[OddManOut]

Originally Posted by 1mg.epi

I am a NURSE:
Patients and family members will call me doctor. I say, "No, I Work for a living."

Wife of a patient said, "sorry honey, I guess you thought you were going to get a pretty one." I said, "you calling me ugly. I may be bald, but give me a break."

Red neck asked me once if I was gay. I said, "no, why are you."

I get very sarcastic with bias stupid remarks, made by people who just doent know any better. Dah

I know what you mean. It is kinda like the "Red Neck" label. "Red Necks" are traditionally farmers, and I for one am very proud of my family's farming heritage.

[OddManOut]

Originally Posted by stacyL

This is a forum/thread to post one's opinions so I will. Everyone has their own opinions which vary. My opinion is that women have had to tolerate gender bias for centuries. Why should men be any different? They know that nursing has been a female profession for years.
Personally, I am from the old school. I am not used to male nurses. It turns my stomach literally. This comment will bother people but my opinion is just as valid as opposing/popular/politically correct responses.
Men have so many sexual issues, detachment issues, not all but generally. Many are coming into the profession for easy money as some women but generally women are nurturers while typically men are not. Look at how many men are deadbeat dads and sex offenders...mostly men if you're honest. Who was the nurse killer in NJ again a man.
I know they are intelligent enough to learn how to be a nurse and perform as a nurse but there are other facets of nursing.
Also, these male nurses are taking jobs away from women. Women are barred or harrassed in so many male professions. Women have had to fight for their rights. Why should men have it so easily - venturing into a female dominated profession. I cringe at the thought of male nurses. There are bad nurses men and women but I would rather work with, be helped by a female nurse over a male nurse anyday.
Pummel me now if you wish but I have the courage to stand by my convictions.

Just one comment Stacy- STUPID!

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by stacyL

This is a forum/thread to post one's opinions so I will. Everyone has their own opinions which vary. My opinion is that women have had to tolerate gender bias for centuries. Why should men be any different? They know that nursing has been a female profession for years.
Personally, I am from the old school. I am not used to male nurses. It turns my stomach literally. This comment will bother people but my opinion is just as valid as opposing/popular/politically correct responses.
Men have so many sexual issues, detachment issues, not all but generally. Many are coming into the profession for easy money as some women but generally women are nurturers while typically men are not. Look at how many men are deadbeat dads and sex offenders...mostly men if you're honest. Who was the nurse killer in NJ again a man.
I know they are intelligent enough to learn how to be a nurse and perform as a nurse but there are other facets of nursing.
Also, these male nurses are taking jobs away from women. Women are barred or harrassed in so many male professions. Women have had to fight for their rights. Why should men have it so easily - venturing into a female dominated profession. I cringe at the thought of male nurses. There are bad nurses men and women but I would rather work with, be helped by a female nurse over a male nurse anyday.
Pummel me now if you wish but I have the courage to stand by my convictions.

I realize this is a late reply [8/7/2006]...
IMHO, your opinion is narrow minded, as well as a few other labels that I don't dare post here. I will just say that I being a former single-parent dad [kids now in their mid-20's] of two sons, now a husband of an RN, and someone that dearly loves being a MALE RN that I usually enjoy working with all healthcare professionals, male & female, but you would be the exception.

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by veritas

I seriously hope that other "professional" female nurses do not share your short-sighted and critically incorrect points.

I'm a female nurse, too, and I am embarrassed and shamed by the ignorance and intolerance shown by a female posting to this forum. Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinions, no matter how lame they may be -- but, thank goodness, this person's prejudiced point of view doesn't infect all of nursing. Gentlemen, I congratulate you all on being pioneers in this field among this generation, and I encourage you to go as far as you can in your careers. Nursing needs you!

V

Hey V, thank you for the kinder female perspective. BTW, my wife [also an RN] agrees with you, too!

StacyL, nursing is about teamwork, being open minded, and receptive to all types of beliefs [in both patients & peers]. BTW, some opinions without constructive merit are better left unposted.

