attitudes of male and female patients towards male nursing students

Bipley · Nov 22, 2005

My insurance is at my own hospital so if I'm a patient there, I will raise a stink if a female coworker wants to put a foley in me or give me a bath, sorry, it's going to be a male coworker or my bladder explodes and I stink. LOL

Tweety, did you think this one through? If your bladder pops then you need a foley AND a bath!

nursemike, ASN, RN · Nov 22, 2005

Tom, I hope you were kidding. If you seriously don't like having a male nurse, shame on you. If you seriously like having a female nurse more than you ought to, shame on you. Unless you're having altered mental status, of course.
Personally, I very much prefer not to need any nurse.

I think I might need to eat my words to Tom, a little. On further thought, I must admit that even for something as asexual as having vital signs taken, I find something rather soothing in being touched by a female, and something a little uncomfortable in being touched by a male. But I certainly wouldn't decline a male nurse over it. In fact, I'm not all that crazy about being touched by anyone I don't know, and for something as personal as a Foley or an enema, I'm not sure which gender would be more unpleasant.

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 22, 2005

I think I might need to eat my words to Tom, a little. On further thought, I must admit that even for something as asexual as having vital signs taken, I find something rather soothing in being touched by a female, and something a little uncomfortable in being touched by a male. But I certainly wouldn't decline a male nurse over it. In fact, I'm not all that crazy about being touched by anyone I don't know, and for something as personal as a Foley or an enema, I'm not sure which gender would be more unpleasant.

Good post!

Balder_LPN, LPN · Nov 22, 2005

I have never needed a foley or an enema, but I dont think I want that kind of personal service from a coworker (male or female) better to have someone I never met and let them keep that professional distance.

BTW I have always picked a female NP for my primary care whenever allowed by my health plan. at about 14 my doc (old gruff male) went on 1 yr leave, requesting that we stay with his NP's till his return. he never came back and those NP's where so great i stayed with them for many years. within a yr they knew me better than that old goat ever did, I have since had 2 other NP's who always got to know ME right away. it was obvious the two docs (even the knew young guy) i had later never even had a clue who I was, even after multiple appts.

as mater of fact the doc I have now is the first Male MD i have ever had that I am actually comfortable with and who actually knows ME. and he works in a clinic that targets the migrant population, but I have noticed a completly different level of care from this staff than at any of the high strung money hungry clinics around. plus I can practice my spanish when I go there.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Nov 22, 2005

I have never needed a foley or an enema, but I dont think I want that kind of personal service from a coworker (male or female) better to have someone I never met and let them keep that professional distance.

Interesting point. My hospital tries to give employees their preference as to what floor they are assigned to if they have to be admitted--within reason, of course. My unit is neuro/neurosurg, but we take a lot of medicine and other service, too. I'm fortunate to work with a bunch of really good nurses, but would I choose my unit, where I would be confident of excellent care, or another that's probably fine, too, but I don't know so many people? I think I might just go with whatever service I needed.

I did have my first prostate exam, last year. Didn't enjoy it. My doc's a male, but I can't imagine a female being more pleasant. Some proceedures are going to be uncomfortable, now matter who does them.

Happily, my exam went okay. Of course, that means I wouldn't be any worse off if I hadn't had it. But I suppose it gives me some insight, if I have to give a suppository or enema. Then, too, I can take some comfort in the fact that I didn't enjoy it. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I think it's fair to say it would have complicated my life if I had.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2005

I think I might need to eat my words to Tom, a little. On further thought, I must admit that even for something as asexual as having vital signs taken, I find something rather soothing in being touched by a female, and something a little uncomfortable in being touched by a male. But I certainly wouldn't decline a male nurse over it. In fact, I'm not all that crazy about being touched by anyone I don't know, and for something as personal as a Foley or an enema, I'm not sure which gender would be more unpleasant.

Simply amazing

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2005

Interesting point. My hospital tries to give employees their preference as to what floor they are assigned to if they have to be admitted--within reason, of course. My unit is neuro/neurosurg, but we take a lot of medicine and other service, too. I'm fortunate to work with a bunch of really good nurses, but would I choose my unit, where I would be confident of excellent care, or another that's probably fine, too, but I don't know so many people? I think I might just go with whatever service I needed.
I did have my first prostate exam, last year. Didn't enjoy it. My doc's a male, but I can't imagine a female being more pleasant. Some proceedures are going to be uncomfortable, now matter who does them.
Happily, my exam went okay. Of course, that means I wouldn't be any worse off if I hadn't had it. But I suppose it gives me some insight, if I have to give a suppository or enema. Then, too, I can take some comfort in the fact that I didn't enjoy it. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I think it's fair to say it would have complicated my life if I had.

