[SoldierNurse]

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

Hppygr8ful - I look forward to reading all constructive/productive post from my female colleagues. BTW, I'm well trained... since my wife is also an RN, LOL.

Seriously, your posted reply was an enjoyable read!

[piratelooks]

ok my two cents. I've been in this profession for going on 16 years now, and have seen some changes first hand. I did agency work for the last eleven years,and now do in house "agency" or pool work. I still remember when M.D.'s threw charts across rooms,and cussed you out over the phone. Fortunately those days are growing more,and more distant. Quick point, as far as men taking jobs away from women in this field, it's not happening. If you are qualified enough to get into the program,graduate,and pass boards, and then you find a job, you didn't take anything away from anyone.You earned your right to be there, we all earn our rights to our jobs every day, from our sweat,sometimes blood, and even tears. I've seen nurses,whom by the way were women, could care less about a pt being in pain, or what they needed, same can be said for some doc's,and everyone in the medical field. There will always be apathetic staff, not just nurses. What we as nurses need is to be ONE voice, not male,female, R.N., or LPN. The time has come for "US" as a group to unite,and take care of what we need too, for our sakes,and our pt's. I have to admit when I look @ the scrub catalogs, I do get a little tired of seeing all the stuff for ladies, and one page for us,but you know i've never had any fashion sense anyway.LOL forget gender, we need to take care of each other, brother's and sister's. b/c facility admin is not going to,and neither are our state boards. SO HERE WE ARE, ONE BIG DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. BUT WE ARE FAMILY!!!!!

[broadnaxyogi]

I really don't get misunderstood as a nurse, I played college football for 4 years I'm retired Army reserve and retired police officer, I have a pony tail at 6'2 260lbs, and it is easily seen that I am the best darn nurse in the ER during my shift, I'm not bragging I'm well trained and my skills and confidence speaks in my actions, do I wear clogs Heck no, but not because I don't like them but because they are barred by my hospitals policy:firedup:

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by broadnaxyogi

I really don't get misunderstood as a nurse, I played college football for 4 years I'm retired Army reserve and retired police officer, I have a pony tail at 6'2 260lbs, and it is easily seen that I am the best darn nurse in the ER during my shift, I'm not bragging I'm well trained and my skills and confidence speaks in my actions, do I wear clogs Heck no, but not because I don't like them but because they are barred by my hospitals policy:firedup:

Thank you for your military service! I'd imagine that is where your confidence stems. :thumbsup:

BTW, I sent you a PM.

[JB2000]

I have been a "male" nurse for 14 years. I have decided to take the shock and awe approach to the "male nurse" moniker. This is usually how it goes:
(Usually said by a little old lady or some unenlightened cretin)
What do you do for a living?
Response:
I'm a nurse.
Cretin:
Oh, you're a male Nurse{.?}(Is it a question or statement)
Response:
Yes. I used to be a transvestite nurse, but that wasn't working out so well.
This elicits laughs from most and confusion from many. I get to have a great chuckle. Mind you, being a southerner I do not like to offend pleasant little old ladies and I usually refrain in those cases.
Try it or a variation on the theme. I gua-run-tee you will get a rise and that will be one less person perpetrating that moniker on one of us again.
IndieRN

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by JB2000

I have been a "male" nurse for 14 years. I have decided to take the shock and awe approach to the "male nurse" moniker. This is usually how it goes:
(Usually said by a little old lady or some unenlightened cretin)
What do you do for a living?
Response:
I'm a nurse.
Cretin:
Oh, you're a male Nurse{.?}(Is it a question or statement)
Response:
Yes. I used to be a transvestite nurse, but that wasn't working out so well.
This elicits laughs from most and confusion from many. I get to have a great chuckle. Mind you, being a southerner I do not like to offend pleasant little old ladies and I usually refrain in those cases.
Try it or a variation on the theme. I gua-run-tee you will get a rise and that will be one less person perpetrating that moniker on one of us again.
IndieRN

Nope, don't think I'll make that kind of comment in my line of male nursing, LOL.

