Male Nurses/female Patients

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:banghead: I'm interested in knowing if anyone has the issue of male nurses refusing to perform certain nursing functions simply because they are male. Having worked in a large teaching hospital and smaller community hospitals, there seems to be a huge difference. In the teaching hospital, male nurses did everything a patient needed, regardless of gender. In the smaller community hospitals, the male nurses sought out female nurses to take care of all manner of female patient's hygiene, all gyn exams ,and anything else a female patient needed. Have we become such a litigous society that we base our practice on gender? Do you find yourself taking care of your male colleagues patients as well as your own simply because they are afraid to touch their female patients?

Homophobia is rampant in all aspects of society. I'm NOT suggesting the men mentioned above are homophobic, but it is a good example of what male nurses have to go thru every day. I happen to be gay, but my sexual orientation has no business in the workplace. I "pass" as straight, and usually have no problems, but remember people, homophobia is the last "acceptable" form of racism. In most states, it is NOT illegal to discriminate against gays in housing, jobs, promotions, or pay-scales. If the same were done to a person of color, there would be legal ramifications, but to a gay or bisexual person, there is NO LEGAL RECOURSE! Education will eventually errode this, but until then, people need to look closely at the stereotypes, and realize how wrong they are.

As a gay man, I don't want "special" rights, I want "EQUAL" rights. I would like to be permitted to marry the person I'm in love with, and have had a long-term, stable relationship with. I'm an upstanding member of the community, participate in several volunteer organizations, and vote in every election with my informed conscience. in short, why can't I have the same rights and priveleges as my heterosexual counterpart? Hopefully, this will change in my lifetime, as all other forms of racism, and we'll ALL be equal, no matter what the color of our skin, out sexual orientation (notice I didn't say preference, as it's NOT my choice), or religious affiliation.

Sorry this got off topic, but hopefully someone else reading this agrees with me, and even if one person changes their opinion, it's worth the risk of flames!

The orginal quote this response is upsetting to me personally. For a wife to admit that her husband would prefer having a female cath them is digusting. Would her husband be in agreement if his wife flatly stated that she would only want a male to cath her because a female nurse might be a lesbian and the thought of having a lesbian touch her would be repulsive. Come on!! Whatever a persons sexual orientation.. it means nothing when handling a patient. A gay male nurse or a lesbian female nurse has no sexual interest in a person laying naked that needs a medical procedure done. Personally, I would not want a female nurse handling my husband even though I know it is not sexual. And, my husband feels the same. For us, it is uncomfortable and unacceptable. As many have said and I reiterate...it is NOT about the nurse it is about the PATIENT.

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The orginal quote of this response is upsetting to me personally. For a wife to admit that her husband would prefer having a female cath them is digusting. Would her husband be in agreement if his wife flatly stated that she would only want a male to cath her because a female nurse might be a lesbian and the thought of having a lesbian touch her would be repulsive. Come on!! Whatever a persons sexual orientation.. it means nothing when handling a patient. A gay male nurse or a lesbian female nurse has no sexual interest in a person laying naked that needs a medical procedure done. Personally, I would not want a female nurse handling my husband even though I know it is not sexual. And, my husband feels the same. For us, it is uncomfortable and unacceptable. As many have said and I reiterate...it is NOT about the nurse it is about the PATIENT.:icon_roll

why would stating her hubbies preference be disgusting ? after thorough thought and asking for confirmation- mu hubby would prefer a female to do it and if it had to be a male he " better be a doctor" lol - dont quite care myself if the person is male or female or both as long as they know what they are doing - as you said it is the PATIENTS choice and that person hubby and mine apparently lol prefer it- by the way - it doesnt necessarily mean they are homophobic - even if stated " i dont want it cause they may be gay ( sounds at least like an "excuse " when using the statement they might be gay so i dont want it- vs showing where the real insecurity lies) - deep down perhaps there are more underlying issues like: many men dont want thier items hanging out for other men to evaluate - could just be insecurity on thier part that someone may see it and compare it to whoever- women do the same thing- ain't gonna find me in a shower room full of big breasted skinny women- self consciousness - as silly or irrational as it may be to others.............. as for hubby getting upset if i said male only he wouldnt care - he has no problem with that cause he knows i also am self conscious about my body and if that was needed to make me relax he would approve- ( i know cause i asked him lol ) - ( honestly i could shower and change in a room full of men before i could women - i have been in nasty places where the women are vicious and it isn't pretty what they do to each other in some places lol)

if anything would be disgusting or better put unacceptable it would be NOT accepting and doing all one could to accommodate the PATIENTS preferences- as stated its "it is NOT about the nurse it is about the PATIENT" ( i will forgo the rolling eyes as i feel that belittled the original posters feelings as null and void by the poster here)

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Reading these post upsets me and enlightens me on the many attitudes still present in society. Basically, IMO, it seems to boil down to insecurities. Male/female pts. and nurses as well as doctors and their administrations and institutions. Not neccessarily in there competency, although that maybe the case for some nurses not being comfortable floated to an area outside of their specialties, but in the ultimate feeling of being unprotected. Sadly, it is kind of a funky situtation that rears it's head in this special type of ministry to the body called nursing. As they say in the military CYOA! Employers should be very clear on the policies of Prof/pt gender interaction to cover themselves as well. Especially since it would be them with the deep pockets people go after. In a perfect world they would be able to mandate female/male shadowing of opposite sex pts.(which what the legal community appears to be alluding to) in order to squash frivolous law suits and claims. As an added effect nurses would no what to expect of each other instead of assuming. But, we are not in a perfect world and as professionals should be looking out for each other as well as the pts. and the profession. I am not a nurse yet but will be soon!!

"Our will is always for our own good, but we do not always see what that is; the PEOPLE is never corrupted, but is often deceived, and on such occassions only does it seem to will what is bad." (Rousseau: Social Contract)

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......... - deep down perhaps there are more underlying issues like: many men dont want thier items hanging out for other men to evaluate - could just be insecurity on thier part that someone may see it and compare it to whoever- ........

Being a guy I just don't see that as an issue, men just don't evaluate other men's equippage. I can understand why some men prefer female caregivers over male because of homophobia, but fear of being compared by men isn't something most guys fear.

Now you can convince me that women do evaluate a man's performance parts, as I have witnessed that myself in a clinical setting. It's part of the reason I prefer same gender care for the intimate stuff.

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Specializes in Operating Room.
mu hubby would prefer a female to do it and if it had to be a male he " better be a doctor" lol

This is the only statement that upsets me as a male nursing student. It really shows that the general public views nurses as less professional than doctors. In my clinicals I have had many female patients refuse my care based on the fact that I'm a male nursing student, but have told me that if i were a med. student it would be ok. My L+D clinical was the worst in regards to this.

I am just as professional as a doctor.

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Being a guy I just don't see that as an issue, men just don't evaluate other men's equippage. I can understand why some men prefer female caregivers over male because of homophobia, but fear of being compared by men isn't something most guys fear.

Now you can convince me that women do evaluate a man's performance parts, as I have witnessed that myself in a clinical setting. It's part of the reason I prefer same gender care for the intimate stuff.

it is great that you are secure in your body- i have seen it in myhusband and o others who arent though - just because you cant understand it doesnt mean it not out there :) as for most - i dont know- i cant find any scientyific study- but my pwn personal experiences with make friends and thier NOT willing to undress completely in front of others- i see the majority as the opposite. just what i see in my personal relationships- everyone is different :)

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mu hubby would prefer a female to do it and if it had to be a male he " better be a doctor" lol

This is the only statement that upsets me as a male nursing student. It really shows that the general public views nurses as less professional than doctors. In my clinicals I have had many female patients refuse my care based on the fact that I'm a male nursing student, but have told me that if i were a med. student it would be ok. My L+D clinical was the worst in regards to this.

I am just as professional as a doctor.

my hubby states it isnt that he feels we as nurses are less professional - just thta a dr has much more training- sorry - i dontfeel the same but some people do want as much training as possible- heck- he has to be literally dying to go to a doc it isnt personal against nurses.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Progressive Tele.

Regarding Peri care on females, it doesn't bother me, but I ask the patient how they feel about. The same has to be said about breast wounds. I allow the patient to make that choice.

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mu hubby would prefer a female to do it and if it had to be a male he " better be a doctor" lol

This is the only statement that upsets me as a male nursing student. It really shows that the general public views nurses as less professional than doctors. In my clinicals I have had many female patients refuse my care based on the fact that I'm a male nursing student, but have told me that if i were a med. student it would be ok. My L+D clinical was the worst in regards to this.

Male nurses cannot understand why female patients accept a male doctor and not a male nurse. My opinion of this is simple and basic. For many years women did not have the choice of going to a female or male doctor. Now there are many female docs. But not years ago. Doctors view you and in the case of a delivery they come in usually at the last minute when the head is crowning to deliver the baby. It is a nurse that is with you all the hours prior to delivery and post partum. Post partum the personal care that is given is personal. The care given by a nurse is much different than what is done by a doctor. My son did not like the fact that a male doctor was going to be delivering his baby, but there was no choice as it was a male that was on duty when the time came. However, it would have been unacceptable to him to have a male nurse take care of his wife during and after the delivery in which very personal care was necessary. It is nothing personal against a male nurse ...just the gender in general that would not be acceptable. And, it does in no way imply that a male nurse is any less professional than a female nurse.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

my hubby states it isnt that he feels we as nurses are less professional - just thta a dr has much more training- sorry - i dontfeel the same but some people do want as much training as possible- heck- he has to be literally dying to go to a doc it isnt personal against nurses.

I can appreciate that. Me personally, if I ever saw an MD coming at me with a foley I'd send them away and ask for a nurse. I don't even remember the last time I saw an MD put in a catheter

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I can appreciate that. Me personally, if I ever saw an MD coming at me with a foley I'd send them away and ask for a nurse. I don't even remember the last time I saw an MD put in a catheter

LOLOL i hear that and tend to agree with it - bit we as nurses know what doc do NOT do the general public ( at least thoise i know) tend to think that docs are "all that" and that they do it all - they dont realize doc rely oin us to do that - it isnt my ideal of what they think - if they cuold spend one day ( or even a few hours or an hour) with us in our job when they arent sick and can pay attention, then maybe theyd get it- hahahaha maybe we can make up a " take your parent or spous to work day" heeheheheh

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Specializes in RENAL NURSING.

patients had the right to choose....... it doesn't matter if a male/female nurse do it, it's the same nursing care/mgt every nurses do......

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