[dannymc]

hey guys and girls...
ive applied to do a nursing course next year and i was wondering if any of the male and or gay nurses could get back to me and tell me what problems if any they come across being either male or gay
mant thanks
dan
ireland

[mattjtayl]

My aunt is a nursing instructor at Purdue and been a full time nurse for thirty years. She told me ever semester more and more men are enrolled in the nursing program at Purdue. She had a guy who was 54 just enter nursing school and he is the best student in her class.

More men are starting to enter the profession for the great pay, benefits, and because they enjoy the work. In my opinion a "male nurse" title doesn't carry the same stigma it once did; it is becoming more acceptable now for men to be nurses.

At the hospital I worked at for a while we had many male nurses; there were plenty of male nurses that worked in ER alone! Yes a couple of the male nurses were gay, but many male nurses were straight and had families. To be frank most of the staff didn't care if a male nurse was gay or not, what was most important was their performance.

I am thinking about going into nursing because my aunt has been encourging me to and because of the pay. Although I am straight, I realize becoming a nurse might raise a few eyebrows and cause people to crack jokes, for $30/hour I don't mind that at all.

[Cammer]

There are plenty of people in nursing, both men and women, who are gay. I don't see it as being gender specific and I really don't see it as something that is an issue with either male or female nurses. Sexual lifestyle choice is not something that really should have anything to do with your profession. I think that most people in nursing feel similarly about this. People who are gay or straight can be either good or bad nurses. There is no correlation there.

Hopefully the trend will continue with more men getting into the nursing field. If that trend continues we will see this issue dissolving as public perception steers away from the image of nursing as being a nunlike feminine calling and more towards the clinical occupation that it is.

[SoldierNurse]

dannymc - I'm not a homosexual, so part of your inquiry I cannot help. I am a male nurse on active duty in the United States Army Nurse Corps. As military [or civilian], I've never come across any major setbacks regards to being a male in nursing.

Good luck in your pursuit in becoming a nurse.

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by Cammer

There are plenty of people in nursing, both men and women, who are gay. I don't see it as being gender specific and I really don't see it as something that is an issue with either male or female nurses. Sexual lifestyle choice is not something that really should have anything to do with your profession. I think that most people in nursing feel similarly about this. People who are gay or straight can be either good or bad nurses. There is no correlation there.

Hopefully the trend will continue with more men getting into the nursing field. If that trend continues we will see this issue dissolving as public perception steers away from the image of nursing as being a nunlike feminine calling and more towards the clinical occupation that it is.

[hppygr8ful]

If you can stand a reply from a female heterosexual RN I'll weigh in. IMHO I just don't think gender identity or sexual orientation has anything a to do with being a competant nurse. When it comes to competance you either are or your not. As a nurse I am so busy caring for patients that I don't give a 2nd thought to what my co-workers do in the privacy of their own bedrooms. It's just not any of my business. I think if more people were more private about their personal business the world would be a better place. There's a nurse I work with who cheats on her husband and says everybody does it. I think this is morally reprehensible. If you don't like your spouse get a divorce! But she's one of the best damned nurses I ever worked with. I'd rather work with her than have 3 others. so like I said how we run our sex lives shouldn't be anyone's business but our own. Let's get back to doing what we went into this profession for.

hppygr8ful

[Maddie]

View from female: I work on a Med-Surg Unit, and the the only setback I've seen affecting the male nurses I work with is when female patients, particularly those who come from cultures that object to males touching females, have a problem. There is no difference between the care that male and female nurses provide to patients, so if you don't have a problem occasionally assisting females with bedpans, bathroom calls, and baths, then you'll be okay.

It's good to see so many colleagues who do not have a problem working with gay male or female nurses. I work in the bible belt, and unfortunately, some nurses here do make their opinions known regarding homosexuality, but not necessarily to the persons affected. Being an outspoken human rights person, I soon set them straight. If you are gay, you will soon get to know who you can freely talk to about personal issues. Overall, I find male nurses are just as accepted in this profession as females. So, welcome to nursing!

[MountainMan]

A patient in genuine need won't care who or what you are as long as you are profesional and competent. As far as co-workers you probably already know the ropes. It is surprizing to me that anyone with A&P knowlege is anti gay/lesbian especially with a familiararity with physically gender non-specific people being born on a regular basis. Who's doing is that, GOD'S?? Of course it is. So whutz up with the God-followers in a rage about Gay-marriage, or being openly gay? I'm hetero-sexual and just don't get the problem these up-tight people have.
Just be the best nurse you can be.

[FNP-Randy]

In the 15 years I had worked as an Emergency Room RN before getting my FNP I only had 1 situation where I was treated differently and it wasn't by the staff. I had an elderly (slightly confused) lady who I was helping to get into a gown for an exam when she turned and called me a pervert. At first I was taken back and then I laughed realizing thae she had no clue (in her mind) that I was an RN. As for the staff, I feel that if you are a team player, step up to the plate, do your job and don't have a chip on your shoulder you will and sohuld be treated as an equal.

[VinodN]

Well most of the male nurses I have come across in Texas and even from what I have heard in other states like New York. The vast majority of the male RNs are straight men with families. I would say 80 to 90 percent. There may be gay male nurses out there and I welcome them as long as they can keep a level of professionalism in the hospital.