What's something you never expected as a male nurse?

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Haven't seen a new post in this subforum in months, so I thought I would kick off a new wave of discussion to help spur ideas for a presentation I have planned next month geared towards men in healthcare. What's something you never expected to run into as a male nurse? Can be something positive, negative, but preferably surprising.

Cheers,

Darth Practicus, FNP

Specializes in Home Health Care.
On 5/9/2017 at 7:33 AM, Darth Practicus said:

This is legit. Dealt with a double pediatric murder situation in the ER this past fall. 4 and 6 year old brothers shot in head by father and we received them via ambulance and they were pretty much already gone. Literally bothered me for a couple weeks with sleep difficulties, trouble concentrating, etc. We deal with things that are sometimes otherworldly. Thanks for sharing!

Darth Practicus, NP

There's nothing otherwordly about it. Murder and brokeness is deeply a apart of this world. I am going to CNA School next week then hoping to pass my CNA Exam then work in a Hospital. It must be hard not to hate people for their actions, but that doesn't mean you can't as a professional report something to the police. If it is something that will cause physical harm or has caused the death of someone, even psychiatrists are required to report certain things to The Police.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.
On 6/5/2017 at 10:03 PM, dRummiN_KS said:

I didn't expect how differently patients act when a male nurse is taking care of then rather than a female. There was one instance where 2 of female nurses were trying to keep a patient from jumping out bed with verbal communication and educational reinforcement. Patient was elderly with psyche issues. So they call me in to help and the patient instantly calmed down.

On a not so serious note, I didn't realize how many women enjoy watching HGTV! It always on in the breakroom even after I change it to ESPN. Days of watching ESPN during lunch have finally come to a close.

I can't stand those kinds of channels! They are so boring and pointless! Home channels that is. Once in awhile is OK if I am in the mood, but all the time and I'm happier with no TV at all.

I'm not into watching sports either, I'd rather play them.

I like cartoons, comedy tv shows, and The Disney Channel.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Getting called "doc" so often ?

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Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
On 7/28/2021 at 1:18 AM, Rionoir said:

Getting called "doc" so often ?

Yeah, that's annoying.

I resent being called upon for the heavy lifting on the grounds of my gender. I didn't expect that.

I may be a man but I'm not a particularly strong one. I also have a weakened right hand following a bike accident and have interminttantly needed osteopathy for back pain and physio for tendonitis in my right shoulder. I am passed apt to work hence I will do my fair share of the lifting, but I won't do more because I'm a man.  If I happen to be handy and you ask me to help because I'm the nearest colleague, fine. But if you hunt me out specially because I'm a man that's not fine. A sexist comment like "Ooh a nice strong man to lift for me!" will meet with a refusal.

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Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
On 8/1/2021 at 12:37 PM, DavidFR said:

I resent being called upon for the heavy lifting on the grounds of my gender. I didn't expect that.

I may be a man but I'm not a particularly strong one. I also have a weakened right hand following a bike accident and have interminttantly needed osteopathy for back pain and physio for tendonitis in my right shoulder. I am passed apt to work hence I will do my fair share of the lifting, but I won't do more because I'm a man.  If I happen to be handy and you ask me to help because I'm the nearest colleague, fine. But if you hunt me out specially because I'm a man that's not fine. A sexist comment like "Ooh a nice strong man to lift for me!" will meet with a refusal.

I personally don't mind helping out for heavy lifting, even if it's frequent. Everyone knows I'm a gym bro and I'm the only guy on my weekend so I expect to be asked. Even so, I have a pretty chill team and I'm not always called upon either.

But what gets to me is when the previous shift gives me the heavy patient (physically) simply because I'm the guy. It doesn't happen often, but I've had some back to back shift streaks where I was given the heavy patient because I'm the only guy and I lift weights. Like I said, I'm all for helping out, but it's wrong to always give the "heavy" assignment (physically or mentally) to the same nurse every time. Nursing is teamwork and the patient load should be shared among everyone.

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I never expected to be able to move around so much. There are so many different avenues within nursing. I am on a completely different path right now, I never expected to be where I am.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

I never expected to get supposedly treated differently because I'm a Man by the patients.

I've worked with Patients both in Home Health Care and in a Nursing Home that other people have said screamed at others of the female gender.

In 1 case I'm not sure if the Female CNA was just too sensitive or just flat out lying just because she didn't want to change a black man screaming in pain as he poops a hard poop in his diaper.

The other case I think the patient had a hard time with people in general because he spoke in a blunt way without manners mixed with some cuss words but he wasn't a jerk, he just got mad when people ignored his wishes when they claimed they were hired to help him in his home.

I got along with both these men and others who were very good to me, but apparently had "behavior problems" with other workers.

I must have been doing something right. I had no idea these men had "behaviour problems" with other staff until after some time of working with them.

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Specializes in Critical Care/Vascular Access.
On 5/9/2017 at 3:25 PM, That Guy said:

How much of a big deal people STILL make of being a male nurse.

Its nurse. Thats it.

That's a nice sentiment, but the fact is that being a male in nursing IS a different experience than being a female. From the way patients perceive you and treat you, to the way doctors and other nurses do as well.

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Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.

 I didn't expect that everyone that is in the ER where I work automatically thinks that because im a male and 50 years old that I 'Must' be the doctor.

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Specializes in RETIREDMed nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

Back in the early 1980's we had one of the first (to that facility) male nurses. All the old ladies were horrified with the thought of a MAN taking care of their 'personal' needs. But then, after the first time of having him assigned to them for a shift, oooooh, they didn't want ANYBODY else assigned to them; "is HE on tonight? Will he be MY nurse?" If the answer was "Yes." they practically purred!

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, AG-ACNP-BC, PMHNP-BC.

For me it has to be the level of respect I have with working in a female-dominated profession. It's been an awesome ride, thus far. 

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