[NavyJim58]

I'm think I am qualified to put my 2 cents in here. Now when people ask me what I do for a living I proudly say "I'm a Registered Nurse". If they want to know more I amplify and if not that's enough. When I first became a nurse my oldest sister asked me if I had to "wear a dress to work" and how I kept the little white cap on my head. Other family members and friends said stuff like ewwwww, how can you do a foley or touch someones privates or clean people up? Yes, even my own family didn't understand me. I have had a few problems with female nurses over the years but much of that was because I did not try to understand where they were coming from and only wanted them to understand me. I have never had a problem with a doctor. A very few of them will ignore me but never throw anything at me. I have definitely been treated differently by doctors compared to the way they treat female nurses and that is wrong. I have had female patients complain about me treating them but I just get a female nurse to take care of them and don't worry about it. I have had supervisors tell me I am the best worker they have but i'm not sensitive enough. I have had a couple of men say something about my sexual orientation but didn't slap them silly like I wanted to. I have even had male nurses come on to me (why not, i'm a viral, hot looking guy).

My wife told me many times when I was a new nurse that I had a problem excepting being a nurse and working with mostly women but it actually took me about 10 years to settle into the role and fully accept my job and title. I don't want to be called anything else. Medic or health professional. I am a nurse and proud of it.

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by NavyJim58

I'm think I am qualified to put my 2 cents in here. Now when people ask me what I do for a living I proudly say "I'm a Registered Nurse". If they want to know more I amplify and if not that's enough. When I first became a nurse my oldest sister asked me if I had to "wear a dress to work" and how I kept the little white cap on my head. Other family members and friends said stuff like ewwwww, how can you do a foley or touch someones privates or clean people up? Yes, even my own family didn't understand me. I have had a few problems with female nurses over the years but much of that was because I did not try to understand where they were coming from and only wanted them to understand me. I have never had a problem with a doctor. A very few of them will ignore me but never throw anything at me. I have definitely been treated differently by doctors compared to the way they treat female nurses and that is wrong. I have had female patients complain about me treating them but I just get a female nurse to take care of them and don't worry about it. I have had supervisors tell me I am the best worker they have but i'm not sensitive enough. I have had a couple of men say something about my sexual orientation but didn't slap them silly like I wanted to. I have even had male nurses come on to me (why not, i'm a viral, hot looking guy).

My wife told me many times when I was a new nurse that I had a problem excepting being a nurse and working with mostly women but it actually took me about 10 years to settle into the role and fully accept my job and title. I don't want to be called anything else. Medic or health professional. I am a nurse and proud of it.

:thumbsup:

[virgil rn]

Hello there!
I'm a male nurse have been an lpn for ten,and now a Rn for almost 2 years.I like what I do,cant think of doing anything else,even when I get frustrated with the system.About bias, what can we expect when the poefession is primarely female,there are not many adds in magazines with male nurses,and the clothing industry targets mostly female nurses,and is obvious why is done that way.I just go to work try my best and be a team member willing to do teamwork and the bias issue will disappear,it may not be instant,but it does go away.I have found more bias in the street than in the work environment.see how fast a conversation dies when you share at a party that you are a male nurse.I have to use my commercial diving experience to keep the conversation going.I'm proud of being a male nurse.

[Ricu]

Originally Posted by virgil rn

Hello there!
I'm a male nurse have been an lpn for ten,and now a Rn for almost 2 years.I like what I do,cant think of doing anything else,even when I get frustrated with the system.About bias, what can we expect when the poefession is primarely female,there are not many adds in magazines with male nurses,and the clothing industry targets mostly female nurses,and is obvious why is done that way.I just go to work try my best and be a team member willing to do teamwork and the bias issue will disappear,it may not be instant,but it does go away.I have found more bias in the street than in the work environment.see how fast a conversation dies when you share at a party that you are a male nurse.I have to use my commercial diving experience to keep the conversation going.I'm proud of being a male nurse.

I like your attitude, Virgil. It's guys like you, easygoing but steadfast that keep men in nursing going strong. Thanks.

R