transgender nurse (transvestite)

kimtab · Jan 10, 2004

I should probably educate myself a little more before I attempt to answer but, naw. In my limited understanding of Transgender, I believe that it is incorrect to say that this person is misrepresenting their sex. They feel that the sex assigned to them by nature is incorrect, and they are taking the steps that are available to them to solve that problem and be comfortable in their own skins. They are trying to make their outsides match their insides. So I don't think your student would see it as a misrepresentation. Anyone who knows more about please feel free to jump in.

I guess the questions is: Is there really anything about this situation that would prevent this person from practicing safely and ethically as a nurse? I envision more mundane problems like which bathroom do they use (and this person has probably dealt with those kinds of conflicts before anyway).

Theres a difference between cross-dresser and Transgender too. I've known many drag queens and none of them wanted to be women, they just liked dressing up.

Kim

adrienurse, LPN · Jan 10, 2004

This person will challenge you no doubt about your conceptions about what is/what isn't professional conduct. They are being themselves. This is their sexual identity. As long as this is not getting in the way of their work and safety while practicing nursing, there's nothing you can or should do. It would be unethical (and illegal) to drop this person from the program due to their sexual identity.

nursecathy · Jan 10, 2004

I really agree that there is nothing that should be done to prevent her from being a nurse. She says she will not use a bathroom. She is trying to become female by taking hormones, I think. I have not personally talked to her, yet. Do I allow her to dress as a woman? Which restroom? Do the patients have a right to know (ok, I know the answer--they really don't know about any of us) How would you feel about a transvestite taking care of you/

TinyNurse, RN · Jan 10, 2004

as a nurse that just graduated I both can and can't believe that this topic came to this board........... This person ( student) is a human being regardless male/female whatever..... they need to be treated as such. ( a human) I graduated in 2003 and, um isn't a big topic "cultural diversity"???? I mean how can the students learn from you if you cannot yet accept your own ideas regarding cultural diversity?

Treat it as just another nursing class, attempt to incorporate more cultrual diversity issues and you will teach all of your students ALOT!!!!

This can be an issue dealt with daily in city hospitals. nurses need to feel comfortable with it. Be a leader, do not be afraid..... Open the road to cultural diversity with this........ what a great opener~!!!

xo Jen

LilRedRN1973 · Jan 10, 2004

If he/she were competent, I would have no problem with who my nurse was, regardless of sexual orientation. But then again, I'm a tree-hugging liberal, according to my conservative war-monger husband!

I have no issues with people who feel they were "born into the wrong sex" and want to live the life they feel they should have had. This person could make an excellent nurse or a terrible one, no matter what they dress like. But you will never know that if you don't give the person a chance. And if other students are uncomfortable with this, then they need to rethink their choice of professions, because nursing presents many opportunities where you have to set aside your judgements.

Of course, this is coming from a lowly nursing student!! So I may be way off base. But I could care less who I work side by side with as a nurse....as long as they can do their job.

hmccartn · Jan 10, 2004

Transgendered persons and cross dressers are two totally different things...a person who is transgendered feels that they are a male "trapped in a females body or vice versa....to block their entrance based on these circumstances is discrimination, pure and simple...sure, it is not the norm and not something that someone encounters everyday but just imagine what it must be like to live in that persons shoes...

nursecathy · Jan 10, 2004

I am savvy regarding cultural diversity and do not consider this a "cultural issue". I am concerned about this persons welfare and feel that he will be treated less than well at this hospital by both staff and patients. I am also a patient advocate and I know that last year this person would be male one day and female the next. Would you feel comfortable with this person providing care to your private areas? Be honest. It is easy to say, "He has rights" and other statements that sound like the familiar soapbox jargon but can you really be totally honest about what kind of nurse you want for your most personal needs. I have a vision of my preference. I feel that he/she should complete the change process before entering nursing. Why should all society change to protect the rights of a few deviants? What about my rights?

fab4fan · Jan 10, 2004

I guess I will be the lone voice of dissent, here, but I think this prospective student needs to work through which sex he feels best suits him. It would be very disruptive both in the classroom and clinical setting to try to accommodate someone alternating his identity on a daily basis.

I don't think it's appropriate, though, to label these individuals "deviants." Somehow, I get the impression that this student wouldn't get much of a fair shake from you, based on that comment. I hope for his sake he is able to work this out and go to a school that will be less judgemental.

I'm actually beginning to wonder about this thread...

sagelola · Jan 10, 2004

hmmm...

Well, what I don't know won't hurt me. Same for your patients. What a person has in his/her pants shouldn't matter. A male nurse still takes care of a female patient, and a female nurse takes care of male patients. So I don't think that the sex of the nurse has anything to do with whether or not they take care of a patient's genital area.

I do not think that the student should be allowed to dress male one day and female the next...but that seems odd to me anyway, because most of those who are going to go through that change are already committed to being the other sex and don't feel "right" to stay in the sex they were born in.

As a nurse and instructor, shouldn't you have already done the whole values clarification thing? Maybe you do not agree with the life this student of yours has chosen, but it isn't fair of you to judge this person...before even knowing what they are capable of. Again, as nurses, aren't we supposed to accept our patients for who they are...is there some reason you cannot also do this with your student? :confused:

fergus51 · Jan 10, 2004

Do patients have the right to determine the race/age/sex/religion of their nurses where you are? If not, it is none of your business whether this person has a member or a lady parts.

allnurses Guide · Jan 10, 2004

I agree with Fab4Fan . . . . I think this student has alot of things to work through first before attempting school. There are all kinds of emotional situations in people's lives that must take precedence at times. It sounds like this student is still struggling. The timing is off.

steph