it. It's like nursing school telling me the patients are no longer patients, they're clients.

haha...they told us that too...I tried it for one day( maybe even for one patient?), and it felt so absurd, and then I realized that no one else is saying this.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections.

when I hear this, I sometimes think: 'correct....I'm not a female. thanks for clarifying publicly to the world for me.'

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Sorry, i'm a rule-breaker!!!

No, I'm not male. But I think this is an interesting idea and am curious what the men-folk say.

Recently, my 80 YO grandmother was sharing family photos (her two brothers have both had large health issues the last 2 years and while sharing pics of her nieces/nephews it was interesting to see her say "and John's son Jim is... uh, is a... he's a male nurse." She wasn't being rude or condescending, in my opinion, but just was intriguing, the way she paused, hemmed & hawed while trying to spit it out.

(her two brothers are also both doctors: Neurosurgeon and veterinarian. And she was (in her words) 'just a cafeteria worker for the school'... I know it's the age thing and times have changed, but I'm curious to see other replies...

Just a cafeteria worker, huh? And if you didn't go to work, someone would be hungry. Or a teacher or Principal or secretary might have to jump in and do your lowly cafeteria work.

I have always believed that no one would pay someone else to do a non-necessary job, however humble, however low the pay.

Just a nurse here, who happens to have more testosterone than the other stuff, LOL. Yes, it was pretty unusual a few decades ago, although nurses used to be monks before the majority of nurses were women. History is so interesting and enlightening.

And your GM's brothers should and likely do appreciate nurses and vet assistants of whatever gender. Here's hoping they are on the mend.

maybe you can still get GM to have a more modern view of gender and her own work.

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Hmm... 35 years in this business. I guess that makes me grumpy.

I am a nurse.

If you add unnecessary modifiers, it doesn't harm me... but it makes you look foolish. We have plenty of fools in this business. There is no need for you to add more foolishness to the mix.

"Murse"? PLEASE tell me that that is a typo. :no:

I love your name, Dude.

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Although I do see the need in today's society that calling yourself a "male nurse" helps people know which sex you are self-identifying with.

:laugh: OMG, yes!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry/ICU Stepdown.
Dude, I usually like male nurses because they are generally considerate and not the idiots you would find in the general population. You on the other hand need to find another profession or move away from patient care. What business is it of yours re pts expectations? Did someone make you judger in chief? You need to glean your satisfaction from performing your job well. What do you think about genetically inherited illnesses? I hope you are a stoner because you sound seriously frustrated. Do not visit any post offices in the near future.

LOL, you are the one who is a candidate for a new profession. Look at the anger in your reply. Thanks for your advice. I wish I made it past your first sentence but I lost interest.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
So I'm an avid reader of corny advice columns, just can't seem to get enough lol. Stumbled across a column this week. A nurse wrote in regarding some problems his wife had with his career choice as an RN. The part of this that stood out was he identified himself as a Nurse who is male and not a "male nurse" because he found that term to be offensive. I had never thought much about the term male nurse and didn't realize it could be construed as offensive to some men. Now I am curious as to how you nurses that are men like to be identified and/or how you identify yourself. I realize we don't say she is woman nurse so I got to thinking why it is many of say he is a male nurse, instead of just being a nurse. What do you think?

I think it's a lot like being "the female engineer," "the lawyer in skirts," "the lady cop" (or the cruder "Dickless Tracy") or "the female doctor."

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry/ICU Stepdown.
Maybe I'm a bit of a hypocrite. I roll my eyes and sigh when I hear someone refer to a "male nurse." It annoys me because I know nurses who are men get annoyed by it. However, when I hear a little old man refer to the "lady doctor" who came in and talked to him this morning...my claws (or at least my claw eyes) come out. They get THE LOOK.

They patronize us to make us feel better but in their eyes we are dudes who weren't manly enough to hack medical school. Hence the awkward naming rules.

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