Male Nurses/female Patients

[ern91]

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?

[ITSSOSIMPLE]

The indoctrination for males starts early. To play sports in junior high or high school you all line up for a hernia check

with the school nurse (female) and often a teacher(female) watching.

They certainly don't do this for their female students. You would think that scoliosis would be top of their list!

When you join the military you line up again, nude with female clerks watching. Although in 2003, the US mepcom

received so many complaints that female observers are no longer allowed.

This was never done to female recruits!

The hallmark of all of this is CFNM, clothed female naked male fetish.

This behavior continues when male patients confronted with female nurses who neglect to close curtains, walk in when you

Are changing,without knocking. Exposing your entire backside for an Im injection,etc.

When it gets to this point we have had enough! I certainly don't treat my female patients like this. Modesty has nothing

To do with it period.

It's all about respect! Add insult to injury when women have all female mammography techs, L&D female nurses, no male

clerks and ma's at their gyn offices.

Try to find a male nurse or ma at any urology clinic,good luck. I had a stopover once at Dallas international airport once

and to my surprise upon entering the mens restroom there was a female standing there selling towels in front of the urinals.

Is there no end to the way men are treated with such disrespect in our society when it comes to privacy.

[dtchavey]

There are a lot of reasons for this behavior. Male nurses who are new grads, but have never worked as a PCT or CNA are the worst offenders. The unfortunate reduction of clinical hours as mandated by the NLN takes away from the experience and poise that a nurse needs to be the expert care provider.

I am a young male nurse, and I find myself actually somewhat frustrated when I have not developed the rapport needed for a female to accept my full care as a nurse. I will never pawn off my work, and encourage all males to step up to the plate and accept your full responsibilities.

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

There are a lot of reasons for this behavior. Male nurses who are new grads, but have never worked as a PCT or CNA are the worst offenders. The unfortunate reduction of clinical hours as mandated by the NLN takes away from the experience and poise that a nurse needs to be the expert care provider.

I am a young male nurse, and I find myself actually somewhat frustrated when I have not developed the rapport needed for a female to accept my full care as a nurse. I will never pawn off my work, and encourage all males to step up to the plate and accept your full responsibilities.

Nice post, and even back on topic. I like your point about rapport. I think that's where the respectful, courteous approach comes into play. And I agree, experience helps. I am glad, though, to work on a floor where it's acceptable to pawn things off from time to time. For whatever reason. Obviously, things work a lot more smoothly when you are willing to return the favor. For whatever reason.

[Cul2]

"There are a lot of reasons for this behavior. Male nurses who are new grads, but have never worked as a PCT or CNA are the worst offenders. The unfortunate reduction of clinical hours as mandated by the NLN takes away from the experience and poise that a nurse needs to be the expert care provider.

I am a young male nurse, and I find myself actually somewhat frustrated when I have not developed the rapport needed for a female to accept my full care as a nurse. I will never pawn off my work, and encourage all males to step up to the plate and accept your full responsibilitiesll care as a nurse. I will never pawn off my work, and encourage all males to step up to the plate and accept your full responsibilities."

dtchavey -- Maybe I missed the context, but what is "this behavior" you're referring to? Is it the "pawning off" of the responsibilities you later refer to? If so, then -- do I understand correctly? You find yourself frustrated when not allowed to develop the rapport needed for a female to accept your full care. At the same time, you'll never "pawn" off that full care responsibility and encourage other male nurses also never to pawn it off. So -- even if you haven't developed that rapport, for whatever reason, and you sense a serious discomfort on the patient's part? Or, even if the patient requests same gender care? You won't find a female nurse to do the job? Isn't dealing with patient comfort -- both male and female -- an important part of your responsibility? Aren't you really stepping up to the plate when you deal with this issue in a respectful way to protect the patient's dignity? You say there are many reasons for this behavior. Are these some of the reasons? And are these reasons justified -- for both male and female patients?

