When will they change the name???

Published

When will there be another term for males besides "nurse"? It's the only reason I haven't become one...:uhoh3:

(By the way, I am a SURGICAL TECH & ER TECH (Reaalllyyy macho, huh??)

But serious, if any job needed a generic term, this is the one...

Specializes in Critical Care.

Equally proud to be an RN, a nurse, or a "male nurse". Honestly, "male nurse" doesn't bother me at all. I find it more descriptive than segregative. Let's face it, at 6% of the nursing population, we ARE still enough of an anomaly that it's going to be pointed out.

To me, motives are everything. I have yet to meet someone that referred to me as a male nurse that did so in a malicious manner. Even if it DID bother me, and it doesn't, I don't think I could get worked up over what, in effect, is an unintentional slight.

Relationships are interfaces. If someone approaches me in (from their perspective) a friendly or neutral way and I respond with hostility or patronizing correction because of their terminology, then it is I that have been rude, not the other way around.

If we are so quick to push the semantics that we become hostile and/or condescending to those not in our semantical 'know', then the problem is ours.

~faith,

Timothy. Male nurse and lovin' it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Plus the numbers of nurses who happen to be male are trending upwards. In my accelerated class it was 25%. The basic class from my (unscientific) observation was 12%.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).
Equally proud to be an RN, a nurse, or a "male nurse". Honestly, "male nurse" doesn't bother me at all. I find it more descriptive than segregative.

Exactly, Tim....

Honestly I get more slaps on the back when I tell people I'm a nurse than weird looks. People, especially in the current economy, recognize why a man could be perfectly satisfied working in our profession...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My wife had some trouble calling me a nurse. She has some gender role issues :nuke: ... so I use "murse" male + nurse = murse I'm thinking about registering it as a trademark. But I've never had a problem with being a nurse. It's about the job not the name.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ER.
My wife had some trouble calling me a nurse. She has some gender role issues :nuke: ... so I use "murse" male + nurse = murse I'm thinking about registering it as a trademark. But I've never had a problem with being a nurse. It's about the job not the name.

I've called myself a "murse" sometimes as well. I honestly don't think they'll change the name. It's too ingrained into the public psyche. PA's are sometimes wanting to delete the "assistant" from their title to something more flattering -- so we're not alone. It's just something we have to learn to embrace. At least we're more butch than flight attendants...um, aren't we?? :uhoh21:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Informatics, critical care, research.

When ever I was referred to as a male nurse, I simply replied stating: I don't work for the post office.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I admit that when I started thinking about entering the profession, I got a bit skeebed out about becoming a NURSE. I still sort of dislike the term "male nurse."

Now that I've worked in a hospital for about a year and have spent some time around manly men who are nurses and don't have an issue with being called a nurse, it's not a big deal. I start the nursing program in September, so for now I'll be a student nurse. But when I am licensed and working, I'll probably refer to myself as an RN. It just seems more gender neutral to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Being refered to as a "Male Nurse" whould have to be one of the most annoying aspect of my job. I always crine when I hear it.

I also feel that I have hearing it less over the past 8 years.

I don't feel the name title nurse should change though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Psych, Education.

If they change the title, in a way it will just highlight how much we stick out. Most male nurses I know want to be seen as the same as their female counterparts, not different.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Informatics, critical care, research.

Just out of curiosity, what could be some alternate names for "nurse"?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Only two that I can think of.

1) Licensed Practical Nurse

2) Registered Nurse

In the modern world I am suprised people in health care honestly care about male and female gender relating to the name of a profession.

So, should women who fly jets in the Airforce be calld Wommandos?

Nursing is nursing, no better name than nurse. In addition, not entering nursing because somebody may call you nurse? You have got to be kidding?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
When will there be another term for males besides "nurse"? It's the only reason I haven't become one...:uhoh3:

Watch out for that screen door, good buddy! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion