"I didn't want to go into nursing because I didn't want to be labled gay"

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I was talking to a family member today. He is a very nice guy and told me how much he used to want to be a psych nurse many years ago. He told me the reason why he changed his mind is because of the stigma that all male nurses are gay. This guy now knows that he made a very immature decision that he now regrets. I think he would of made an awesome nurse but I guess it's too late to find out now as he is about to retire. I wonder how many other male nurses are afraid to pursue their dream because they don't want it to be assumed that they are gay. :confused:

edit- Labeled.

Specializes in Addiction / Pain Management.

I'm a 41 male very hetero. I haven't gotten "Gaylord Focker" but I've got some one-liners waiting in reserve for this occasion.

I get "doctor" all the time. I guess due my slightly greying hair.

I also introduced by grandmothers to their unmarried older (late 20's-30's) granddaughters while working in clinicals and sometimes in the grocery store.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.
I was talking to a family member today. He is a very nice guy and told me how much he used to want to be a psych nurse many years ago. He told me the reason why he changed his mind is because of the stigma that all male nurses are gay.

Gay use to be such a "happy" word. Like heroine...

Along that definition I guess I'm a male nurse that is "gay".

I'm really "happy" with my job, my profession, and my station... I'm also straight as an arrow and can handle the stigma. Sucks for your friend.

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I see where the OP's family memeber was coming from cause where I live the stereotype is kinda true. There is a bigger proportion of gay males than in other careers that I know of. About half of the male nurses I know are gay. That's alot. I don't find half the policemen I know to be gay or anything like that. Maybe it is because people encourage their staight sons to be doctor, I don't know.

Anyway, I think the more staight male nurse the get into the field the more the stigma will go away. Things are changing. I don't think it is as bad now as it was when the OP's family member was think about getting into nursing. So that's good.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
i'm a 41 male very hetero. i haven't gotten "gaylord focker" but i've got some one-liners waiting in reserve for this occasion.

i get "doctor" all the time. i guess due my slightly greying hair.

i also introduced by grandmothers to their unmarried older (late 20's-30's) granddaughters while working in clinicals and sometimes in the grocery store.

i'm 31 and single (also known as "unmarried").

ouch.

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I was talking to a family member today. He is a very nice guy and told me how much he used to want to be a psych nurse many years ago. He told me the reason why he changed his mind is because of the stigma that all male nurses are gay. This guy now knows that he made a very immature decision that he now regrets. I think he would of made an awesome nurse but I guess it's too late to find out now as he is about to retire. I wonder how many other male nurses are afraid to pursue their dream because they don't want it to be assumed that they are gay. :confused:

edit- Labeled.

If they are ALREADY male nurses than apparently some vague stigma did not prevent them from reaching thier goal. If they aren't in school, they should Google "men in nursing". There is even an organization for them! It sounds like there might be a guy out there that should tell his family to shut up, and go do his thing. I lived with and graduated with many fine men 32 years ago, and no one thought it odd at all. We welcomed them as partners who had a unique perspective on a profession that was female dominated for many years; and they DID have an effect!

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That's funny... I became a (male) nurse because I wanted to wear an outfit like the nurse in "One Flew Over the Coo Coo's Nest" .

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Just kidding.. BTW, I am gay and a male nurse and Most of the male nurses I work with are straight.. It doesn't bother me.. I don't think they will "turn" me straight.. :)

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Oh.. just one more thing.... There's nothing wrong with being "gay"...

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Specializes in Psych, Derm,Eye,Ortho,Prison,Surg,Med,.

We have more than our share of gay men and women in the nursing profession, but what has that got to do with how we perform in our duties? Who needs to know when you are caring for a patient what your sexual orientation is? It's realy no one's business, and if you keep your personal business to yourself, no one needs to know anything about your sex life.

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Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
Oh.. just one more thing.... There's nothing wrong with being "gay"...

Well said. This is not the only thread where being gay or being thought gay has been referred to as a "stigma" (yawn).

It's can sometimes at most be a minor annoyance when people think you're something you're not. Even then I don't see the big deal if someone thinks you're gay. If you're comfortable in your skin, you really don't care what others think.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, nursing admin, med/surg, flight.

Why are we even bringing up sexual orientation? This is the problem with the nursing profession- people who pass judgment enter it! lol. How about lets all go to work and enjoy our jobs, and not worry about what people think about us and lets not profile people;) If you are concerned that you are going to be profiled as being gay by becoming a nurse then you are evidently not confortable with yourself and sexuality, so perhaps you should become more familiar with yourself before you try to become a nursing professional.

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Specializes in ED.

as all that know me know im a hetero male in touch with his feminine side...( im very proud of my pink sharpie-- no one has stole it , mission accomplished) as i told my medics back in the day. i dont care if you are straight gay or only love yourself, as long as you do your job i could care less. in the big picture only thing that matters is if you can perform..

being short and lacking a sport gene doesnt help with stereotypes but F it. who cares, it was this or stylist, i'm here for the great female to male ratio, and sharp objects

peace out

brett

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