A question about being a black male CNA

[Miwila]

I just read a blog by a black male CNA and it got me kind of jittery. I'm trying to find out if any of the experiences of other black male CNA's can verify what I read.

Firstly, how difficult is it dealing with elderly female patients and providing them with intimate care? I know this is a challenge probably faced by male CNA's regardless of race but let's face it...women of a certain generation are probably not that comfortable around black men in general, let alone having some black guy give her intimate care so how much of an issue is it in day-to-day work?

Also I read that it is mandatory for the male CNA to stay on especially good terms with the nurses and other CNA's because as a male you are vulnerable to certain accusations made by female patients and will need the support of your co-workers to fight such charges if the situation arises. I even heard in some places if you don't really jump high enough the other nurses and aides will set the male CNA to get in trouble.

Now I've been thinking...because I've worked in majority-female environments before, and I know what it's like when the male is in the minority. They might try to bend the rules, take advantage, expect you to do things that are a little outside the realm of fairness because you're a guy. If the above scenario is accurate, then a male CNA would have to be afraid to say "no" or stand up for himself for fear of what will happen if the female co-workers dislike him and decide to gang up. (I don't mean "stand up for himself" in terms of being insubordinate to nurses.) I really don't want to have to go to work each and everyday kissing everyone's Aunt Fanny or else. That's no way to have to work.

So my question is, is it really as bad as all that?

[Misslady113]

At my facility we have one black male CNA and he is not allowed to care for the women. Actually none of the male CNA's care for the females. I dont think it's a "black" thing, but rather that administration doesn't want to take the risk of any accusations from the residents. Some of them are not well in the mind, and will probably make things up. Everyone is looking to file a lawsuit nowadays. But he is treated with the same respect as the other CNA's and doesnt have to kiss a** or anything like that. I think it depends on where you go. Just because someone elses experience was that, doesn't mean yours will be. Good luck.:heartbeat

[tokidoki7, ASN, RN]

There are a couple male nursing assistants on my floor. If a female patient isn't comfortable receiving assistance from one of them, then the female nursing assistants have to help with the patient. Sometimes someone else will have to accompany you to the room to serve as a witness, just in case. For the male nurses, it's a little different and easier for them. I work with a couple male nurses who will barely assist any patients with ADLs or even put EKG leads on their chests (esp. female patients) because they want to avoid being accused of anything. They ask one of the female nursing assistants or even another female nurse to assist. Some male patients actually prefer to have a male nursing assistant or nurse since they're surrounded by women all the time.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

I've said it before on this board, and I'll say it again.

Your race is only a limitation if you focus on it and choose to blame it for things.

Women have an issue with MEN (regardless of race) performing any sort of intimate care, especially if they are elderly.

If you want to be a CNA or any sort of healthcare professional, be fully prepared to be asked for another caregiver when you walk into a room and announce to a female that you are there to give a bath.

Respect it...don't be offended, because it has to do more with your gender than anything else.

Even younger women would do the same, if given a choice.

PS: My last primary care physician was black. I live in a very, very racist part of the country. I had no probablems when I visited a new practice and was told she was the only one available...she established an immediate rapport and listened and was very friendly...I saw no reason to change because I genuinely liked her.

[lorelei1973]

It doesn't matter what color you are, there are always some elderly women who will not allow men to perform ANY care on them, and that's really their right. I can't pretend to know what it's like to be in the minority in a work setting, that would be presumptuous. But I do believe that professionalism is what it is, and it involves embracing diversity, which is why many healthcare facilities have mandatory diversity training. Of course you will always encounter people with racist tendencies to one degree or another, but you should not have to feel that you must behave in a different way to gain the respect of your co-workers and managers. If you've been reading along, you see the fear people have of being too old to become a CNA or enter nursing. In the hospital I work at (psych hospital) professionalism belongs to no particular race, age, sexual orientation, or size. Heck just being a male nurse twenty years ago came with a huge stigma. But there are excellent male RN's of all races and orientations, and it's widely accepted now. Follow your heart and don't let the fear of not being accepted hold you back. The world needs more outstanding black male CNA's to help people who need help, and to help fight stereotypes. Best of luck to you!!

[Miwila]

I've said it before on this board, and I'll say it again.

Your race is only a limitation if you focus on it and choose to blame it for things.

Women have an issue with MEN (regardless of race) performing any sort of intimate care, especially if they are elderly.

If you want to be a CNA or any sort of healthcare professional, be fully prepared to be asked for another caregiver when you walk into a room and announce to a female that you are there to give a bath.

Respect it...don't be offended, because it has to do more with your gender than anything else.

