Male catheters

[libran1984]

Here's a problem I run into quite frequently- the female nurses come to me on a regular basis to insert indwelling foley catheters for their male pts.

I work in an ED as a float nurse, rarely taking pts of my own but primarily to act as a support team member with the largest scope of practice so as to assist during codes and other high acuity pts. So I always hate saying no when asked by a primary nurse who wants help. However, it's starting to become a real trend where many of the nurses are coming to me saying, "I think it would be less awkward for another male to do this". Yes. That is the exact, word for word quote I was provided.

What do you think? Is her, the primary nurse's argument valid? Or do you think she's just trying to put off an unsavory task?

[millerb1987]

I wonder how many of these shrinking violets had male OBs and didn't think a thing of it?

You know...I finally broke down and asked the a woman one time why. She looked at me and said it was because I had a member...I didn't want to go any further...I just shook my head and told her I'd find someone to get her off the bedpan as soon as possible. It amazes me...but I can say this...the population (locally here) that are like this are the ones currently passing on. Most women from 65 and below don't give two cares if I wipe them...they're just happy to be taken off the bedpan.

[firstinfamily, RN]

I agree that any nurse should be able to cath any gender. It is nice if the pt feels uncomfortable to offer a nurse of the same sex. I imagine many of the elderly women would prefer a female to cath them. We use to have "male attendants" who would cath male patients, frankly I usually find male patients easier to cath than female. I truly believe everyone should be able to catherize either gender. I think because you told one co-worker yes, they feel you can do this task. You might have to decline the next one and let them know you did not expect to do every male that comes through the door. However, you are there as support staff, so they might expect you to provide "support" where-ever they deem necessary. I would ask the unit manager and get his/her opinion.

[Nkn86]

What is a cna? (Swedish msn here)

[BostonFNP, APRN]

What is a cna? (Swedish msn here)

Certified Nursing Assistant.

Sent from my iPhone.

[Susie2310]

It's kind of funny how people think it means anything to us at all to see those parts. Plus we're wiping poop off you, so that's about the least romantic scenario I can think of.

There's that old joke about nurses having seen more **** than a ten dollar hooker. For male nurses, I guess it would be more hoo-hahs than a ten dollar gigolo.

I wonder how many of these shrinking violets had male OBs and didn't think a thing of it?

This post is juvenile and offensive.

If the women had male OB's it is very likely because they personally selected the individual male physician to be their physician, and spent time developing a trusting relationship.

It's not about our feelings, it's about the patient's.

Are you aware of the very high number of women who have been traumatized by rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, etc? Those statistics are far higher for women that for men. Instead of being offended by a female patient refusing care from you, or expressing discomfort at you providing their care, try to put yourself in their place and consider that there may well be a very good reason that they do not want a male to provide care for them. Besides the examples I just gave, there are many other reasons women may feel traumatized by or uncomfortable with a male caregiver, such as cultural and religious reasons.

Please try and put yourself in the place of the patient, and be considerate of their feelings. That, after all, is what we are supposed to be doing when we provide patient care.

[Red Kryptonite]

Whatevs.

[fangirl]

As a nurse, I always take a CNA or another nurse with me for a catheter insertion. I usually take a CNA when dealing with a man and I take another nurse when dealing with a female. My logic is because I have no problems inserting a cath on a male. However, I will try once on a female, and if I can't get it, the other nurse can try. My obgyn is male and he has a personal female nurse who is his shadow. He never enters a room without her present. She follows him everywhere, except the bathroom. Lol you can never be too careful.

[liber]

male here.

Due to rape,molestation during childhood by two different adult females , I am still in unspoken trauma.

I would never be comfortable to let a female nurse do cath on me or neither a female chaperone present.

I have got cath done by male nurses by explicitly requesting for it, I feel far more safe emotionally. Though i can be told thousand times that - "not every female is like that"; but still the mind refuses to suddenly trust an unknown female in intimate care.

Plus , i have sometimes seen my sidebed fellow male patients' privacy utterly disregarded by female nurse, they expose them to the hall so casually, without bed curtains properly spread.