I'm not saying the pawing off should just be done without thought all the time. I'm not saying nurses shouldn't be prepared to treat patients of either gender. But there are times...aren't there? "Never" is a pretty strong and absolute position to take.

[dtchavey]

"There are a lot of reasons for this behavior. Male nurses who are new grads, but have never worked as a PCT or CNA are the worst offenders. The unfortunate reduction of clinical hours as mandated by the NLN takes away from the experience and poise that a nurse needs to be the expert care provider.

I am a young male nurse, and I find myself actually somewhat frustrated when I have not developed the rapport needed for a female to accept my full care as a nurse. I will never pawn off my work, and encourage all males to step up to the plate and accept your full responsibilitiesll care as a nurse. I will never pawn off my work, and encourage all males to step up to the plate and accept your full responsibilities."

dtchavey -- Maybe I missed the context, but what is "this behavior" you're referring to? Is it the "pawning off" of the responsibilities you later refer to? If so, then -- do I understand correctly? You find yourself frustrated when not allowed to develop the rapport needed for a female to accept your full care. At the same time, you'll never "pawn" off that full care responsibility and encourage other male nurses also never to pawn it off. So -- even if you haven't developed that rapport, for whatever reason, and you sense a serious discomfort on the patient's part? Or, even if the patient requests same gender care? You won't find a female nurse to do the job? Isn't dealing with patient comfort -- both male and female -- an important part of your responsibility? Aren't you really stepping up to the plate when you deal with this issue in a respectful way to protect the patient's dignity? You say there are many reasons for this behavior. Are these some of the reasons? And are these reasons justified -- for both male and female patients?

I'm not saying the pawing off should just be done without thought all the time. I'm not saying nurses shouldn't be prepared to treat patients of either gender. But there are times...aren't there? "Never" is a pretty strong and absolute position to take.

1. I think you did miss the import of my message. Yes, pawning off your work is the behavior I was intending.

2. My frustration comes from me, I feel that I have failed in breaking down the gender barrier in our nurse-patient relationship. This is not manifest towards the patient, I just feel that there is room for self improvement if I do not make my patients comfortable with me providing care.

3. Finally I believe that I am still correct in saying that I never "pawn off" my work. Here I am intending to use the word "pawn" with some negativity. Pawning off your work is intended to mean offloading some work when I may very well be able to do it. I always show up to work ready to place a catheter, or give a bath, whether it be in a male or female, or perform a lady partsl exam.

However you are absolutely right!!! whenever a patient makes a request, or is very uncomfortable, I will very likely trade tasks with another nurse so as to put the patient at ease and provide for the most dignified care. When it really comes down to it though, it is VERY rare that I have to ask a female nurse to take over.

[Cul2]

Thanks for the clarification, dtchavey. As I've said, I'm convinced the right attitude, the right approach,the right empathy, caring, can break down these barriers, most of the time, with both

genders. But sometimes it's not just self-improvement -- it's the system, the working conditions, the culture of a particular place that prevents and/or discourages the nurse from making that personal contact.

[ITSSOSIMPLE]

There are a lot of reasons for this behavior. Male nurses who are new grads, but have never worked as a PCT or CNA are the worst offenders. The unfortunate reduction of clinical hours as mandated by the NLN takes away from the experience and poise that a nurse needs to be the expert care provider.

I am a young male nurse, and I find myself actually somewhat frustrated when I have not developed the rapport needed for a female to accept my full care as a nurse. I will never pawn off my work, and encourage all males to step up to the plate and accept your full responsibilities.

You mention that you will never pawn off your work. What if you worked in L&D, or should I say if you were even able

to get a job in L&D. How much of your work would you have to pawn off? Unfortunately, trust in the nursing industry is

and continuing to steadily decline. Have you looked at Bon state disciplinary records lately. Boundary violations are at an

all time high,as if these nurses are going to work not to provide care,but rather to sexually stalk patients. Oh by the way

i'm not referring to male nurses but it's female nurses that are responsible for this trend.Therefore what if a female nurse

had to pawn off a male patient to you?