Male Nurses/female Patients

Blueskies · Jul 18, 2006

Take advantage of being a male nurse when it comes to female patients, because when the next 350 lbs. plus patient hits the unit, you can bet your check that you will be taken advantage of!! So ride that female horse wherever she'll go. "Saddle up and lets go dancin!"

I've got to admit I was shocked when I read that someone felt that guys are slackers and not carrying their weight. I suppose it happens, but I have never seen it. On the contrary, I am often asked to assist with moving any heavyweight on the floor. The time and effort I may ask for from my fellow female nurses in order to protect myself legally pales in comparison to the time and effort I give helping. Its all good and it all evens out in the end.

dougRN2BE · Jul 18, 2006

We are all so PC that our brains are falling out (not meaning to be insulting). Let's be real about men (I've been one for 39 years). Men are predatory and voyeuristic by nature. That's why they go hunting and "read" girlie magazines. Men get sexually aroused by sight and there have be 12 gazillion playboy magazines sold (to men) to prove it. Men take advantage of the physically weaker and there have been 12 gazillion rapes and armed robberies (by men) to prove it.
Men understand that other men (gay or straight) have an aggressive sexual nature. The average male nurse might have his sexual nature under control, but it's still fundamentally different than the average female nurse's sexual nature and therefore her internal experience and external vibe is different when she encounters the nude privates of the opposite sex.
Might I suggest that your lack of understanding about the men in your life's "wigging out" over the idea of having there genitals handled by a male has to do with your lack of understanding about male sexuality. Women get sexually aroused by people. Men get sexually aroused by bodies and body parts. Ever heard of a "boob-man" or a "leg-man"? Imagine. A man can be defined (and indeed define themselves) by which female body part sexually arouses them. Stereotypes tend to have a basis in reality.

This is the most disgusting remark I've heard all day. The overarching stereotypes that are made in this statement are both offensive and, in my opinion, grossly incorrect. To say that women get sexually aroused by people and men by body parts is both heteronormative and dichotomizes the issue. Unfortunately there are men like the poster describes, but this is not representative of the male group. I find this post to be just as inflamatory if one were to make disparaging comments about a certain group, whether it be racial/ethnic/sexual orientation.

I regret that you feel this way and hope you take some time to formally educate yourself on gender issues and the issue of sexuality. I may not be a nurse, but I have a MA in gender issues and have evaluated these issues/concepts in great detail.

More importantly, I hope you are not a nurse.

:angryfire

dougRN2BE · Jul 18, 2006

Ever heard of a "boob-man" or a "leg-man"? Imagine. A man can be defined (and indeed define themselves) by which female body part sexually arouses them. Stereotypes tend to have a basis in reality.

I wonder if this poster has ever heard of a "decent-man"...no body parts....Certainly there are men who commodify females, but it goes both ways and not anywhere close to ALL men are this way.

And one correction....while stereotypes do have a frequent basis in reality, the conscientious individual refrains from stereotyping since it presents a distorted image of reality. It is a reality that there are men who objectify women...it is also a reality that there are men who do not. Therefore, making grossly simplified stereotypes that fit your "reality" is irresponsible and inflamatory.

Sorry all...promise to keep it zipped. I've said my peace and will let it go!

royr · Jul 18, 2006

As a male nursing student (Senior in a BSN program) it is required that I have a Female RN present at all times when doing any proceedure in the Nurse's scope of practice in reguard to female patients. During my OB/GYN clinical rotation, I have in fact had 1 and only 1 patient flatly refuse to allow me to do her Labor and delivery care. Her response was "Oh my God - there is a MAN in my room" when I introduced myself as I walked in the door accompanied by my Female RN instructor. I excused myself and exited the room quickly. Every patient has a right to refuse medical care for any reason or no reason at all. We as nuses both male and female need to accept this as the fact of our employment. We are expected to work on the floor or the unit as a team. If one team member can't do a task for ANY reason, it is up to the other team members to fill in the void. A female student quickly assumed my patient in this situation, and I was re assigned to her patient for the duration of the shift. I worked at that point with the breast feeding consultant (another female RN) and helped a new Mom learn to position and breast feed her son. I still learned much that dayand contributed my fair share of the work load, in spite of the issue of my "maleness". I think if we are adults about such things, all issues can be resolved and patients given the care they need.

