If you are a male can you ask to only work for male patients?

[dbtw]

I am taking the CNA course with a view to becoming either CNA or HHA. During the course I was shocked that in caring for female patients you have to view and touch the female genitalia which to me is a bit too much as a male and I would rather not do. I think that female workers can do that no problem. While I wouldn't be thrilled about cleaning males it would be tolerable.

What could I do to ensure that I only work for male patients? Would I have to go directly into HHA for male patients only? Will going into LTC require me to view and touch the female private part 100%?

Also does the training involve the instructors making sure that you can clean both sexes' private parts?

I'm in the middle of the course and there is no refund, and wondering if there is any way to work without having to view and touch at least the opposite sex's genitalia.

[ellaballet]

I mean maybe if you're a home health aide you can look for jobs with a male client? My first job as a CNA the floor I was on had 34 female patients, 1 male. If someone only wanted guy patients that would be a pretty unfair assignment!

I was a little awkward with peri care at first, but after the first couple of days you get used to it. You have to get used to it for your patients sake. Think of how uncomfortable it would be for you to let a stranger wash you down there because you're too weak to do it yourself. Would you want someone whos professional about it, or someone thats gagging/making a big deal about it? You need to have a positive, relaxed attitude to put your patient at ease and make them feel better about themselves.

[Tinkk]

This one does.

[JDZ344]

Well, it's possible you can find a setting that is all male clients, but it would be hard, and in the meantime you have to work.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I don't believe you. No Catholic hospital that I know of works that way.

I went to school at a Catholic hospital based program, and that was how they did things back then. Female nurses did not cath men; we had orderlies who were trained to do male caths.

[JDZ344]

I went to school at a Catholic hospital based program, and that was how they did things back then. Female nurses did not cath men; we had orderlies who were trained to do male caths.

That was the culture then. I would be surprised if it was like that anywhere in the West now.

[Retired APRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I went to school at a Catholic hospital based program, and that was how they did things back then. Female nurses did not cath men; we had orderlies who were trained to do male caths.

I don't know when the PP's "back then" was, but in my own "back then" (in the US, non-religious hospital) things were like that, too. It was the prevailing culture.

Times have changed, and these days it would be highly unusual (to say the least) to see this being done.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I wonder if the OP is now looking into careers in the fast food industry....?

[dbtw]

No that is part of direct care in some scenarios so you are required to complete the skill in most states. If you absolutely won't do this, you need to find another industry that does not involve direct care of humans.

Can you complete the skill for just mannequins or do you have to do it for real people?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Can you complete the skill for just mannequins or do you have to do it for real people?

In skills mannequin In clinical practice, real people.