A method (508) and system (226) provide directional medium access control for wireless nodes (102) in a wireless network (100), each of the nodes (102) having a transceiver (228) and a plurality of antennas (232, 234, 236, 238, 240) in selective communication with the transceiver (228). Packets (202) are transmitted from a transmitting node (106) of the nodes (102) when a channel (104) is sensed as being free in a beam direction of a selected one of the antennas (232, 234, 236, 238, 240), and in accordance with a pre-determined transmission mode (304) for the data packet (202). The transmitting node (106) is periodically placed in a forced idle state, thereby being prevented from transmitting data packets (202), but being able to receive and respond to data packets (202) from other nodes (102).