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 Med-surge, hospice, LTC, tele, rehab.
Hello. Female nurse here. I understand your concerns, but at work, yes you are a nurse first and a male/female second. That is part of being a professional. Believe me, I don't mind to help a fellow nurse out but sometimes I simply don't have time to stop what I'm doing with my own patients to go catheterize someone else's patient. Catheterizing females is not always easy and can be time consuming.
All nurses should be capable of doing their own procedures because someone may not always be available to do it for you. And saying you choose not to do a procedure that is part of your job does not sound very professional.
As long as you explain the procedure to the female patient beforehand and explain everything that you're doing during the cath, having a female nursing assistant in the room for a witness, it shouldn't be an issue. Sometimes females refuse to let males do this procedure. In that case, yes, you shouldn't proceed and should tell your charge nurse and have a female do it. But it shouldn't be a case of the male nurse refusing to do it because you are uncomfortable with it. And not all females are as modest as you may think. We are used to those yearly gyno visits.
Strange, but of the hundreds of girls I've referred to the gynaecologist (I work in schools now) they all, every single one of them, only agree to go if it's a female gynaecologist
Also - the male nurse needs a chaperone anyway, so why not let the woman do it.
The problem is that you seem to be assuming that all women would be uncomfortable with you performing personal care. I think it's more offensive to assume my/another woman's feelings before even explaining the procedure.
Yes, you are a nurse before you are a male at work. If I was expected to run and hide every time I had to touch a member....well, I guess they would consider I couldn't fulfill the duties of my job. And my coworkers sure would be annoyed.
Strange, but of the hundreds of girls I've referred to the gynaecologist (I work in schools now) they all, every single one of them, only agree to go if it's a female gynaecologist
Also - the male nurse needs a chaperone anyway, so why not let the woman do it.
The mindset of a teenage girl surely is different than the majority of women you encounter on an adult acute care floor. If you actually spoke to the women you care for instead of assuming feelings, you'd have figured this out.
And because your female counterpart has enough to do with her own patients....why should she have to do a procedure you assumed your female pt doesn't want you to do?
If I have a choice I might choose to see a women gyn/ob. But if I am in a hospital setting I will take the drs and nurses that are on staff and the ones that I am given and just be greatful for the good care I hope I will receive by the men and women that choose Dr and nursing as their profession.
Also what about us women taking care of men and doing personal care on them . That does not seem to be a big deal. Why is it so not right for a male nurse doing personal care on a women.
Honestly! Young females - and males - are often uncomfortable with such intimate procedures regardless of the caregiver's sex. It is our job as nurses to act professionally and put our patients at ease regardless of our own personal feelings. I'm human--I personally feel a little uncomfortable when I have a patient close to my age that I have to catheterize or even put an NG in. Does my patient know I am uncomfortable? No. Do I ask an older nurse to do the procedure for me? Hardly.
At my work, we automatically do all female caths for our male colleagues. They will do favors for us. It's just the way we traditionally roll here.
I do question the logic in it. What if the female nurse is a lesbian? Should she declare her orientation to the patient and turn over the job to a heterosexual one? And why do I get to cath men?
I would say you should only need to defer these tasks to a female nurse if the patient requests a female nurse. For most of us females it really is no big deal to have care provided by a male. My primary MD is a male and until recently my GYN was male. I've never had a problem with this.
OP, if YOU have a problem with it, then no, maybe I don't want you to "do that" to my hypothetical 18 year old daughter. You are making it sound creepy.
Wow, I'm wondering if this lack of consideration to gender has to do with being 'professional' or because healthcare is now a business. I also wonder if this is an Americanism. In my time in the UK and New Zealand, there simply wasn't an issue. The guys did the guys, and the women, the women. It worked, it didn't create more work, and no on gave it any thought.
As for the other intimate stuff, we did generally get on with it.
It is ok for a nurse not to be comfortable doing something.
It is ok for a nurse to choose not to do something.
This does not make them less of a nurse.
Perhaps if nurses showed a bit of compassion to each other, the way we're supposed to be towards our patients, then there wouldn't be a problem.
I know you're going to hate me for this, but the attitude I get from the answers here does seem a bit cold. Maybe it's a cultural thing.
Wow, I'm wondering if this lack of consideration to gender has to do with being 'professional' or because healthcare is now a business. I also wonder if this is an Americanism. In my time in the UK and New Zealand, there simply wasn't an issue. The guys did the guys, and the women, the women. It worked, it didn't create more work, and no on gave it any thought.
As for the other intimate stuff, we did generally get on with it.
It is ok for a nurse not to be comfortable doing something.
It is ok for a nurse to choose not to do something.
This does not make them less of a nurse.
Perhaps if nurses showed a bit of compassion to each other, the way we're supposed to be towards our patients, then there wouldn't be a problem.
I know you're going to hate me for this, but the attitude I get from the answers here does seem a bit cold. Maybe it's a cultural thing.
I have no idea what creating a professional, comfortable environment for all patients and all procedures has to do with America's healthcare "being a business". Really....I have no idea what that means. I also don't know how a male straight cathing a female pt who has given him the ok is not compassionate.
Surely, giving patients the option is compassionate. I think you're (once again) assuming that we just force our patients to do things/be okay with things.
I also don't know what the difference between giving a bed bath/peri care/whatever is from straight cathing. Please elaborate the difference. If you are doing all that like you say you are, why are you refusing to straight cath?
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.
Can you explain this? You think it is easier for a female nurse to catheterize a female? Do you mean physically or psychologically for the nurse? (Either way, I don't think it matters, IMHO.)
Part of being a professional means that you are able to put aside gender issues. I means not being uncomfortable when looking at and manipulating, for medical purposes, the genitalia of either gender. Maybe the 18 year old female is uncomfortable with someone putting in a catheter. Do you think and 18 year old male would be any less uncomfortable?
Also, why would it be acceptable for a male doctor to perform a pelvic exam on a female, but it would not be acceptable for a male nurse to catheterize a female patient? Absolutely have a chaperone with you. If the patient steadfastly refuses a male nurse to do the procedure, then ask a female colleague to help you out. Otherwise, there is no reason why a professional male nurse cannot catheterize a female.
NurseFrustrated
116 Posts
Hello. Female nurse here. I understand your concerns, but at work, yes you are a nurse first and a male/female second. That is part of being a professional. Believe me, I don't mind to help a fellow nurse out but sometimes I simply don't have time to stop what I'm doing with my own patients to go catheterize someone else's patient. Catheterizing females is not always easy and can be time consuming.
All nurses should be capable of doing their own procedures because someone may not always be available to do it for you. And saying you choose not to do a procedure that is part of your job does not sound very professional.
As long as you explain the procedure to the female patient beforehand and explain everything that you're doing during the cath, having a female nursing assistant in the room for a witness, it shouldn't be an issue. Sometimes females refuse to let males do this procedure. In that case, yes, you shouldn't proceed and should tell your charge nurse and have a female do it. But it shouldn't be a case of the male nurse refusing to do it because you are uncomfortable with it. And not all females are as modest as you may think. We are used to those yearly gyno visits.