When it comes to those prostate checks, rather than some man who wears size 8 or 8 1/2 or size 9 gloves, I much prefer the gentler touch of a woman doctor who wears size 6 or 6 1/2 gloves, seems like common sense to me

nursemike, ASN, RN · Nov 28, 2005

When it comes to those prostate checks, rather than some man who wears size 8 or 8 1/2 or size 9 gloves, I much prefer the gentler touch of a woman doctor who wears size 6 or 6 1/2 gloves, seems like common sense to me

That does make sense, although I'd have to say my male doc was about as gentle as it's possible to be. Wasn't a painful experience--just unpleasant.

BigB · Nov 29, 2005

as a male nursing student I did have problems in OB. Jealous husbands would not let me take care of thier wifes. Oh well.. got to spend more time in the nursery with the babies.

being a male nursing student I have noticed a lot of people assume you are gay.Comes with the territory and the fact that many male nurses are gay.

mrnurse2 · Dec 4, 2005

Sorry but I can't stand by and read and not post.

Initially when I went to school I was not allowed to take care of female patients. A lot of the old time instructors were uncomfortable having a male nursing student. Finally in the end semesters the policy had been established and I was allowed to care across the gender spectrum. I saw in early years sterotypes of "gay" and being "feminine" if you were a male nurse but through the years I don't see those sterotypes anymore. Work with a fair amount of male nurses.

To show you how dumb I was at the time. My first med surg female patient was semi-comatose. I did total patient care. In doing my cares I observed my patient had a white discharge from lady partsl area. I was so scared to report condition of patient. I kept the patient clean but the white discharge seem to return. At that time the only thing I could think of was . . . here I was trusted with my first female patient and someone was going to acuse me of violating her. I was so relieved to find out she had a yeast infection.

What I have found through the years is I explain everything I am going to do (stop the busy schedule for a moment this is a teaching/training moment!). If I am to expose or touch a sensitive area I wait till I have a CNA to assist me. When I show the patient my confidence and professionalism I usually have no problem. Don't fumble around have everything you need to do the intervention safely with care and be done with it. Occasionally I have a patient who will make a sexualy comment to me, I attempt to be polite but will have another staff switch patients with me. Too much risk in this environment to joke in that manner. When I have had to float to L&D and do the BUBLE assessments and observe babies latch on I tend to get more resistance. No big deal I have to remember I am there to meet the patients need not mine.

Now, I have found other nurses asking me to help. Somewhere through the years I have developed a nack for cathing patients from behind. There is a population of patients who with RA, contractures, obesity that to cath from the front is painful or too difficult and will fight you everytime. I lay them on their side with a pillow and of course I explain to them what I going to do and I insert the FC from posterior approach.

Your professionalism, careing heart, and your ever learning mind to be better at what you do will erase most biases, and stereotypes people have.

Bipley · Dec 7, 2005

...I lay them on their side with a pillow and of course I explain to them what I going to do and I insert the FC from posterior approach. ...

I have to write, I have never done this. I'm not sure I know how.

mrnurse2 · Dec 7, 2005

I have to write, I have never done this. I'm not sure I know how.

This is proably a new topic in its self.

In a simple nutshell it really needs a demonstration.

The same sterile FC technique is implemented, the difference when going from behind is your initial insertion. From the front when the cath is fed in to the meatus there is a slight upward advancement when inserted. From behind its a downward initial advancement when inserted. The rationale is patient's with large skin folds, painful joints 2nd osteoarthritis can not open legs wide enough to facilitate front insertion without pain/discomfort. I have also found this the case on some with MS and those with contractures. A posterior approach does not require as much bone movement because the perineum can readily be exposed by moving the cheeks of buttocks with the non-dominant hand. I can not find any clinical evidence this is an acceptable practice but if its done with sterile technique I can't see any harm. I always try to do what makes the patient most comfortable. As you know when the patient is comfortable its a good shift.