I'm a critical care RN in Canada. I can see how some people could still potentially consider it to be a woman's job, but when you're making 80-90k a year and only working 13-14 days a month who cares? I find the work rewarding as well as a great learning experience. Furthermore, its setting me up for my next career goal of becoming a CRNA (nurse anesthetist).
In the ICU you look after some really phucked up people. You'll see severe sepsis, ARDS/ARF, crazy ass traumas, transplants, etc. etc! Its not like you sit there and spoon feed patients, give back rubs and get bedpans. You'll have to titrate ionotropes/vasopressors, analyze ECGs, work w/ some crazy technologies like pulmonary artery catheters, art. lines, CVCs, crazy wound healing devices like wound-vacs, CRRT/IHD, and even MARS. You can also be a part of the Code/medical emergency teams (responding to cardiac arrests/medical emergencies anywhere in the hospital). Working codes is a total rush!
My first degree is in Mol. micro. I could have done a Masters/PhD afterwards, but elected to get an after-degree B.ScN because I liked working with people instead of being stuck in a lab all day. I don't regret my decision at all. If you're a secure guy and you enjoy your job, why would you care what others think of you and/or your work?