male nurses refusing to do certain treatments?

[picurn10]

I'm just a student but an issue came up in class that really had me We were discussing med administration and lady partsl suppositories. One of the male students in class asked if he would "have" to do that for a pt., or if he could delegate to another nurse. The part that most surprised me was that my nursing instructor told him it was fine, she had male nurses she worked with who refused to insert foley's on females and other procedures involving the peri area of women.

This just seems so unprofessional to me. A pt. is a pt. and if they need care, it's our job to provide it. I understand that we're in a crazy litigious society and she mentioned one male nurse who brought a female aide in when doing foley's and things (I understand that a lot more). But honestly, the tone from this male student and one other in class was more like "that's so gross, I can't handle it" rather than "I'm scared for my license".

Is this common? I've had male OB/GYNs care for me personally and didn't think twice. I guess it just made me uncomfortable the sexual implication that they seemed to be projecting onto a medical procedure. Am I just out of touch?

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I would never want a male nurse to put a foley in me, that much I know.

As far as it being a sue-happy society we live in, that's true. But I doubt if women from the 1800s would have wanted a male to put a foley in, or any other type of that sort of thing...

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

i would not mind having a male nurse take care of me at all. last time i was in the hospital, the nurse who took care of me was a male and he was excellent.

anyway, my fiance is a male RN and has never once refused to perform a treatment on a female, no matter what it is. he will ask for a female tech or nurse to accompany him and explain to the pt the procedure. 99.9%, pt is fine with it. he is a very professional and competent nurse and is actually better at inserting a foley in an obese female than me, lol. i think in his entire career he has had one patient refuse him to be their nurse simply because he was a man.

i agree with you april&em, whats the big difference between the male MD being OB/GYN's, doing paps and delivering babies on a daily basis, and a male nurse, also a licensed, trained professional, performing a nursing duty? i don't really see much of one.

[kd870218]

I am a male nurse (GN) and I don't have a problem with Foley or peri care in regards to females. I take into consideration (and have much respect) towards the woman's wishes if she prefers another female to do it, but I don't run into this often. As with anything of a sensitive nature the nurse must use tact.

[ambersnight]

the male commenting on how "gross" it is in my opinion is just immaturity. I think if a male is uncomfortable with inserting foley's on females or inserting lady partsl meds (which is uncommon on a med surg/tele floor) then all he has to do is ask a fellow female coworker to do it for him. it really depends on the nurse and the pt. In nursing we see and do many uncomfortable things....thats why we are so special!!! The pt's care is what is important and nurses male or female should ensure quality care regardless and find a way to get the job done smoothly. you can always trot to another floor and ask a friend for a favor. i have found that one of the beauties of nursing is we look out for one another and help out (at least most do!)

Overall, it takes time to realize what nursing is all about and how to deal with the daily and sometimes routine situations on the floor you choose to work on. im still learning myself. goodluck!!!!

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Some of us don't want a male doctor for the same reason.

It should be up to the patient.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I am a male nurse (GN) and I don't have a problem with Foley or peri care in regards to females. I take into consideration (and have much respect) towards the woman's wishes if she prefers another female to do it, but I don't run into this often. As with anything of a sensitive nature the nurse must use tact.

You sound very professional and mature. Perfect attitude!

[Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN]

My husband recently completed a CNA course through the local college. His RN CNA instructor informed him that he would never take care of female pts because he was male. She even went as far as to excuse him from the classroom when performing a demonstration of pericare on a female mannequin. He didnt make a big deal about it because he was afraid that he would look inappropriate. It takes all types to perpetuate the stereotype and it isnt always the men. ~Ivanna

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

*groan*

[Batman24]

My husband recently completed a CNA course through the local college. His RN CNA instructor informed him that he would never take care of female pts because he was male. She even went as far as to excuse him from the classroom when performing a demonstration of pericare on a female mannequin. He didnt make a big deal about it because he was afraid that he would look inappropriate. It takes all types to perpetuate the stereotype and it isnt always the men. ~Ivanna

Dear Lord. That's absurd. He really should address this issue with the school now that the course is done. This situation needs to be rectified. He needs to learn care of both sexes.

The male nurse on our second shift does tons of female care. He does take a CNA or another nurse into the room as needed. The patients adore him.

[Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I'm surprised that some folks think the nurse's (man or woman) culture doesn't count for anything.

We all have beliefs and cultural mores concerning what we think appropriate. For some cultures or individuals, those may be very strong factors. I can easily imagine, for instance, a Muslim or Orthodox Jewish male nurse preferring to pass lady partsl care to a female nurse if possible. The same for females of those religious cultures. I'm sure there are other examples.

Now, speaking from my own religious and personal perspective, I won't delay emergent care of any sort for any patient. But if I can easily get a female nurse to do a non-urgent Foley on a female patient, I think that is better all the way around. There are, of course, other such examples. That has to do with my beliefs about appropriate exposure and respect between genders. Those beliefs require that I respect my patient, my self, and the values themselves. Upholding those values requires more than cheap talk and passing recognition; it requires an attempt to act on those values. Fortunately, it usually means respecting people MORE, not less. Again, that has to include no compromise on proper patient care. But that is part of the same network of values.

I find it disturbing and a double standard to say that we have to be sensitive, respectful, and 'culturally competent' with regards to our patients; but not with regards to our colleagues and our selves.

[missjennmb]

So since its ok for male nurses to bow out of caring for women, we (women) can bow out of any kind of peri care/cath/ect for men too right?

I'd love to see how well THAT goes over.