I think I'm professional, but now I'm not so sure, after I told some American friends that as a male nurse, I don't catheterize women.
'That's sexist' was one of the kinder comments, while one of the more rational comments said - "We are professionals. As long as we behave in a professional way, then we should all have to do the same job."
I naturally asked 'does this mean we're nurses first, and men/women second?' and they didn't give a concise answer.
Am I the only male who thinks that it is harder for a female patient as well as for a male nurse to do such an intimate procedure?
Am I the only nurse who thinks that gender does matter? What harm does it cause if I choose not to do a procedure when there are capable people around who could do it just as well, plus make it easier for the patient. As a male nurse, I need a female chaperone if doing such a procedure on a woman anyway, so why not make it easier for everyone and simply keep the male out of it altogether?
But what does being a "Professional" mean? From what I'm hearing from others it sounds like I am a sexless machine capable of doing it all because that is what I am paid to do. Instead I think of myself as a caring carer. I have my faults and biases. I make mistakes and I sometimes let my feelings help make my decisions. But I have a big heart and I do the job because I care first. I enjoy making people laugh when they're sick. I enjoy being able to make a difference in people's lives. I also do the job recognizing my faults, and if I ever think that my views/faults may jeopardize a patient, I know to get someone else to take over that patient's care. I guess I'm not a very successful Sexless Professional. But I can live with being called sexist and unprofessional, just because I sometimes refuse to do female catheterization. I'm sure there's a lot worse things I could be.
A couple of extra points to mention:
For the record, the female staff used to ask me to catheterize the men, and they'd do the same for my female patients, and we never had a problem.
Also it's strange, but apparently I'm allowed to catheterize little old ladies, but not young women. Sounds a bit ageist to me. Do the feelings of older people not matter as much as those of young people? Naturally I'd never contemplate such a procedure on a young woman.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Oh geez.
If I was sick and one of "our guys" here was my nurse, I would not hesitate to let them care for me, cath me, etc.
Except the OP.
I thought Aurora77 was responding to OP.
MY problem is not you male nurses who say the patients don't want you. I get that. My problem is the OP saying that because he is a male he shouldn't do it- because of his feelings about it.
And he has now gone from that to belittling American (US) nurses in general, because some of us had the temerity to disagree with him.
To me, it's simply a body part that needs just as much care as the rest of our body parts. We all have bodies. We all have genitalia.
Catheterizing someone is not a sexual act. You are making urination an easier process for them, and that is all.
I think he may have had some odd reactions from women not expecting a male who is a nurse entering into the room for a procedure, from what he has said. Maybe he had a few modest or even overly modest women treat him as if he was not going into that territory. Maybe it's as simple as that. Just sayin'.
After 23yrs I've come to the conclusion that there are some things it's easier for a man to do, and some for a woman to do, for the nurse as well as the patient. Gender does matter in nursing, and as a male who was accidentally placed in a gynaecology ward when he first graduated (because they thought my name was a women's name) I remember very clearly the difficulties, and don't any of the sometimes traumatic experiences I had against the staff or patients. It is what it is.
As a Labor and Delivery nurse for over 35 years, I can tell you women don't mind male nurses performing procedures on them. I have worked with several male nurses and male OB Technicians over the years, they are all professionals first. I have never seen a female patient refuse to have the male OB nurse or technician care for them or perform a procedure. It is time to break out of your self imposed shell and perform your own procedures.
What is going on with this thread? The OP is not sexualizing anything! For those of you who want to remind him of the patient's interests.......that is why he started this thread. Can you not see that he wants make sure his patients are not uncomfortable with him. If most of these commenters are a sample of what U.S. nursing is like....then well it's awful.
The OP was simply asking for experiences and ways other people had of dealing with this issue. It baffles me the conclusions that have been drawn here. I think the same way, but from the opposite side. I want to protect my patient's modesty, and if that means passing on that particular procedure, well then, so be it. Otherwise, if a patient does not care, or other help is not available, I will be professional and get done what needs to be done.
This has to be one of the harshest thread responses that I have read. James 3:5 in the Bible is right, when it says the tongue is like a fire that burns down everything in its path. Why don't we turn the comments to more constructive information and experiences, rather than tearing apart the OP because you have a different opinion.
Personally, I think that it is only because women are becoming so masculinized due to feminism that there is such a hostile response. Fifty years ago, it would have been shocking and inappropriate. So many women have lost their sense of modesty and femininity that it does not matter to them anymore. Now, a person like to OP is attacked because he dares to have a different viewpoint.
By the way, I think this reflects badly on the U.S. Shame on us for not showing a person outside this country how professional and patient-centered U.S. nurses can be. These responses reflect on our nursing practice in general and if I were a foreign nurse, I would not want to nurse in a such a place, if people were going to be so self-centered.
As a Labor and Delivery nurse for over 35 years, I can tell you women don't mind male nurses performing procedures on them. I have worked with several male nurses and male OB Technicians over the years, they are all professionals first. I have never seen a female patient refuse to have the male OB nurse or technician care for them or perform a procedure. It is time to break out of your self imposed shell and perform your own procedures.
