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.
I was eighteen when I went to Lpn school. I did caths and peri care on men, women, and children. Some much younger than me, my age, and older than me. And no I didn't ask to trade duties. Being a professional and all. At 18.
So should female nurses not cath male patients?? Inserting a catheter is not sexual and most women do not feel uncomfortable with a man putting one in if they are professional and have good bedside manner. There are special circumstances ie: Muslim women who will not allow a man to see any part of her (except her husband) for cultural/religious reasons, which then would be totally appropriate to have a female perform the procedure, but don't just assume- they will let you know (and will usually request a female nurse right off the bat). Please do not stereotype women just because YOU are uncomfortable.
Specializes in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine.
When I started as a new grad in 87 on a med-surg floor-No RNS were allowed to catheterize men-their rationale was we could damage a gentlemen's prostrate-Personally I think something must have happened & it was a CYA hospital policy...I agree that if you are required to-do it. I wouldn't feel offended if you asked me to chaperone you in the room or show you how to do it. I am sure you can find another nurse who feels the way I do regarding this-also it might make the female patient feel better also-especially if they bring it up to you right? It might also make you feel better asking the female patient do you mind me doing this procedure to you-Guarantee you will get more no's than yes-sincerely. JMO.
You can't damage a man's prostrate. He doesn't have one of those...please look up the correct word.
If I was a patient, I would prefer that nobody has to look at my lady parts or menstrual fluids but I would understand that they need to. If someone has to do it, I don't care about the gender but everyone is different. If someone specifically requests the same gender for a procedure then I'd honor it. It's not common but it's happen to me before.
Since OP's experience was 20 yrs ago, it reminds me of a female in law that I had, she would have been about 60 yrs old 20 yrs ago. She told me she would only have a male GYN because she wouldn't be comfortable with a woman touching her. I've never known anyone since who sexualized a medical exam. Hated them yes, felt more comfortable with a female GYN coming from a mutual female experience yes but never sexualized it.
I prefer a man just because the men who perform my PAP is usually more gently whereas the women who have done my exam were a little more rough...
On a side note a got asked to lift every pt. in my unit yesterday, and as a male I am the only nurse that can lay claim to that fact.
Not complaining….just hoping everyone understands it's not always black and white. Just like policies that state male nurses need a women in the room when catheterizing a female, but not a female to a male.
RN here, though I worked as an agency CNA many years before earning my RN. An assignment at a VA facility had the CNAs doing straight caths on the almost entirely male population. This was around...2005ish. I'm female. I think straight cathing is an excellent example of "clinical touch" over other kinds of touch. The CNAs were also trained on wound care...they functioned more like non-trauma center ED Techs, and then some, now that I think about it for this post. Scope is a bit different in the VA. I had tunneled abscesses near the groin to pack on at least two patients (vet drug use fallout) as well as a fellow who was wheelchair bound, legless, and with a serious 2-person wound/dressing change on his bottom. Add to this the standard bum/coccyx decubes and us girls were working in private areas all the time.
It's just clinical. If you don't know what "clinical" feels like, I really can't explain it beyond saying that the encounters couldn't be more "neutered". Never did my gender bother me, nor was it ever (to my knowledge) raised as an issue by they fellows in my care. If I had to do a cath on a male now I probably wouldn't blink twice just congratulate myself on "not missing". So I'm thinking this is more a personal caveat then one created by your employer. Since the feeling is foreign to me, I'm not the one to give advice on how to get over it.
Maybe in the culture you're from, but I've never worked in the USA (I assume that's where you're from). But in NZ, Australia, and the UK, I can say you're absolutely wrong.
As a nurse, the only reason I can see that you should be handing off catheters to colleagues if you know your skills are too weak to safely provide care.
Otherwise, I agree with everyone else, that this is definitely more about your discomfort level than your patient's.
Speaking as a previous patient myself-(and a mother of teenagers who have had various surgeries and procedures) I assure you, your skill level and confidence comes before your gender or appearance.
You are absolutely right that if I get even the slightest vibe that you don't want to cath my kid- you're out! Don't come back. (That's the mom in me- not the nurse) Send me someone who is highly trained AND professional instead. I want whatever procedure that needs to be done to be done right the first time, by the best. That is what everyone wants. That's what matters most. My kids, myself and frankly everyone deserves no less than that.
floridanurse1983
169 Posts
I was eighteen when I went to Lpn school. I did caths and peri care on men, women, and children. Some much younger than me, my age, and older than me. And no I didn't ask to trade duties. Being a professional and all. At 18.