Stereotyping Male Nurses

Nursing Students Male Students

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I understand that women are supposed to be the loving and caring type, but why do people think men can't be that way? I know the general view of a man is supposed to be masculine, strong, confident, etc., but why do we get stereotyped as gay or different by the general public? It just doesn't make sense to me.

Male nurses get paid more than female nurses. So, it kind of makes me jealous that I am not a male nurse. Anyways most male nurses eventually get sick of the stereotype and get their masters or become nurse practitioners. ;)

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.

Idk, I have always been praised for being a male nursing student. Anyone who has had family members in the hospital can always understand. I would say on average there are more men who do nursing because they enjoy it rather than financial reasons vs females.

I make male nurse jokes, I laugh at the jokes. I honestly believe it is a very distinguished job regardless of the work we may have to do.

Anyone who wants to challenge my masculinity or my choice as a profession can bite me.

"How is your job changing people's lives?"

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
Because generally, men who are nurses were gay. It's only recently changed within the last twenty or so years where there's now a pretty even ratio of straight to gay men.

I've been a nurse in Chicago, for 30 years, where we have a significant gay population. Your theory couldn't be more wrong. While some may have wondered about my sexual preference, and I got teased by a few family members, it was all a false stereotype.

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My nursing school is roughly 30% male students. Of these students I have met one gay man. That is just my experience.

As far as stereotypes I imagine that just matters were you live. I live in the inner city and everyone I talk to loves the idea of males entering the nursing field. My family and friends ask how my girlfriend puts up with my career choice (being surrounded by mostly women in the clinical setting).

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My friends razzed me a bit (I have a lot of military friends who are in the macho jobs, tanks...infantry etc) but they all come to me when they have medical questions and realize how great it is to be around women all the time (well sometimes..) and the awesome pay.

Only ONCE did I have a girl that I met at a bar give me a legitimate hard time about being a nurse. But hell she wasn't even attractive which I made well known after her little jab :troll:. I wasn't going to let her leave scot free.

The public is coming around and people don't even flinch when I tell them.

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As a mid 20s male nurse, never was an issue during or after school. Shoot being a minority ain't bad. That's how I met my gf and individually were both pretty well off and more then comfortable. The bros never bagged on me, in fact they are envious considering my pay, time off etc.

Jokes aside, we do have gay nurses on the unit(males make up about 50percent), and you see the whole spectrum of strengths and weaknesses and sexuality is not a factor.

Honestly, a nurse is just another title. Times are changing yeah, but to say that most male nurses are gay is an ill statement. But who cares? It's a job, and a pretty good one. Anyways, I rather work with my gay brothers then the lady's sometime haha.

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Male nurses get paid more than female nurses. So it kind of makes me jealous that I am not a male nurse. Anyways most male nurses eventually get sick of the stereotype and get their masters or become nurse practitioners. ;)[/quote']

Not where I'm from.

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.
My friends razzed me a bit (I have a lot of military friends who are in the macho jobs, tanks...infantry etc) but they all come to me when they have medical questions and realize how great it is to be around women all the time (well sometimes..) and the awesome pay.

Only ONCE did I have a girl that I met at a bar give me a legitimate hard time about being a nurse. But hell she wasn't even attractive which I made well known after her little jab :troll:. I wasn't going to let her leave scot free.

The public is coming around and people don't even flinch when I tell them.

This reminds me.

I went to a bar when I was a lvl 1 student, some medical helicopter pilot asked what I was doing and I said nursing student. He said his 3 sisters were nurses and I was a "bad ass" for going to school to be one.

He spent the rest of the night trying to get me laid. Nothing happened, I just thought it was funny. LOL

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love having male nurses on the floor! We need more murses! :)

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.

Walt Whitman was a nurse during the Civil War. That is all.

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love having male nurses on the floor! We need more murses! :)

Yeah I'm in nursing school. Being a male, I was scared about all the stereotypes... but all the girls always compliment me about how wonderful male nurses are. I've never heard of anything negative come out against us.

It seems like the current male nurses working in the field are putting a good word for us ;) Good job for them and thanks!!

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Specializes in Hospice.

When a patient is crashing I don't care if you're female, male, gay, straight, or bi-sexual as long as you know what you are doing.

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