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by Jadranko

I started nursing school in 1998, went right into CVICU/ICU nursing and we are the minority as far as head counts, males seen more attracted to the high tech of high acuity nursing. In the years of 1994 to 2005 I've been called a male nurse less than I've been called a doctor. I take no offense to either.I believe that the politics , drama, and backbiting that a male will encounter can be avoided by nurses that happen to be males go into registry nursing as soon as their experience level allows. This way you can search out and experience for yourself the best fit, at a premium wage. My sister has been a nurse for 25years, and they spoke of the nursing shortage even then. And now I hear a new shortage of 800,000 nurses. There will always be a shortage of nurses in that respect. I no longer encourage males or females to go into this profession,true it's been very satisfying knowing you have made a positive difference, but the hoops you are going to have to jump through now and in the future grow. Life is too short.

I never really had a problem as a civilian Male RN regards to mistreatment based on gender. However, I can post without hesitation that as a Male RN on active duty in the Army Nurse Corps [where males are 34% of RN pop.] respect & equality come easily compared to civilian nursing.

[medi]

stacyL do you actually believe the comments you posted in your first post to this thread or did you post them because you knew they were so far out in left field that it would stir up a hornet's nest?

You got your hornet's nest I see! But why are you attacking others who don't agree with your very strange opinions? Nobody was refusing to allow you to have those opinions (even though you accused folks of doing exactly that).

You post on a forum for male nurses that seeks to address issues or problems they may encounter with gender bias & basically tell them all to stuff it and you expect any empathy or sympathy to your opinion?

Not only do I personally disagree wholeheartedly with your opinion, but I'll say this.. youre entitled to think whatever you want, but you're not entitled to post in the male nurse's forum with the intent to be disruptive.

Glad I don't work with you. I've taught and worked with male healthcare providers at all levels including RN's (both civilian and military) and wish to heck there were a LOT more of them in our profession!

I think your posts were planned to try to pick fights stacy... and if it happens again I'm going to delete them.. then if you do it again you will be banned.

For now, unless another administrator cares to do things differently, I'm leaving your posts in the hopes other nurses might care to share their appreciation of male nurses too after reading your drivel.

Originally Posted by stacyL

I expected as much, surprised not more defensive comments. This is a real problem...not allowing a person to have THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND FEELINGS. You want to change or hope I change or hope others dont share my thoughts/feelings.That is shortsided/narrow view and idealistic I might add. YOU want to stifle differing opinions and THAT is dangerous. Everyone is different as is their opinions. ACCEPT THAT! You will not be accepted by everyone, perhaps maybe to your face....

Comments on what you think are my personal experiences...you sure ARE fishing/phishing. It is simply my feelings and thoughts. Why does it bother you so? Get thick skin, do what you do, do it well and maybe, just maybe then and only then will you change people's hearts for the better. Not by the blah, blah, blah, of trying to prove a point. Do you really think I care about your comments? I really dont. Dont bore me with words, do more with positive actions. Live and learn...

[t2dman]

Contriversy brings commment and actually makes life interesting? Outragious statements by stacyL but it does serve to show that such people exist, and highlights the ingrown attitudes that have been against any minority group.

Seems like Male Nurses can certainly count themselves in there.

There will be a time to close off discussion/close off the thread and move on. Maybe now is a time? Leave it in the good hands of medi.

[Aaron C.]

Originally Posted by stacyL

This is a forum/thread to post one's opinions so I will. Everyone has their own opinions which vary. My opinion is that women have had to tolerate gender bias for centuries. Why should men be any different? They know that nursing has been a female profession for years.
Personally, I am from the old school. I am not used to male nurses. It turns my stomach literally. This comment will bother people but my opinion is just as valid as opposing/popular/politically correct responses.
Men have so many sexual issues, detachment issues, not all but generally. Many are coming into the profession for easy money as some women but generally women are nurturers while typically men are not. Look at how many men are deadbeat dads and sex offenders...mostly men if you're honest. Who was the nurse killer in NJ again a man.
I know they are intelligent enough to learn how to be a nurse and perform as a nurse but there are other facets of nursing.
Also, these male nurses are taking jobs away from women. Women are barred or harrassed in so many male professions. Women have had to fight for their rights. Why should men have it so easily - venturing into a female dominated profession. I cringe at the thought of male nurses. There are bad nurses men and women but I would rather work with, be helped by a female nurse over a male nurse anyday.
Pummel me now if you wish but I have the courage to stand by my convictions.