Even younger women would do the same, if given a choice.

PS: My last primary care physician was black. I live in a very, very racist part of the country. I had no probablems when I visited a new practice and was told she was the only one available...she established an immediate rapport and listened and was very friendly...I saw no reason to change because I genuinely liked her.

I never said race was a "limitation". I did suggest an instance where someone might have a certain reaction based on your race. To say that never happens is misinformed. But thanks for your response.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

I never said race was a "limitation". I did suggest an instance where someone might have a certain reaction based on your race. To say that never happens is misinformed. But thanks for your response.

Sorry, you are the one that made the assumption that women have an issue with "black men" performing care on them. In fact, it's the whole topic of the thread.

Not me.

That is a stereotypical comment that is just as bad as the ones that are racist.

People that are black and successful, if you look around you, never, ever talk about their race...just like I never talk about my hair or eye color or what I had for breakfast this morning...who the heck cares?

People that are of any minority and are self-conscious about it or want to blame it for everything, constantly bring it up and incorporate it into everything that they do in life.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I've said it before on this board, and I'll say it again.

Your race is only a limitation if you focus on it and choose to blame it for things.

Women have an issue with MEN (regardless of race) performing any sort of intimate care, especially if they are elderly.

If you want to be a CNA or any sort of healthcare professional, be fully prepared to be asked for another caregiver when you walk into a room and announce to a female that you are there to give a bath.

Respect it...don't be offended, because it has to do more with your gender than anything else.

Even younger women would do the same, if given a choice.

PS: My last primary care physician was black. I live in a very, very racist part of the country. I had no probablems when I visited a new practice and was told she was the only one available...she established an immediate rapport and listened and was very friendly...I saw no reason to change because I genuinely liked her.

Um, that's great that you didn't have a problem with your black doctor because she was such a nice lady and all, but seriously? Race IS a limitation sometimes, and it's NOT the responsibility of the person on the receiving end to simply change their mindset to accommodate racist behavior. If the black CNA or doctor in question does choose to ignore such behavior as a coping mechanism (or whatever else, because that works for them), then they're free to do so. But it doesn't change the fact that some people are racists. So let's not put the onus on people of color to simply buck up and ignore it; to pretend that it isn't real.

[Miwila]

Sorry, you are the one that made the assumption that women have an issue with "black men" performing care on them. In fact, it's the whole topic of the thread.

Not me.

That is a stereotypical comment that is just as bad as the ones that are racist.

People that are black and successful, if you look around you, never, ever talk about their race...just like I never talk about my hair or eye color or what I had for breakfast this morning...who the heck cares?

People that are of any minority and are self-conscious about it or want to blame it for everything, constantly bring it up and incorporate it into everything that they do in life.

I'm sorry but you apparently read the post wrong.

I would never say all women have a problem with black men taking care of them. That would be an absurd statement to make and it is equally absurd to suggest that was what I was saying. I was asking about those elderly female patients and family members who would object to being taken care of or having grandma being taken care of by a family member. Nor for that matter did I even say it happens. I was asking the question if it happens and how frequently or infrequently it is an issue. I don't know...I asked the question because whether some people want to admit it or not certain attitudes do exist in our society and I was curious to find out to what extent these attitudes became challenges when it becomes an issue of black men taking care of elderly white women. On the one hand I apologize for offending you, on the other I can't believe I have to apologize for asking a question. That is the "topic of the whole thread".

You're talking about people using race as a "limitation" and ranting about succesful blacks not using "race". Exactly when did I say race stopped me or anyone else from being succesful? How does that have anything to do with the question I asked?

Your last paragraph makes it clear what made you see red. I'm not about to go there; spin all the talking-points you want. My question was not about social problems and your opinions about something you probably know nothing about has nothing to do with what I asked.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I've heard of a black male cna being falsely accused of rape or an elderly white women in LTC. He was fired and even have a record. Sad, sad, sad.

[Miwila]

If he was falsely accused then that is sad and scary.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

I understand where you're coming from, because a guy in my CNA class felt the exact same way you do. When we were doing clinicals he was very nervous to perform peri-care on some of the women because he didnt want them to freak out (which one of them did). Also when I first started I was a little scared to perform peri-care of men, but I've gotten used to it now.

I'm black & and I work in an assisted living facility where all of the residents have some form of dementia. I'd say about half of the CNA's are black as well, but we only have a couple of men working with us. (2 are CNAs- one black, one hispanic, and 1 LPN who's black). There are a couple of residents that dont feel comfortable being helped by someone of the opposite sex or a different race, and we do our best to accomodate them. You will run into these types of residents or patients, but don't let it get to you though.