Re: Male Nurses/female Patients

Originally Posted by Redneckmedic63

I believe much of this can be instilled in nursing school, where feminine care for those pt's was delegated to female students - my understanding a fairly common occurance (I went to school at a Catholic Hospital). From a male standpoint... 2 reasons.

First, if caring for a female pt that needs this type of care (and that task is not a great majority of my shift time), it only makes sense to have a female perform a task (from the standpoint of comfort and legal protection), and thus NOT tie up a second staffer that might need to be present as a witness.

Also, I believe this is a hot topic more on a regional basis at times. Older females in this area are generally MUCH more comfortable (as are their families) with a female performing those procedures on a female - may more so than in other regions. And quite frankly, this is one of the few topics where being a "male nurse" still makes some pt's uneasy. Men being cathed by female nurses has been done MUCH longer and is generally better accepted than males performing caths on females. Men in nursing still fight the uphill battle of acceptance at times.

Truthfully, on the rare occasions I might ask a female co-worker to cath for me or assist as a witness (I moonlight in other areas beside PI), I CERTAINLY make sure that I return the favors in any way I can - it's ALL about teamwork and caring for the patient. And honestly, as a man working in nursing, I couldn't tell you how many times I've been the first one everyone runs to when lifting is needed (more often than I've asked for caths).

I think tasks that may be assumed to be along gender roles all even out in the long run. All of the guys in our unit try their best- and we (men and women) ALL work as a team. It IS about the pateint, right?

I love this job - really - and I don't mind trading tasks here or there to make sure my patient gets what he/she needs. There are none of us - male or female - sitting down while the others bust butt...

Great post, good thread.

I agree with others, too. You can thank lawyers for making litigation so easy AND rewarding for those tempted to get money in ways other than actually work for it.

All men are not predators, piggies, or whatever stereotype people (men and women) would want to brand them with. Over time, it won't be such an issue, as long as it does not become easier and easier to sue over stuff like this.

Re: Male Nurses/female Patients

Originally Posted by Lesli61

I'm a female student, (not a nurse yet) but I can tell you from experience with my two teenage sons and my husband, (who needs to get cathed every once in a while due to kidney stones); all three of them want a female nurse, not a male nurse! This seems to be the opposite of what everyone is saying, but from their point of view, it has something to do with homophobia. My husband was very uncomfortable having a male nurse do his foley, even though there is nothing sexual about it. There is always that question in their minds... Is this guy a homosexual? If he is, I don't want him touching me!

It amazes me how rampant homophobia is an how irrationally it causes people to behave. Men wanting female nurses seems somewhat degrading to me, as if they are sexualizing nursing practice and reinforcing sexy-nurse stereotypes. It should be the job of every nurse to educate their families about appropriate attitudes towards nursing/gender issues.

Re: Male Nurses/female Patients

Originally Posted by Jack39

Unfortunately, our litigious society assumes that all men are predators. The fact that doctors are exempt from this assumption is claim to thier continued elevation as morally and intellectually superior to all other health care professionals.

Let's face it, all it takes is an accusation and that male nurse is run out of town on a rail (there will be the usual investigation, commonly without finding, followed by considerable stress on the floor about what really happened). The assumption of guilt is classicly conditioned. Who would want to put themselves in that position?

Please don't shoot the messenger on this subject; it is only my opinion

I agree with your post and would like to add that doctors are not necessarily exempt. I had to have a pelvic exam in an ER and the male doctor asked a female nurse to chaperone, which I though was wise of him. I would not accuse him of anything unfoundedly, but there plenty of litigious people out there that would..I believe doctors and nurses should watch their backs...sad to say, but I don't trust half of these patients as far as I can throw them.

Re: Male Nurses/female Patients

Originally Posted by unapt576

Last week I witnessed something chilling.

A male CNA and I wereassisting a confused patient back to bed.
One minute she was all smiles and cooperation, an instant later she turned to him and said," if you don't let go of me I'm going to tell everyone that you raped me." At that point I told him to leave the room and not come back in. I also documented every single word in her chart, notified the supervisor and left a message for our manager.

Ok, she was confused, but I don't think that her family would have taken that into consideration if she told them that she had been raped. At the very least there would have been an investigation, and that CNA would have been put on suspension pending the outcome.

I have been a nurse for 13 years and have never witnessed something like that before, but I can tell you now, if I were a male, I would make sure that I had a witness before doing a cath., pericare or any other procedure of that nature on a female patient. The consequences of an accusation, even a false one, are frightnening.

Something very similiar happened at a facility I worked at to a male LPN. The elderly woman reported the alleged abuse to the Area Agency on Aging, which investigates such matters in my area. The resident claimed the male nurse touched her vagina, and penetrated her digitally. The nurse was put on suspension, w/o pay, until the outcome of the investigation, which took over a week. Thankfully, the charge was unfounded, but still, at the very least, he lost a week's pay, and had to take the shame that charge brought to him. Also, his personal life (he was gay) was made public, and he chose to work at another facility after that.

My point here is this, all it takes is an allegation of inappropriate conduct to ruin a guy's life. Had that been a female nurse, and yes, I've seen that happen too, it's usually looked upon as a case of a confused resident, not an abusive nurse. This is only my personal experience, other's may not agree. It seems for some reason, men are still looked upon as predators, and there's usually some doubt after an allegation as to whether the male nurse actually did the abuse. The guy can be married, gay, christian, an upstanding member of the community, but yet there's still doubt, whereas the few female nurses I've seen implicated in such abuse are usually looked upon as the victim, the male nurses have been looked upon as the predator. Is this fair? No, but it's not going to change any time soon.

I took care of the resident that made the abuse charge on that male nurse, and I ALWAYS asked for a female CNA to come into the room with me, even if it was only to adjust her bed, do an accu-check, or administer meds. You have to protect yourself now-a-days, as one charge whether founded or not, can stay with you a long time. It may be a double standard, but guys, watch out for yourself, because you're the one who may face an unfounded charge, and your license is in jeopardy, as well as your reputation. You may be thought of as guilty until proven innocent, instead of the other way around.

This is only my opinion, based on personal experiences, so please don't flame me, I just wanted to present the guy's side as I see it.

I do help the female nurses with unruly male pts tho, and am always available if needed by any female staff member that is uncomfortable with a male pt. Also, I always ask a female pt that needs to be cathed if she'd like a female in the room, or if available, a female preforming the procedure. Usually, they seem fine with me doing the procedure. If I'm uncomfortable with the resident, I will ask for a female nurse or CNA to be in the room "assisting" me tho. It's always nice to have a witness to verify that no inappropriate behavior occurred BEFORE an abuse allegation is filed. Having seen both sides of the fence, I understand where the female nurses are coming from on unappropriate behavior from male pts.

Most guys asking for a female nurse to help them with a female pt or even do the procedure are just covering their @sses, and most female nurses, having also been there before, understand that.

Re: Male Nurses/female Patients

Originally Posted by Lesli61

I'm a female student, (not a nurse yet) but I can tell you from experience with my two teenage sons and my husband, (who needs to get cathed every once in a while due to kidney stones); all three of them want a female nurse, not a male nurse! This seems to be the opposite of what everyone is saying, but from their point of view, it has something to do with homophobia. My husband was very uncomfortable having a male nurse do his foley, even though there is nothing sexual about it. There is always that question in their minds... Is this guy a homosexual? If he is, I don't want him touching me!

Homophobia is rampant in all aspects of society. I'm NOT suggesting the men mentioned above are homophobic, but it is a good example of what male nurses have to go thru every day. I happen to be gay, but my sexual orientation has no business in the workplace. I "pass" as straight, and usually have no problems, but remember people, homophobia is the last "acceptable" form of racism. In most states, it is NOT illegal to discriminate against gays in housing, jobs, promotions, or pay-scales. If the same were done to a person of color, there would be legal ramifications, but to a gay or bisexual person, there is NO LEGAL RECOURSE! Education will eventually errode this, but until then, people need to look closely at the stereotypes, and realize how wrong they are.

As a gay man, I don't want "special" rights, I want "EQUAL" rights. I would like to be permitted to marry the person I'm in love with, and have had a long-term, stable relationship with. I'm an upstanding member of the community, participate in several volunteer organizations, and vote in every election with my informed conscience. in short, why can't I have the same rights and priveleges as my heterosexual counterpart? Hopefully, this will change in my lifetime, as all other forms of racism, and we'll ALL be equal, no matter what the color of our skin, out sexual orientation (notice I didn't say preference, as it's NOT my choice), or religious affiliation.

Sorry this got off topic, but hopefully someone else reading this agrees with me, and even if one person changes their opinion, it's worth the risk of flames!

Re: Male Nurses/female Patients

When in nursing school, I did have a male classmate, in our LTC rotation day, have a elderly woman ask to have her hair braided.

He was such a bum, he asked me to do it for him. (b/c he didnt know how)

What a slacker

Re: Male Nurses/female Patients

At the group homes i used to work in(for MR DD) men were not allowed to work with females, due to the fact that some Woman with Mental retardation was being raped by a male caregiver. They had suspicions and they actually caught him in the act. Well after that they made a policy for men to not be allowed to work with females clients but females can work with the male clients. When i was in training they told us this and i do understand.But then i felt like they were saying that i could never work with a woman client because i may rape her. and i kinda thought hat was discriminatory. And what makes it look even worse is that Women can work with the male clients as if a woman cannot possibly do anything abusive, it makes no sense. i think if they are going to do that then they should have guys with guys and women with women, not single one gender out.

When i first started as a CNA, i was a little uncomfortable(not really uncomfortable , but i cannot think of a better word) on taking care of a women. but now i just see everyone as a person that needs my care, and the only time i will not take care of someone is if they are uncomfortable with having a male CNA. i do not know how it is going to be in Nursing with having more responsibilities.


Andy

Re: Male Nurses/female Patients

When I was at clinicals during school, one of the instructors did not let me take female patients..She often said that, "The patient is young and a woman, dont take her." Well, that is how she was..It did not bother me none thou and she always assigned me male patients if she had the chance to..

Re: Male Nurses/female Patients

..."Sorry this got off topic, but hopefully someone else reading this agrees with me, and even if one person changes their opinion, it's worth the risk of flames!"

JohnBearPA,
I absolutely do not think your post is 'off topic'. In fact, it is an important aspect of the entire issue. My two sons and husband (as described in my previous post) are kind of 'wigged out' by the thought of being touched by a homosexual. I do not understand this AT ALL. I just don't get it!! If I were a patient, I wouldn't care less what the nurse's sexual orientation is! I can see where my spouse may be more traditional due to his age, but my sons are teenagers. On the other hand, they would never refuse treatment or be less than polite with any nurse unless they were blatently incompetent. All these thoughts are just going on their heads. I've discussed this with them and I all I manage to get is the old 'You just don't understand.." Well no kidding!
In response to your other post about the guy that lost a week's pay, just think about male high school teachers. It's even worse for them. A local art teacher got fired for being accused. It still hasn't gone to court and its been a entire year. Men are often considered guilty until proven innocent. Nurses have to touch people all the time. A teacher can't even put a hand on someone's shoulder or give a sad kid a hug.

Re: Male Nurses/female Patients

I'm halfway through nursing school but have been working as a tech in PACU. On occasion, a nurse has asked me to assist a male patient with a urinal or to the restroom. I don't think the nurses were slacking or uncomfortable with the jobs. They were just thinking about the comfort of the patient. I am not asked in every case, just when the nurse assesses the patient will be more comfortable with a male. I think it's all about the patient. If their bladder is full enough, they won't care who inserts the cath but if they want to wait for me to find a female nurse who has time, that's fine with me.