Should a gay male LPN reveal his sexual orientation... - Page 4

[color=#ffa07a]it seems like it is not the others but you focusing on your sexual orientation at work. be professional and focus on your care only please. you don't have to let everyone know you are gay; especially the little kids. it is very ugly and inappropriate to discuss your sexual orientation with the patients. if anybody asks, give them short, conclusion answers and redirect the subject. yes, we should be honest, but not about our private lives if this will bring issues; honesty is for our patients and our work.

I'm in the Southern part of the US, and there are many traditional/conservative patients here, especially
among the older population. It wouldn't be worth the headache for you to reveal any personal information to them that
some may find controversial. LGBTQ health care professionals may be out to their peers, as hospitals are
generally progressive around here, but not to their patients.

I had an interesting conversation with my dentist about this once. He revealed he was gay after we wandered onto
the topic of the local Pride Parade (I had played drums in a marching band for it). He said he had some initial
awkward conversations with patients over his sexual orientation, and after that experience, he now prefers
to keep mum about it, for professional and business reasons.

Frankly when I am at work I don't want to hear about anyone's sex life or orientation. This should be private. When you are taking care of patients, TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS, your private life is none of their business. And if asked about dates, the answer is either yes or no - not what sex. Stop talking about yourself, especially to children, and do your job.

If questioned by patients about personal matters i don't wish to discuss i just cheerfully pipe up that i'm just a big old bore and i'd rather talk about them. You owe nobody an explaination.

In your original post, you mentioned that you learned to be honest with your psychiatric patients. Being honest does not mean telling people everything about you. For example, if a patient asked you how much money you had in your savings account, would you tell them, in the name of being "honest?" I certainly hope not. You have a personal life and a professional life. You do not have any obligation to reveal anything about your personal life unless you choose to do so, and then, only to those with whom you choose to share that information. That is not dishonesty; it is maintaining health boundaries (even if the patient questioning you does not!)

Like all men in nursing, I have been asked this too. I choose not to answer. I am not uncomfortable with the question, but I think that the question is undeserving of an answer. I usually laugh, and say something like, "let's take care of getting you that pain medication you need" or whatever else I am there to do. Occasionally, I have had patients (very rarely, and always guys) who do not want to be cared for by a man. Fine. I swap with a female colleague and get back to work. (I would do the same if a woman wanted a female nurse to care for her, though that does not come up as often.)

Bottom lines:
1. It is none of their business. In fact, asking a personal question of someone that you do not know well is rude. I have neither the obligation nor the time to stand around catering to someone's rudeness.
2. I am free to answer or not answer personal questions as I please, and however I please, so long as I do not behave rudely myself.

care to share? As a nursing student, i would love some tips!

I really like this deflection. I will use it! thx!

I wonder.....

WHy does it matter? Just say yeah I hav a date and leave it at tha or change the subject....I'm bi but I dont' feel the need to correct people when they say "Do you have a boyfriend?" I can honestly answer no and leave it at that..they dont need to know I have a gilfriend atm instead. *shrug* Especially if you are in a hostile state...

Esp to little kids..they dont understand the difference and they dont need to. Just say little as possible.

My personal life is no one's freakin business. At work or off of work.

Sometimes just turning it around and saying "why do you ask?" shuts some people up, like rude nosy coworkers.