Very respectful for a man to be anurse

Published

I think it shows overall compassion and caring- something ALOT of men lack-especially the ones who make fun of male nurses. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Trauma.
I think it shows overall compassion and caring- something ALOT of men lack-especially the ones who make fun of male nurses. :)
Dude, I've always offered my friends when they make un needed wise cracks to survive even a half-shift in the hospital.

They always back off making excuses ;)

I don't mind a degree of wisecracking - I give it back as good as it gets. Besides, it'd get a little boring otherwise :p

I know that what I do, I do well enough and that it has a direct effect on the life, health and well being of a human being.

How many of those jokers can say that? ;) Not too many :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My first job was in the Navy. I liked working side by side with men and think it would be great to have more men in the job. The chemistry with majority male staff was terrific. I hope I don't sound like I'm stereotyping but perhaps guys do "team" stuff way better than we do. (Now I'm going to get it from my fellow females. We ladies can and DO make good teams. I just think it's in guy's DNA. Something on the Y chromosome. Watch them. They get together... they're an instant team. We get together... we're a gaggle.) Am I wrong here?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

I've been a male RN for 12 yrs.

In the beginning, I'd get 'the look' - somewhere in the conversation I'd mention wife (divorced now though) and/or kids and 'the look' would change.

I don't get that look anymore. Men in nursing is becoming more accepted.

I've never been discriminated against. My teammates and I do tend to juggle some patients (e.g. young female suicide watch patients -- best to avoid fending off a complaint from somebody already pre-disposed to emotional problems) -- but on the other side: I tend to get more of the 220lb 6'2" ETOH withdrawal males - so balances out.

Women CAN be catty towards each other sometimes. Hey I work w/ women, I'm entitled to say!!! That's another advantage: my co-workers kid me alot cause more often than not, if I interject into a conversation, it's to say 'BE NICE!'

I also find that if I'm on duty w/ say, 3 women, that I tend to get asked to help turn patients, etc. by all 3: but that's cool.

Doctors respect me more --- I'm just saying!!!!! I can remember my first week of nursing school when I didn't know squat and some doc asked me a question and I didn't even know what he was asking -- when my Master's trained instructor tried to answer, he gave her an icy stare and responded, "I didn't ask you!" It's sad but a fact (although I'd like to think that some of the respect I get is that I don't call in the middle of the night for BS -- if I'm calling, the docs tend to know from previous experience that maybe, just maybe, they should pay attn). I tend to be the one that makes 3 am phone calls for everybody (but that might not just be a guy thing -- deep down, I LIKE WAKING UP DOCS! - OH and especially the rude ones; you ladies think of that as a chore, but it's oh so satisfying - and it doesn't take a doctor's review board because the chief of staff was woke up at 2am because you ordered "don't call me back regardless" to make a doc think more than twice before being a jerk the next time. LOL).

I can remember an older lady telling me awhile back: 'I like you men nurses; to the women, i'm just another patient - but y'all always treat me like I'm your grandmother'

I haven't been given too much grief about nursing and when I do get grief, my response is not rude but also not polite: I point out to so-and-so jerk that (and more often than not it's true) I make more money then he does. So who gets last laugh!

Anyway, until I make my millions, this job is just fine, and besides, I'm very good at it.

~faith.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sounds like you and I would be a good team, I call the M.D.s at 3 a.m. too, but only if necessary of course. :rotfl: It's a great asset to have a male nurse on your team, especially with the ETOH withdrawals. I know it makes you feel good for those little old ladies to say things like that, and they do to me too, eventhough I am a woman, I treat all my patients special, and why should'nt we? If ppl can't they are in the wrong profession. Yeah you get some patients that are a little demanding and obnoxious, but well, they are ppl too. If everyone would remember the golden rule, life and work would be so much more satisfying. :) :) :) And yes Dr.s do respect male nurses too, but I think it has to do with proving your abilities and most female nurses are weak when it comes to interacting in an effective manner with the docs. Have a good night :) :) :)

I've been a male RN for 12 yrs.

In the beginning, I'd get 'the look' - somewhere in the conversation I'd mention wife (divorced now though) and/or kids and 'the look' would change.

I don't get that look anymore. Men in nursing is becoming more accepted.

