Male CNA in a female dominated class

[Acton]

First I would just like to introduce myself and give a little back ground.

I'm a 24 year old male who has worked at a brain trauma center for a year in house keeping. It doesn't involve direct patient care, but I interact with the patients on a daily basis and I've worked with quite a few who have behaviors right along side the CNA's on the floor.

I'm also a pre nursing individual studies student, I've just gotten through a year of pre and co-reqs and I've got a cumulative 3.75 GPA, my GPA last semester was 3.90. I'm very serious about my profession in health care.

So I registered for the CNA program at my local Boces and it's gone pretty well. It's given me a lot of great experience and for the most part its been profitable with a few bumps.

At this points I'm in the clinical portion of the class, and I've run into a problem with what I consider to be blantant sexism. Today was my third day in clinicals and I was performing perineal care on a resident who was highly constricted, this was a resident I had been working with my first night of clinicals. She was a female and I had to verbally and somewhat physically help her relax so two other sudents and myself could perform perineal care on this resident. Half way through the skill one of the students left without and explination and returned with one of the other students five minutes later. They proceeded to explain to me that, "This resident is a female CNA only resident, so we're going to need you to leave." So I was somewhat skeptical but did not want to make the resident uncomfortable so I just agreed with them and left. I went to the LPN on the floor and asked her if this resident was in fact female CNA only. She said that she wasn't, so I explained the situation to the instructor because I was somewhat upset, and she had a few words with the other students. At the end of the clinical I had a few words with the instructor, and she kind of beat around the bush but I got the vibe from her that she was siding with the female students altough it was obvious that they had lied about the resident being female CNA only because she felt that they where right that I wasn't "In touch" with the residents emotions and how she felt about the care. This resident has severe dementia and she made no verbal responses to any of the attempts we made to speak with her. So we explained the procedure and she seemed to be fine with it, she was just constriced and we had to relax her a little bit; which did mean getting her to open up her legs somewhat.

I firmly believe I know the difference between a resident who is consiously resisting and is upset, and a resident who has severe dementia and is constricted. I was very upset with the situation, and how the instructor didn't really get to the point with the constructive critisism and just kind of hinted and gave me vibes that she thought I was wrong. I'm just . . . frustrated. Can someone give me their thoughts on the situation? I've got three more days of clinicals left and I want to get the most out of them that I can before I move onto my first job as a CNA. I feel like I'm missing something here. I don't know, maybe I need to focus on my interpersonal relationships with my coworkers more? Maybe I rubbed them the wrong way? They had all of their supplies set up on the dresser near the TV, (there was no bedside table). I gave them the bright idea of using the geriatrics chair as a clean surface, kind of like a bedside table to work with instead of walking in and out of the curtain to wash and rinse the washcloth. . . . which I might add meant walking ten feet with a dripping feces covered cloth. . .

Any input is appreciated, thanks!

[CinDRnyc]

hi i also am in my cna clinicals and today was our 2nd day at an ltc facility. i can understand your frustration. we have a group of 8 females and 1 male in our cohort today. first of all there is no reason why a classmate should say "you should leave." in my opinion, the only person that can tell you what to do is your clinical instructor and/or your cna preceptor that is working with you. i see what they were trying to do but there is no reason for them to talk to you like that. we need more males in healthcare because there is just way too much "estrogen" flyin around!!! lol

i think you should finish the rest of your clinicals with your head held high, don't take any orders from fellow classmates. i know its hard to swallow b/c of what your instructor said but honestly just remember why you are there. to finish and get your cna license so you can work so honestly just find away to make it work, even if you have to kill them with kindness.

hope that helps, i know you will do great ! :redpinkhe

[jval]

I read a post by a guy on these forums that was explaining what it was like to be a male CNA and I can't find it. It was posted in an unrelated thread.

Anyways, he said that that type of discrimination is always present for him. Especially dealing with "same sex only" bathers.

I bet it's tough being a male CNA sometimes. It must also depend on your region. I live in California and there are 4 guys in my group of 15. Too bad you're the only one!

Don't let the girls get you down! You may have to work harder at making a good impression, though. Same as the only girl in a male dominated skill.

[ejm123]

I think you took the appropriate steps with clarifying with your nurse and instructor. I'm doing clinical for LpN in LTC and they have quite a few male LPNs and CNAs and the residents love them. I would ask the other cnas or LPN who prefer females to do their care. LTC is a generation of people who find it inappropriate for a male to do those things. If you know then you don't have to let it become an issue. Keep your head high it seems like you are well on your way to becoming a nurse! Take advantage and utilize your time while there,try not to let classmates get to you. I've been there - let your instructor see your dedication and willingness to perform your duties and take everything you can from the experience! This is just a stepping stone to

Your career. Lots of luck to you!

[animal1953]

I too was the only male in our CNA class. When we did clinicals, I had to care for both male and female residents in a LTC facility. I only got negative vibes from one staff (CNA?) and as it turned out, she didn't like any of the students helping so the instructor made sure none of us were assigned to her. I was also doing part of my clinicals in a ALF but I had to work the dementia unit as the ALF only allowed male in that unit because the regular residents didn't want males working in their areas. It kinda ticked me off at first but I had some good CNA's to work with. Being the only male in the class, I got the "Lone Wolf Award" for being the only male in a class of females without going crazy.lolol

[IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN]

Morning, Acton:

First, welcome to Allnurses, and second, welcome to the wild & woolly world of the CNA! It tends to be somewhat bizarre at times, as you've noted - but, that's part of the fun!

