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?
One of the best aides I ever worked with was a black man. EXCELLENT aide and no one had any problems accepting care from him, and this area is litterally a 99% white population.
Go for it. My supervisor now is a guy and he is an kcik-butt nurse. I am lucky to work with him. Oh - he started as a CNA.
Oh, and Miwila, check out the male nurses' forum. The issue of men performing care on women frequently comes up. I don't recall your specific concerns being addressed, however.
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?
please remember to debate the topic and not each other.
since i believe that you truly want an answer to these questions...here is my take.
1) will some people (not just women) not like having someone who is "black" take care of them?...yes.
will some people (not just women) not like having someone who is "white" take care of them?...yes.
will some people (again not just women) object to a man taking care of them?...again yes.
however, most will just be happy to have someone that cares for them. ignorance is everywhere and is
not "race" specific. you will be some people's favorite cna and others will miss out on excellent care (assuming that
is what you give of course) because they opted for a female or a "white" cna that doesn't care about the resident!! that truly is their loss!!!
2) it is wise to stay on "good terms" with any coworkers in any workplace. you have to work with these people day in day out, so why not be on "good terms"? do you have to kiss butt? no and i would never recommend it. it would cause one to lose respect in my book, not gain it!! however, you should be a great team player, as well as a caregiver. that is not a weakness it is an attribute!!
i've had great experiences as a male cna. males have always been liked, regardless of "color" as far as i have witnessed. many people, staff and patients, like to see males on the floor. most "little old ladies" will feel safe in your arms during a transfer. some males will respond better to a male caregiver and be less demanding. i think you get my point.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I am a black female LPN/LVN in Texas, and the vast majority of the CNAs that have worked with me are black. I have spent virtually all of my careers in nursing homes around elderly residents, most of whom are white.
The black male CNAs in the nursing homes where I have been employed encounter few, if any, problems with false accusations or racial refusals. Many of the residents are simply happy to have someone answer their call lights promptly, perform incontinent care with dignity, provide them with neat beds and clean linens, shower them, feed them, and ease their loneliness.
Let's be realistic. Some elderly residents are going to have old-school ideas about the different races. Some of their family members are going to have prejudices. Some of your coworkers are going to not particularly like people who look different than them. Race is an issue, even if people choose to believe it is not an issue.
However, always take pride in your work and be the best you can be. You cannot change years of deeply ingrained thinking, but you can win hearts with a caring spirit, a listening ear, and a job well done.
I totally get what you are saying. There are definitely some women who will not let you give certain types of care to them. Im black, and there are four black male CNAs where I work and one black male nurse. They get problems sometimes, but they work real hard to gain the trust of patients, particularly women. But they don't kiss "aunt fannies" lol, they keep it real.
And just a warning, you being a male CNA us females may try to take advantage of you sometimes, especially when it comes to lifting.
i know 2 episode happen at my old job.2 blk man, one was maintanance the other cna. Both got accused of doing something to a diff patients. But i do notice change of atituted esp older white women being taken care by blk man. its hard to explaining it
Specializes in LTC- as CNA, L&D, Current- Oncology.
I think is bound to happen bc alot of these people are very old and thus have their "old ways" of thinking regarding race. Just have to deal with it and move on, or ask a co-worker for help. Thats what I did. I'm a white woman and there was this sweet elderly black woman who absolutely refused to let me give her a shower. I asked one of my black co workers at work to help me out and it worked out ok. I just felt bad because I didnt want her to think she should be afraid of me or that I wouldnt handle her with care. But eh I mean she was old and a little crabby so it was for the best. And made her more comfortable if I left! haha I just took one of my friends residents in place of the one she helped me with :)
We have a Cambodian woman that is a PCA at my facility, 100% white residents. There is a resident that constantly accuses her of stealing her things, so that PCA no longer goes into her room. If she has that floor, someone else takes that resident for her so she doesn't have to deal with it. Even though she hasn't been in that room for ages, just the other day that resident told me that the Cambodian woman stole her new underwear.
I think you have a very legitimate concern, and unfortunately the minorities in many situations have to deal with things like this on occasion. You will likely run into residents that do have a problem with you performing cares on them, and there will be nothing you can do about it except take it with a grain of salt. It's not even always race that is the issue, there is another resident at our facility that is constantly bad mouthing one of the younger PCA's because she thinks her scrubs are too wrinkly. Even if her scrubs were perfectly ironed, I'm sure she'd still not like that PCA. The elderly have very strong opinions, and not much is going to change them!
Well, if it comes to that, we have nothing but white people working and white residents. One of our ladies is accusing the evening staff of beating and kicking her. They are not, and she *is* demented.
However, this kind of situation doesn't negate that one could arise from racism, particularly coupled with dementia. In fact, that people can be nasty to people "like" them doesn't mean racism doesn't exist.
I have a somewhat different experience. We have several male aides and one is black. He is one of the laziest workers I've ever seen and yet, having been kicked off every shift and both halls at some point or other, he's still employed. He sleeps on duty and last week in full view of the ADON. Who did nothing. I cannot explain why this guy is there, or for that matter, several other completely useless folks. Other than to have a warm body. But from what I've seen, the guys have it easier as far as NOT having to suck up or play the staying in favor game like the women do.
It does happen that a female resident prefers a woman aide and in that situation, he will simply switch that resident or room with a female aide. He might end up on the slightly short end of that stick in a way because the one he trades for is often a large person or heavy wetter or something like that. But the guys I work with have enough size that it isn't an issue. If a resident complains about a male (and it has happened) the company has investigated and in all cases I know of, found the aide to be NOT at fault and just taken that resident off his list.
Many people of the generation that are now living in long-term care came from a society that allowed racism and segregation, etc. and probably can't help but be influenced by that backward old way of thinking. We used to have a black female CNA at the LTC facility where I work; there were a number of residents who refused care from her and made no bones about the fact that it was because of her race. This is in North Central Idaho, not far from the old Aryan Nations compound. This ridiculous asinine philosophy still exists....just across the border in Spokane, Washington, someone fashioned a bomb set to go off during the recent MLK Day parade....fortunately it was discovered and no one was killed. I can't believe this is still going on.
SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN
10,263 Posts
One of the best aides I ever worked with was a black man. EXCELLENT aide and no one had any problems accepting care from him, and this area is litterally a 99% white population.
Go for it. My supervisor now is a guy and he is an kcik-butt nurse. I am lucky to work with him. Oh - he started as a CNA.
:)