Hindrance to professional growth

Specialties Emergency

Published

I have this in the ER thread because I am in ER. Therefore with the acuity levels, "conveniences" are not, or shouldn't be a hindrance to patient care. I'll try to make this short, I a really quite depressed about this topic.

First, I am a male RN. I realize that many/ most will not admit to what I am implying here.

For one, always take the patients wishes into consideration, no problem, I am a professional, or at least id like to be treated like one. Why is it that female patients are always catered to? Pelvic exam, cath etc...??? Why am I immediately presumed "not qualified" to be involved with these procedures? I know what some of the "reasons" that will be stated.

I have passed background checks, got my RN license, am a decent and respected individual, but I am presumed to be a danger? to female patients?? I say "I and me" meaning males in general.

With the amount of males in nursing now, does anyone EVER assume that the guy would like to have a male nurse doing a cath? No. We "presume" and follow stereotypes. "Oh guys don't care..." etc. YET, we exclude males from certain care tasks when the female patient hasn't voiced an aversion at all. Again, "ask if the female would mind???" Really?? Does anyone ask the male "if he would mind a female being in there?" I'm sure some will say something like " well females have been nursing for a long time and the males just know that they have to deal with it..." Well, males are nurses now, where is the consistency?? Male trauma patients come in and no one hesitates in removing all clothing, just let it alll hang out and many times don't even get them covered up in a reasonable amount of time. Inversely, the female trauma comes in, and soon it's " oh it's a female, us girls will go in and do such and such" or they won't remove the clothing as quickly or as openly as they will on a guys, and sometimes I have seen them not remove pants because they "didn't want to ruin her clothes!" What?!?!

And by the way, no one rushes in and saves granny from a male giving her an enema. DOUBLE STANDARS ABOUND. Makes me sick and depressed. How will I advance in professional practice with all the "assumed" problems with males and female patients?

I will say, I don't care. The girls can do ALL the patients, male and female, caths enemas, pelvis, for all I care. But when the selectivity comes out it is just plain WRONG, and it IS discrimination.

One more point; it is wise to avoid being alone with a female patient for the "private" tasks...reason being, all that it would take it 1 female making an accusation and my entire career could be over. Inversely, is a male patient made a complaint against a female nurse it wouldn't even be taken seriously.

If you're going to flounce, then flounce and be gone.

If what you initially posted isn't what you meant, then post what you meant. And if 5 pages of people responded to a part of your post that wasn't what you "meant," it's probably not that all those people misread you. You wrote something that was either unclear or misleading. To me, it seems more that you are trying to insist something is a problem without wanting to listen to the very valid reasons why it's a smaller problem than, say, re-traumatizing your patient.

As for responding to Esme's very thoughtful, detailed post with "your grammar is bad" (in a run-on sentence no less!) . . . it's too bad you can't take the time to stretch your mind and actually read what she said. She addressed many of your points very clearly (if not concisely), and to respond so glibly suggests that you didn't either didn't bother to read such a long post, or you do not wish to address the points she raises.

Specializes in RN.
I am confused by your post. If your fellow nurses are that disrespectful to male trauma patients they are unprofessional. How does their unprofessional behavior affect you professional growth. It sounds to me like your co-workers have issues with you and you being male... it is unfair to assume that all female nurses feel the same way.

I am not sure why you feel that there are double standards and discrimination because no one minds a male nurse giving "Granny" and enema and that you feel your are being professionally denied opportunities with female patients that aren't elderly.

Many physicians prefer to have females accompany them with a pelvic as having a female "chaperone" to ensure the "safety" of the patient is the accepted practice. Even when an all male staff is present, which by the way I would be very careful to not schedule that way when I was a manager, females always have the right to ask for a female in the room. It makes them feel better....and it is all about the patient and not your personal feelings that you are being denied professional growth.

Many females are very uncomfortable having a strange man explore their private parts and are comforted by the presence of another female. While you feel that this is somehow limiting your practice... it is something you are going to have to adjust to for it is about the patient...not you. I will tell you that, for the most part, ALL female sexual assaults are handled by female nurses out of respect (and necessity) and trust me you should thank you fellow nurses for having to have to do this task.

I disagree that complaint of sexual assault from a male patient is ignored and I am sorry you feel that way...I wonder what your personal experiences have been that make you feel that this is the case. Your feelings that the nurses don't hesitate with the male patients to " let it all hang out" makes me feel the staff you work with is unprofessional. Your feelings of discrimination confuse me and if your present ED have staff that treat you this way ...maybe you should seek another position.

I have had just many male patients request female nurses to inset their foley caths for they do not want another male handling their private parts....of course you will be excluded from most pelvic exams as the presence of a female is preferred...your professional growth isn't apart of that equation, and males do not get pelvic exams. I always have another nurse accompany me on young male cath insertions it is just the right ting to do.

I have no problem with male nurses and I have never limited their patient load due to their anatomy different from females. As long as the male nurse shows the proper decorum, professional demeanor, and competence...they are just one of the girls as far as I am concerned.

A male nurse I worked with in an ICU was our "token male"(at the time a there were very few male nurses) his patient was wildly confused that night and chewed, yes chewed, how foley in half. As we all went in to help restrain the patient the male of the group inserted the foley. The next day when we came back a 7pm we were told that the patient had continued to have hallucinations for she insisted she was raped by a Mexican and held down by his blonde *******.

We fell out of chairs...this poor little old lady remembers a male of Hispanic origin inserting something in her private parts being held by four blonde females...we were horrified and the patient was terrified. That nurse never took care of he again she was terrified of him. Does this mean that this nurse was being discriminated against...NO! did this nurse understand...yes he did and he felt horrible that his poor little lady was traumatized....but this changed how all of us practiced that day. we were much more cognizant of certain tasks that might be difficult or confusing to the patient. He was a great nurse and realized it was all about the patient and not him.

It makes me uncomfortable that you feel that not performing these tasks on patients other than "Granny" is somehow hindering you or discrimination. I think your peers have issues with professionalism and maybe you need to speak to your manager.

But to use a single brush to paint that all nurses discriminate against male nurses and it is a right for male to do these tasks just isn't accurate. IMHO

I reread this post. My original response was born out of frustration, and it was uncalled for. My apologies, especially the grammar comment, sorry...

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I reread this post. My original response was born out of frustration, and it was uncalled for. My apologies, especially the grammar comment, sorry...
Apologies are always accepted. We are here to try to help each other...especially me.

I think your environment might be toxic...with it being a small ED it will be difficult to change their culture. Their behavior isn't acceptable and with an entire career in front of you...don't let the small stuff get to you. Bide your time, learn what they can offer get that one year and move on.

I realize this is an extremely old post, but don't care. Also, I'm not a nurse, I'm a phlebotomist. I just wanted to say to the op, stop being such a *****. Tell your co workers to go **** them selves. In a more polite manner, of course. People are going to continue to walk all over you if you let them. Your coworkers probably don't even realize it's an issue, because you don't tell them. I would pull them aside, or bring it up in a meeting. Simply say that you don't appreciate them going behind your back and undermining you. That it's very unprofessional, and you are a licensed professional and went through the same training that they did. And if that doesn't work, I would just start doing the exact same thing back to them with all their male patients. Also bring it to the supervisors attention.

You're not presumed to be a danger -- its just a matter of patient comfort ... maybe are anticipating that patients wont want male nurses in on a pelvic exam, because such nurses wouldnt want male nurses in that scenario?

+ Add a Comment