I thought I would start a thread where we could list all the funny things patients/nurses/doctors etc. have said to you regarding being a (male) nurse.

I had a patient say something along the lines of, "So...if women are Registered Nurses when they graduate, what to they call men when they graduate from their school? Male Nurses?"

He was shocked to learn we are all Registered Nurses, and furthermore that we go to the same schools! I got a chuckle.

Sean

I tend to get some patients referring to me as "Doctor", even though I'm wearing a white tunic, and not a garish tie.

Whenever I go into a room with a male nurse to help me (pull up/reposition a patient, etc)... when I go back in later, the patient invariably asks me "who that nice doctor was that helped" me.

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code blog

An 80 year old man found out that his male "doctor" was really a nurse. He turned to me and said, "That explains it. I was wondering why a doctor was giving me a bath this morning. Why would he? Your job SUCKS!"

For some time I was the only male nurse on our ward, but still being a student I wasn't sure about everything pt ask you. So I was in my office (its actually the med students office, but us nurse students use it at the moment) doing medication logs and I got a message saying to go to room .... as my nurse buddy wanted me.

So down I trundle to the room, there is my pt for the morning sitting on the side of the bed, he was refusing to talk to the female nurse (my buddy) as he wanted to talk to a guy! I ended up having to say I had to check with her as she was supposed to be teaching me.

This happened a number of times, with regards to showers esp.

I imagine that many male patients are happy to see male nurses on the unit when it's time for a bed bath. Do you ever have female patients refuse to have you for their nurse because you are a man?

MJ

YES!!! MJ.
It happens all the time, but not always because I'm male, I think most of the time it is because I'm male and young (20s). Most of the time I don't mind (one less I have to do) but other nurses hate it (more work for them). Most of the time you can pick the pt that will refuse (the young and very sick), but there are some surprises. The issue is that it can delay the rest of your day as your pt take longer to be ready for other things.

The hospital where I work tries to maintain independence for the pt, So pt generally wash themselves with a nurse there to transport pt in and out, and to supervise until it comes to backs, feet/legs, and hair. When pt realize this (that many nurses are there just to supervise) they generally agree for male nurses.

I always find it amazing that patients are willing to show any part of their body to a man they think is a doctor but then don't want a man who is a nurse to wash them.

My brother (a male nurse) was told by a male patient that he would not take the medication prescribed to him in the ER unless it was given to him by that "pretty nurse" out there by the desk. The pretty nurse was a secretary. My brother said, "okay," and left with the medication. The ER was, as always, particularly busy; so....the man waited and waited and waited, (it was only an antibiotic so don't get excited)until he finally said to my brother, "Hey, when am I going to get my medication and be able to go home?" My brother, without a grin on his face said, "Oh, I'd say in about 4 years, the secretary you pointed to just started nursing school.

Disclaimer: The story above may or may not be true....decide for yourself. If it's true, I certainly don't want to violate the HIPPA laws, if it's not true, then I've amuse you. Either way it's all good.

PS: The man got his meds and went home. Opppps.... does that make the story true?

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www.MyOwnWoman.blogspot.com

Thanks for the laughs today - too funny! We have a Physician's Assistant who also happens to be an RN AND an NP! We worked with Joe as a staff nurse before the docs hired him as a PA.

He repeated, and I mean repeatedly tells the patients he is not the doctor and no one seems to hear him! It happens now as a PA and it happened then as an RN!

I work with a ton of male nurses. The testosterone level in my department is very adequate - there are nights that between the doctor, the ER tech and my co-nurses I'm the only female.

This means that I do all the pelvic exams with the doc and the female caths on young women. I don't mind. The guys have my back for other things and we work together.

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The ER is the only place where you are rewarded for efficiency by getting more patients!

Kim
http://www.emergiblog.com