I am a new nurse, a male nurse, and a recent graduate from nursing school.
Although I have only been in the profession a short time, it is clear to me that the term "nurse" is not politically correct. I know there are people who will argue against this, but that happens whenever people suggest looking for politically correct alternatives. So, the question is, what word will replace "nurse" as a more politically correct job title? It seems that "RN" has the most traction, except that it isn't really a title as much as an acronym. I don't even really know of any other words. Things like "caregiver" seem too general.
I have searched these forums, and found a couple of discussions, but no clear suggestions for real alternatives.
And, for the record, this is why I think the word "nurse" needs to be reimagined:
- The associated definition of nursing as "breastfeeding,"
- The definition of nursing as "to hold closely and carefully or caressingly"
- The definition of nursing as "to hold (a cup or glass) in one's hands, drinking from it occasionally"
- The historical implications of nurses as submissive, non-autonomous, and following a doctors orders. (The changed waiter to server, right? - because their job is to serve food, not wait on customers. Likewise, a nurses job is much more than just to passively sit with patients and "nurse" them while the doctor does all the work.)
- The sterotype of a woman in a white outfit with a cute white hat.
- Most of all, because when I get home from 12 hours of work, I have absolutely no feeling that "I nursed my patients today."
Obviously, much of this resolves around the issue of gender and that nursing is a somewhat gender-biased word, but even for women I don't think nursing really accurately describes what we do each day as RNs (or LPNs for that matter).
The reason that "boys and girls" can not be called that anymore, in the sense of a classroom setting, is due largely to parents who are choosing to raise their children gender neutral. It is the latest and greatest parenting technique. They can, however, be called "children".
Nurse is a noun that describes men, women, transgender people. It is a title. A general term. It is not a verb. What you are describing OP is a bunch of verbs. Which in the English language can have multiple uses.
I don't know of many nurses who say "well, I am off to go nurse now" when leaving for work. (and nurse in this example is a verb).
So call me a grammar teacher with love--I have a middle schooler who is deep in the heart of learning grammar, and another in college soon to be teacher--both of whom helped in the creation of this post. And I need to have more coffee.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Neither do I. I find the term Male nurse way more derogatory than anything else we get called.
When I was in nursing school, I had a boyfriend who was not succeeding as a new teacher. (Maturity issues.) When he told me he wanted to take a "male nursing course" I promptly informed him there was no such thing.
It seems that there have been no viable alternative terms brought forth due to the overwhelming consensus that none is needed. I'm fine with being referred to as nurse, it'll be up to you to reconcile your own feelings regarding the same. This is only as much of a problem as we allow it to be.
Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.
It seems that there have been no viable alternative terms brought forth due to the overwhelming consensus that none is needed. I'm fine with being referred to as nurse, it'll be up to you to reconcile your own feelings regarding the same. This is only as much of a problem as we allow it to be.
malamud69, BSN, RN
575 Posts
"Free agent technician...." akin to Robert Dinero character in the movie "Brazil"