It Frustrates Me

[Inspired By Silence]

Why do male nurses need to be "chaperoned" when performing intimate procedures on women patients. For God's sake, they're professionals who underwent rigorous academic training to get where they are. Do male gynecologists need to be chaperoned? NO! How about male obstetrician? Again, NO! To suggest male nurses need to be supervised to do what they do is an insult to their intelligence. I'm sick and tired of being looked down upon because of my genetic makeup. I am not a sexual predator, I would NEVER purposely hurt a patient under my care. I long to work with children in a neurosurgical ICU / step down unit, but if I'm going to be eyed suspiciously for merely doing my job, then it's not worth it.

The nursing profession needs radical change NOW! This sexism must be stopped.

[RNBearColumbus, BSN]

This post deleted, because I was probably talking to a wall anyway.

[Bill E. Rubin]

Like others on this thread, I have never been required to have a chaperone. Just impractical in the context of acute care nursing. However, I use my judgment before doing any manner of intimate care on a female pt as to her mental status and the likelihood of her freaking out about it.

I always have a female nurse present when inserting a foley or straight cath... Not only to cover my orifice and to make the pt more comfortable, but because catheterizing female pts is hard to do without another pair of hands even if an a&ox3 pt is totally ok with my doing it.

[elkpark]

This post deleted, because I was probably talking to a wall anyway.

(I saw the original post (before you deleted it) and thought it was a good one ... :))

[blackhundred]

It's a judgment call, man. I don't exactly dig certain procedures with females, anyway. I hate the "male nurse" vice "female doctor" paradigm. But it is what it is. If they're not okay, then you ARE professional when you back off. A lack of support from coworkers, however, is nuts and should bother you. It's a dynamic field, I wish you luck.

[zombiehunter]

As a male nursing student, I had my assignments in my peds clinicals based on gender. The professor would have had to be with me everytime I entered the room if my patient were female. Yes, it's to cover me and yes, it's annoying. Even in my job as a CNA/PCT I often pass EKGs to female coworkers if my patient is a younger female. The older/elderly one's don't seem to mind though.

[Maria Lenore,RN]

Guess male nurses asking for someone to go with him in attending to female patients, simply because for a reason that he needs a witness if in case something come up ......... like if patients will accuse them of something they dont do

[coolcatdaddy35]

I personaly will have a female nurse with me if i have to do invasive procedures on a female pt. Last year (while I was still a CNA) a male nurse that i was very good friends with, married had children, was accused of fondling a female pt while checking the leads on a tele and making comments to her that was inappropriate. The pt had been in the hospital a few days and my friend had her as a pt every day they would talk and joke but nothing in a sexual way. There was a female nurse in the room that the pt did not realize was there. This saved him from loosing his job and reputation.

[patrice meursault]

Sorry to contribute to an old thread, and many have already ointed out the OP faulty rationale/arguement.

I just want to point out that the OP's is also wrong in the fact that he never even considers the patient's comfort level. I higly doubt the 19 yr old girl wants him to place her foley or do an EKG etc....

THINK OF THE PATIENT before thinking of what you want to do.

Check your ego at the door man!

I ask my female coworkers to perform any intrusive procedures, not only to cover myself, but for the patient's sake/comfort.

[czyja, MSN, RN]

Does not frustrate me at all. It is for my protection.

A friend of mine works at women's health center. All of the nurses, NPs, MDs, staff and patients are women. Even in this all female environment, all breast or pelvic exams are "chaperoned." It just makes sense for everybody concerned.