Lesbian L and D nurse

Speaking as a fellow part of the LGBT community..... I think it's important to not ever even think about your orientation and your choice of profession or specialty in that profession. That is part of the problem right there. You already see yourself as different from any heterosexual nurse. The fact that you even questioned this possibility is evidence of this. As another poster pointed out.....do you ever hear a female heterosexual nurse asking....Does anyone think it would be a problem for me to be straight and want to work in urology? Or a male straight nurse say...would it be difficult for a straight male nurse to work in women's health?.. Or heck any medical hands on nursing!
Sexual orientation and care for any patient population are not at all related.
Sounds like you are thinking-- will people think because I am attracted to women will they think I would be turned on by working in L&D and seeing women naked?!?!? Thats CRAZY! lol Would a straight female nurse think--geeze this male patient needs bathing or peri-skin care or catheter insertion or care--hope people don't think I would be turned on by seeing this man naked!
As nurses--female, male, straight or gay----part of the the job is being professional and we are privi to be a part of their care in the most intimate way when people are their at their most vulnerable. The fact is nurses do what they do because they are compassionate about wanting to care for these people during these times and love to know they are helping people to get well....or die with dignity. Nurses are not thinking about that kind of thing when they are providing care-- I worked in L&D my first job out of nursing school-- what you are thinking about is keeping the patient calm, making her feel safe and as comfortable as possible, keeping her and her baby safe, no matter what that takes. There is a bond with the L&D nurse and a laboring mom that is very unique-- a bond of trust. Your sexuality is not relavenat in the work place and I think you will see that.........you may even deliver the baby of a lesbian couple now and then.... they are a couple just like any other couple. Just like you are a nurse like any other nurse.
Try to think about the way you are thinking about this and approaching this....I think you will see what I mean. It's only an issue if you choose to make it one.
Good luck to you and I hope you love L&D nursing.

Why do you think it would be problematic?

Of course, one's sexual preference should absolutely not enter into one's care of patients. Unfortunately, some people make their sexual preferences apparent by their mannerisms and/or dress. Some patients could find this to be a problem. Patients are free to state a preference for who they want taking care of them and we usually can and do, I think, accommodate them if for not reason other than to avoid problems for all concerned.

Trying to be inconspicuous is a good way to go in many of life's situations. This is one of them, I believe.

Again, why do you think this might be problematic? Or do you?

From the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, "It is unlawful to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his/her sex in regard to hiring, termination, promotion, compensation, job training, or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. Title VII also prohibits employment decisions based on stereotypes and assumptions about abilities, traits, or the performance of individuals on the basis of sex. Title VII prohibits both intentional discrimination and neutral job policies that disproportionately exclude individuals on the basis of sex and that are not job related".

Employers CANNOT ask/judge any of the above in a interview. Frankly, its none of their business anyways.

[quote=teensmom;3460595]It makes no difference at all, except our educator has a bias against them-which is totally illegal. QUOTE]

I think we probably all have biases of one sort or another, if we're honest...but acting upon that bias is what's illegal.

There should not be any problems. Unless, the lesbian nurse is flirting or being inappropriate with the pt's. But, that goes for all healthcare workers. So, like previously posted, sexual orientation has nothing to do with nursing. But, i'm curious. Why do you ask?

This is in regard to a person's sex as in gender, not sexual orientaion....not the same thing.......as far as it being illegal to descriminate based on sexual orientation...this varies per state. Some states do not support this and allow an employer to fire a person based on his orientation......It is actually something that is found on the hiring companies policies/creed/etc. Ususally I see it on a company's application. Descrimination based on gender is illegal in every state....based on sexual orientation.....we are still fighting for that to be true in every state. Though Obama may bypass that by making it a federal law. ------Just a little clarification.......

exactly. I don't talk about personal stuff at work with the patients. In L&D you probably do get some patients asking if you have kids (to ask about your experience with labor...) you don't have to share your lifestyle with them. Its a yes or no question. You treat it like any other question a patient may ask about you.

Well, where I used to work we did sit around and talk about our sex lives. And yes there were a few narrow-minded individuals that would have been unhappy to have a lesbian nurse. If my patients notice my ring then they know I am married. If they ask I say I have kids. But I never bring it up and only rarely did a patient ask me anything more personal than if I had kids.

But I have never understood why we allow being homosexual to define someone. We don't introduce people as "This is Jim, he likes it when his wife spanks him." Or "This is Mary, she always wants to be on top." Why are we as society obsessed with what people do in the privacy of their own home/bedroom/kitchen table? Being homosexual is something about a person, maybe they also like sushi and reading. I understand that society is not able to overlook it, but I sure wish they could.

So, please become an L & D nurse if that's what you want to do. And it might unfortunately be in your best interest to keep your private life private at least until you get to know your co-workers. Nurses can be a mean, catty bunch. But I hope your sexual orientation (which, seriously, in case you didn't get it, is none of anyone's business) doesn't hold you back from doing what you want to do.

Hi
I just finished a rotation in L&D and there were 3 lesbian RN's and 1 surgical tech in that department. No one cared. If that's what you want to do, go for it!!! Best wishes!!

who you tell about your sexual orientation is your business. it's not an issue in the workplace unless you make it one.

i've worked with quite a few GLBT nurses, no issues from patients or coworkers whatsoever...

good luck with your career