58flyer · Jul 18, 2006

We are all so PC that our brains are falling out (not meaning to be insulting). Let's be real about men (I've been one for 39 years). Men are predatory and voyeuristic by nature. That's why they go hunting and "read" girlie magazines. Men get sexually aroused by sight and there have be 12 gazillion playboy magazines sold (to men) to prove it. Men take advantage of the physically weaker and there have been 12 gazillion rapes and armed robberies (by men) to prove it.
Men understand that other men (gay or straight) have an aggressive sexual nature. The average male nurse might have his sexual nature under control, but it's still fundamentally different than the average female nurse's sexual nature and therefore her internal experience and external vibe is different when she encounters the nude privates of the opposite sex.
Might I suggest that your lack of understanding about the men in your life's "wigging out" over the idea of having there genitals handled by a male has to do with your lack of understanding about male sexuality. Women get sexually aroused by people. Men get sexually aroused by bodies and body parts. Ever heard of a "boob-man" or a "leg-man"? Imagine. A man can be defined (and indeed define themselves) by which female body part sexually arouses them. Stereotypes tend to have a basis in reality.

If you don't mean to be insulting, then why be so insulting? And to think this is your first post!

The generalizations you have made here are so far from reality I won't even attempt to address them.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 18, 2006

Originally Posted by Salesman217
We are all so PC that our brains are falling out (not meaning to be insulting). Let's be real about men (I've been one for 39 years). Men are predatory and voyeuristic by nature. That's why they go hunting and "read" girlie magazines. Men get sexually aroused by sight and there have be 12 gazillion playboy magazines sold (to men) to prove it. Men take advantage of the physically weaker and there have been 12 gazillion rapes and armed robberies (by men) to prove it.

Men understand that other men (gay or straight) have an aggressive sexual nature. The average male nurse might have his sexual nature under control, but it's still fundamentally different than the average female nurse's sexual nature and therefore her internal experience and external vibe is different when she encounters the nude privates of the opposite sex.

Might I suggest that your lack of understanding about the men in your life's "wigging out" over the idea of having there genitals handled by a male has to do with your lack of understanding about male sexuality. Women get sexually aroused by people. Men get sexually aroused by bodies and body parts. Ever heard of a "boob-man" or a "leg-man"? Imagine. A man can be defined (and indeed define themselves) by which female body part sexually arouses them. Stereotypes tend to have a basis in reality.

I can honestly say i've never read such a sheltered, degrading, tacky, assumptive, misinformed, and non-contributive post before i read the above quoted.

Greaaaaat first impression. :rolleyes: Won't be seeing anymore impressions in the future.

Corvette Guy · Jul 18, 2006

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?

From a male nurse colleague's perspective, I find it proper sometimes to ask one of my fellow female RN team members to assist with a female patient strictly regards to gender privacy/witness issues. Otherwise, I'd better never witness another male nurse getting out of patient care in the name of gender issues when in fact he is just plain lazy, LOL.

Corvette Guy · Jul 18, 2006

As a male nursing student (Senior in a BSN program) it is required that I have a Female RN present at all times when doing any proceedure in the Nurse's scope of practice in reguard to female patients. During my OB/GYN clinical rotation, I have in fact had 1 and only 1 patient flatly refuse to allow me to do her Labor and delivery care. Her response was "Oh my God - there is a MAN in my room" when I introduced myself as I walked in the door accompanied by my Female RN instructor. I excused myself and exited the room quickly. Every patient has a right to refuse medical care for any reason or no reason at all. We as nuses both male and female need to accept this as the fact of our employment. We are expected to work on the floor or the unit as a team. If one team member can't do a task for ANY reason, it is up to the other team members to fill in the void. A female student quickly assumed my patient in this situation, and I was re assigned to her patient for the duration of the shift. I worked at that point with the breast feeding consultant (another female RN) and helped a new Mom learn to position and breast feed her son. I still learned much that dayand contributed my fair share of the work load, in spite of the issue of my "maleness". I think if we are adults about such things, all issues can be resolved and patients given the care they need.

May I say you sound like an outstanding male nursing student & will make an outstanding nurse!

:welcome:

Corvette Guy · Jul 18, 2006

I am not a nurse but have been an CNA for about four years off and on and have spent two full years working in the hospital environment. I have worked extensivley with male nurses, however they had been nurses for quite a long time. My husband will graduate nursing school in about 3 more weeks and he has worked in the ED as a tech during his last year of school. All of that being said here are my two cents (these are generalizations based on my exp, what other male nurses have said, and my husband)...
*Geriatric patients tend to (not in every instance but most often) prefer someone of the same gender to perform their bathing, EKG's (female pts primarily), catheterizations, and basically any exam that involves exposure of private parts/areas. It was just "how they were raised" is what I am often told.
Yes I have been told by older male pts that they would prefer to have a male aid or nurse give them a bath ect. That is okay it is there choice. I am certianly not upset about situations like that. Other times I have refused to care for certian male pt's b/c they were vulgar and nasty. I would go get a male nurse (or aid) to perform care and that usually straightened them right up no more nasty talk from them! They usually never told the male nurses how big their you know whats were.
*the spouse of a pt may prefer a same gendered care giver due to afore mentioned reasons.
*People in their 20's,30's,40's, & 50's tend to not really care, some do, but the vast majority don't.
*People in their teens and "tweens" very often prefer to have someone of the same gender perform any procedures in which the private areas of the body are exposed. And if an option to have their parents with them usually mom.
*New male grads who have little clinical exp may feel very uncomfortable performing procedures on women in which private areas are exposed, and that is okay. If they are nervous and uncomfortable the pts will sense this and also become uncomfortable. My opinion better to have someone who can be a comfort to the patient do the procedure.
My husband worked as a CNA for about two years before nursing school and it took him quite a long time to get used to seeing and touching women (geriatric pts) in areas that are usually hidden. He went through this again in clinicals during nursing when he had to deal with women his age (20's-30's) and younger. He is now fine with performing procedures, ect. on female pts. However, that came with time and the practice of learning how to handle yourself, and getting use to touching and observing the body of female patients.
*Other reasons for wanting a same gendered care giver are usually religious reasons, this includes male nurses not wanting to do certian procedures on female pts.
All in all there are a multiplicity of reasons that patients prefer what they do. All you can do is try your very best to accomodate them. Furthermore it has been my exp that male nurses don't take adavatage of women not wanting a male nurse the male nurses I have seen are very hard working. It could just be your facility. Anyhoo I hope this gives you a little more insight, sorry I got so long winded. Good luck!
P.S. I know my spelling is horrible!

I could careless about your spelling... your text was very :studyowl: & I enjoyed reading such!

Corvette Guy · Jul 18, 2006

Unfortunately, our litigious society assumes that all men are predators. The fact that doctors are exempt from this assumption is claim to thier continued elevation as morally and intellectually superior to all other health care professionals.
Let's face it, all it takes is an accusation and that male nurse is run out of town on a rail (there will be the usual investigation, commonly without finding, followed by considerable stress on the floor about what really happened). The assumption of guilt is classicly conditioned. Who would want to put themselves in that position?
Please don't shoot the messenger on this subject; it is only my opinion and I am sure there are many opposing opinions that are valid. My favorite saying is " Perception is reality" which is true, apparently,:chair: :chair: :chair: in this case.

I'd think a male MD would be wise in having a female nurse present whenever examining a female patient, too.

Corvette Guy · Jul 18, 2006

I believe much of this can be instilled in nursing school, where feminine care for those pt's was delegated to female students - my understanding a fairly common occurance (I went to school at a Catholic Hospital). From a male standpoint... 2 reasons.
First, if caring for a female pt that needs this type of care (and that task is not a great majority of my shift time), it only makes sense to have a female perform a task (from the standpoint of comfort and legal protection), and thus NOT tie up a second staffer that might need to be present as a witness.
Also, I believe this is a hot topic more on a regional basis at times. Older females in this area are generally MUCH more comfortable (as are their families) with a female performing those procedures on a female - may more so than in other regions. And quite frankly, this is one of the few topics where being a "male nurse" still makes some pt's uneasy. Men being cathed by female nurses has been done MUCH longer and is generally better accepted than males performing caths on females. Men in nursing still fight the uphill battle of acceptance at times.
Truthfully, on the rare occasions I might ask a female co-worker to cath for me or assist as a witness (I moonlight in other areas beside PI), I CERTAINLY make sure that I return the favors in any way I can - it's ALL about teamwork and caring for the patient. And honestly, as a man working in nursing, I couldn't tell you how many times I've been the first one everyone runs to when lifting is needed (more often than I've asked for caths).
I think tasks that may be assumed to be along gender roles all even out in the long run. All of the guys in our unit try their best- and we (men and women) ALL work as a team. It IS about the pateint, right?
I love this job - really - and I don't mind trading tasks here or there to make sure my patient gets what he/she needs. There are none of us - male or female - sitting down while the others bust butt...

:yeahthat: ... its all about teamwork!

ruthiebaby88 · Jul 18, 2006

yes male nurses sometimes ask for help with their female patients - but then male nurses are often asked for help with lifting heavy patients or subdueing scary psychotic patients so i guess it probably works out about equal!