What are your thoughts on patients who request no male nurses taking care of them?

Nurses Men

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Specializes in Rehab, Ortho-Spine, Med-Surg, & Psych.

It's a matter of preference, comfort, sometimes religion. Personally, I rather have a male nurse handle my genitals than a woman, if need be... but that's just my comfort level... nothing against women.

Don't take it personal.

dfw_bsn

12 Posts

I get this request as a CNA all the time. Thinking in terms of the patient mindset, I respect the decision.

Murse Mike

4 Posts

It's about the patients comfort not your pride. If they're more comfortable with a female, that's fine.

CrazierThanYou

1,917 Posts

I think it should be accommodated. I agree with the poster who said something about them being uncomfortable and less likely to divulge information. I used to go to a doctor's office who often (nearly always) had young medical students or aspiring medical students in the room with us. I hated it. It made me uncomfortable and I was less likely to say certain things.

To the poster who said she saw a male nurse looking up a female patient's gown, I am horrified at how unprofessional this person must be.

Still Standing

179 Posts

In my opinion its about comfort. Me personally I don't go to a male OBGYN, I intentionally searched for a female. I don't feel confortable with a male looking at me, although its professional, but for me its intimate and personal, and that's how I'm sure those patients feel. I know lots of women, who prefer a male doctor, nurse, etc, but I don't want any man other than my husband seeing me in that way, unless its an emergency situation or life or death where I don't have control over. But other than that for personal care I would want a woman, its already uncomfortable having to have someone assist you to provide personal care and even more embarrassing that a stranger male, has to. So try not to take it personally.

Labdan62

3 Posts

What are your thoughts on patients who request no male nurses taking care of them?
If I had to be cathed...Since I know most are gay(no discredit to the ability or professionalism, but...)

SweettartRN

661 Posts

Pure ignorance on the part of the refuser.

I personally don't go to a male doctor because I feel a female one understands female people and issues better, but I don't refuse to see one if she's not available.

I'm sure much of it is modesty of an older generation. Though you still have idiots out there who think that an unknown person of the opposite sex is just out looking for "a good time" and wants to harm people....

CrazierThanYou

1,917 Posts

If I had to be cathed...Since I know most are gay(no discredit to the ability or professionalism, but...)

Most WHAT are gay? I hope you aren't insinuating that most male nurses are gay because that is flat out ridiculous. I know many, MANY male nurses and none of them are gay.

bjflymed

13 Posts

Specializes in CEN.

in 32years of nursing i have only had this happen about 4 times, so i do not feelthat it is a big deal, i have tried to be accommodating to the patient when ithas been an issue.

acosenza2

12 Posts

As a nurse, that is also a man, I have had this request before and I usually take no offense to it, but it is not always possible to honor that request and if that is the case I ask the charge or super talk to the patient. In my opinion, a patient is free to request whomever they want to treat them and is usually based upon "old ways". I have had both older men and women request a female nurse because of their generational mind set.

wsmith101

1 Post

I have been a patient, and had a male nurse. He was very professional. I would have preferred a female nurse, but wasn't going complain.

RH-CC2011

37 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg.

I am not personally offended by it, but I am one of only two male RNs working on our floor now, so it has been pretty easy to accomodate. I assume that it is probably a religious thing because we have a significant muslim population in the area; in which case the "no male caregivers' sign would probably have more to do with how the patient is treated by her family than any concern how she would be treated by a male caregiver!

The "modesty thing" I try to accomodate when I can-- Just the other day a 40-something admit had to "Pee real bad" she said, but not so bad she couldn't wait for a female nurse or tech to help her on the bedpan!!! LMAO!!! (Ok, miss thing! - You aint got nothing I haven't seen before, but It's your discomfort -- Not mine!) LOL

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