LDU4life
I certainly take your word for it, on your unit....but I think this OP had a different experience in his culture and work environment. It read like he worked on a unit where there were several women in bays needing ob/gyn procedures and they were surprised to see him. I feel like an interpreter...but maybe I am wrong in the translation.....but that's what I thought I read earlier in the thread.
This has been a very interesting read. I have only been in the hospital 3 times, one I cannot remember (I was 4) and the other 2 times I was having c-sections. To my knowledge I have never had a male nurse, so I honestly can't say how I would feel about one placing a catheter, but honestly unless they acted weird about it I wouldn't mind.
OP, if it makes you uncomfortable, then yes there is a problem. If you are explaining to the patients what is happening and they prefer a female nurse do it, then so be it. I can kind of understand how being thrown into ob/gyn practice and how everyone reacted may have caused some issues. It certainly sounds like it was no good for anyone in the beginning.
Then there are the cultural differences I cannot get into because I do not know the culture of New Zealand where you are from. Here in America, for the most part, I think in medical matters the gender of the provider doesn't make a huge difference, as long as patients are cared for in a respectable manner. I myself prefer female PCP, but after a particularly rough experience with a female GYN, prefer males handle that part of my care.
Personally, I think that it is only because women are becoming so masculinized due to feminism that there is such a hostile response. Fifty years ago, it would have been shocking and inappropriate. So many women have lost their sense of modesty and femininity that it does not matter to them anymore. Now, a person like to OP is attacked because he dares to have a different viewpoint.
By the way, I think this reflects badly on the U.S. Shame on us for not showing a person outside this country how professional and patient-centered U.S. nurses can be. These responses reflect on our nursing practice in general and if I were a foreign nurse, I would not want to nurse in a such a place, if people were going to be so self-centered.
Your first sentence? Good luck with the world.
After 23 years of nursing, OP has to suck it up and do his job.
Male nurse here (since everyone is shouting out their gender lol). Anyway, I don't get many opportunities to do catheterizations at my job. Sucks, I know. Therefore, whenever a male or female needs to be catheterized, I jump at the chance to do it so I can develop my skills in that area. Of course if a female patient is uncomfortable with a male nurse, a female nurse will be provided.
It really sounds like YOU'RE the uncomfortable one OP. You have the right to your beliefs, but you can't speak for women and think they would be better off with a female nurse because "all women prefer a female nurse for that type of care."
Just maybe, different populations in different parts of the world, feel a differently to the modern american woman. Where I come from in New Zealand, a male is still a bit of a novelty, and you can see the patients trying to figure you out.
But I am fine with it, otherwise i wouldn't be here 23yrs later.
Ok. I read this post, which made me wonder if I hadn't misread the original one used to start this thread. And after reading it again, I'm quite sure I read it correctly.
OP, in the above quote you acknowledge that "Just maybe, different populations in different parts of the world, feel differently to the modern American woman". Good to acknowledge, because on that there is ample evidence in this thread alone.
You then say "I am fine with it, otherwise I wouldn't be here 23 years later". This is the part that I'm curious about. If you really ARE fine with it....I'm not sure I understand all the philosophical concerns in your first post.
I think I'm professional, but now I'm not so sure, after I told some American friends that as a male nurse, I don't catheterize women.
I naturally asked 'does this mean we're nurses first, and men/women second?' and they didn't give a concise answer.
You received many answers to this question on this thread, as it is specifically what you wanted an answer to. For some you may not have liked the presentation, but....you did ask....and you did receive.
Am I the only male who thinks that it is harder for a female patient as well as for a male nurse to do such an intimate procedure?
Again....you asked a specific question, and GOT specific answers. From women. From men. And while it is clear from this thread that you are not "the only male who thinks....etc", it should ALSO be clear that you are in the very definite minority. And you were told this several times. You asked....it is not reasonable to then insist that the opinions of the others are somehow wrong. They responded to your question honestly.
Am I the only nurse who thinks that gender does matter?
The only one? Perhaps not....but certainly you understand that by asking the question, you were GOING to hear from those who believe you are a rarity...not the norm. Yet you seem to be railing against the fact that this is so.
But what does being a "Professional" mean?...
You might disagree, but it seems you have plenty of definitions here on this thread. Not agreeing with them isn't the same as them being "less caring" or less of a "big heart" than you.
You came to a message board that you recognize is predominantly American, yet take opportunity after opportunity to insinuate that the American nurse is somehow less sensitive, less caring, less....I don't know, but there it is....than you. Continuing to bang it over people's heads that in YOUR home country things are (in your opinion) so very much better than they are for Americans is, frankly, not just useless but increasingly irritating.
You wanted to know people's thoughts on the topic. You have read them. In a nutshell, you find us (Americans, with a capital 'A' btw) to be too cavalier, and we find you to be too hands-off...even strange in your approach. You may not like to hear it, but...YOU ASKED.
Purple_roses
1,763 Posts
To me, it's simply a body part that needs just as much care as the rest of our body parts. We all have bodies. We all have genitalia.
Catheterizing someone is not a sexual act. You are making urination an easier process for them, and that is all.