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 haven't read all the replies, but my gut feeling off What I have read is that if you are male, don't become an RN. As a female RN I have had many encounters of the penile kind because I have some boobs and lack a member. Your worldview is sexist.
as a nursing student I was always given male patients. I had one location that the female staff didn't want to work with me so I always had to work with the male nurse on the floor.
After graduating I applied to be a Clinical Rooming Nurse at a christian value based health center. At the end of the interview they looked at me and said the concern they had was as a male nurse I couldn't be alone in a room with female patients. They did say that wouldn't rule out me working there, but they would have to get a CNA to room patients with me. I asked how a doctor could be in the room by themselves with a female patient, but I can't? They didn't answer my question.
I decided to go with a offer simply for not having to deal with the headache. I couldn't imagine being followed around by a CNA, who can't function much in a doctors office.
As a nurse and a female I will say that I have had a catheter placed on myself and I requested a female nurse to do it. I felt more comfortable with a female and if they had said they couldn't accommodate then I would've still had it done but it would've been a male.
Another commenter had said never ask if it is ok to do a procedure that it instills uncertainty in the nurse-patient relationship. I have always asked my patients if it is ok to do a procedure since they have the right to refuse and I also would never want them to feel as though they do not have the option and have no choice in their care.
As for the OP his wording did not seem to say he would outright refuse and never perform but more that if a female could do it that he would ask them to do it. I don't think any nurse would ever outright refuse to do something that was necessary and their responsibility. I know I've asked a male nurse to straight cath a male patient that happened to be a complete pervert constantly making inappropriate comments. Asking the other nurse to do it and then saying yes is not shirking a responsibility but removing that possibility of inappropriateness or possibility of a patient feeling uncomfortable.
Assuming all patients would be fine is ridiculous given our society is a large melting pot of various cultures and beliefs. Many cultures believe you should never question a doctor that it is disrespectful. So should we as nurses ignore the need to then make sure a patient understand and agrees with a diagnosis or a surgical procedure? No! Locally my area has a high population of people who have this belief. I would be negligent if I did not ask them if they had any questions or concerns once the Dr had left. Every single patient has had questions and concerns!
I haven't read all the replies, but my gut feeling off What I have read is that if you are male, don't become an RN. As a female RN I have had many encounters of the penile kind because I have some boobs and lack a member. Your worldview is sexist.
yeah, I guess I'm sexist, and probably racist too, because I don't like anyone.
I didn't realize though that a female had to be present for a male to perform caths and such on a female. If that's the case then that sure underlies a potential issue, if you can't provide the care without a witness (on the sole basis of being a female patient), then it seems a reassignment or a female stepping in for those procedures would be logical.
Even if policy doesn't state the male nurse or MD have a female in the room for such procedures, as a male nurse it is prudent to have one anyway. All it would take is for one female patient with psych issues to accuse the male nurse of something inappropriate and that nurses life would be turned upside down. Hence the need for the "witness" to set the record straight so to speak.
Because the sad truth is that in today's world if you are male nurse and a female patient accuses you of something then you are guilty as charged until proven innocent in the eyes of the hospital, the BON, and the law no matter how bogus the accusation is.
As a male, having a female nurse present for intimate procedures is simply being defensive from a legal standpoint.
Are there men here who have done a cath without a chaperone? That's certainly different from the countries I've worked, although I can't say if it has just been hospital policies, or something more. The hospitals figured it protected the patients and the nurse.
I remember clearly my 2nd week as a nurse (in the gynae ward) and my preceptor told me to cath a post of hysterctomy whom the surgeon had forgotten to cathetrize. It was a disaster, as she told me it's not hard to do, and stop complaining and go ahead and do it. I'd never done a cath on anyone before, let alone told to go and do it on a post op woman. Fortunately my preceptor had to come to my rescue, but I'll never forget her callous attitude. In fact most the nurses were hostile to their first ever male, especially a useless new grad, but i did learn a few tricks to help protect a patient's dignity, which I rarely saw the female staff do.
Anyway, to the American nurses out there, I'm curious how many of you have worked abroad and what your experiences were in the role of gender.
Oh, and one last thought. For those who say they're fine with a male doing certain things, and think patients don't mind - it is possible that some patients don't really feel comfortable, but don't feel they should/can complain. Just saying.
Now THAT was irresponsible of your preceptor. No matter what the procedure is, it should be see one, do one, teach one. If you had never done it then absolutely she should not have sent you in alone to do it. Or if she was right there she better have had a pair of sterile gloves so she could help when needed. Some female caths are extremely difficult, especially if there is any post op swelling. And to anyone reading this who is a new nurse, you absolutely do not perform a procedure you've never done without supervision. If your preceptor will not go in with you, you find someone who will.
On on subject of this thread, the logic of the male and female stuff is rediculous. So it's not ok for a man to cath a female because its penetration? But it's okay for a female to do it? What if the female nurse is a lesbian? What if it was a male patient and the male nurse was gay? Does that make a difference? It shouldnt. In the er we would do our own patients. If the patient specifically requested a female or vise versa, we would trade tasks. I will do the cath if you give these meds or start this line, etc. but we also did that for any task if we were unable to do like if we couldn't get the line started. The only time there was two in the room was if there was assistance needed to hold a leg or something.
I do not believe this thread is still running - unbe(F-ing)lievable.....
To any poster who has stated that it is sexist, or it is part of a nurses job regardless of gender or similar comments since mid July what part of CULTURAL did you have a problem understanding?
Can we please close this thread!
My choice would be cut it up with a chain saw then bury the bits at midnight at the crossroads.
First of all I hate,loathe and despise the term "male nurse" No where on any of the documents I have received for the past 38 years has there been a place for sex!
Secondly, when I first became a nurse there was plenty of prejudice from my peers. I am thrilled to see some of the comments here from female nurses. But the elephant in the room is acting like a professional and taking into account what the patient wants. I remember a very young women that I took care of in a neuro trauma unit who was in traction in a very embarrassing position with her legs spread. She was thrilled that I took such good care of her. Most of the times it has been my experience that other nurses had a lot more problem with who I was taking care of than my patients. But having said that a male has to be careful as does a male doctor. I will do whatever it takes to care for my patients. That is all that is important. If as a male you can't take care of your patient and keep them first, then you don't need to be a nurse Male or female!
Racer15, BSN, RN
707 Posts
I haven't read all the replies, but my gut feeling off What I have read is that if you are male, don't become an RN. As a female RN I have had many encounters of the penile kind because I have some boobs and lack a member. Your worldview is sexist.