How do you feel when?..

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Hello to all my fellow nurses, im having gender related difficulties in clinicals. Seems that my female counter parts are not having the same problems as me though. When we get to our unit for clinicals the day starts the same with vitals and am care then comfort and support (ivs, injections, etc.) Whenever there is something really cool and educational almost always its on a female patient. Im trying to figure out whats a good way to go about getting trust. I had an idea that when we start our clinicals and everyone is being introduced that I stop by every patients room and introduce myself so im not a stranger. So if the time comes to observing something educational the patient wont feel uncomfortable. Any tips on how you all got by in clinicals? Thanks ahead of time.

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Specializes in Telemetry/PCU.

I will say for myself I always told the nurses on the floor that if they had anything going on to let me know so I could observe. The best I can offer you is that if you hear about something going on or about to go on and you go into the patients room, if its male or female, to do your best to look pleasant and look like you are willing to learn. During my time in nursing school it was very rare for a female patient to refuse any type of care or observation from me. As a nurse I have had only like 2 patients in my 3 years tell me that they would prefer a female to be there (while they are needing cleaned) but had no issues with me caring for them. I always stress though to just have a smile on your face and be pleasant because that can relax the patient a lot and make them more trusting of you, and as always it never hurts to ask if it is ok for you to be apart of the teaching moment.

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I understand that but the thing is they dont usually see me before i get to the room. I knock on the door then the instructor says she doesnt want a male in the room. So I dont get a chance to look plesant which is why id like to go room to room and introduce myself I am very personable and outgoing always have a smile on my face.

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Specializes in NICU.

So you don't have assigned patients. Usually if the instructor gets approval from the patient to have a male student for the clinical then there is no issue. Is the instructor actually asking the patient about having a male student observe or are they automatically saying that since it's female patient that she doesn't want a male student watching. Seems kind of odd that a female patient would object to having a male student observe an IV start in the hand/forearm or an IM or SQ injection in the arm. I can see inserting a foley or a genital exam. I had very few times that a female didn't want a male student.

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

Hmm. If this is happening to you on a regular basis, I wonder if the manner in which your instructor is asking might be the issue. Not sure how to address that issue though!

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Specializes in Critical care.

The above advice is a good start toward personal adjustments you can make, however as just noted, what part is your instructor playing in this? A biased instructor can definitely set a negative lead.

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Nursing is a primarly female dominated field of study. Dont take it personal because they will need you when it comes to lifting and moving patients and in hostile situations . . . . Women are viewed in society as being caring, loving, compassionate, and tender. So the image is nursing is commonly associated with a female. Nevertheless men can and have made many outstanding accomplishments within the field as will you. As long as your passing your clinical course don't get upset about being left outside of the room. It's not the first or last time you will be asked to wait outside. Females are also asked not to participate in care withe male patients at times. Remember your goal is to take the state boards not be popular with the patients or the instructor. Take my advice I became a CNA in 2000 and I'm still successfully working in nursing.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

To OP - I might suggest that you change your avatar as posted, esp if that's your real name. Anybody can follow these posts and anonymity is recommended.

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Specializes in ICU.
Hmm. If this is happening to you on a regular basis, I wonder if the manner in which your instructor is asking might be the issue. Not sure how to address that issue though!

I am curious of how this is playing out as well cayenne06. Patients will respond much differently to ideas depending upon how they are presented. For example,

A. This is John, he's going to look for an IV on you so that we can get your pain under control.

B. This is, what's your name again, John, from XXX University. He's a student there and he's learning how to be a nurse, he's going to look for an IV on you and if he isn't able to find anything I'll come in here and start something.

You'll find that patients are much more receptive and less anxious to option B.

With that being said, I'd be interested to know which semester you are currently in. If you happen to be in the maternity portion of your education, then this topic makes more since. When it comes to that area of nursing, males in nursing are few and far in between. Whether right or wrong, that's the reality of the situation.

My advice: If you are in the maternity portion of your education, grit your teeth and get through it, all male RN's have done it before. If this is not the maternity portion, evaluate how your clinical instructor, preceptor, and yourself interact with patients, the issue probably lies within one of the three.

Best of luck in your future endeavors.

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Is this an obstetrics clinical? Even so, in my OB clinical none of the patients cared if the male students were present. I have never seen a patient say that they didn't want a male student in the room, and I'm in my last semester. Tell us more about this instructor. This sounds really unusual to me. None of the patients on any clinical I've been at have said they didn't want a male student, even if it was peri-care, toileting, or what have you.

Also, where is your program, geographically?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I understand that but the thing is they dont usually see me before i get to the room. I knock on the door then the instructor says she doesnt want a male in the room. So I dont get a chance to look plesant which is why id like to go room to room and introduce myself I am very personable and outgoing always have a smile on my face.
I do not think going room to room and introducing yourself is a good idea. As a student if the patient isn't yours then you really should not be roaming about the room alone.

As a recent patient in hospital and in the ICU I had a couple of male nursing students/externs/CNA's. One male was confident and professional. He performed personal care that I could not do for myself at the time as if gender was not an issue. The second male was clearly uncomfortable with touching the more private areas when performing care. I finally asked him to stop he was making me uncomfortable and driving me NUTS!. I told him to take a deep breath and tell me what is bothering him.

It was HIS perception/personal feelings of being uncomfortable when performing these tasks that was interfering with his care. He was so nervous and uncomfortable it made me uncomfortable. I told him he had to find a comfort level and so he could convey to the patient confidence and develop a professional demeanor, Being nervous and awkward is what makes a patient uncomfortable. Sure there will be females who will prefer a female nurse and that's ok.

YOU need to work on your game face and confidence so that the patient feels safe. That will go a long way in the care of your patients. If you are hesitant in any way patients can smell fear/reluctance a mile away.and will ask for another nurse. Not so much based on your gender....but that you are perceived as hesitant and lack confidence which translates to the thought that you do not know what you are doing.

Make good eye contact when you walk into the room with the other students. Be calm and introduce yourself then. Have a demeanor about you that you got this without arrogance.

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going in to every patient's room is creepy.

how about if you hear something interesting is going on, you go to that room and check it out.

be brave, and this would be the time to use your authoritative-ness. look smart, tough, dont be scared. the only time you should get is if the patient wants you out, of course you ask if they will allow you to stay. most of the time they do. and the other time is if the doctor or nurse is being mean and kicks you out of the room.

thats how med students and other kinds of students shadowing doctors and other professionals who go into patients rooms. they go in radiating confidence, brave, authoritative but appropriate.

Im a guy, in OB semester, not one woman, even the first time mothers ever denied me the chance to see births, and even doing exams.

You just have to go for it!

dont worry about taking time to be presentable. your uniform and personality attitude is enough. go in, ask the pt "do you mind if i stay and observe?" watch out for nonverbal signs though. staying in after the pt says yes but she looked uncomfortable and not sure... is awkward.

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