Wow. That's probably THE MOST IGNORANT thing I've seen posted on this forum yet.

I could make a 100 stereotypes about females and if I did you would call me a bigot, a male shauvanist pig, etc. etc., yet you do the exact same thing.

You are very simple minded if you believe one ounce of what you posted.

[hppygr8ful]

If you can stand another post from a female I'd like to weigh in. Before becoming a nurse I had a lot of different jobs - some traditionally male and some not. I was called many names in the male dominated profession from butch to sweetie to babe. I found that as facing these comments with a sense of humor and performing my job with quiet confidence always won the respect of my co-workers.

As a nurse I have had the opportunity to work with nurses of both genders and I have been preceptor to many guys. Personally I'll work alongside any nurse who knows what they are doing and if they are new and willing to learn I don't have a problem with young inexperienced nurse either. Many of the male nurses I know are more competent than some of the "Old School" hags that trained me. I do have a comment for the guy who complained about not getting to assist in a delivery while in nursing school Get over it. I've done a lot of labor and delivery and most women in that position can barely stand to have a woman touch them much less a man. In terms of catheterization I once had a new nurse (male) fly backwards away from a male patient he was catheterizing because the patient got an erection and he (the nurse) couldn't deal with that. I had the same reaction myself as a new nurse and told him so. we laughed about it later and later I also showed him how to put leads on a female patient with sensitivity to her modesty. It's all in how you do the job.

Nursing is a profession that attracts a lot of people who think they can make money on a two year education. Those of us male and female in the trenches know that our compensation rarely equals the amount of blood sweat and tears we poor into it. We also know that whatever our training RN, BSN, MSN we are all still people. All people have personal agendas some are uplifting to the profession and some are not. I'm proud to be a professional nurse and welcome all people who want to be part of this work we do every day.

PS - I've also found that you have to have a pretty thick skin to be a happy nurse

[Ricu]

Originally Posted by hppygr8ful

If you can stand another post from a female I'd like to weigh in. Before becoming a nurse I had a lot of different jobs - some traditionally male and some not. I was called many names in the male dominated profession from butch to sweetie to babe. I found that as facing these comments with a sense of humor and performing my job with quiet confidence always won the respect of my co-workers.

As a nurse I have had the opportunity to work with nurses of both genders and I have been preceptor to many guys. Personally I'll work alongside any nurse who knows what they are doing and if they are new and willing to learn I don't have a problem with young inexperienced nurse either. Many of the male nurses I know are more competent than some of the "Old School" hags that trained me. I do have a comment for the guy who complained about not getting to assist in a delivery while in nursing school Get over it. I've done a lot of labor and delivery and most women in that position can barely stand to have a woman touch them much less a man. In terms of catheterization I once had a new nurse (male) fly backwards away from a male patient he was catheterizing because the patient got an erection and he (the nurse) couldn't deal with that. I had the same reaction myself as a new nurse and told him so. we laughed about it later and later I also showed him how to put leads on a female patient with sensitivity to her modesty. It's all in how you do the job.

Nursing is a profession that attracts a lot of people who think they can make money on a two year education. Those of us male and female in the trenches know that our compensation rarely equals the amount of blood sweat and tears we poor into it. We also know that whatever our training RN, BSN, MSN we are all still people. All people have personal agendas some are uplifting to the profession and some are not. I'm proud to be a professional nurse and welcome all people who want to be part of this work we do every day.

PS - I've also found that you have to have a pretty thick skin to be a happy nurse

Excellent post! Thanks.

R