Im a 20 year old college student who just got accepted into the nursing program to become an LPN.
I am also a gay black male ( i know that shouldnt mean anything but im jus lettin it be known because of my concerns. )
Many people have suggested that i just go for it and become a nurse but im worried about a lot of things. I know this is a profession with mostly females, but i worry about patients who may not want my care because i am either a male, my skin color, or the fact that i am gay. Im a really nice person and id hate to get into nursing and have to deal with some ignorant people who dont want my care.
Should i be concerned about these issues or am i over reacting a lil too much?
At least you won't have as many creepy old guys trying to feel you up.
:lol::bdyhdclp:
That was too funny!!! Trust me, you never know which patients will surprise you!!!:uhoh21:
But really, go for it. No matter what your sexual orientation, race, or sex, you will run into people who judge you for these things, and not on your ability. I am a white, straight, female, and as a student I was assigned to several children one day. I had an 11y/o white female, 3month old boy, and a 5 1/2 year old black girl, who was also my most serious patient. Her family refused to speak to me or even see me. Their little girl was dependent on O2 and having major asthma problems, and they wouldn't give me the time of day. They would talk on their cells and turn their backs to me when I tried to get info and do my assesment. My aid saw the problems I was having, and walked into the room. The family changed, opened right up to the aid, who was black. :icon_roll These things can go all different ways.
I didn't let them get to me, or avoid their daughter. When all the major stuff was done for my other pts, I got some coloring pages and crayons and sat in her room and colored with her. Her parents rolled their eyes and ignored us, I helped to alleviate her boredom and got some extra assessmet in. That little girl was my priority, her parents be darned.
Do your job, and do it well. Follow you dreams, creepy old men and ignorant people are everywhere.
lol wow bluebug. i think that would have made me a little uncomfortable. u handled it well. I apprieciate all the replys ive gotten. it helped but i ended up turning down the acceptance into the LPN program cause i felt my heart wasn't in it. i actually just took the NET test jus to see what would happen. I didnt expect to even get accepted at all! lol. I think i've decided to go to school for speech pathology. Anyone know much about that profession?
I say go for it. You are in Nursing because you care for people. Your personal business doesn't need to be know unless you mention this to someone. No one has the right to discriminate. Good Luck in school:redpinkhe
Specializes in Onco, palliative care, PCU, HH, hospice.
At least you won't have as many creepy old guys trying to feel you up.
Ugh this has happened to me a couple times because they thought I was actually female:banghead:
To the OP, go for it, you may face prejudice from time to time but most of my experiences have been positive. The only issues I've had is when a patient thinks I'm a woman (how many women have side burns?) which is easily cleared up and a couple times I've had patients ask inappropriate questions which was easily cleared up by setting clear concrete boundaries.
Im a 20 year old college student who just got accepted into the nursing program to become an LPN.
I am also a gay black male ( i know that shouldnt mean anything but im jus lettin it be known because of my concerns. )
Many people have suggested that i just go for it and become a nurse but im worried about a lot of things. I know this is a profession with mostly females, but i worry about patients who may not want my care because i am either a male, my skin color, or the fact that i am gay. Im a really nice person and id hate to get into nursing and have to deal with some ignorant people who dont want my care.
Should i be concerned about these issues or am i over reacting a lil too much?
There will always be ignorant people out there so don't let that ruin your dreams. I am overweight and I am sure alot of patients would have issues with me too:)If you can become a good nurse that will be more important than anything else.
Im a really nice person and id hate to get into nursing and have to deal with some ignorant people who dont want my care.
Some of my favorite nurses to work with are men.
When I became a LPN, my first job was in LTC and most of the Nurses there were men. I loved it.
In Nursing, you will be working with the public which means ignorance is everywhere!
Over the years, I have heard patients complain because they don't want the Obese Nurse, the Indian Nurse, the Chinese Nurse, the White Nurse, the Male, the Female, the one that talks too much, the one that talks too little, the one that wears too much make-up, the one that doesn't smile.....you get what I mean.
So remember, if some meat-head complains, please do not take it personally because there are knuckleheads abound.
If Nursing is what you want, I think that you will be just fine and really enjoy it.
I'm not naive enough to think that you may run into some ignorant people who are a bit uncomfortable being treated by a black male nurse. I don't think there are many though, but i think this depends on a lot of things.
However, I don't think your sexuality should affect anything at all. First off, although I'm straight, any discussion about my sexuality is unprofessional and I don't know why it would be any patient's business to know. I also don't think your personal sexuality should be telegraphed to everyone around you. Thus, I don't know why your would be an issue.
no worries man, from what I hear, Male nurses are loved by all on every floor. Male nurses at some points are at an advantage. Women love men, and patients sometimes like the diversity. I think you are going to be very successful. Good luck!
I am a man going into nursing. At first I was worried about "being a male nurse" then I said to myself screw all those people who will look down on me. At the end of the day anyone who didn't go into nursing for this reason will have lost out on a rewarding and lucrative career as a result while i laugh all the way to the bank doing something I really enjoy.
BlueBug
57 Posts
:lol::bdyhdclp:
That was too funny!!! Trust me, you never know which patients will surprise you!!!:uhoh21:
But really, go for it. No matter what your sexual orientation, race, or sex, you will run into people who judge you for these things, and not on your ability. I am a white, straight, female, and as a student I was assigned to several children one day. I had an 11y/o white female, 3month old boy, and a 5 1/2 year old black girl, who was also my most serious patient. Her family refused to speak to me or even see me. Their little girl was dependent on O2 and having major asthma problems, and they wouldn't give me the time of day. They would talk on their cells and turn their backs to me when I tried to get info and do my assesment. My aid saw the problems I was having, and walked into the room. The family changed, opened right up to the aid, who was black. :icon_roll These things can go all different ways.
I didn't let them get to me, or avoid their daughter. When all the major stuff was done for my other pts, I got some coloring pages and crayons and sat in her room and colored with her. Her parents rolled their eyes and ignored us, I helped to alleviate her boredom and got some extra assessmet in. That little girl was my priority, her parents be darned.
Do your job, and do it well. Follow you dreams, creepy old men and ignorant people are everywhere.
~BlueBug