I've never been discriminated against. My teammates and I do tend to juggle some patients (e.g. young female suicide watch patients -- best to avoid fending off a complaint from somebody already pre-disposed to emotional problems) -- but on the other side: I tend to get more of the 220lb 6'2" ETOH withdrawal males - so balances out.

Women CAN be catty towards each other sometimes. Hey I work w/ women, I'm entitled to say!!! That's another advantage: my co-workers kid me alot cause more often than not, if I interject into a conversation, it's to say 'BE NICE!'

I also find that if I'm on duty w/ say, 3 women, that I tend to get asked to help turn patients, etc. by all 3: but that's cool.

Doctors respect me more --- I'm just saying!!!!! I can remember my first week of nursing school when I didn't know squat and some doc asked me a question and I didn't even know what he was asking -- when my Master's trained instructor tried to answer, he gave her an icy stare and responded, "I didn't ask you!" It's sad but a fact (although I'd like to think that some of the respect I get is that I don't call in the middle of the night for BS -- if I'm calling, the docs tend to know from previous experience that maybe, just maybe, they should pay attn). I tend to be the one that makes 3 am phone calls for everybody (but that might not just be a guy thing -- deep down, I LIKE WAKING UP DOCS! - OH and especially the rude ones; you ladies think of that as a chore, but it's oh so satisfying - and it doesn't take a doctor's review board because the chief of staff was woke up at 2am because you ordered "don't call me back regardless" to make a doc think more than twice before being a jerk the next time. LOL).

I can remember an older lady telling me awhile back: 'I like you men nurses; to the women, i'm just another patient - but y'all always treat me like I'm your grandmother'

I haven't been given too much grief about nursing and when I do get grief, my response is not rude but also not polite: I point out to so-and-so jerk that (and more often than not it's true) I make more money then he does. So who gets last laugh!

Anyway, until I make my millions, this job is just fine, and besides, I'm very good at it.

~faith.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As a new member on this site..I see now that there is nothing wrong or socially umcommon about male nurses.

I am hoping to begin my courses in Jan or no later than summer '06

THIS SITE IS THE BEST!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

I took over a patient and was reading on her profile she was a rape victum (she had other trauma which was why she was inpatient). I asked the charge nurse if it was approriate for me and a male CNA to care for her. Turns out she had a male nurse the shift prior and the patient later said, "I like male nurses, you guys have done more for me than the female nurses ever did, the female nurses left me all bloody and dirty.".

We make the female nurses look bad. j/k

I don't agree that males lack compassion and caring. But there is a significant lack of males that are able to express that, want to express that, or are even capable of expressing that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it takes a man who is confident with his sexuality to become a nurse. I admire male nurses. And they're nice to have when psychiatric patients get out of hand.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I've been a male RN for 12 yrs.

In the beginning, I'd get 'the look' - somewhere in the conversation I'd mention wife (divorced now though) and/or kids and 'the look' would change.

I don't get that look anymore. Men in nursing is becoming more accepted.

This got me thinking... what happen if you are a nurse, male, never married, always single, not in any kind of a relationships, not looking for any kind of relationships, no kids, but as "straight" as they can come?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it takes a lot of guts and compassion for ANYONE to be a nurse, regardless of gender.

As for the tired old subject of male nurses --- does anyone really even notice that a nurse is a woman or a man anymore???? I mean, nurses who are men are everywhere & there's nothing spectacular or strange about it. I've worked with countless nurses who are men, just as there are so many young, female docs now. Isn't all this becoming more the norm all over the US now?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This got me thinking... what happen if you are a nurse, male, never married, always single, not in any kind of a relationships, not looking for any kind of relationships, no kids, but as "straight" as they can come?

What exactly are you trying to point out here? I work with lots of "straight" single male nurses -- why is this strange to you? In fact, I can't recall a single gay male nurse that I've ever worked with, not that it would matter at all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What exactly are you trying to point out here? I work with lots of "straight" single male nurses -- why is this strange to you? In fact, I can't recall a single gay male nurse that I've ever worked with, not that it would matter at all.

I was responding to ZASHAGALKA post. His post was saying some people think he is gay because he is a nurse until he start mentioning he had a wife and so on. My thought is what happen if you are none of these these and you are a male nurse and you are straight? You can't say anything as far as I can tell and just bear it.

-Dan

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion