Male vs. Female

Speculating · Mar 29, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarllS

Male vs. Female......I don't see any reason why a male nurse should start a foley on a female pt. unless it is an emergency. I have no problem with a female coworker asking me to cath. their male pt.'s. I will always see if a female coworker will perform this procedure on my female pt's. I am about to graduate in May with my ADN. I just want to get the general census about this.

What century are you from? It doesn't matter what sex is performing the catheter procedure!! Haven't you learned this in nursing school?

TweetiePieRN is 100% on the money. We live in a different century and society. A guy putting a Foley in a guy, and a female catheterizing a female have just the same chance of being sued as someone of the opposite sex putting a catheter in a pt. So if you're going to use lawsuit as a reason, you technically should have someone of the opposite sex with you whenever you do any catheterizing.

~Anne~ · Mar 29, 2004

I had no idea this was a problem for so many male nurses. I have no problems (except for that "finding the spot" issue) with cathing females. If it's someone A&O, I always ask if they'd prefer a female nurse. And I usually have a female nurse or CNA present, not so much for self-protection as to provide a little extra, ummmm, "spread."
What worries me more is my fellow nurses. If I'm always asking them to do an unpleasant job, they're going to peg me as a work-shirker. There are cultural differences in the approach to doing this, though. One of the first times I cathed a female patient at my current hospital, the Filipina nurses with me were embarrassed. There is more of a sex-based division of labor in their country.
You guys who are reluctant to catheterize women -- how do you handle peri care and bathing females?

I have to agree that if another nurse is always asking someone to do things for them whether male or female its usually because they just do not want to do it... A nurse is a nurse ...no matter waht sex , and should be able to perform every bit of nursing care including cathing a female pt.. Besides how are you going to get the experience when you DO have to cath a female in an emergency? As for "finding the spot"...let me tell you, even us female nurses cannot always find it...so dont feel bad!...it just takes practice...and how can you get it if you never do it. Good Luck!

steel magnolia · Mar 29, 2004

I am female and have done both, but I have often asked a male nurse to do the cath on a male if I sense he may be uncomfortable. The bottom line has a lot to do w pt comfort, and the raport you have established with the pt. Sometimes I thought a male would be uncomfortable w me doing their cath and they laugh and say they trust me, or it doesn't bother them, etc... But even if I did have a good rapport with a pt, it wouldn't upset me in the least if they asked for a male nurse. And if there were no male nurses, I would try to find a male md/resident if possible.

I would have no problem cathing a female pt for a male co-worker, as teeituptom said (I think it was him on another page) it is called teamwork! I would never question it as a male nurse trying to get out of their work!

tiredfeetED · Mar 29, 2004

In the ED...I have put in a handful of foleys in women..only be its cause you need a woman present and most of the time the women present are RNs. I myself am not comfortable putting one in a A & O women..same goes for IM shots..I take a female in with me..

I think the last time i did a foley or a in-out was when a nurse floated and could not put it in. I guess in the ED, the women cath the women. And by the way the other RNs can place a foley faster than it takes me to put on my sterile gloves!

Rustyhammer · Mar 29, 2004

I had no idea that this would even be an issue.

A pt is a pt and if they need a foley and you are the nurse then you should insert it.

If you handle yourself professionaly there shouldn't be a problem.

Who would ever think this is a turn-on anyway?

This is the type of thing that still keeps men and women who are nurses seperated.

-Russell

Nurse Ratched, RN · Mar 29, 2004

I don't understand why we continue to perpetrate this myth that men are animals ready to pounce on the first exposed female they see.

Seems to me that we need to impress upon people the professionalism that comes with being a nurse. If the patient brings it up, fine, but I would tend to go about my business like it was the most natural thing in the world (because it is - at work, I am an asexual being - that's the LAST thing I'm thinking about lol.)

OTOH, I am not a guy, and I wouldn't necessarily fault a guy who wanted to avoid leaving an opening for someone to accuse him of impropriety. But if someone is determined to lie, then they can do that without being in a "compromising position." One male patient (psych floor - alcoholic) alleged that a female nurse took his gold card in exchange for, um, non-traditional nursing services. Alleged it happened during the admission process (naturally, the supposed credit card was not accounted for.) It was ridiculous on its face (besides that she didn't do it, there was no way the guy had a gold card) but nonetheless, had to be "investigated" by risk management. :rolleyes:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 29, 2004

Rustyhammer says: If you handle yourself professionaly there shouldn't be a problem.

Nurse Ratched says: I don't understand why we continue to perpetrate this myth that men are animals ready to pounce on the first exposed female they see.

That of course is the ideal. The reality is that occasionally, fortunately not to freqently male nurses are the target of unfair accusations. Happened to a male nurses aide where I worked. A physcho broad from hell accussed him of molestation while taking her off a bedban.

We all know how to put in foleys, we all know that what should be.

I'm still not doing it without a female witness at my side, thus I'm going to ask a female to do it. Sorry.

:)

Agnus · Mar 29, 2004

It is interesting that the question of males cathing females comes up more often than the reverse.

Some times it is a problem or a risk. Like when you are falsely accused.

I have worked with men who routinely trade off this task. In return they cath female nurses' male patients. Very appropriate if you ask me.

However, I don't think you need to trade off when it is not realistic. I don't think you need to live in fear of litigation over cathing a female. I think if you are professional about it. Most of the time you will be safe. Trouble is there is a very real danger that at some point you could wind up in court or some such over this issue. It is much more likely a male nurse will be accused than a female.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2004

Thank you Agnus

I have dealt with lawyers before

and I fear what they represent

which is misery

no such thing as a good lawyer who is still breathing

Calfax · Mar 30, 2004

Thank you Agnus
I have dealt with lawyers before
and I fear what they represent
which is misery
no such thing as a good lawyer who is still breathing

What do you call 1000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?

A good start!

But what do you call a nurse-attorney?

Sue.

What if he's a guy?

Rich.

With no arms or legs?

Bob.

At the bottom of the ocean?

Spongebob.

ok, ok, ok, ok....I'll stop now.

What about cathing kids? Parents present or not? Also do you anchor foleys with K-loks or not?

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2004

deep down attorneys are really decent

6 feet down under

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Mar 30, 2004

With no arms or legs?
Bob.
At the bottom of the ocean?
Spongebob.

Hahahahahahaha!

Couple of good ones there. :)