11 replies to this topic

[NawlinsGirl]

HI,

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON CALLING MALE NURSES MURSES ?

[Pete]

HI,

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON CALLING MALE NURSES MURSES ?

I find this sort of thing comes up now and again. I find it very sexist. I did the same training and have the same commitment as my female colleagues. I have the deepest respect for my clients and my colleagues and proud to have the title Nurse.
I have 35 years of Nursing experience and remember being turn down for jobs because some hospitals said they do not have the toilet facilities for males and some were more open about not taking men.. I have been told many times I cannot be a Nurse because I am a man and only women are Nurses. I have been told that I am only a Nurse because I am too lazy to become a Doctor (that came from one of my past colleagues). I am told that I must be a Homosexual (not that is a problem but I am not) if I am a male Nurse. Sexism is not just about what men do to women, it works both ways. I cringe when I see mock Nurses uniforms in sex shops. I find it insulting to a noble career. We have earned more respect. I think we should seek that respect for our chosen career together and not spread division amoungst ourselves.
Sorry for the tone of the mailing but I do think it is offensive.

[mattsmom]

My male coworkers have ALL dealt with gay accusations and its infuriating. Just another stereotype nurses must deal with. Females who go into male dominated fields frequently are thought lesbian as well.

I don't know what it is about people having to 'peg' professions and the people who go into them. Why is it so hard to look at others as unique individuals and resist labeling ? Ah if only....

Scrubs is a funny show but I'm running into lots of young folks who've watched it and go into healthcare thinking it will be like Scrubs....TV is NOT real life, people!!! But so many form opinions based on these silly shows..and many of my male coworkers have been called Murses because of that show.

[3boyzmom]

Well, to me, logic just says that if you are going to call male nurses "murses", then you would have to call female nurses "furses". Otherwise, what's the logic of the word? And neither one sounds very professional!

I think the best way of coping with gay speculation is to just not care what people think. Hard to do, maybe. But if people have that preconception about male nurses, only time and experience will change it. I don't think calling them "murses" would do much but make them seem ridiculous.

[IV-RN]

As a male nurse I think we should be calld "Nurse" and accepted for the professionals we are. As a home health nurse I frequently get called on the pt that lives in the seeder part of town or if the pt is more aggresive. My reply is do I bleed differently if injuried? Would my family be less devistated if I was unable to provide for them... Why is it that so many female nurses act like they don't want the male in nursing until... Sorry so contaversial

[NawlinsGirl]

HI IV RN,

WELL ALL I CAN DO IS SPEAK FOR MYSELF BUT I WORKED WITH SOME AWSOME MALE NURSES IN MY UNIT AND I THINK THEY DESERVE RESPECT AND TO BE TREATED LIKE THE PROFESSIONALS THEY ARE..

NAWLINSGIRL

[3boyzmom]

Hey IV RN- I also have worked with some awesome male nurses! Re: being sent on more dangerous assignments, or sent to deal with aggressive patients- I don't think anyone thinks you're more dispensable than a female nurse. I just think that when us girls are intimidated by something, we tend to turn toward a male figure for protection if one is available! (OK, I'm going to get called sexist for that opinion!)

I worked on an inpatient psych unit for many years; one thing about psych nurses, they learn to be assertive and communicate their feelings and needs..... we had a male nurse on our team who, when it came to aggressive patients, didn't mind letting the females have a turn at it! He didn't shy away from the situation at all, but he expected the females to step up too. And we didn't mind, we were used to it and I STILL miss the psych setting. (the hospital closed the dept. d/t $$$$$- apparently many of the mentally ill don't have the courtesy to be properly insured.....*that is a cynical joke, don't anyone get mad*)

Re: the term "nurses"- there's nothing inherently gender specific about the term, any more than there is to the term "doctors". People just think of it as a female title because for so many years only females were nurses, I guess. So I still say, only time will make the difference. Any male, whether straight or gay, should disregard peoples' tendency to speculate. No need to stoop to that level. It's none of anybody's business. (I'm sure there are lesbian female nurses, but you don't see anyone worrying about that?????)

[IV-RN]

Actually I am not that hard nosed... Just thought that I would spark some intrest. I love being a nurse, and most all my coworks are realy great people.

