Question for nurses that are male...

[NurseLife88]

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?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

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."

[Concerto_in_C, BSN, RN]

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.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

If a male did that in our day and age they'd be lynched and broadcast on every media network.

It's interesting how the double standards tend to work.

I think this is an interesting soap box to step upon, given that woman are seeing their rights systematically and deliberately eroded by the group of old white men with which The Donald surrounds himself. The panel of folks considering "women's issues" is male, and men are controlling our reproductive health.

[Isakolistic]

I know several PPs have already expressed this, but I don't necessarily take offense to anybody calling me a "male nurse" but I'm obviously not going to call myself that. I think it's just unnecessary really, but I'm not one to correct people, because that would take more of my time than I care to spend on it.

[James W.]

I think this is an interesting soap box to step upon, given that woman are seeing their rights systematically and deliberately eroded by the group of old white men with which The Donald surrounds himself. The panel of folks considering "women's issues" is male, and men are controlling our reproductive health.

Welcome to 1984.. ah, 2017..

You do of course realize that 'subservient men' have always been

subject to the whims of those 'robber barons' too, - right?

& for sure, regardless of ethnicity..

At least when women were 'chattels' of their father, or husband..

..they could hold that particular male responsible for their ah, doings..

& lest we forget.. who ought to support the rights of unborn humans?

[AceOfHearts<3]

At least when women were 'chattels' of their father, or husband..

..they could hold that particular male responsible for their ah, doings..

You really think society was progressive enough when women were "chattels" to hold the father or husband responsible?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Welcome to 1984.. ah, 2017..

You do of course realize that 'subservient men' have always been

subject to the whims of those 'robber barons' too, - right?

& for sure, regardless of ethnicity..

At least when women were 'chattels' of their father, or husband..

..they could hold that particular male responsible for their ah, doings..

& lest we forget.. who ought to support the rights of unborn humans?

It's rather difficult for me to get worked up over the rights of "subservient males" when women's rights are being systematically torn away -- even from women who are trying to exercise their rights. It is now legal NOT to pay women equally for the same work -- not that women ever have been paid equally for the same work. What are we up to now -- 82 cents for every dollar that men make?

"Protecting unborn humans" is the job (and the right) of the woman whose uterus it happens to be occupying. If you don't believe in abortion; don't have one. And if you aren't having an abortion only because you don't have a uterus, then it is none of your business unless you put the unborn human into that uterus with consensual sex and without stealth. In that case, you have long, honest discussions with the woman who owns the uterus that is holding your child -- and if she decides she wants an abortion anyway, it's her right. At least now it is, before the Orange One and his collection of old white men take away that right.

As far as women who are chattel and the men who "own" them being responsible for their transgressions? Bull pucky. Or why do we have women being stoned to death, shunned, burned alive for the crime of having been raped?

Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them.

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

Personally, I don't give a rip what they call me as long as my employer keeps paying me.

That said, I do think the distinction is irrelevant, unique, and rare.

It is irrelevant because my Y chromosomes have no impact on my nursing judgment and skill.

It is unique because I truly can't think of another role where gender (nor race nor orientation nor anything else) is considered appropriate to use as an adjective.

It is rare. Every once in a great while some older person, generally a lady, will make mention of me being a "male nurse" but the last time was months ago.

[GrumpyRN, NP]

Davey... You are a bit of a worry sometimes.

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

No, I have patients not clients.

I am a nurse. My politics, partner, food preferences, religion, shoe size, and privates are not relevant to my job.

BTW, when I see the word murse I think male purse. I don't have a mursing license and don't answer to the State Board of Mursing.

Totally agree, Murse is very much an American word - I never hear it in the UK.

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

No, I am Grumpy.

My answer to the OP is when asked what I do I say "nurse" because that is my job and that is what is on my job description, contract of employment and my qualifications. Gender is irrelevant. Plus, I am balding and have a beard - fairly obvious I am male.

[Steven.RN]

Just sharing a story. I was in a room with 2 older female patients that I had just met that day. I was making the standard introductions and letting them know about care, and one of the ladies said "..So...you're a male Nurse?" I gave a confused look, then pulled my scrub top forward and looked down inside, and said "..seems so..."- all three of us broke out into laughs and guffaws, t'was hilarious.

It is somewhat unfamiliar to some, but I think in the last 10 years it's just becoming more and more commonplace for patients to not have a reaction like it's not unusual or unexpected to have their nurse be male.

One unit I worked on, at night there was just me as the RN and I a male LPN regularly on duty, and that was notable to some patients, to have only male nurse care. Even so, we almost never had to call for a "female" nurse to provide care for a patient.

Whenever care involved something potentially embarrassing or questionable, we would offer to have a female nurse if desired. Times had to insert a foley for a female patient I would always have a female with me- always wise.

Loved my decade in nursing, mostly Ortho, hospice, and rehab. I'm retired now, exploring all kinds of things.

[dec2007]

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

Sorry, they are patients.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

I find it to be more a generational thing; younger people don't seem to specify "male nurse".