Male CNA caring for females

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2015

While a patient has the right to state they don't want a given caregiver due to their religion; at least in our area of the United States of America, it doesn't go the other way around. That is outright bigotry and discrimination in some parts. That stated, when I worked as a personal care assistant (doing similar work as a CNA), there would be female patients who didn't want a male worker involved in any of their care. Some wound't even let me rub a lotion on their leg.

mrsboots87 · Dec 7, 2015

It is highly unlikely you will find ANY place of employment that will allow you to care for males only. Maybe home care where you take patient assignments and go to their house directly. But I can't think of anything else. They would have to re arrange their entire setup for you and with how many people out there looking for work, I just don't see it happening. If it would not be on par with your religion to care for opposite sex patients, then your best bet is to find a different career path.

CVICU-Nurse1.5 · Dec 7, 2015

As a male nurse assistant it's not as big of a concern. Most are fine with you helping them, those that prefer female get female, it's simple. It's also how you carry yourself.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2015

Is it possible to find a facility that will only let me care for male patients?

In most hospitals and nursing homes, the majority of your patients will be females since women tend to outlive men. Basically, women outlive men, so they comprise most of the patient population on most floors.

Therefore, you cannot avoid female patients unless you limit yourself to working at a group home for the developmentally disabled that has only male clients. This option is the lowest-paying and may or may not be something you enjoy.

BBboy · Dec 7, 2015

Male here, i have run into residents & patients who wanted female care only (only once in my years). If that is the case i just tell my nurse and get another CNA who can work with said person. There was one time in particular where that patient didn't have an option as we were heavily staffed with men that day (4 guys 1 girl) and all of us were extremely busy including our female coworker so the patient was given the option of waiting until that woman was ready or have me fulfill the task right then and there (she wanted a bed pan so she could void). Eventually she caved and allowed to help her from there on out but you will not always find people that willing to change their mind despite any circumstances.

Karou · Dec 7, 2015

Is it possible to find a facility that will only let me care for male patients?

No. The patient can (within reason) refuse care providers based on gender. A care provider cannot do the same.

Livetoride · Dec 7, 2015

As CNA (male or female), you are supposed to put your personal convictions and beliefs to the side. You cannot refuse care on a female that you are assigned to. She can refuse you as a caregiver though. Am I comfortable do peri-cares on males? Not entirely, however, I am paid to do a service and do it well. Don't do clients a disservice and reject the notion of caring for them based on which gender they are.

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Dec 8, 2015

So weird, I have had the opposite experiences with male CNAs/Nurses in SNF. We have a few residents that seriously will only listen to the one male nurse we have on staff, most of them women. They seem to be more comfortable with him. I have seen like one time a resident ask a male caregiver to not be allowed to helped them, and we have young guys, like 21-23 years old. The male residents love having a male nurse and male caregivers around, they do seem to request them more, especially for things like catheters, etc.

As far as the religious aspect and opposite sex peri care goes, just not sure how one could get around that unless you worked a jail.

verene, MSN · Dec 8, 2015

You will not able to exclusively work with one sex or the other as a CNA. Patients can request a caregiver of a certain sex and we will do our best to honor it at my facility, but make it known that we may not always be able to accommodate their request sometimes they will have to accept who is available or suffer a very long wait when we are busy and staffing is heavy towards either male or female on that shift. If they must 100% of the time have a particular sex caring for them we will help them find a situation (typically home health with private aid) where that is possible. Sometimes you get the opposite situation - little old ladies who feel ever so much more comfortable with a nice strapping young man moving them around - trying to convince them that while I may be female I am perfectly competent to turn/clean/transfer them can be an adventure.

That being said - my coworkers and I do our best to help eachother out in situations like this. If I have a patient who greatly prefers a male caregiver and am working with a male CNA I may request his assistance. If one of my male coworkers feels that a patient is going to cause uproar because he is male I'll go in the room with him. Sometimes though you just have to get the job done.

gipsydangerous · Dec 9, 2015

As others have stated: you cannot refuse care of anyone; the patient has that right. Furthermore, most patients I've encountered don't care either way so long as they get the care they need. No offense but nursing home/LTC might not be something you need to go with due to ratios. Food for thought.

hookyarnandblanket · Dec 9, 2015

You can refuse, but you probably will not be under the employ of your facility afterwards.