So how does it feel like to be a male nurse

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So i just started my college one week ago. Even though I already picked my major( Health science which i dont know exactly what that does), i started thinking about switching my major to nurse which i've thought about since this May.

I am a guy in my 18 and I am wondering how it feels to be a male nurse(I think it might seem awkward for those none-male nurse but i think it will be cool) and do we do anything different than regular female nurse. I mean it would be awkward if we have to take care of a female patient.

and I would also like to have some advice as a male nurse.

Thanks a lot for commenting!

There's worse stuff you can do than wiping ass... Not sure exactly what off the top of my head, but there has to be. Oh yeah, how about going to prison and... C, way worse!

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Specializes in CVICU.
There's worse stuff you can do than wiping ass... Not sure exactly what off the top of my head, but there has to be. Oh yeah, how about going to prison and... C, way worse!

I can think of several. 1) Working outside in 100F+ weather in the summer humidity on a seemingly endless oil pipeline. 2) Working on the side of the building trying to waterproof it with your supervisor yelling up at you about how little your team has gotten done that day. 3) Being a salaried software engineer and working at the office from 8-5 then going home and continuing to work until midnight (with work at 8am the next morning) because you have a project that's due in an impossibly short amount of time

Just the tip of the iceberg haha

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Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

Actually I will say we are treated differently in the field, at least I feel as though we are. Many of the male physicians are more joking around me, give me their personal cell phone number should I have to reach them (female nurses on the floor have been trying to get them for years), and they trust my opinions more. This is not true with all, but at least for me I feel its different, similar to the "men's club" thats not supposed to exist. Some of the patients dont see a male being their nurse, but it takes time to earn their trust, and some of the female physicians will find it unusual, but you cant let it get to you. Many of the administrators actually enjoy male nurses as for them it shows diversity.

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Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.

There isn't much difference but it's there. You do the same job but maybe more lifting and turning patients, which I don't mind.

Other than that you are expected to perform the same tasks as any rn, gender is not an issue for you as a rn even if it is one for the patient. What this means is that you are expected to perform the same level of care to any patients. You do not get to say I'm uncomfortable because you're female, patient care comes first.

Now that it's out of the way,I Will say that the patient can care about gender. If they are uncomfortable with a male nurse it is their prerogative to request a female one.

I will say that I find it frustrating that patients do some times feel uncomfortable with male nurses, but magically have no issue with a male doctor. It's like they put doctors on a pedestal that makes them revered enough to see them "undignified"

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Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.

And I will say that do not listen to those who say nursing is a bad career. The only thing I agree with that poster is to do your research. Make sure nursing is what you want to do and that you know what it entails. It is a tough job and compensation may not reflect the amount of work and care you provide but it can still be very rewarding if it is what you're passionate about.

Take it from that poster and research the market on nursing lest you end up like him and hate it. Above all be realistic, nursing is hard to break in and it's tough with, but if it's what you want to do then you shouldn't hold such enmity towards it.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Male ER nurse here. Sometimes we have all male crews, that sucks because we can't accommodate the female patient that wants a female nurse. But, it tells you how far men in nursing have come.

Male nurses don't really do much differently than their female counterparts, I'd say I do most of the male foleys and the female nurses will usually do my female pt's foleys. I'd say on most shifts, I end up trading one task or something with a female RN to accommodate a patient. It's actually hard to estimate because in the ER we always work as a team anyway, so I'm often picking up tasks for my colleagues and they do for me in return.

As for treated differently, the docs I work with treat each person based on their skills, I've never had a doc/provider treat me differently because I'm a guy. If the RN shows knowledge and is looking out for their patients, the providers will work with them. If the RN is a dufus, male or female, well, they will not get much out of the provider.

Sometimes patients will treat you like a provider, which will **** off the female providers. It can actually be quite funny when a female provider tells the patient they need to do x, and the patient turns to you (after you and the provider have told the patient that you are the nurse and she is the provider) and asks "What do you think doc?" I usually try to head this off by leaving the room when I see that the patient is going to keep thinking I'm the provider.

In short, it's a good career, with a lot of flexibility in where you will end up, and if you like caring for patients, do it, work hard at it, and learn as much as you can. You can go far, and there is very little stigma related to being a male nurse.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

Being a male is no problem, and you'll learn that a lot of higher acuity units are predominantly male staff. Going through nursing school, I was one of 6 men in a class of 48. 8 years later I work on a unit that is 60% staffed by males. Our management is male, 5/6 charge nurses are male, and some nights, every single staff nurse is male. In my grad program where I am wrapping up my FNP this semester, half the class is also male. Don't let gender scare you away.

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Being a part of something that many years ago almost seemed taboo but now it's different and is a great experience. It has been for me.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

First if you become a nurse don't call yourself a "male nurse". It makes you sound stupid and ignorant. It is a very serious profession and not a joke. You would be a nurse.

I have been a nurse since 2006. I like it. What else do you want to know?

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It's only awkward taking care of a female patient if you make it that way. I treat my male and female patients the same, with respect. To me when I'm in a healthcare setting a lady parts is just differentiated tissue. When I catheterize someone, I'm thinking about the processes of performing my task, anatomical landmarks such as the urethral meatus, etc. and how to manipulate the anatomy to properly catheterize my patient. In that moment, I'm not thinking "oh my goodness it's a member/lady parts." I'm thinking "let's get this catheter in them to prevent/treat urine retention, postpartum lady partsl bleeding and so on.

I think it would be wise for individuals considering healthcare professions with patient contact to ignore gender and focus on individual personhood.

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I was going to leave my own observation. But after reading everyone's comments. I feel that it has all been said. :cheeky: But I will leave something anyway. :eek: 'Close your eyes. And slide on the ice' (Not sure if I got that quote right. From Dr. Freedmen on Mash)

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OMG....someone else knows that quote :yes:. That's awesome. And it had something to do with pulling down your pants, and slide on the ice. Mash was such a great show!

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