male nurses in OB

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2006

gender specificity requests typically reflect a woman's modesty and discomfort w/male staff present. the switch from a male to female nurse (and vice-versa) will absolve said discomfort.
cultural, racial, religious origins do not address a female's most prominent barrier to care.

People don't choose to be male or female any more than they choose to be black, white or brown.

So if it was a female nurse but the patient still refused if she was black/white, would it be ok?

If a male said "I don't want black women taking care of me. I'm not comfortable" - would it be ok?

leslie :-D · Mar 30, 2006

People don't choose to be male or female any more than they choose to be black, white or brown.
So if it was a female nurse but the patient still refused if she was black/white, would it be ok?
If a male said "I don't want black women taking care of me. I'm not comfortable" - would it be ok?

no it's not ok.

i will be sensitive to and advocate for a pt's fears, possible past experiences.

i will not be sensitive nor advocate for a pt's prejudices.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2006

But why is one "sensitivity" and the other "prejudice" ??

leslie :-D · Mar 30, 2006

But why is one "sensitivity" and the other "prejudice" ??

actually it's "fears" vs. "prejudice".

and wouldn't that be self explanatory?

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2006

actually it's "fears" vs. "prejudice".

No it's not. It's neither - it's 'irrational'.

If I say "I'm afraid of black women taking care of me. It makes me uncomfortable" - am I afraid or prejudiced?

Strange men touching female privates = fear

Strange women touching male privates = accepted practice

People aren't always rational

I think I'll take my own advice. I've spoken enough anyways.

G'day.

leslie :-D · Mar 30, 2006

No it's not. It's neither - it's 'irrational'.
If I say "I'm afraid of black women taking care of me. It makes me uncomfortable" - am I afraid or prejudiced?
you are definitely prejudiced. prejudice is an irrational suspicion or hatred. the 'fears' are based on prejudice.

Strange men touching female privates = fear

with many, not all.
Strange women touching male privates = accepted practice

i disagree. i would accommodate a man's concerns as much as i would a woman's.

I think I'll take my own advice. I've spoken enough anyways.

G'day.

good day.

chadash · Mar 31, 2006

About having a male nurse giving personal care, yeah, it is a bit embarrassing, but for years I have had a male ob-gyn who is a very competent Dr. Why would go elsewhere because it is a little embarrassing? Actually, anyone giving personal care is embarrassing. I was giving a pt a shower yesterday, and she said: How can you stand to see so many butts? I instantly said: I don't look! Well, I do for pressure sores and problems, I just don't look especially at butts: just more skin to report on. I figure it is the same for the guys.

MultipurposeRN · Mar 31, 2006

If a patient doesn't want someone of particular race/gender/religion, I'm not going to argue with them or try to change their mind. The only exception might be if staffing was an issue and there was no other choice, in which case they might have to be told they have to accept the person caring for them or go to another facility. Sensitivity means dealing w/ their fears or prejudices in a professional manner, whether we like them or not. How do we know why they may not want a male, gay, black, middle eastern or whomever? There may be issues we don't know about cropping up.

Sis123 · Mar 31, 2006

Roy, you are young, so I'll cut you a whole lot of slack due to your inexperience in life. Let me enlighten you to some things you may have never considered.

1. "Intimate" examinations on males are on external body parts. "Intimate" exams on females are Internal exams, i.e. invasive. I think you fail to understand the ramifications of this. A nurse peering down your throat to see if you have strep throat is a lot different than someone looking at your cervix.

2. You obviously have no idea of the number of women in the populace who have been molested and raped at the hands of *men*. If you have never been raped, you cannot truly empathize with rape victims, and you just don't "get it". The LAST thing a rape victim wants is a strange guy touching her in an intimate way and her feeling helpless. Being a patient in a hospital is kind of a helpless feeling, and being forced to have a male nurse would be enough to make some women "check out" and check in to a different hospital. If you cannot understand these legitimate feelings, then consider yourself unable to advocate for your patient who may be a rape victim.

3. A woman's relationship with her gynecologist can span decades. The reason for this many times is that they'd like to limit the number of people with access to their privates. If they have to have a succession of strangers looking at and doing things to their privates, then they'd rather have people who are female, for whatever reason.

4. If it is acceptable and reasonable for a moslem woman who must see a female OB and female L & D nurses, then what is wrong with women who simply insist for their own reasons that they will only have female nurses, etc. If it's ok for the moslem woman, it should be ok for any woman who walks in the door.

That'll do for now. But let me close in saying this:

Your "right" to be an OB nurse is SECONDARY to a woman's right to have a female OB nurse if that makes her more comfortable. I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings.

mabel u.k · Mar 31, 2006

Roy, you are young, so I'll cut you a whole lot of slack due to your inexperience in life. Let me enlighten you to some things you may have never considered.
1. "Intimate" examinations on males are on external body parts. "Intimate" exams on females are Internal exams, i.e. invasive. I think you fail to understand the ramifications of this. A nurse peering down your throat to see if you have strep throat is a lot different than someone looking at your cervix.
2. You obviously have no idea of the number of women in the populace who have been molested and raped at the hands of *men*. If you have never been raped, you cannot truly empathize with rape victims, and you just don't "get it". The LAST thing a rape victim wants is a strange guy touching her in an intimate way and her feeling helpless. Being a patient in a hospital is kind of a helpless feeling, and being forced to have a male nurse would be enough to make some women "check out" and check in to a different hospital. If you cannot understand these legitimate feelings, then consider yourself unable to advocate for your patient who may be a rape victim.
3. A woman's relationship with her gynecologist can span decades. The reason for this many times is that they'd like to limit the number of people with access to their privates. If they have to have a succession of strangers looking at and doing things to their privates, then they'd rather have people who are female, for whatever reason.
4. If it is acceptable and reasonable for a moslem woman who must see a female OB and female L & D nurses, then what is wrong with women who simply insist for their own reasons that they will only have female nurses, etc. If it's ok for the moslem woman, it should be ok for any woman who walks in the door.
That'll do for now. But let me close in saying this:
Your "right" to be an OB nurse is SECONDARY to a woman's right to have a female OB nurse if that makes her more comfortable. I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings.

:yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap:

MultipurposeRN · Mar 31, 2006

As a person who has been molested as a child by men, also forced against my will to have sex by a psycho ex-husband I can understand why a woman might not want a man doing more intimate care. However, I've never had a problem with it because what they are doing is medically necessary. Male, female..an enema feels the same from either one. I don't hang the sins of the past offenders on someone trying to help me.

chadash · Mar 31, 2006

Well I agree that someone can request a different gender if it is very important to them, but I just don't like the assumption that males are more prone to misdeeds: that image of men as sex crazed and insensitive. That just seems a shame.

Oh, and I was molested as a child. But I don't see that as a male thing, I see it as a sick thing.

I really doubt your average male nurse got into the profession for nefarious purposes.