Male Nurses attending to female patients (morals vrs ethics)

CRNA2BKY · Apr 2, 2008

Yeah, I too am at a loss of what you are talking about. I see no controversial issues here at all. You take care of all your patients, man or woman, black or white, tall or short, old or young, and everything in between. Take care of your patients in a respectful manner. If you can't do that, then you shouldn't be a nurse.

psalm, RN · Apr 2, 2008

Many women have spent some time in childcare, feeding, bathing, etc. or overseeing adolesants. So a female nurse usually isn't a problem for men. If you have a little old lady who was molested at any time in her life and she is now living with dementia, she may be "reliving" the abuse and be very anxious with a male nurse or aide. Or with anyone, male or female, doing peri care.

Back when I was gorgeous (I was 31), I had surgery at the hospital's same-day floor. I had a male nurse...after he walked me to the bathroom for my first voiding, he said he would wait outside the door in case I needed him. I was still woosey and said, "No, you're gonna stay in here with me while I tinkle, what if I fall forward and crack my head open?" So he stayed with me and good thing, I got very faint. I WAS self-concious, but I was also a realist.

And I have already told my male co-workers that if I am ever on the floor as a patient, I am keeping my bra and panties ON! Even during a code, keep them on!

Whistler · Apr 3, 2008

The problem comes not only from the patients. Many times is the staff that is not that at ease with the male nurses. Over the paper, everybody is agrees that we are professionals, there is nothing sexual about it, blah, blah, blah...but later there are some colleagues that can't help it.

When I was in the school I remember once my instructor, who had seen me with many female patients and, considering was my last semester, she could figure out that many more were assigned to me in the past semesters, told me that I could not be alone taking care of a 25 year old female who OD'ed a week ago and was like in some sort of a continuous epileptic attack. I did not argue, since I know that she was telling me this for my own protection, but I felt a little insulted since my female peers never were put through that when taking care of unconscious male patients.

In another situation, also in school, during my OB rotation, I was at the hospital and since there were no c-sections scheduled and no deliveries at sight, I went to the breast feeding class to learn from the nurse who was giving the class. When I came in the room, there were 4 new mothers, their husbands (or male partners) and the nurse. The latter asked the whole group if they had any problem in "the boy" (not the student) being present. I was there all scrub up feeling like an idiot. Again none of my female partners were put through that. And was not any of the clients or their husbands, who were absolutely cool with that, was the nurse.

I am used to the questions of "why did you decided to become a nurse?" or 'couldn't you make it into med school?" but these other type of questions that implying that I am some sort of rapist in waiting or that I am a 11 year old boy who wants to take a peek to a woman breast still make me uncomfortable. I always think that is their own ignorance talking and no my problem but still...

pinknebula · Apr 5, 2008

Hi -

To any males who have had patients request that they leave - please don't take it personally. It is most likely based on some past experience that has nothing to do with you as an individual. Here is an example:

One evening I had really aggressive hives & went to the urgent care center. They put me in a room & had me keep my regular clothes on, no paper robe, etc. which was cool. Male Doctor comes in & I tell him about the hives, pointing them out on my arms & legs, which we already exposed. He asks me where they were when I first noticed them & I said my stomach. Then he wants me to lie back on the bed so I do. Then he was putting his hands under my tank top on my stomach, the whole time looking into my eyes - it was TOTALLY WEIRD. It really felt like 'wandering hands', & they were going toward my bra. It was weird b/c I was in my street clothes & not in a wrap or anything, & I don't know why he had to be touching those hives & not the ones on my arms or legs. Maybe it was all in my head, but it made me feel like I just didn't want to confront that possibility again. I've seen lots of Male Doctors & chiropractors & never felt this way before. I'm sure other women (& maybe other guys, too) have experienced something like this where you know something strange is going on because there's just a strange feeling to it all. I don't feel like the Doctor did anything totally outrageous but it was just uncomfortable.

My point is, the patient may have had some experience that has made them uncomfortable in the past & they don't want to recall it. Or - they might be attracted to you! Then they may feel embarassed & just prefer women.

Fermin Hernandez, ADN, ASN, RN · Apr 6, 2008

Male or female, both are just patients in my eyes.

:yeahthat:

Abishag · Apr 8, 2008

Hello guys, :redlight: :trc:

Sorry to intrude in your forum (I'm a female NS student). There was a forum posting on this subject or similar in the General Nursing forum and it was closed before I could respond because of some name calling. :uhoh3:

A male RN was saying that he wanted to go to L&D and was told by the hiring staff to try postpartum care because too many females would be uncomfortable for reasons from have religious reasons a man can not look at them and other patients would just be uncomfortable. Here is my response to whether he should contact HR for discrimination:

I honestly feel like its not their right (the hiring staff) to decide for you if the patients will be comfortable enough for you. Last I checked there is LOTS of work to be done and if one patient is uncomfortable with you then I'm sure there are about five others that couldn't care less. When I was in labor with both my children I couldn't care less who was attending me. You lose all modesty when you are in hard labor (they teach that in different classes). Although for those that get the epidural they probably keep more modesty than others and might be more inclined to have a female but then again everyone is different. When we are seen for the 40 weeks before we have our children (we being us females :chuckle) we are BOUND to be seen by a male OB at some point (even those with CNM's who are more likely to be female still have to see a male OB once in a while)

Anyhow, IMO to send you to postpartum is an absurdity if they think it will be more comforting for women since I would think more women would be more uncomfortable when they are transitioning into their new roles and their new bodies (i.e. breastfeeding; lochia, jelly belly :lol2: , etc). BUT with that being said, you should still be given the opportunity (if that is where you want to go). What if you wanted to be a midwife or OB NP?? You wouldn't be given that chance to gain experience unless they let you. In my opinion as long as you are registered/certified/licensed/etc, you have every right to perform your job. For those that have religious reasons, or even those that are uncomfortable (except those that are just hubbies of the patient :uhoh3: ), I can respect that and they should get a female without any complaints from ANYONE. :nono:

So I believe you should contact HR or at least contact that department to let them know of your intentions to contact HR in case you can avoid putting yourself on the bad list.

