Stereotyping Male Nurses

[lvansick]

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.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

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.

Here Here!

[KenH]

Who cares what anyone else thinks,If that's the choice and direction you want to go in, then own it.

Be proud and take pride in your profession, no matter what direction you go in.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Full disclosure: Old Bat here - of the female variety.

I disagree with the "male nurses were gay until ~ 20 years ago"...... ludicrous and simply NOT TRUE. That is the ultimate stereotype (irony, huh?). Just about every nation has a long history of male Military medical providers - called by various names, but essentially performed nursing duties. Nurses in the French Foreign Legion (yes, it still exists) are and always have been male. In more distant times, there were many male religious groups that provided nursing care. In the US, the Alexian Brothers (male nurses) founded an entire hospital system (Alexian Brothers // Early History of the Alexian Brothers)

I'm older than dirt & have worked with male nurses throughout my career (primarily in ICU & EmerDept). Sure, I guess some of them may have been gay, but most were just ordinary guys - with wife & kiddos - gender is a non-issue. I've worked with several married couple duos; many worked opposite days to ensure child care coverage. One of the absolute best nurse managers I have ever worked with was a guy who established some wonderful innovations in his Level III nursery.

I'm not saying that you don't have to deal with negative stereotyping, but sexual preference should not be the most significant. Instead, you need to take action to prevent yourself being used as a human lifting device. Don't let anyone take advantage of you in that way - back injuries are a very real consequence.

We love ya!

Another old bat here -- and I respectfully disagree. While you are correct about the military and the Alexian Brothers, most of the male nurses I worked with 25 or 30 years ago were gay. Many of them were former seminarians, but they were also gay. I worked in the midwest, the east coast and the west coast during that time frame, and it wasn't until 25-30 years ago that straight men started trickling into nursing. Now, of course, straight and gay men are entering nursing and that's a good thing. But in the early years of my career (nearing 4 decades now), the male nurses and aides I encountered were gay.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Sorry Stephen, but I really can't see where you get that idea from. 25-For all I know you may be right, but my gut feeling is that this is just your own mis-guided / mis-informed take on "history". I think it's more a change in public perception not the demographics.

In my experience, Stephen is correct. I've worked in several hospitals in the midwest, east coast and west coast and the vast majority of the male nurses I encountered were gay until about 25-30 years ago.

[crschreib]

all the men in my class, including myself, are all hetero outdoors men who like working on cars and drinking beer. doing our part to change the stereotype

[sjalv]

all the men in my class, including myself, are all hetero outdoors men who like working on cars and drinking beer. doing our part to change the stereotype

So you're doing your part to change one stereotype but highlighting another? ("..who like working on cars and drinking beer..")

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

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.

If one is not strong and confident in nursing you will get chewed up whether male or female. I used to worry about stereotypes before nursing school, but now that Im here I couldn't care less about the public opinion. Nursing is a tough job and a great place for men to work.

American Assembly for Men in Nursing - AAMN

[mh0712, MSN, RN]

As a young male nurse in my early 20's I have to say I have met tons of male nurses and only two that were gay. Most people think it is awesome I work critical care and have an amazing job like I do. I have two uncles that are male nurses and they are your tall and masculine type- one works med surg and the other actually doesn't practice since he does better doing other work. I just think it is odd that people stereotype make nurses as gay or weird. I think we are awesome and I know a lot of docs who prefer working with us for various reasons. Just had to add that anyone who stereotypes male nurses today as either gay or weird has no knowledge whatsoever of nursing and doesn't know how awesome we are.

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.

I have not experienced the stereotypes which you describe.

all the men in my class, including myself, are all hetero outdoors men who like working on cars and drinking beer. doing our part to change the stereotype

I like the outdoors but absolutely detest working on cars... I'll do it out of necessity but would far rather work an OT shift in order to pay somebody else to wrench on my car.

A really good beer now and then, sure...

If I fit any stereotype, it's probably 'computer geek.'

[NuGuyNurse2b]

I'm a gay male so I definitely fit the stereotype. My biggest surprise though has been that all of my fellow male students (and there were very few of us) have not shown any kind of prejudice towards me. They're not embracing it, but not all that concerned or seem to even care. It's some of the ladies who have been kind of cold towards me, that is surprising.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

As a young male nurse in my early 20's I have to say I have met tons of male nurses and only two that were gay. Most people think it is awesome I work critical care and have an amazing job like I do. I have two uncles that are male nurses and they are your tall and masculine type- one works med surg and the other actually doesn't practice since he does better doing other work. I just think it is odd that people stereotype make nurses as gay or weird. I think we are awesome and I know a lot of docs who prefer working with us for various reasons. Just had to add that anyone who stereotypes male nurses today as either gay or weird has no knowledge whatsoever of nursing and doesn't know how awesome we are.

Or how modest.