Female vs male patients

[qaz99]

Does anyone else 'prefer' male patients to female patients?

When I get assigned a room of elderly female patients, I know I'm in for a heavy shift. Compared to the males, they moan/are pedantic over little things, take twice as long to do everything, seem to be more susceptible to delirium/suffer the symptoms of dementia more than males (obviously not their fault). But can also be cranky and refuse care.

Whereas with elderly males, in my experience, they're easy going, allow you to do observations without a fuss etc, still have some sense of humour despite their alzheimers/dementia diagnosis, talk to me in a respectful way. And I can relate to them easier as at 90yrs old, they can still hold an interesting conversation, and even throw in funny one liners. But the 65yr old female will either be extremely difficult to interact with or nitpick.

Hope I don't sound bitter or anything. I'm not saying I dislike or hate caring for these patients, obviously they're in pain or really ill which affects how they interact. Just find it interesting how easy going elderly male patients can be compared to the females.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

Males tend to have trouble voiding in old age, where as females tend to void a lot and be incontinent. Aside from that, I can't say I've noticed differences that make one sex more difficult to take care of than the other.

[BeckyESRN]

Obviously, it depends on the patient, but in general, I'd take 4 males over 4 females any shift! The older male complicated cardio patients were my favorite!

[guest769224]

It has more to do with their personality than it does gender.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

My experience has been the opposite: many of the elderly male patients have been 'difficult' to take care of, either physically or mentally for me.

I cannot recall an elderly female patient who has attempted to touch my breast area, grab me around the neck or openly use racial slurs to refer to me. All these things have been done to me or said to me by older 'gentlemen.'

[Farawyn]

Obviously, it depends on the patient, but in general, I'd take 4 males over 4 females any shift! The older male complicated cardio patients were my favorite!

Moi aussi. Men over 70, cardiac, vets. I like those dudes. They always talk about their time in the service.

I can't generalize, though. There are always exceptions. I have some hilarious HH ladies right now that I wouldn't trade.

[Farawyn]

My experience has been the opposite: many of the elderly male patients have been 'difficult' to take care of, either physically or mentally for me.

I cannot recall an elderly female patient who has attempted to touch my breast area, grab me around the neck or openly use racial slurs to refer to me. All these things have been done to me or said to me by older 'gentlemen.'

I can! Those LOLs were the ones grabbing me, and calling me a little female dog! Grrr.

[Nurse Leigh]

Wow, I guess when I really think about it, I can come up with some (generalizations) pros and cons of each. It does seem like the LOLs were more likely to dump out her cup of pills in her hand or on gown then S L O W L Y take them one at a time - the best was when they asked what a certain pill was after I'd told them what pills they had as I scanned, opened, and placed in the cup. sigh

Some of the old guys were like sick kiddos because their wives always coddled them - they could whine with the best of them.

And like The Commuter said, the males were definitely more likely to get handsy.

Both genders could be rude and difficult at times. Of course, the opposite is true, too, and I had many enjoyable interactions with patients of both genders. Give me a patient with a quick wit who doesn't try to find reasons to get upset and I'm pretty happy - so long as they don't dump their cup of pills! 💊

[canigraduate]

Really?!? Men are better than women, patient version?

Ugh. Disgusted.

[verene, MSN]

My experience has been the opposite: many of the elderly male patients have been 'difficult' to take care of, either physically or mentally for me.

I cannot recall an elderly female patient who has attempted to touch my breast area, grab me around the neck or openly use racial slurs to refer to me. All these things have been done to me or said to me by older 'gentlemen.'

I agree. Typically I don't care one way or the other if my patient is male or female, but I've had more credible threats of violence, wandering hands, and inappropriate language from men by far. The 3 times I've ever really feared for my own safety as a CNA have all been male patients. There are some men out there who just seem to want to make women fear them.

However I've taken a lot of verbal abuse and attempted violence from women as well.

It really comes down to the individual patient and how well I can related to them regardless of gender.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

Absolutely not.

Perhaps you are running patients (based on gender) through your own filter. We all do it in one way or another. Confirmation bias reinforces certain beliefs. If I expect to notice certain behaviors from any particular group, I will notice those behaviors, and therefore those beliefs will be further entrenched.

I used to see middle-aged and elderly male patients as the biggest whiny-babies of the two genders, but, in fact, they are not. If I approach each patient individually, whiny-babies are pretty evenly distributed under the curve.

Frankly, you've stated you perceive male patients as funnier, more respectful, better conversationalists, less demented, less demanding, and more patient. If this is true, remind me not to use the call light when I am in your care, because that would be stupid, fussy, bubble-headed, and a general pain in the @ss.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

" But the 65yr old female will either be extremely difficult to interact with or nitpick. "

Wow, just wow. I truly hope your patients are not picking up those vibes. Or are they....and that is what's making them so "difficult"?