How do women feel about pts that only want female RN's?

[hodgieRN]

Just had a pt (and her sister) who were astonished that I was assigned to the room. She middle aged. Not an OB or anything. She wasn't a little old lady and there were not cultural differences. It was more her sister (who was not medically inclined and constantly asked me questions that made no sense...she was citing articles on google and would ask me a question, wait for reply, and then would say she read something different. They said "I can't believe a male was put here. We only want female nurses." I said that we are capable of getting a female for bedpans and I wouldn't do any bed baths. Females nurses were walking by and they said "We want you, not him." The manager talked to them and they didn't have any problems with my competence. They actually liked how I cared for the pt and how I answered general questions. Then it came out...."Women are just more caring than men. Men don't really nurture."

So, I was happy to get another assignment the next day. Which brings me to my question. The manager said that she would just assign women there (which I was totally fine with), and all the female nurses rolled their eyes and said "Please, please don't assign me there! Good, that's annoying."

Is your day shot when you here one of your pts only wants female nurses?

[Rose2013]

I'm female and I would honestly rather have a male nurse. The male nurses I have met tend to be very caring and empathetic towards their patients.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

If it were any old patient saying this, I would just chuckle, take a moment to feel sorry for that patient's loss of a kick-ass nurse, and then move on. I didn't become a nurse to make patients like or accept me, I became a nurse to help people because I care about people.

But you are not any old patient, because I see from your other posts that you are in a position of power over other nurses. If your little statement at the end there is accurate and not a joke, then you are a bigot, and you have no business in the profession, let alone in management.

It was a tongue in cheek reference..... I know some written words don't always transfer well....so we need to keep that in mind.

I am amongst the patient population these days and I agree I would like anyone to come in my room and as ridiculous as it is for a preference for male or female it would be ridiculous to refuse a nurse based on their religious affiliation I think was the point of the statement...:)

[RURN2O11]

I am an atheist & I find this comment very offensive. I am not easily offended but I resent the implication that just b/c I do not believe in God, or at least the traditional ideas of God, that I am not caring or competent or whatever else a nurse should be. Pts, families, & coworkers frequently compliment me on being a very intelligent, compassionate nurse. I know other nurses who are atheists who are also very kind & are wonderful nurses. I do not go around telling pts or coworkers that I am an atheist unless they explicitly ask me which is almost never. I am always very respectful of my pts' & coworkers' beliefs. The idea that someone would reject me as their nurse just b/c I am an atheist is absurd.

[learningmom]

I don't think it's a big deal if a pt asks for a woman nurse. Of course it is a matter of comfort and personal choice.

I do see an issue with the statement "Men don't really nurture." That sounds too harsh and judgemental.

[Teleflurry, DNP]

My 92 year old patient wanted a female citing ,"I'm just old fashioned". Im a woman and I find it to be annoying at times because my Icu has a lot of males and a male tech. I was the only female that night and couldn't call the boys for help rolling or bathing . We just had a young male patient request a woman to bathe him - that was weird.

[royhanosn]

this has been dealt with before on previous posts.