Male Nurses attending to female patients (morals vrs ethics)

[nkmorale]

i am at a loss as to a male nurse attending to a female patient when it has to do with the nudity of the patient viz-a-viz the patient's well being, health needs etc. kindly help me out with this controversial issue.

[Jedi of Zen]

I'm a student and an EKG tech (which requires chest exposure), and in my experience, I think most generally most patients understand that the interactions that you are having with them are of a clinical and professional nature. Not to say that people might not still have uncomfortable/awkward moments, but if you keep it real and professional, most patients will not freak out about it any more than you will.

If I'm going to do something on a female patient that I know will require some exposure (ex - bath), I simply say something like "We're going to give you your bath after breakfast. I don't mind giving you your bath at all, but I can have a female student help us or simply do it instead of me if you'd like. Do you have any preference?" Most of them are cool with that. If they want a female, they'll usually say so, and usually they seem to appreciate your consideration.

With the EKGs, it's usually a quick procedure anyway, and I just work around the breasts as much as possible. I just explain what I'm doing, and it usually doesn't seem to be a problem.

[RedBrick]

I had been a CNA for 3 years, doing routine baths and bathroom detail with female clients without incident, when a new male RN at the hospital took me aside and said "it is not if, but when you will one day be sued for doing intimate care on a woman." I thought to myself , what??? I had excellent in-hospital training as a CNA and I was planning to attend nursing school at the time. I figured someone would have told me if it was inappropriate for a man to attend to female clients. I mentioned it to the RN on duty, someone of many years experience and leadership who told me not to worry, that male nurse had no business saying something like that to me. Now I have one more semester until I graduate as RN, and I wonder what kind of precautions I should use in the future when caring for female clients? My nurse manager had told me that I have a professional demeanor, and this should not become a problem. As a CNA, I had been asked by a few clients to find a female aide, but this did not happen very often.

[talaxandra]

So far, I been kick out, or ask not to come in because I'm a Male nursing student. So far i haven't done a physical assessment on any of the patients who had just had a baby or the new admission. The closest I got was to watch a assessment. But in New York City there are many cultures that don't want a male nurse examing them. I'm actually is going to pass this class, and in clinicals, I have not done all the basics.

I'm sorry you've had this experience - although I don't work in mid I've worked with a number of male midwives (including my unit manager). It's interesting that the fact you're a nurse is an issue for some patients and family when it wouldn't be if you were a doctor; I'm more concerned about the nurses who think it might be an issue.

[talaxandra]

I wonder what kind of precautions I should use in the future when caring for female clients? My nurse manager had told me that I have a professional demeanor, and this should not become a problem. As a CNA, I had been asked by a few clients to find a female aide, but this did not happen very often.

I'm surprised the nurse who told you this say it, and I'd be interested in knowing what his thinking is - in other words, on what basis he thinks a suit would be founded. Does he avoid performing intimate care on female patients, or does he think it's something specific about your practice?

I've worked with male nurses throughout my career and, with the rare exception of patients or families who've requested female staff for some aspects of care, there have never been issues. In those cases, as you already do, the male staff member sought out a female staff emmber to assist with or perform the care. I think what you're doing is fine.

Good luck with your nursing future :)

[shailee]

I am a student in NY taking maternity. This was the first time I saw how challenging it can be for a male nurse student. The male nurse who was my partner and I were assigned patients to to care on, to help with breastfeeding at the like. As mentioned by tabrown1 earlier, NY is filled with man cultures and beliefs. Although the husbans were polite to my partner, they requested of the staff nurses for him not to view, give care or even come into the room on the new mothers. This happened numerous times.

In one case, my male partner asked the family were there any problems, they said no. I came in a few minutes later, there were actually terrified over some new developments with the wife and baby. I had to go get expereinced nurses to address their concerns.

I think there are very real problems for male nurses and female patients as people from other countries come and no longer feel the pressure to assimilate into American culture. As they hold on to and embrace their own cultures and the media continues to push that most people have some hidden perversions we will see more of this.

[Dixie_Girl]

i also dont se controversy in it at all i allways get male docters an nurses whn i go to hospitals an what not whn i was younger id of rather had a girl but now i dont care lol an a famale pt can always tell you shed perfer to have a female

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Thread closed for staff review.