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Confessions of a Male Nurse
What's it like to be a male nurse in a woman-dominated profession? For Richard Steele it means incompetent administrators, drug-addicted doctors, a whacked-out nursing staff, long and grueling hours, and bizarre patients. Confessions of a Male Nurse is a roller-coaster ride through the on- and off-duty life of a gay male nurse in the early 1980s. This hilarious, often touching, dark comic novel will take you on a wild ride with our irreverent hero with some of the wackiest adventures to the horrifying beginning of the AIDS crisis.
- GenresGay Fiction
147 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 27, 2017
I expected a book about men in nursing, but was confused about whether it was more about his life as a nurse or more about his gay life. I have read a number of other books by nurses and they were able to keep their own personal sex lives and orientations out of their books.
January 16, 2009
I've actually heard this guy speak at a nursing convention once. He's done a lot in the profession, especially for HIV/AIDS patients. I think I've heard him on NPR, too.
I enjoyed the book, chuckling to myself at some of the mishaps that reminded me of things I have witnessed in my own career. We didn't have quite the same number of drug/alcohol impaired nurses or doctors in any of the states I have worked in (or at least not so blatant ones). But I've had my share of bad-assed, mean or arrogant ones. That's a part of nursing I do not miss.
Nurses are a breed apart- especially those who work at the bedside on the off-shifts, or in ICU. I've been there, done that, and am glad it's behind me, but it was a rush when it was happening. The shot of adrenaline to your system when you realize a patient is circling the drain and you're the only thing between him and the sewer has quite a kick. The rush when they revive or the depths when they go is pretty unique.
On the other aspect of this book- life as a gay male, I've not read much in the way of that, so was pretty interested to see this guy's take on things. Casual sex is not something I can relate to (hetero or homo), even before the AIDS epidemic. I guess I'm a monogamous kind of creature. I remember being single and a nurse when herpes first reared its ugly head, and one of my colleagues despaired because she thought it put a crimp in her lifestyle. I'd moved on to another unit by the time AIDS appeared on the scene. I don't remember it being thought of as a cancer, but do remember that we all took it seriously, but never dreamed that so many decades later, there still would be no cure.
As to the stereotype of men who go into nursing being gay, I've worked with many more gay women in nursing than I have with gay men. I know a lot of men in the field and very few are homosexual- or at least very few are out of the closet homosexual.
I enjoyed the book, chuckling to myself at some of the mishaps that reminded me of things I have witnessed in my own career. We didn't have quite the same number of drug/alcohol impaired nurses or doctors in any of the states I have worked in (or at least not so blatant ones). But I've had my share of bad-assed, mean or arrogant ones. That's a part of nursing I do not miss.
Nurses are a breed apart- especially those who work at the bedside on the off-shifts, or in ICU. I've been there, done that, and am glad it's behind me, but it was a rush when it was happening. The shot of adrenaline to your system when you realize a patient is circling the drain and you're the only thing between him and the sewer has quite a kick. The rush when they revive or the depths when they go is pretty unique.
On the other aspect of this book- life as a gay male, I've not read much in the way of that, so was pretty interested to see this guy's take on things. Casual sex is not something I can relate to (hetero or homo), even before the AIDS epidemic. I guess I'm a monogamous kind of creature. I remember being single and a nurse when herpes first reared its ugly head, and one of my colleagues despaired because she thought it put a crimp in her lifestyle. I'd moved on to another unit by the time AIDS appeared on the scene. I don't remember it being thought of as a cancer, but do remember that we all took it seriously, but never dreamed that so many decades later, there still would be no cure.
As to the stereotype of men who go into nursing being gay, I've worked with many more gay women in nursing than I have with gay men. I know a lot of men in the field and very few are homosexual- or at least very few are out of the closet homosexual.
December 23, 2016
I wrote it do I think it needs a lot of work but still is a damn good book. I had a less than great publisher. Now finishing up the big and last part of the story started in Confessions - bring it forward as a "fictional autobiography". Working title is "The Suricides of My Life". Complex and brutally honest with few details disguised. Just need a push.
October 7, 2011
Amazing, in depth look into the sexy, intellectual, and revealing early days of nursing for Ric Ferri. A must read for all openly gay male nurses!. Unable to put book down, continue to return to this book on a yearly basis, what a great work of isnpiration.
February 12, 2011
This was an interesting read. I laughed a good bit and wondered a bit more...lol
September 17, 2015
This was a cute book. Love all the characters. The inner monologue made me fall in love with the main character. Great book for the summer or for a plane ride.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews