I work with several male nurses. I do feel that you need to be vigil and protect yourself. The idea for the stethoscope is great. I have an electric one and always listen through the gown. I see no need for it to touch pts bare skin.
I always trade off jobs with the male nurses and this has never been a problem.
If you ever get "vibe" do not push the issue, trade the pt away.
In this day and age you can never be too careful.
All things considered though I am glad for the male nurses and wish there were more. It helps balance things out.

Always trust your instincts as they will rarely let you down. On second shift there are two males nurses where I work that have yet to have a complaint against them so don't be petrified. Be vigiliant. They do bring a chaperone in the room for anything personal and they switch off where need be.

And female nurses should also be cautious as well. If a patient has a history of complaints or has dementia, etc. you should always have a chaperone with you in these cases as well to protect yourself. False allegations while usually against men also happen to women too especially in the lawsuit happy society we now live in. Shameful but true.

This is true. I was in the room assisting a NP (woman) with a vag exam and the woman starting screaming "you touched me inappropriately" What a crock. Since there was 2 of us in there the woman did not get very far.

When I was working the med/oncology floor, I always had a CNA with me whenever I needed to assess a female patient. Or, if worse came to worse, I would have a female colleague do the assessment for me. However, I never had problem with being a male nurse and having female patients.

If you are seriously considering a career in critical care, and are want to rid yourself of worries about accused of sexual harrassment or assault, I would suggest trying out the NICU. We have a former soldier working here, and he is a damn good nurse. At least it's an option to consider.

Best of luck with your new career!

I believe what has helped me is a constant awareness that I am at work. What I mean is I don't tell inappropriate jokes, when coworkers strike up a conversation that is R rated I exit the area (and believe me males do not have the monopoly on crudeness and explicit conversation), I don't touch my coworkers and if touched I explain that I prefer not to be touched (females will put their arm around you and act like it's nothing), I don't wear after shave or cologne to work (and still a female coworker told me I smelled good), when female coworkers use the excuse they need a man's opinion in order to involve me in inappropriate conversation I tell them to consult their husband, boyfriend, brother, but not me. In a nutshell, do anything you can to portrait a strictly business picture and everybody will know you're there to work and nothing else and any false accusation will have a hard time taking root. Of course follow the suggestions of other posters and always treat your clients in a professional manner.

Never had any problems with female patients. never has ever crossed my mind. Working in surgery patients sometimes have no choice in who is really in their room, especially if it is on call in the middle of the night. Common sense should always prevail. There is always a female nurse, aide or whoever close at hand if i would ever need one. Being professional and showing the patient you know your stuff usually takes care of jitters. I have great rapport with my patients and set them at ease before going into the room. I have never been asked by the patient tthey would rather have a female nurse. Never! Confidence in yourself and your skills is a key to overcoming any problems.

I've never had a problem. Just use common sense.

Sometimes you will want to have a female coworker do a procedure. (checking perineal dressing on 14yr female, think psycosocial development and issues)

I always get a female tech to assist for foley insertion.

In general, I always tell my patient what needs to be done and why. Keep them informed which removes doubts as to your intent. For example, I'll tell a lap chole that I need to look at the bandages on her tummy. Then I bring the blankets to her waistline and gently bring the gown up so that only her abdomen is exposed. I'll usually count out loud, "One, two, three, four little pokes. Clean and dry. Thank you." Then I put her gown back down and pull the blankets up. I've used this technique for breast bx, and evaluating peripads after vag hysters. Never had a problem.

That said, if you ever get a weird vibe, get a female friend to assist or do the procedure for you. I've helped other nurses's male patients with urinals and foleys to pay forward and back for their help with my patients.

"and believe me males do not have the monopoly on crudeness and explicit conversation"

You got that right. I have at times found a double standard. One night "the girls" at the nursing station had a birthday party for a co-worker. She got a male nudie calendar, a phallic shaped lollipop, etc... Now if I had done something similar for the male CNA that I worked with, they would have been offended....

Being in ER I have never had anything like this happen to me. Be respectful of the pt, tell them what you are going to do and what it involves. If you have to get a female nurse for caths or things of that nature do so.

I do have to say, I have had some pt's that tried to be a little to friendly with me, opening their shirts, dropping thier pants, what have you, for those situations I say, "disrobing at this time is not nescesary and for any more procedures with this person I have a female present.

I did actually have this happen to me one time when I was a tech at a nursing home; There was a patient that gave a nurse my description and said I went into her room and kissed her. Oddly, I had been off all that week, so it certainly wasn't me. Not only that but I did not work and was very rarely even in the wing where the pt was. It was never a huge issue or anything, but you never really know what kind of stuff can fly out of the blue at you.