"Medic" to replace the term "nurse"

[stevea]

As a male, the term "nursing" has always been an obstacle to me. The concepts of "nurse" and "nursing" come entirely from the feminine - breast feeding, and wet-nursing. The rather modern concept of a "male nurse" thus carries a self-contradiction that is preserved in the language and the culture.

So it seems quite natural to find that the term "male nurse" carries its typical stigmas, that males are dwarfed by females in pursuing work in the nursing field, and that nurse shortages continue to exist around the world. It seems quite a logical concept to consider changing the common institutional name of the nursing profession itself from "nurse" to the more inclusive "medic."

Such a change is likely to have an positive impact on the nursing field, making it less of a woman's role, and opening it up culturally and socially to young men seeking to be of help in the role of medicine, but whom are not endowed by nature with exclusively feminine capabilities.

Regards,

[mehitabela]

I'm a young man who is eager to become a nurse. I don't want to be a medic, I want to be a nurse. I don't want to be a doctor. I want to be a nurse. I don't want to be a Xtreme Health Care Provider...I want to be a nurse.

I can think of no title I'll be prouder to earn and wear someday.

P.S. Nurse has some etymological roots in a Latin word that means "to nourish" - anybody can help nourish the well-being of another human being, regardless of gender.

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!!

[LPNweezy]

Doctorette or Physicianette sounds like a cute name for a nurse :)

[Neveranurseagain, RN]

From what I read on allnurses,I can foresee a day when nurses will be called Customer Service Reps!

[Motivated grandma]

I think the term "nurse" reflects the nurturing part of the role, and if guys are offended by the term, they might not be such great nurturers, anyway.

Basically, it sounds like "some" guys don't want to lower themselves to call themselves nurses. Ahhh, shucks. Go be a paramedic.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

From what I read on allnurses,I can foresee a day when nurses will be called Customer Service Reps!

I was just going to say medical waiter or waitess.

unfortunately I'm not laughing.

[mehitabela]

On rereading the OP, I find I am a little more than annoyed. You are complaining of men being " dwarfed" in the nursing ranks as if men were entitled to dominate EVERY field! Or as if the wonderful male nurses out there were less than some intangible nursing measurement. If title are more important to you than what you DO....go to medical ( or medic) school....you'll likely fit right in!

I know, I know...that was very snarky of me but it ticked me off!

[sweetnepenthe]

LOL

Now you know how women have felt forever when we are told that "man" includes women and that statues of male military include females.

[JenniferSews]

I think the "stigma" if one exists of male nurses will fade on it's own over the years as more and more men enter the profession. I work with many male nurses and even our more elderly population no longer bat an eye at having a man as a nurse. We don't need a name change, just the continued influx of men who are amazing nurses.

By the way, I can't imagine very many people really know what a wet nurse is anymore. It's certainly not something I ever think of when I think "nurse."

[mehitabela]

Isn't a wet nurse someone who stood too close to an incontinent patient?!

[LPNweezy]

Isn't a wet nurse someone who stood too close to an incontinent patient?!

LOLLLLLLLLLLL :lol2::lol2:

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Medics serve an important function in stabilizing patients in the field. As far as changing the name from nurse will cause more confusion for laypeople. I have worked as a nurse and when people ask me" how does it feel to be a male nurse"? I say I'm a nurse and have been the last twenty three years. Its not all about being cool, its being comfortable in your job. If you want glamour find another field.

just my opinion,

Skip

This is not my joke but want to pass it along, you should say "I wanted to be a female nurse but I wasn't qualified".

[RKpianoman, APRN]

You know the best way to remove some of the "stigma" of being a male nurse? Be professional, do your job better than anyone else, care with all your heart, and be attentive. Even though I'm "only a student", I've already found that few people will question you if you do your job well. And if they do, just do a little education on the history of nursing and how it has its roots largely in monastic orders taking care of those who couldn't take care of themselves.

My EMT friend told me to never call myself a medic. His exact words were "you're not a medic, you're better than me". By no means is a nurse better than a medic, but they have a great deal of respect for the work we do and see themselves as a completely separate section of healthcare.