Womens interest in male nurses

[johny1]

I am a nursing student, currently studying to be an RN. I am really enjoying the experience, however I have an issue that is concerning me.

When chatting up women and the conversation comes up about what I do, and I reply studying nursing, their eyes widen and the mood seems to change. This is not related to women in the field but those outside. As soon as I utter the word nurse, I seem to go from a confident manly guy to a nice guy to them. I know women want confident manly sort of men, but women also say they like a man to be sensitive and caring. Can’t a male nurse be sensitive and manly? Do these women see nurses as somewhat effeminate, at worst gay?

If a woman is able to climb the corporate ladder and make big money in business and still have sex appeal, does a man need to limit himself to traditional masculine roles to prove his maleness and be attractive to women or can he do a traditionally feminine job of helping and caring for people.

I understood that when women refer to equality, it is for both men and women. They it’s a great idea for men to be nurses, but individually, their actions seem to speak louder than their words.

I would be very interested in your opinions on this both guys and girls

[nurse28yrs]

That is beautiful.

Are you single? HA! Just kidding......great job follow your heart and you can't be wrong......have a great weekend!

[CITCAT]

i have worked with females and males and frankly what the heck is going on here a nurse is a nurse period i know of a male nurse whois 5'8" aprox250 pounder,baldwith goatee,and mustache but is the most professional gentle man or male nurse that i have had the honor to work with . in my book male nurses can work circles around some female nurses , and all that pyschdrama/hormone crud is nill non existant so hats off to you mister nurse your alright dont sweat it

[color=#a0522d]

[pawashrn]

I have had many female friends over the years confide in me things they haven't told their boyfriends/husbands. And when I ask why, 99% respond with. Your different, your a nurse and I can talk to you and you put your macho bull------ aside and actually listen. I might add, men do the same thing and respond with the same answer. When they ask me not tell their friends/family. My standard answer is, "It is against the law to divulge patient confidentiality" That always gets a laugh, but they feel reassured. I might ad men talk more than women.

[ted53]

Just to add my little bit to this. I hate the term male nurse. Although married a long time now I never had any trouble getting dates with ladies who were not nurses. As for the masculine thing, I am also an ex- rugby player. Not much tougher than that.

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

the biggest misconceptions of people outside of the field is that nurses wipe butt, tears and walk around showing sympathy all day, many people do not know the amount of work that goes into nursing! the structure of nursing is built upon clinical practice, and many other skills therefore nursing is not at all a female or male profession, if a lot of skeptics saw what nurses really do, they'd probably say its a more demanding profession, there's nothing feminine or masculine about saving lives, repairing broken bodies, and health in general!! i commend all of you male nurses!! keep up the good work, and for the record you are nurses, not ''male'' nurses!

[socalpca]

I get comments from some patients, usually the elderly ones, "are you the doctor?" Some patients call me doctor, even when they are A&Ox3 and I have already introduced myself as their nurse. I don't get mad or offended, I just remind them (several times if needed) that I am their NURSE. My younger patients don't have this problem.

[sjaubert]

I believe women tend to conform more than men and have more trouble accepting men in nursing even at this advanced stage than men do of women in other professions. They are much more self conscious than men in general and thus have more trouble being someone who is trully themselves. I also think women focus some of their anger with spouses, boyfriends, etc. on male nurses. They are quick to get the male who is usually stronger to do a lot of their work. I know this is true because that's why they like me so much as the agency contract over the others. They know a good thing when they see it. But they don't really respect me. Look at society in general with its double standards and watch how women 'marry up' doctors but seldom is that seen with a male nurse marrying a female doctor. Some of it is ingrained in all of us but i don't see a lot of effort on change from the females i work with whom most talk about shallow b.s. all day including about the other nurses who are not around. While males do talk about other nurses it seems to me female nurses have it down to a particularly fine art form. I feel like when i'm around the unit i need to conform to simplistic conversation and bantering. If its deeper its usually the same old 'we need to change this and we need to change that' rerun. I hardly ever find a female who seems to have her head together where we can really talk about anything else other than nursing or their problems at home. Its sad but its what i find. Maybe they think i'm not a man for wanting to talk about music or writing a couple of my hobbies. I don't know but i usually don't talk much around work anymore except as necessary for care. Steve

[VetTechingWasEasier]

Take more pride in what you do! Keep in mind that it is a conventional profession that you can go anywhere in the world and be useful and recognized as someone who cares for the general public without predudice.

When I make conversation and mention of my chosen carreer brings an eye roll, I usually quip sarcastically "The Marine Commando Lumberjack Fireman Corps had an unimpressive booth at the job fair, what can I say...."

[ocn_wanna_be]

I am hedious and undatable anyway, so all these discussions are just moot. Thank god I never get worked up with any of these stuff.

[amigojack]

male nursing is cool... but some people just don't appreciate it.....

[VetTechingWasEasier]

I get comments from some patients, usually the elderly ones, "are you the doctor?" Some patients call me doctor, even when they are A&Ox3 and I have already introduced myself as their nurse. I don't get mad or offended, I just remind them (several times if needed) that I am their NURSE. My younger patients don't have this problem.

Could be worse,... you could've been a female physician and have patients calling you "Nurse" all the time! :angryfire

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

Could be worse,... you could've been a female physician and have patients calling you "Nurse" all the time! :angryfire

Well, I'd say any doctor should be flattered to be mistaken for a nurse!

Of course, mine would probably be a minority opinion in any but my own private reality.