I try not to be too sensitive about stuff like this, but it is discouraging that even today people sometimes feel they have to preface the word "nurse" with the word "male," when their nurse happens to be a man. It is discouraging to see a supposedly progressive news organization like Yahoo! continuing to "otherize" us males by using such verbiage:
London (AFP) - A Filipino male nurse was jailed for life with a minimum of 35 years on Tuesday for poisoning 21 patients with insulin at a British hospital, two of whom died. Nurse jailed for life for poisoning patients - Yahoo News
It reminds me of when I was telling my friends and family I was going to nursing school. I remember how my pastor told me, "Do you really want to spend your life being a male nurse?" To which I replied, "No, I want to spend my life being a nurse."
Seriously? What if people called someone a "female doctor" or a "female lawyer?" This is silly.
I remember way back in clinicals at the VA a male veteran asked me if I was gay. I said no, I was married to a woman, etc. He asked to see a picture of her. I obliged. He said okay, you can touch me. Afterwards I felt embarrassed for myself. I should not have to defend my profession or throw my gay colleagues under the bus like that.
I know, flame me or say these are "microaggressions." Maybe you are right. But it is not fair either to our male or female colleagues.
I think it's silly to get offended. We shouldn't let phrases hurt our feelings. However, the mentality that leads to using phrases like "male nurse" or "murse" denigrates the profession. We should seek to prevent the spreading of views that could demerit our profession.
Since 'nursing' is synonymous with breastfeeding, I wonder if this mentality toward male nurses and nursing in general will ever completely change; this begs the question, will nursing as a profession ever be on the same level as medicine in the public's eyes?
If a male ever asks if you are gay (like the example you gave), simply say, "Sorry, I am married, and besides I am straight."
Why on earth would anyone dignify and validate a ridiculous, offensive question like that by actually disclosing any personal info about one's sexual orientation? I can't imagine responding to a question like that with anything other than "That's none of your business" or "I don't discuss my personal life at work."
If a male ever asks if you are gay (like the example you gave), simply say, "Sorry, I am married, and besides I am straight."
Why on earth would anyone dignify and validate a ridiculous, offensive question like that by actually disclosing any personal info about one's sexual orientation? I can't imagine responding to a question like that with anything other than "That's none of your business" or "I don't discuss my personal life at work."
In his defense there was a time not too long ago when being a nurse that just happened to male meant the odds were better than 50/50 that he probably was gay. Off topic but the same held true for other female dominant careers like hairdresser or secretary [now personal assistant thanks to some much needed changes in thinking]. I work with an older population that still holds on to the old prejudices for the most part so I can see where declaring his straightness would probably make taking care of these people more comfortable for them and therefor easier on him.
Not saying it's right, just the way things are when you work with the elderly.
I know the discussion post is about the term "male nurses" but what about the term "female nurses' as well. In my large city here in the States we have all sorts of conventions advertised for "female nurses", scholarships for "female nurses", annual award ceremonies for the best "female nurses" in the city, networking groups for "female nurses" only, etc. Nursing has got to be the only organization that, in my perspective, goes out of its' way to divide and alienate based on gender. I've never seen this in any other occupation where the gender of the person is used as an adjective before the career choice. Does one's anatomy give any sort of advantage to the compassion and work they provide for patients and their families? The answer is a resounding no. I've seen horrible nurses of both sexes and excellent ones as well. But back to my original point, I hate both terms; "male nurses" and "female nurses". We are all NURSES. Quit dividing us.
Older WASP types are usually offended very easily. Their opinions and feelings are more important than everyone else's. I'm not surprised that you're offended. As if any of this really matters. Way to point out my typo though. I accidentally spelled role as "roll." Wow, you're good. I think you deserve some sort of prize.
Holy white Anglo Saxon Protestant.
This thread is about eliminating bias, prejudice and stereotypes. I think you may have missed that point.
As far as the whole murse/male nurse thing...whatever. Can't sweat the petty stuff.
Although just the other day, a family member of a new patient assumed/identified me as the 'orderly', and then proceeded to ask to talk to the nurse.
I told him I'd go get the nurse. I walked out, spun around right in the doorway and came back in and identified myself as the nurse and asked how I could help.
I did it more for my own amusement than anything else. The family member laughed and was amused too when he realized I WAS the nurse. Win-Win.
Facilities are NOT addressing the issue. I do not mean 12 point type on a name tag, I mean color code, big letters. Did you ever see the vests the FBI agents wear as they storm your office? [humor] With lack of any current context, people are going on historical context. Doctors had ties, nurses had caps, orderlies had scrubs. There were no NPs, PAs, MAs, techs, etc. Nurses were women, doctors were men. Patients were half naked wearing what appears to be a towel.....
This is what the patient and visitors see. Unless they are a frequent flier, then they do NOT know who is who.
The "star bellied sneetches" should be required reading for anyone who works in healthcare (especially upper management). If you do not identify yourself, then what do you expect?
I think that a male who is identified as a "nurse" would be seen just as a "nurse," and NOT a "male nurse."
Khaan
58 Posts
I think it's silly to get offended. We shouldn't let phrases hurt our feelings. However, the mentality that leads to using phrases like "male nurse" or "murse" denigrates the profession. We should seek to prevent the spreading of views that could demerit our profession.
Since 'nursing' is synonymous with breastfeeding, I wonder if this mentality toward male nurses and nursing in general will ever completely change; this begs the question, will nursing as a profession ever be on the same level as medicine in the public's eyes?