Gender in the Workplace

Nurses General Nursing

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As a future nursing student, I am a bit concerned with the possibilities of sexist remarks, sexual harrassment in health care facilities towards nurses, or any health care professionals. I understand this is bound to happen, but at what frequency are serious altercations likely to occur? thanks for the info.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I see you are posting everywhere.

Why don't you shadow a nurse in all the specialities you are interested in so you see first hand what it is truly like?

You'll never get all this info in a forum.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Honestly, I've been a nurse for 17 years in several states, several hospitals, a couple of nursing homes, home care, etc.. and truly if folks have time for sexual harassment, they have too much time on their hands.

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Specializes in CRNA.
As a future nursing student, I am a bit concerned with the possibilities of sexist remarks, sexual harrassment in health care facilities towards nurses, or any health care professionals. I understand this is bound to happen, but at what frequency are serious altercations likely to occur? thanks for the info.

I just finished up my online sexual harassment class. It IS a REAL problem in the workplace. I myself deal with sexist and sexually harassing statements every day. I have always thought it was brought on by my badass mullet and mutton chops. The PROFESSIONAL thing to do is REPORT it when you see it. Or, if the sexual harasser happens to be an attractive individual complete with native teeth and bipedal locomotion, get their phone number and call them later. Together, we can eradicate this unprofessional behavior and enjoy a safe and nonsexual workplace.

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I agree with traumaRus. I've been a nurse in various settings for 25 years, and it's never been a problem. As a manager, I had to handle only one complaint from a staff person who felt a physician was making sexual comments to her.

If you do have any situations arise, speak to your supervisor. They are required to address your concerns.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Never been a problem. It COULD be a problem if one has no sense of humor, or of perspective. But I have never had a serious issue arise.

Always remember and never forget, if you look hard enough, you just might find what you're looking for.

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Specializes in Acute care, Community Med, SANE, ASC.

I've only been a nurse for three years but the only people who have said or done anything sexually inappropriate are patients--most of them confused, some of them just jack@$$es.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

i get hit on by older male patients (some confused and some not) all the time. sometimes i am hit on by a young married male patients... sometimes i am also hit on by friends or family members of my patients too. i have never felt threatened except once when a male psych patient was inappropriately acting out... in that case i had an old rachty nurse put him in his place. she was good at it!!

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.
i get hit on by older male patients (some confused and some not) all the time. sometimes i am hit on by a young married male patients... sometimes i am also hit on by friends or family members of my patients too. i have never felt threatened except once when a male psych patient was inappropriately acting out... in that case i had an old rachty nurse put him in his place. she was good at it!!

exactly my problem. i get hit on all the freakin time. not only by the patients but also by people that actually work here. and i am not talking about docs or other nurses because then i would feel good but maintenance men. and not even the good looking ones. the ugly ones. seriously. the only ones that do more of the hands on are the old men that are on drugs or confused. they have roaming hands. first funny story: during ns school i was helping the acp clean the patient who was under contact percautions i might add. and i was standing next to the mans' son and right in front of this man area and the acp was on the other side cleaning him. he started humping me. i haven't done anything with anyone so this scene just freaked me out. i was so grossed out. his son was like "dad! stop!" which the man just kept going, and i couldn't let him go because if i did then he would have fallen out of the bed. i was trying so hard to push with my hands while trying to move my legs back but not moving them back enough so that his thing was in my face. then of course my instuctor walks in and starts laughing, then proceeds to go and tell the other students. which everyone made fun of me because they said my first experiance in that department had been with a crazy old man:banghead:......next story:

once i accidentally stepped on this mans' iv line and i was like ah i am so sorry. i turned on the light and he blinked at me and said, "you can make it up to me by going out with me." he was in for substance abuse. i wanted to say boy please, i rather date my sister. :D

i don't consider myself pretty. i know i am somewhat attractive but by the way i get hit on at work you would think i was jennifer lopez or something. i am grateful that i get more of the hey baby come get some then the actual touching type of thing.

eh. i have learned to just smile and say the last person i went out with is still missing. :nurse:

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