Anyway - sorry that you got railroaded by one of your fellow students, but it sounds like you handled it just fine. Can't discuss why they'd feel that you weren't "in touch" with the patient (which does happen, BTW) because I wasn't there, but it's really the CI's call to make not the students, especially given that the staff LVN confirmed the pts status. You might want to discuss the matter privately with the CI to determine exactly what (s)he feels justified pulling you off of that patient, just so you're both clear on it - other than that, I'd just chalk it up to experience.

As far as the whole "sexism" issue - yep, you're gonna see it. Like it or not, in the US the perception is that nursing is a female-only field, and as a male you're going to be something of an "outsider" no matter what you do. Ran into that during my clinicals, at work, and even in VN class - had a real nice "male bashing" session going on until the instructor drew it up short when she realized that the 3 males in the class were about to get up & walk out. Sad, really - but, males in the nursing profession still tend to be a rarity and we're still the "odd men out". Wish I could say something other than "suck it up" - but, you're dealing with deeply ingrained attitudes that are going to take some time to change.

As far as how to handle it - again, in this instance you did fine. In the real world, you're going to be challenged (as we all are) because you'll have to assess whether you're being discriminated against based on your gender, criticised because you did something wrong, or you're just dealing with someone who is "difficult". With patients, it's usually pretty easy - some just don't want male caregivers, and it's well within their rights to request female CNA's. With co-workers, families, etc. it's not always so easy - and, it's a real juggling act at times.

Personally, I'd try and back away from the emotional component as much as you can, and just do the best you can in your clinicals; while "rubbing people the wrong way" might be going on, you're only on-site for 2 1/2 weeks or so and after that - you've got your cert, you're free to work wherever you like, and miss "bad-a$$" CNA is going to be in for a rude awakening when she oversteps her bounds and ends up in a heated discussion with the DON - and, possibly terminated for insubordination on top of it.

----- Dave

[ixchel]

If I were a betting lady, I would bet the instructor didn't go into detail because she sees BOTH sides of the situation. Go ahead and let this roll off your back. Perhaps request to be in an area with more male residents for future clinical days. With these elderly patients, they have nothing that they control anymore and it is a loss of dignity just waking up in the morning. It is possible your classmate sensed the resident's discomfort in a way that you did not. That doesn't mean your assessment of the situation is wrong-- it just means your assessment is different, which may be the reason for your instructor's response.

It is true that there is sexism, and it's hard to explain the roots of it to someone who is not female. Many women do not want a man handling the more personal aspects of care, especially women who grew up with only one man ever seeing them naked in their entire lives. It's a dignity thing. It's a humility thing. It's a feeling of being "proper" that they want to preserve. And that is their right. We all have the right to reserve those moments for someone we feel more comfortable with, in this case, a female CNA as opposed to a male one.

And in that token, there are, at times, moments when the roles of sexism change. Our CNA class was barred from one resident because he was highly inappropriate with the female students. If there are tasks that require strength, men are looked to first. Hell, our catalog for the CNA class said the ability to lift 50 lbs was a requirement for taking the class. I did not turn one single patient that was only 50 lbs. lol My 115 lb body was aching after a few days of that! But anyway, the sexism is going to go both ways, and provided no actual harm is coming of it, to a degree you just have to accept it without engaging in it yourself, if that is possible. It's unfair and frustrating, but it's life.

[minnymi]

Don't take it personally.

My BSN nursing cohort consisted of about 1/3 males...which the professors were amazed by...and commented often how happy they were to see the shift as it was typically mostly females with one or two males.

When I was in school, I also held a job on a med/surg unit. One day while I was working for the hospital, some of my classmates from school were there for clincals. I was their preceptor for the day. There was an elderly lady whose room I entered and I said to her, "i have two male students with me. do you mind if they come in so i can teach them how to place your telemetry box." She said, "no. i have to learn to let people take care of me, including men." So, in they came and I showed them how to place the telemetry box. About an hour later it was time for her bath. Since she didn't mind the male students earlier....I brought them right in with me for her bath. I instructed them on how/where to start....had one male on one side and one on the other. One did her right arm/leg and the other did her left arm/leg. I stepped in when it was time to do her breasts/abdomen....and when it was time to uncover/clean her perineum i sensed that she was nervous.

I asked, "Is it okay for us to finish your bath or would you rather they step out?" She said, "well, my husband is the only man who has ever seen me naked." So, I gave them "the nod" and out they went. had i not spoken up she probably would've let them do it and been humiliated, but i wasn't going to let that happen.

It's just a reality in this profession that some women...maybe even all women...and especially elderly women aren't going to be comfortable with a man doing certain tasks.

[minnymi]

on another note....women have had to fight their way into almost every profession there is....don't take offense because there are one or two jobs that men aren't preferred for.

[dangerrxzone]

Preferred or not, we're still professionals. I feel like sometimes women see male nurses and all they think is "ew, they're gonna check me out!"

Who knows? Just my personal opinion. :)

[minnymi]

Preferred or not, we're still professionals. I feel like sometimes women see male nurses and all they think is "ew, they're gonna check me out!"

Who knows? Just my personal opinion. :)

i don't think that's what is on their mind. unfortunately, there's still the misconception that male nurses are homosexual. so, i don't think it has to do with them thinking they are gonna be 'checked out.' it's just the fact that they are male period.

[ixchel]

Preferred or not, we're still professionals. I feel like sometimes women see male nurses and all they think is "ew, they're gonna check me out!"

Who knows? Just my personal opinion. :)

I assure you this doesn't happen, but if it gives you swagger to think it does, go right on ahead :lol: