[anonymurse]

Hey dudes, we don't talk about it much, but there are tons of significant concerns male pts have laid on me that I'm pretty sure they'd never have told a female nurse. Just glad to be there for them.

[leosrain]

I'm struggling to see a question or discussion point. Are you trying to talk about the difference between male/female nurses in regards to interactions with male patients? Could you clarify?

Sean

[Tweety]

I had a patient tell me he just masturbated and the ejaculate was very hot "what does that mean?". Nope don't think he told that to a female (and he didn't use those terms either)

Seriously, there's a communication level that is different man-to-man than with female patients. I feel sometimes females hold back just a little because they are more comfortable with females. The female techs have told me a few things before that the patients haven't felt comfortable talking about with them and visa versa.

[anonymurse]

Originally Posted by Tweety

I had a patient tell me he just masturbated and the ejaculate was very hot "what does that mean?"

Wow, nobody disses me esp. not like that (I mean they may say some things in the grip of anxiety they wouldn't ordinarily say, but that's different). So what's with that?

[Thedreamer]

I find male patients being very open and honest with me. Ive yet to have a female patient in clinicals.. So I really cant compare yet!

- the dreamer

[styRN]

I've always had a bit of a mixed bag of rapport with male patients. Mind you, I'm in a smaller community which I think affects patient's perceptions and pre-conceived notions of a nurse.

Some patients and families seem a little unnerved about a male nurse, likely due to ingrained stereotyping and perhaps secretly question the nurse's sexuality (I'm hetero, not that it matters). It's funny how they can be totally accepting of my presence when they think I'm a doc or training to become one, but when I introduce myself as an RN, their acceptance has been known to change to skepticism and hesitant unsuredness. Funny. I've worked LTC most of my carrer and I think most of any resistance to acceptance comes as a generational thing. I do find that the older I get, the more accepting patients are of me; reactions to a male nurse are alot different now than they were 20 years ago.

On the other hand, I've also had many who I was able to have that 'male bonding' thing with, where they seem to open up more with a male nurse. Personal cares/procedures seem easier for them when I'm performing them (i.e. catheterizations)

Overall, I rarely have any difficulties; first impressions, as with everything, are paramount in nursing to develop a rapport early on, and my mechanism has always been humour.

[canoehead]

I don't understand either.

Is there a particular concern that you have on your mind you think the allnurses guys will help with?

[gitterbug]

Guys do talk differently to their male nurses. No surprise, females speak to their female nurses differently too. Sometimes, my buddy "T" and I will drop in on each others patient. Good for the patient and it has averted some problems. Good working relationships with teammates, no matter the sex, is worth its weight in gold.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by anonymurse

Wow, nobody disses me esp. not like that (I mean they may say some things in the grip of anxiety they wouldn't ordinarily say, but that's different). So what's with that?

This guy was totally serious, so I didn't take it as disrespect. I fumbled some answer about internal body temperature or external temp. or something like that.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by canoehead

I don't understand either.

Is there a particular concern that you have on your mind you think the allnurses guys will help with?

He's not really asking a concern he needs feedback on.

He is saying that men will sometimes talk to a male nurse about stuff they might have had to keep inside had a male not been around. The op is glad male patients have opened up to him and he's been there for them. He's wondering if we can relate.