How often do female pts request male nurses?

Nesher, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2005

I have never had a female patient ask for a male nurse...

z's playa · Apr 10, 2005

Hmm..if a female pt requested a male nurse I would think it was strange behaviour indeed!

JessicaInOr · Apr 10, 2005

Hmm..if a female pt requested a male nurse I would think it was strange behaviour indeed!

Why? If a female patient prefers a male OB doc, is that strange behavior?

z's playa · Apr 10, 2005

Why? If a female patient prefers a male OB doc, is that strange behavior?

I can see you've been waiting to have someone disagree with your comment but I refuse to be brought into a heated "discussion" today.. I just find it strange since it isn't the norm. Thats all and its my opinion. Of course when I begin practice I will see alot more of it and my opinion will change. I did however have a male nurse refuse to help me out of my shirt and my iv so I could change for bed. Said "If you were 10 years older yes". and he went to get a female nurse. Now that I found strange too. I know I'm hot but come ON! :rotfl:

PS: Theres an entire thread dedicated to this topic on the second page of the nursing forum right now. Go take a look :)

JessicaInOr · Apr 10, 2005

Heated discussion? :chuckle Hardly. And looking for someone to disagree with me? I asked a question. You are the one referring to it as strange behavior.

However I should clarify something here, when I was inpatient it was not for OB/Gyn issues, it was for PE's.

z's playa · Apr 10, 2005

Heated discussion? :chuckle Hardly. And looking for someone to disagree with me? I asked a question. You are the one referring to it as strange behavior.
However I should clarify something here, when I was inpatient it was not for OB/Gyn issues, it was for PE's.

Well around here..I've spoken to a few nurses and doctors about what would be strange to them and they said exactly what I said. You see female pts requesting female docs all the time. It is rare the opposite is requested. It went as far as wondering if there weren't some deep underlying psy reasons as to why a male was requested but I thought it was a little over the top. Then again maybe. If a female pt can request a female doc because of a past rape and the trauma..then why not the opposite? If it ever happens to me that a male/female pt requests a male/female doc or nurse..I will definately give the requested nurse or doc the heads up. Now I am NOT saying you have some psy problems or anything Michelle :)

JessicaInOr · Apr 11, 2005

I don't know, I guess I have a hard time believing that anyone would say as you suggest. Otherwise every female that goes to a male doctor for *anything* is on the edge of mental illness. You have to admit, that's a stretch. What about male patients that go to female doctors? People can generally pick their own doc, are they mentally ill too according to your friends?

When I was in the hospital the only thing any nurse saw was my arm for BPs.

steelcityrn, RN · Apr 11, 2005

I guess psy is psych? And I have never had a female request a male nurse, but I have had a male nurse ask me to trade a patient because a female patient did not want him.

z's playa · Apr 11, 2005

I don't know, I guess I have a hard time believing that anyone would say as you suggest. Otherwise every female that goes to a male doctor for *anything* is on the edge of mental illness. You have to admit, that's a stretch. What about male patients that go to female doctors? People can generally pick their own doc, are they mentally ill too according to your friends?
When I was in the hospital the only thing any nurse saw was my arm for BPs.

Well what are you talking about here? Going to a male doc because you happen to have been dealt a male doc or getting a female doc in say the ER and requesting a male? So no I dont mean every female that goes to a male doc is on the verge of mental illenss. Please dont stretch what I said.

JessicaInOr · Apr 11, 2005

Well what are you talking about here? Going to a male doc because you happen to have been dealt a male doc or getting a female doc in say the ER and requesting a male? So no I dont mean every female that goes to a male doc is on the verge of mental illenss. Please dont stretch what I said.

Okay, let me see if I understand here. If a female patient asks for a male nurse then according to your nurse friends there is some deep emotional problem. But if that same female chooses a male doctor that is different?

That's not fair to female patients or male nurses. The only females that request them have emotional problems? Nawwww, I can't agree.

z's playa · Apr 11, 2005

Okay, let me see if I understand here. If a female patient asks for a male nurse then according to your nurse friends there is some deep emotional problem. But if that same female chooses a male doctor that is different?
That's not fair to female patients or male nurses. The only females that request them have emotional problems? Nawwww, I can't agree.

First off...this is coming second hand I only agree....IF a pt needs say an internal exam in the ER ....a female doc walks in....she says...NO...I only want a male doctor to do the internal exam....this is what we all find a LITTLE strange.

If ANYBODY chooses a doc male/feamle...prior to the ER...who cares........

IF they need to go to the EMERGENCY ROOM and REQUEST A doc of a different sex..and yes ...wanting a male doc to give an internal is strange to the DOCTORS here in the ER where I am at the moment.......THEN...yes it is strange. It is MORE common to have a request for a FEMALE nurse or doctor than it is for a MALE nurse or doctor .....with THESE docotrs here anyways......

It doesnt matter nurse or doctor.......HERE.....if a female will only deal with members of the opposite sex...it rings a little bell for maybe there"s some underlying issues that needs exploring as to WHY this is. Ok?

It just isn't the norm here ..THAT'S all. :smackingf