Okay, I'll step off my soap box now. :spbox:

:rolleyes: Sorry to intrude...female exiting now. :behindpc:

Greenwolf77 · Apr 30, 2008

I am a PCT and I work in the ER, there are times that it gets extremely busy and nurses ask me to ekg's on patients most of female, as the respect is i always tell my pts what i am going to do and that i give all my pts the respect i give my own parents and family, because pts are not pts to me they are family..so i proceed many ask for a female for foley catherers ekg and so on. i do have to say that i tell my nurses that i have an age of respect if they are younger then me or 5 years older, please do the procedure for me i guess since i am going into nursing this is something i must get over...in due respect i love being in the medical field and ther have been instances were pts do ask for a female but there has been more that they are comfortable as i prep and explain wht i am doing..

i was just in the hospital for 6 days i had female and male nurses being a pt sure has broaden my out look to be more in the medical field...:typing:up:

Music in My Heart · May 3, 2008

I don't really have a problem if a gal doesn't want a guy nurse to be providing peri care or in the labor room. We're there to help her, she's not there to help us. If I make her uncomfortable then I'd hope she'd say so and I would gladly leave. I'm also OK with having her asked about it rather than forcing her to express her discomfort.

Patients have enough going on. If my gender makes her uncomfortable then her feelings should be respected.

Music in My Heart · May 3, 2008

One other thought (which I also made in another thread):

When we're talking about kids, it just shouldn't be. A male nurse is fine for most care but they absolutely should not be providing peri care.

Part of my belief derives from the fact that pedophiles come in all shapes, sizes, and occupations and one simply cannot be too careful (this from the dad of a 6-year-old daughter).

When my daughter was recently in the PICU, she would've been freaked out if a male nurse had been cleaning her "privates" or checking out her "potty tube."

Whistler · May 3, 2008

One other thought (which I also made in another thread):
When we're talking about kids, it just shouldn't be. A male nurse is fine for most care but they absolutely should not be providing peri care.
Part of my belief derives from the fact that pedophiles come in all shapes, sizes, and occupations and one simply cannot be too careful (this from the dad of a 6-year-old daughter).
When my daughter was recently in the PICU, she would've been freaked out if a male nurse had been cleaning her "privates" or checking out her "potty tube."

Wow! Since we can not be too careful let's ban also the "male doctors". In fact, since there could be some female pervs, let's ban peri care completely.

I know where you come from, I am father of a boy and two girls, but that is an unfair an broad generalization. It's like saying that since most of the crimes are committed by people of low incomes let's consider all poor people as suspects.

I respect parents and patients when they have their preferences, beliefs, modesties or even biass because it is my job and I am a damm good professional but it is very very uncool when a collegue question me, not only of a lack of profesionality but even of a lack human morale fiber.

Not cool

Music in My Heart · May 4, 2008

If it's fine with you to have a man cleaning your 6-year-old daughter's perineal area, that's your decision, and I have no problem with that.

I do have a problem with it for my 6-year-old.

Ban male doctors? Um, no. But given a choice, which I do have, I would choose a female doctor for those intimate things. Her pediatrician is a woman; her dermatologist treating a condition in her genital area is a woman; her cardiologist is a man; her pulmonologist is a man; her neurosurgeon is a man; one of her ophthalmologists is a man, the other is a woman. If the best doctor for treating any condition happens to male, so be it. If not, I'd prefer a female for her and she would as well.

Ban peri care completely? Uh, dude, you're just being ridiculous.

I'm not questioning any individual's professionalism nor their human "morale" fiber. Small children are uniquely vulnerable and the risk is non-zero. I simply see no reason to unnecessarily expose my daughter (or anybody else's) to a small but non-zero risk. If the staffing is such that a little girl in need of peri care simply must have it done by a man, so be it. From my observations, I doubt that's generally the case.

I understand that my position injures your pride and I'm sorry. Your pride is not a significant consideration, though.

Whistler · May 4, 2008

i am not questioning your capacity or right as a parent or a patient to decide who you want to take care of you or your daughter. that is the very thing i said. i don't care about your reasons and i don't have a problem with it. this is not about me, dude.

you are the one who have a problem with male health providers apparently. and again, you have the right to choose who is going to provide that care based in whatever you want.

if your 6 year old daughter "freaks out" if a male doctor or nurse clean or examine her perineal area, probably she learnt that from you. and again, i am not questioning what, when and how you educate your children. but modesty is something learnt. having a nurse as a father she could have been more used to that if you would have taught her so. and please, i am not judging you.

my problem comes when you would ban any male nurse of doing any sort of peri care to prevent any potential pedophile of getting close to any child "private". you says you don't, but you question your colleagues (and your own!) professionalism and integrity based on their own gender. i understand your concern. i am a father also. but assuming that any male could put your child in danger (and by that assuming that no female would) is a broad and unfair declaration.

this is not about my pride. my pride is not before my professionalism. if i as a nurse tell your wife that since most of the children sexual abuse comes from fathers and family member, she should prevent you, the father, of changing diapers, bathing your daughter, and in general, expending too much time alone, you would be upset beyond words because that is insulting. no matter if it is true that many fathers abuse their children, that is an insulting and unfair thing to say. even if i am trying to protect the children and limiting the risk.

i am curious in how you handle peri care in your female pediatric patients. do you refuse it, explain to the supervisor..

by the way, the banning of the pei care it was sarcasm.