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?

I'm a male nurse. I don't mind being called a male nurse, murse, or even jokingly a mursenary. I even get called "ma'am" by accident. None of those are offensive or even annoying to me. I accept that historically nurses were women and there are still very much embedded stereotypes that male nurses are generally female.

I'm still respected by nurses, physicians/PA/NP, patients, etc. Many patients ask me if I'm a doctor. Of course I am obligated to correct them and tell them I'm a nurse but none of the aforementioned bother me.

Actually, being a male nurse is awesome. You get to avoid most of the politics and gossip, at least in the hospital. So I really don't care what people call me or even think of me being a nurse, and I really don't have the time or energy to care about such things, at least in a negative way.

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I use the term nurse unless clarification is needed. Then I might say. The male nurse or the blonde nurse or the happy nurse. It can be a description to narrow it down to an individual. Why would it need to be stated otherwise? If I tell you that my uncle Bob is a nurse. I would assume you would realize he is male. Why would I say my uncle Bob is a male nurse?

Who made up murse? And why?

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I'm a male nurse. I don't mind being called a male nurse, murse, or even jokingly a mursenary. I even get called "ma'am" by accident. None of those are offensive or even annoying to me. I accept that historically nurses were women and there are still very much embedded stereotypes that male nurses are generally female.

I'm still respected by nurses, physicians/PA/NP, patients, etc. Many patients ask me if I'm a doctor. Of course I am obligated to correct them and tell them I'm a nurse but none of the aforementioned bother me.

Actually, being a male nurse is awesome. You get to avoid most of the politics and gossip, at least in the hospital. So I really don't care what people call me or even think of me being a nurse, and I really don't have the time or energy to care about such things, at least in a negative way.

LOVE this response!

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I ws speaking to the guys. But thanks.

Maybe that is the problem, you are speaking at an arbitrary minority group?

Maybe we as nurses should look beyond minority groups and just see each other as the professional nurses we are?

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Just using the word "feminazi" tells me a lot about the poster -- and nothing good.

Judgemental much?

'Feminazis' are people too, y'know..

Its not that I'd conflate personal dislike..

. with rejection of corrupt political motives..

..that'd be emotionally retarded..

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.
Well, no, but men are (infrequently) asked to perform certain tasks based on their gender. So? After thousands of years of male privilege, you don't have much to complain about.

In 7 years, I can only think of a handful times that I've been asked to switch with a gal... and most of 'em due to douchebags making inappropriate comments and, yeah, a couple of times with an infectious case and the nurse being pregnant. In a couple of other cases, I demanded the change... old-school chivalry, I guess, from a guy old enough to have watched Apollo 11 on live TV.

I've also insisted on stepping in with the combative patients because my better musculature makes it somewhat harder to injure me and, like most guys, I grew up wrassling with my friends, playing football, having BB gun and slingshot fights... it's just a little tougher to land a clean blow on me than on a lot of gals who didn't grow up with brothers :-)

I don't know about the male privilege thing -- I've had to claw for everything I've got -- but I absolutely endorse making appropriate changes (and yeah, I ask the gals to do most of the female caths).

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

Hadn't thought of this re: this thread until now, for some reason. A very strange resident in my LTC facility (not one of 'mine') stopped me once and said in her equally strange voice, as she looked at my badge: "Reg-is-tered Nurse?". I said "uh-huh". She said "But you-are-not-a WOMAN!". Ha ha. I think I just said 'uh-huh' again and kept moving.

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Well, no, but men are (infrequently) asked to perform certain tasks based on their gender. So? After thousands of years of male privilege, you don't have much to complain about.

"Thousands of years?"

I knew women had longer life expectancy,

but surely, its ~ a century, tops..

Seriously though, that life expectancy thing..

.. is partly due to men working in jobs that kill them..

& for "thousands of years" those men who weren't

sufficiently accorded "male privilege" were often

sent by those who did, - to face killing - in war..

Only if they failed to kill enough of their fellow sex,

were "their" women* sometimes subject to similar

such horrors..

* along with the "male privilege" recipients.

So much for herstory...

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Specializes in Family Practice, ER, Tele, ICU.

I think there are a few things to consider. First, is the setting, if I'm at work I simply say "I'll be your nurse". It's pretty obvious I'm a male. Second, if someone asks outside of work I say "I'm an RN". Lastly, I think the particular person's age plays a role. Older folks are just more familiar with female nurses. Younger generations have grown up with male and female nurses, and are more used to male nurses, and are therefor not as intrigued or perplexed by the scenario of having a male nurse.

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Maybe that is the problem, you are speaking at an arbitrary minority group?

Maybe we as nurses should look beyond minority groups and just see each other as the professional nurses we are?

I do.

When the word Feminazi comes up, I know I am dealing with someone who is boohooing about entitlement.

He's made it clear that I don't speak for him. I don't.

Let it go.

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Judgemental much?

'Feminazis' are people too, y'know..

Its not that I'd conflate personal dislike..

. with rejection of corrupt political motives..

..that'd be emotionally retarded..

Personal dislike? No.

Who ARE you?

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"Thousands of years?"

I knew women had longer life expectancy,

but surely, its ~ a century, tops..

Seriously though, that life expectancy thing..

.. is partly due to men working in jobs that kill them..

& for "thousands of years" those men who weren't

sufficiently accorded "male privilege" were often

sent by those who did, - to face killing - in war..

Only if they failed to kill enough of their fellow sex,

were "their" women* sometimes subject to similar

such horrors..

* along with the "male privilege" recipients.

So much for herstory...

English, please. Herstory sounds great, if it was readable. Thanks!

(Not being toooo sarcastic, I really am interested in this.)

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