On Being a Male Nurse

At least once per week since the first time I entered a hospital as a nursing student, I hear this question leave a patient, family member, or other visitor’s mouth, “Why aren’t you a physician?”  This is such a harmless and easy question to answer…right?

Many quips quickly enter my mind in rebuttal of such a question.  I believe many forget the importance of the care that they or their loved one receives under the diligent eye of a good nurse.  It is a nurse who notices the slight decline in your blood pressure or change in other vital signs, which may signal a deterioration in your wellbeing.  It is your nurse who will phone the physician, may he or she have an educated inkling you are beginning to stray from the current plan of care.  It is your nurse who will tirelessly perform compressions if your heart may happen to stop during your stay in the hospital.  It is your nurse who advocates your wishes to the physician.  It is your nurse who does all of these things while still managing to pass and hang your medications, change your bed, comfort you in times of despair, and explain medical jargon to you in a more understandable manner.

Yes, nurses still do clean you up after you’ve had an accident in such a way as to keep your dignity intact as possible.  But, if you believe this is all your nurses do while working their twelve-hour shift, please see above.

Nurse's Note: Asking your nurse why he or she is not a physician is not a compliment.  It is insult to your nurse and to the profession of nursing.  Next time this thought enters your head, please, keep it to yourself. 


Camille says:  Here's a quiz to see if you have been paying attention!  Examine these rough line drawings carefully and see if you can determine which is the nurse and which is the physician:

1.

2.

3.

(actually, I don't know the answer either, I just wanted to draw pictures of naked people)