Male CNA - Female Patients

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Ok y'all I need some opinions or experiences on this. I would like to how your hospital or LTC facility handles a male CNA doing personal care for a female patient. I'm a relatively new CNA and in my training my female patients were relatively independent and there were so many teachers and nurses going around that I wasn't alone with any of my patients for very long. I have no problem with providing any of the care and would be fine with stepping out if a patient said they were uncomfortable with a guy providing their personal care but I want to make sure that I'm safe as well as my license and reputation. What I mean is that I don't want to go into a female patients room to give her a toothbrush or something and then have her scream that I tried to molest her or something. Keep in mind I know that this would probably be a very rare occurrence but I know there are some people of that state of mind. I guess my question is, how do you protect yourself from that kind of thing?

!Chris :specs:

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Specializes in CNA.

I worked in a hospital for a couple of years and there wasn't much to 'handle'. I had, on a regular basis (at least 1 a week), patients who wanted a female CNA. I never experienced any 'screaming' or issues. Only requests that another CNA be assigned. We would simply trade off assigned patients among ourselves or if need be, go to the manager who would switch assignments. Sometimes we would have a fully ambulatory, female, patient who could care for themselves but would not want me (as a male) to do an EKG (I was trained and did those regularly). Same deal --- would find someone else.

Even if someone did start the screaming thing, you would walk out right away and call a nurse or another CNA. If you were in the middle of toileting them or doing something where it might be dangerous to the patient, you would have to do whatever it took to get them into a safe position (sitting, back in bed, whatever).

I would not worry about this --- just didn't happen to me and I would think it would be rare to actually have an 'incident' (of this type --- you're going to have patients living in another realm to deal with having nothing to do with your being male).

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Everyplace I've worked, it's fine for male aides to take care of female patients UNLESS the patient specifies that she does not want a male caring for her.

Honestly, the majority of patients I've had have not really had too much of an issue with male caretakers. Usually when a female doesn't want a male caring for her, it's mainly the more intimate tasks, such as bathing and dressing, that are an issue. I've never had a patient scream just at a male entering the room or speaking to her, and if that were to occur I imagine it would be in a very confused patient, and you'd be warned about it beforehand.

Your facility should tell you if a specific person absolutely does not want a male anywhere near them. I have worked in several facilities with quite a few men, and it is only an issue with a minority of patients. Don't worry too much!

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Specializes in CV Surgical, ICU.

In addition. Whatever LTC you plan to work at, just ask them for a quick list of who doesn't want male assistance with toileting/bathing.

That way, if you see their light on or hear them asking, you can just immediately go find a female coworker.

And it'll save you time in the morning when they're doing the assignment, because you'll know right off the bat who you can and cannot do and they can assign accordingly. (Just in case a nurse/aide who doesn't really know the floor too well is doing the assigning)

There's nothing worse than finding out someone doesn't take men right in the middle of the morning rush. Then having to go on a manhunt to find someone who will trade with you :)

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I've had relatively few females that wanted only female caretakers. You could usually tell because they either told you or got the 'deer in the headlights' look. If that's what they wanted we always switched someone with another aide.

Realistically though, I have found that I tend to be more nervous of new female patients than they are of me. Many women I've cared for really just didn't care. Sometimes they would laugh at us if WE appeared bashful. Making jokes about the blushing CNA. :D

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You will probably also encounter some patients who LOVE the male attention.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Thanks everyone for all of the tips. I'm working at a hospital not a LTC but I just wanted to know what people did and how they handled these situations.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.
Thanks everyone for all of the tips. I'm working at a hospital not a LTC but I just wanted to know what people did and how they handled these situations.

As a former cna, I did run into the occasional female that did not want a male assisting them. I've also ran into patients that the patient could care less, but the family would say, "no man is going to bath momma!!" You just deal with it as best you can. Let them know that that's ok. It is their choice. Of course, I'd let them know that I was assigned to them today, and I am ready now, but whichever female was going to bath them may or may not be in right away. This is to avoid the "momma hasn't been bathed all day" thing. Just always be professional and you'll be ok. I still get the occasional refusal as an RN. However, I work in an ICU; so, if I have a younger patient, I just go ahead and get one of the other nurses to assist me. Don't lose too much sleep over it. Use your best judgment. If the patient seems scared or states they don't want you to help them, then let them know that that is ok and you will go find a female for them. Believe me, you will have females come find you when someone needs to be lifted, transferred, or there is a man that requests another man for care (yes, that does happen, too).

Good Luck,

Jay

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Specializes in ER, OB.

In my experience working in the nursing home the female patients were very leery about having a male CNA. AT FIRST I would usually end up doing their patient while they did one of my male patients. After these women got the know the guys better they LOVED them. Several women would request to have the guys as their CNA!!! They loved a guy taking care of them!! In their mind those young guys could do no wrong in their book they absolutely LOVED them.

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Specializes in Rehabilitation; LTC; Med-Surg.

Hi Chris,

I'm a second semester LVN student and I've been working as an aide for several weeks now. In my short experience, and through clinical experiences, I have not had many patients demand a female aide. There was a woman, however, who expressed no desire for a male 'helper'. Since she was calm, I asked her about her concerns, and it was that she didn't want me "peeking" at her (I had to give her a bed bath).

Luckily, she was somewhat ambulatory, so she was able to wash her breasts and peri area herself. I assured her that I would respect her privacy by keeping her from being exposed. So, I kept a sheet draped over her the entire duration of the bed bath. Unfortunately, toward the end, an aide entered the room to assist me in rolling her over (she had a broken leg and several stage 3 sores, so I wanted assistance rolling her) and pulled the draped sheet off of her, exposing her peri area and breasts. Fortunately, the patient reporter the aide and I got a "good report" as a nursing student for being respectful of her.

The point I am trying to make is this: I've found many of the "female only, please" patients I assist/care for are concerned with their privacy, and with a little reassurance, sometimes the issue can be resolved without embarrassment! That is not to say, of course, this is the case for every "female only, please" patient, but it sure has been the general rule when I have a client in my care.

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I'm a male CNA and have never had any female residents. I have always been giving all male residents. I work in LTC. And its about 4 male CNA's who work here. We all get male residents. I actually like it. Its like taking care of my dad or grandfather. I feel a bit more comfortable as well being they are male. I'm 24yrs old and they always think I'm younger. So my residents always address me as like their son. If you are giving though a female resident just follow female pericare standards. Also it truely depends on how you come in the room. You have to have a relationship with the female resident. Allow them to feel comfortable. And if she doesn't want you seeing them un-clothed. See if a female co-worker and you can change residents for bathing or changing,ect.

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:confused:

Is anyone else ever complexed as to why this is an issue? I mean, I totally understand patient rights and yes on the rare occasion I can understand certain situations why a female may refuse a male aide, but seriously, has anyone ever had a male pt refuse a female aide? I haven't. If they did - given that male aides are most often fewer in numbers - there would be a real problem. I am just puzzled by this I guess. We do have 1 resident with phych issues in our LTC that won't allow a male aide, but again I can understand that due to her condition.

I am just throwing it out there for debate I guess and what your opinions are. I know that in the end its all about pt rights, but we still can have an opinion on it. I have even had certain residents refuse care from an aide of a different race - which REALLY frustrates me - geez. :madface:Here is someone who is caring for you out of the goodness of their heart and you can't get past the color of their skin to allow them to help you :banghead: ?????

Just furthering the topic of converstation .. :wink2: ya'll have a great day!

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