Discrimination...You think??!!?!

Nurses Men

Published

:angryfire I encountered a situation over the weekend that I'm not quite sure how to deal with. I have worked at this facility for going on two years now, and have always worked one particular hall...well, until this past weekend! According to my schedule, I was scheduled to work on my usual hall all weekend. However, when I arrived at work, I was shocked to find I had been switched to another hall without prior warning and no one had an explaination for the move. This weighed on my mind and after med pass I decided to call the DON myself. I asked her If I had done something to deserve the move. She stated, "NO, if I have a problem with you..I'll let you know." She then said that I was moved because it wasn't in the best interest of the center for two males to work on the same hall.:angryfire :uhoh3: ??

So, what exactly is this supposed to mean? Society is okay with two females working together in health care...but not two males..That comment insulted me in every humanly possible way. I have never felt so degraded, useless or worthless in my life. I have worked with this same male in the past with nothing ever said...so why now?I don't know what to do with this rude encounter. It is making me physically sick. If I quit, they win. If I stay, I feel as if I am giving in and ignoring my self respect as a professional. Never mind that males work together in dietary..and females worktogether on the halls! Lord forbid I work the same hall with another male. Just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me...maybe it never will. So what do you guys think of them apples??

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
:angryfire I encountered a situation over the weekend that I'm not quite sure how to deal with. I have worked at this facility for going on two years now, and have always worked one particular hall...well, until this past weekend! According to my schedule, I was scheduled to work on my usual hall all weekend. However, when I arrived at work, I was shocked to find I had been switched to another hall without prior warning and no one had an explaination for the move. This weighed on my mind and after med pass I decided to call the DON myself. I asked her If I had done something to deserve the move. She stated, "NO, if I have a problem with you..I'll let you know." She then said that I was moved because it wasn't in the best interest of the center for two males to work on the same hall.:angryfire :uhoh3: ??

So, what exactly is this supposed to mean? Society is okay with two females working together in health care...but not two males..That comment insulted me in every humanly possible way. I have never felt so degraded, useless or worthless in my life. I have worked with this same male in the past with nothing ever said...so why now?I don't know what to do with this rude encounter. It is making me physically sick. If I quit, they win. If I stay, I feel as if I am giving in and ignoring my self respect as a professional. Never mind that males work together in dietary..and females worktogether on the halls! Lord forbid I work the same hall with another male. Just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me...maybe it never will. So what do you guys think of them apples??

I do think it stinks. I also know that whether it is a problem with gender, race, or "someone looks funny", most often the patient gets to say, "I don't want him/her" even if it is blatant discrimination. They get what they want, period, especially if it's an older person.

Don't make any decisions just yet - wait and talk with your DON when you're calmer - and how come YOU had to move vs. the other guy?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I wonder if the DON meant that having a strong male nurse would benefit the other hall also? Since that bothers you so much you should talk to her about it. Maybe she did not know she offended you. At least that is what I hope.

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Specializes in PACU, ED.

With more males going into nursing I can foresee a day when we'll be able to end such discrimination. I agree it's worth another chat to clarify the perceived problem. Then you'll just have to act in accordance with your concience. If the DON just wanted to spread the muscle or help another floor I might be okay with that. If the DON thought there was a patient safety issue with having two males working the same hall then I'd probably have to remedy that problem by seeking employment elsewhere.

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Don't make any decisions just yet - wait and talk with your DON when you're calmer - and how come YOU had to move vs. the other guy?

That is another mystery I can't figure out, because he was scheduled to work a different hall that weekend. So, instead of leaving things like they were...they pulled me to charge a different hall (where I barely knew the patients names) and moved him to my original hall to tech, being he's a CNA. Something just doesn't add up here. I'm not upset at him in the least...he's as clueless as I am about the move.I don't believe the move had to do with needing a strong person on the hall. I always help my CNA's with difficult patients, when they need it. He and I have worked the same hall numerous times and things flowed smoothly. I believe there is more to the move than I am being told.That irritates me. Whatever happened to people being open and honest with one another anyway?

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I am sorry I do not see it as discrimination comment. When you are working in a hospital, they can give you any assignment within your scope of expertise as long it is going to benefit the clients. I see you as an asset to the healthcare, since there are few male nurses. If I were you, I would not take the comment personal. I think you interpreted the whole thing out of context. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Looking for a career in NICU.

Yes, if you had just been moved and just said, "We needed you on the other hall," that isn't discriminatory. However, since she said "We don't need two males on the same hall," that's a discriminatory comment.

Now, if she had followed that up with the fact that she needed a male on another hall to help the females with lifting, etc, then that is a different story. If that was her reason, she would have said so.

I totally agree with you it was an unfair call.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

It doesn't sound like to me you're going to be comfortable holding it in. Arrange a meeting and talk face to face. Nothing might change, but you might feel better letter them know how you feel.

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Specializes in Internal Med. / Family Practice.
" She then said that I was moved because it wasn't in the best interest of the center for two males to work on the same hall. ??

So, what exactly is this supposed to mean?

I would, calmly, clarify with the DON what that meant. Explain that it has been eating at you & your not sure how to take it.

Maybe the other hall requested you (or one of the males) "how come that hall gets 2 guys?". Maybe they felt they should spread the "muscle" around.

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Gender discrimination is only considered discrimination when it's against women. When it's against a man, it's ALWAYS explained away. Change your gender, change careers, or learn to live with it. (I'm not saying learn to like it.)

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dats really stupid...!!! wht the hell is wrong with tht DON..?

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Change your gender, change careers, or learn to live with it. (I'm not saying learn to like it.)

finman, I don't think this is the way to deal with this issue. Accepting or ignoring discrimination will not stop it. You can only achieve positive results by tackling it head-on. I say make those inclined to discriminate explain themselves every time it comes up. If they know that they will have to account for their conduct every time this sort of thing happens, they might think twice about doing it.

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