Can a male nurse work in home health?

caliotter3 · Jul 12, 2011

But in hh, the clients have the right to decide who does, and who does not, gain entrance to their homes. So the agency can not help it if they can not keep a male nurse working due to not having enough clients willing to accept him. The agency is wrong in refusing to hire a male nurse, but they probably do it out of convenience more than anything else. Nobody has called them on it. At least not yet.

Noimanurse · Jul 12, 2011

Very true caliotter, they seem to hide behind "the client doesn't want a man as a nurse" type of statement. My question is why? Is it that they truely don't want a man do to personal issues or is it that the HH agency just fails to promote the fact that men are nurses, too. I have had very little problem in the hospital setting, the only problems have been dealing with occasional catheter-insertion or other peri-area care situations, but its rare. I honestly got the feeling that this agency just didn't want to "mess" with a man as one of their nurses, discrimination, yes, so I am suppose to take time out of my full-time work schedule, away from my wife, and away from my kids to fight some HH agency that doesn't want to hire a hardworking, caring, knowledgeable nurse? Possibly, but for now, they miss out on having me as a caring employee and I use my skills at an employer that cares, for a wife that cares, and for kids that love hanging out with the old man and going to the beach every once in a while.

Unacceptable, yes, but again, they hide behind the client statement. I know this is off subject a bit, but when I was looking for my first nursing job 2 years ago I sent in resumes to 5 area employers, no one called. I finally called the place I mostly wanted to work, the place where I was acquainted with the HR manager. When I called him, he confirmed he had received my resume but they had no openings with my business or management experience (career change). So I told him I was applying for the open nurse position that was still posted, he very kindly let me know that I had to have a nursing degree for that, I told him to look at the education area on my resume just below my name and contact information...."oh", he said, "I'll send this to the nurse manager and she will be calling you for an interview"...the rest is history, but I guarantee you the other few places I sent a resume to also probably glanced at the resume, saw my "male" name and didn't read the resume or the cover letter that clearly states my nursing degree just below the contact information or the cover letter that clearly stated my goals as a nurse in the first paragraph. So should I go around and again take even more time being a crusader and breaking down HR walls or should I enjoy my life as I am now?

Steeleworks · Jul 12, 2011

I did it in home health and in hospice for years. Why not.

Holy Guiacamole, BSN · Jul 15, 2011

whoooooo hold on here! i was hired after one interview and trained for my patients. i was told that i could not work for a female patient because it was company policy, which is fine because i work 40 hours a week. if i was told i would not be hired because i was a male, you are talking about lawsuit territory. they are gender discriminating against men. while i do not care enough to make a stink while i am working full time if i had no hours or job because of a policy now you are talking about money damages i.e. lawsuit.
crashvector, check yourself. i am a male, jewish nurse my whole life involves knowing which battles are worth fighting and which battles are not. do not compare a bad company policy with the belittling or suffering of fellow human beings which is just flat out evil.

ha ha...not sure how being jewish makes you a pro on things that are really just common sense; but hey, if you got the card play it :-)

MrChicagoRN, RN · Jul 16, 2011

But in hh, the clients have the right to decide who does, and who does not, gain entrance to their homes. So the agency can not help it if they can not keep a male nurse working due to not having enough clients willing to accept him. The agency is wrong in refusing to hire a male nurse, but they probably do it out of convenience more than anything else...

But is it even true that their customers are indeed refusing care from males? Have they surveyed their clients, do they ask them if they care what the gender of their caregiver is? Do they have records of complaints, or is it what someone at the agency decided...perhaps after one complaint...or maybe none. It's funny how that wasn't an issue with the clients (or their families) at my agency over the 13 years I was there. The agency is providing a professional service, not providing domestic help.

Decades ago many businesses refused to hire non-whites because they claimed their white customer base didn't want to be served by "coloreds." That argument didn't hold water & was finally outlawed on the federal level in the 60's. Convenience isn't a legally defensible position.

The problem with the argument that "I got mine, I get paid for 40, so I don't care," is that it gives the shaft to the next guy. If they have enough work for one male RN, and agency business expand and they need 2 more nurses, does that mean they'll be willing to hire 2 qualified males, or will those two be pushed aside because the male to female mix of new patients won't provide enough "male-only visits?"

caliotter3 · Jul 16, 2011

You can not force the employer to be honest. I seriously doubt that every single client refuses male nursing care. And many who do intially could probably be persuaded with a little professional effort. It is just like the situation when an applicant is told the position has been filled yet the ad still runs, and/or they find out that days or weeks go by while others are being considered. Employers lie and they lie often.

nola1202 · Jul 16, 2011

Wow I was really shocked by the posts. I know 2 excellent nurses who worked with both male and female patient's. When I moved and had to quit my hh job guess who I called and requested to take my caseload.

We also had male Physical therapists and occupational therapists working with female patients.

I was working in New Orleans-suburb Metaire, it has it's share of bigots and rigid thinkers, but not for this.

trry699 · May 30, 2012

@Suanna, are you for real? Are you even an RN? This is the kind of descrimination I found with an instructor in school. You must of had one lousy father to have so much hate for men. You have little if any common sense. Bet you love to watch Fox news for all your facts also.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 31, 2012

Sacred eagle · Jun 17, 2012

Do you know who Stephen Hawkingis? The most acclaimed scientist since Albert Einstein, yet whileproviding home health care to him, his female nurse divorcedher husband and married herpatient. Sounds like a boundaryviolation to me.