[Pete]

Hey IV RN- I also have worked with some awesome male nurses! Re: being sent on more dangerous assignments, or sent to deal with aggressive patients- I don't think anyone thinks you're more dispensable than a female nurse. I just think that when us girls are intimidated by something, we tend to turn toward a male figure for protection if one is available! (OK, I'm going to get called sexist for that opinion!)

To tell you the truth. If I was in a difficult situation. I can think of some mental health female colleagues I would rather be with than some men. I dont think one can generalise here. Some women are very good at handling difficult situations.

[mattsmom]

We turn to our male coworkers because historically abusers pick women as their targets. They think they can get away with it. Loud ugly obnoxious abusers in the hospital setting rarely mess with the male nurses, and will back down when they see a guy around in many cases. I've encountered this over and over again in my 28 yrs as a nurse so I know its not just my imagination. It boils down to sexism and the tendency of some men to feel superior and feel justified in abusing women.

Guy nurses don't get the abuse from the docs that the girls do either in my experience. Same old sexism at work with male docs looking down on female nurses. Guys have a tendency to 'take it to the parking lot' and I've loved to watch them back down some very abusive docs. Funny thing: the girls are expected to 'take it' by management; the guys just take care of it themselves.

We all (male, female, purple, green whatever) bring unique strengths to our workplace and we can work together as a team to help each other and our patients. I frequently do a 'trade off' with my guy coworkers...ie I will do his female's peri care or trade patients if asked, if he gets a female rape victim patient. The guys will reciprocate by doing my young male foleys for me if I ask.

Unfortunately guys have greater upper body strength than most females and can lift more without risking injury, which has led some guys to feel abused. I wouldn't want to come into work every day knowing I'll have all the heavy lifters and combative pts. I've always used a 'group lift' policy so it doesn't happen in environments I've practiced; and we rotate problem patients.

Sorry so long...just need to add we gotta look out for each other in the workplace...nobody else will.

[Pete]

We turn to our male coworkers because historically abusers pick women as their targets. They think they can get away with it. Loud ugly obnoxious abusers in the hospital setting rarely mess with the male nurses, and will back down when they see a guy around in many cases. I've encountered this over and over again in my 28 yrs as a nurse so I know its not just my imagination. It boils down to sexism and the tendency of some men to feel superior and feel justified in abusing women.

Guy nurses don't get the abuse from the docs that the girls do either in my experience. Same old sexism at work with male docs looking down on female nurses. Guys have a tendency to 'take it to the parking lot' and I've loved to watch them back down some very abusive docs. Funny thing: the girls are expected to 'take it' by management; the guys just take care of it themselves.

We all (male, female, purple, green whatever) bring unique strengths to our workplace and we can work together as a team to help each other and our patients. I frequently do a 'trade off' with my guy coworkers...ie I will do his female's peri care or trade patients if asked, if he gets a female rape victim patient. The guys will reciprocate by doing my young male foleys for me if I ask.

Unfortunately guys have greater upper body strength than most females and can lift more without risking injury, which has led some guys to feel abused. I wouldn't want to come into work every day knowing I'll have all the heavy lifters and combative pts. I've always used a 'group lift' policy so it doesn't happen in environments I've practiced; and we rotate problem patients.

Sorry so long...just need to add we gotta look out for each other in the workplace...nobody else will.

A lot of clients will hit a male but will not hit the female (However do not take it for granted). Sometimes by working as a team in which the female does the talking and the male does the supporting, violent incidents are avoided.
Do I get sexism from doctors? No I do not usually. I may get treated like a pleb because I am a Nurse.
I do however get sexism sometimes from my female colleagues. Being passed off for promotion and not getting oportunities because the old pals act (in this case women only) is in play.
I also suffer from a bad back and have to have a special seat because my back has been damaged from lifting. So I do not know where this men do not risk injury from lifting comes from.
I think sexism is something that we need to suppport each other over. I have had words with staff (not just Doctors) who do verbally abuse someone because they are female and I have been a witness in tribunals for female colleagues who suffered from sexist abuse too. I think we should stand together. When people know they will get in trouble from sexist behaviour and staff will support those abused, then I believe the abuse will stop.

[Abbeygirl]

We are all nurses. We are female nurses and male nurses. Our hearts are in the same places. Well I can't speak for everyone, but I think all our hearts are in the same places.