Male nurse working with female patients.

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So guys i have a question for you, I only have a few weeks left in RN school and have had some clinical experience. Have any of you had to work with female patients before, generally older generations, and found it challenging? Also any tips to help make this go more smoothly?

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So guys i have a question for you, I only have a few weeks left in RN school and have had some clinical experience. Have any of you had to work with female patients before, generally older generations, and found it challenging? Also any tips to help make this go more smoothly?

It's been my experience in clinical that female patients over 50 or so sometimes aren't comfortable with male nurses. Don't get me wrong, they'll let you do their assessments, wound care, and med admin, but in my experience if there's anything they consider modest you'll ba asked to "send the LNAs in." LOL, they really dont seem to understand that guys can be LNAs too... The younger generations seem much more receptive to male nurses, and are comfortable being in my care. Another thing I've learned is that the client is only going to be as comfortable with you as you are with them. I just provide them with the best care I can, and if they ask for a female nurse I'm fine with that, it's their right as the patient. Off topic a bit, but help out your female classmates and coworkers, because it's inevitable that they'll be assisting you in the future when these situations arise!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I've never had any problems. Just talk to your patients and you can assess their comfort level.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Many hospitals have a "chaperone" policy that requires a female to be present if a male (physician, nurse or whatever) is performing certain procedures on a female patient. Don't be offended. This is driven by risk management based on actual case law experience. I'm sure that if male patients started making assault claims and filing suits after being cathed or having enemas by females, a similar policy would be implemented to require male chaperones.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
So guys i have a question for you, I only have a few weeks left in RN school and have had some clinical experience. Have any of you had to work with female patients before, generally older generations, and found it challenging? Also any tips to help make this go more smoothly?

Be professional. Talk to your patients.

I find it much easier to work with older people than younger ones. Explain everything you are doing and why you are doing it in a conversational tone and you will find for the most part they will greatly appreciate and trust you.

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I'm a student still, but in Miami most female patients in the hospital are over 65. I have only had one patient ask that I not be the one to take care of her wound dressing as it would've meant going under her gown. For everything else she had no problem with me being her nurse, and no other female patient has complained. I have always given them the option of having me or a female nurse student if I sensed they were uncomfortable, but most often I have found they are more apprehensive over us being students than over me being male.

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Specializes in OB (Doula), MS, Psych.

Very wise Contractor! Andrew always has done that and his female classmates (like me) would always be willing to help him as he would us! Nice post!

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Specializes in OB (Doula), MS, Psych.

I too find it much easier to work with older patients. I am a female nursing student but sometimes I have an older gentleman who is very modest and will ask for a male nurse or aide to assist him with a urinal, etc.

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I haven't had any problems with older women. In fact, it has been quite the opposite. I might would go so far as to say I'd prefer older females to any group of people in nursing. I'm curious if I'm in the majority or minority...let me know.

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Trick ive found with any patients is always be professional and you shouldnt have any problems. Your a nurse, your there to look after them, so care and interact with them, show them your the real deal.

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Specializes in Neurology.

I've only ever had problems treating patients of the opposite sex in regards to cultural difference, where only the husband is allowed to see his wife ungarbed.

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I'm a float SNA right now and it happens from time to time mostly with the older women. Sometimes you will be shocked, during my L&D rotation for instance I started a catheter on a Muslim lady.

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