[ken1955]

Hello. This is just a comment for all nurses and the ones becoming a nurse. First of all I have a lot of respect for nurses. My brother was one and I have a niece that is one. I am a 58 year old man that never had a catheter before until I went into the hospital last year. They found out after blood test I had sepsis. The doctor ask me for a urine sample. Peeing a couple of hours before I came to the hospital. I told him I did not need to go and I do not pee on demand. All my doctors know that. I had 2 liters of IV fluid and no out put. I guess he felt I should have been able to pee. Not everyone pees the same The doctor walked out of the room and said we will see. Ten minutes later I had a male and a female nurse come into my room and tell my son to leave. At that point I ask them what was going on. No answer. At that point I asked again Still no reply. The male RN told the other nurse to take my pants off I asked again. They only had one leg off and I felt the catheter go in me. It hurt after that and I gave up. He pulled that one out and force another one in pushing it in and out yelling at me do you have a prostate problem he was mad he could not get it in I said no and they left. After I got out of the hospital I look up the catheter procedure. What was in that video I had nothing like that. They never talked to me never got my permission and did not explain anything I did not heard any kit open no gel or cleaning me. I felt like a piece of meat and I did not matter. I know the main goal for a nurse is the patients well being. It did not happen to me. He never got it in my bladder I hurt for 2 days and I peed on my own a hour letter when I got in my room. Later I found out from my urologist that they were looking to see if I had the infection in my urine. Also they would not have been able to put one in. I have a stricture in the urethra that I did not know I had. It was from kidney stone surgery I had 12 year ago. My main goal here is that I just would like all nurses to fellow all the procedures in the hospital. Explain the procedure. But also when you come into a room. Why do you assume the patient is going to let you do it just because they is a order. All they would have had to do is ask me and I would have said yes. Now I have papers draw up that they have to have my permission to do anything to me. I carry them with me at all times. I know you are only doing your job but remember the patient has feeling and are scared Take care and thank you for reading Ken

[RainMom]

Hello. This is just a comment for all nurses and the ones becoming a nurse. First of all I have a lot of respect for nurses. My brother was one and I have a niece that is one. I am a 58 year old man that never had a catheter before until I went into the hospital last year. They found out after blood test I had sepsis. The doctor ask me for a urine sample. Peeing a couple of hours before I came to the hospital. I told him I did not need to go and I do not pee on demand. All my doctors know that. I had 2 liters of IV fluid and no out put. I guess he felt I should have been able to pee. Not everyone pees the same The doctor walked out of the room and said we will see. Ten minutes later I had a male and a female nurse come into my room and tell my son to leave. At that point I ask them what was going on. No answer. At that point I asked again Still no reply. The male RN told the other nurse to take my pants off I asked again. They only had one leg off and I felt the catheter go in me. It hurt after that and I gave up. He pulled that one out and force another one in pushing it in and out yelling at me do you have a prostate problem he was mad he could not get it in I said no and they left. After I got out of the hospital I look up the catheter procedure. What was in that video I had nothing like that. They never talked to me never got my permission and did not explain anything I did not heard any kit open no gel or cleaning me. I felt like a piece of meat and I did not matter. I know the main goal for a nurse is the patients well being. It did not happen to me. He never got it in my bladder I hurt for 2 days and I peed on my own a hour letter when I got in my room. Later I found out from my urologist that they were looking to see if I had the infection in my urine. Also they would not have been able to put one in. I have a stricture in the urethra that I did not know I had. It was from kidney stone surgery I had 12 year ago. My main goal here is that I just would like all nurses to fellow all the procedures in the hospital. Explain the procedure. But also when you come into a room. Why do you assume the patient is going to let you do it just because they is a order. All they would have had to do is ask me and I would have said yes. Now I have papers draw up that they have to have my permission to do anything to me. I carry them with me at all times. I know you are only doing your job but remember the patient has feeling and are scared Take care and thank you for reading Ken

Ken, I hope you reported these nurses! Essentially, it sounds like battery. It breaks my heart to think that you were asking what was going on & they wouldn't even acknowledge you! Even for a confused pt, we have to explain what we're doing, not just go at them & do whatever. I'm so sorry you experienced this. Please just know that the vast majority of nurses out there do not treat their pts this way when performing such an invasive task.

[ken1955]

Thank you Nu Rn.. I did talk to risk management and did not really get a good answer. She told me that she talked to the nurses and they told her that they explain it all. They ever said that I was alert. She also said that it was in the chart. This was in feb. In December I got copy's of my records One said that a order was giving and the other said that could not get it in. Nothing else. While I was in the hospital I had many nice nurses and they were always seeing if I needed anything. They went by the book. I think that male RN was just mad he had to do it. I think it was his time to go home. Back in the late 70's and 80"s I worked in a nursing home Took care of many also took care of my Father-in law for 7 years Had a stroke and was bed ridding. I am glad it is over but I will never forget it. Thanks again..Ken

[hawaiicarl, BSN, RN]

Generally speaking I will only put catheters in males, I have my female coworkers cover the procedure for a female patient. I do this for several reasons, one is patient comfort, two is possible liability issues, and three I just think it is right. I am more than happy to return the favor, and put catheters in any of the male patients my coworkers have for exactly the same reasons, with the addition of the "creep" factor (Creepy patient leering at them while they do the work). Suck it up buttercup, and help out your female coworkers!

Cheers