male nurses refusing to do certain treatments?

[darrell]

I would never want a male nurse to put a foley in me, that much I know.

I'm male and I have no problem doing it as long as the patient doesn't object. I've seen some females really crash badly when trying to do a female foley, so I would think skill would be the most desirable trait, not gender.

I really can't think of anything too gross to handle.

D

[nurselsteele]

I'm male and I have no problem doing it as long as the patient doesn't object. I've seen some females really crash badly when trying to do a female foley, so I would think skill would be the most desirable trait, not gender.

I really can't think of anything too gross to handle.

D

:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

I applaud you for being a nurse that knows his job, not a nurse that picks his job.........

We need more nurses out there, heck i remember when i was in the ER, I was trying to put a foley in a female w/ bladder cancer, i couldnt for the life of me get that foley in, & poof a male nurse i called into the room , got it on the first attempt!!!

I don't care what sex you are, if you have skill than i would be happy to work along side of yoU!

[dave5000]

I'm a male nurse(RN) new nurse, I allways take a female into room with me, but usually don't have a problem with women saying no but do give them the option.

[bubbabubba]

I am a MALE and I have had countless intimate procedured done on me as a patient by females and never had a "chaperone" present for them. What about my level of discomfort? Unfortunately many times there has not been a male nurse available to do what I would have preferred.

I will never be "comfortable" with it, but have just gotten used to doing what I had to do under the circumstances. Why doesn't a female need to be chaperoned when doing these kinds of things to me? There IS a double standard it seems in regard to these things I'm sorry to say. I see a male urologist who has ONLY female nurses....Can you imagine women going to an office to see a female OBGYN who had ONLY male nurses? I bet there is no such office in America now.....FIrst of all, more males need to go into nursing and then specialize in fields that have a higher proportion of male patients, as would Urology, for example. WOmen can go to a gyno or a urologist....there is no MANOCOLOGIST for men to see....all of it is done by the urologists.

[Tessaprn]

In today's sue happy culture if a male nurse needs to perform procedures that are of the nature of a person's privacy areas, then I say do it, but have a female nurse with you. Treat no patient in this area. There was an incident that involved a male nurse where a female patient said he touched her breast. First, this was a telemetry unit and on occassion the pads come loose and need to be replaced. He was sued and the hospital offered not legal help. He had to hire his own attorney. It was determined this was not the first time this person had made such accusations. Be sure to chart exactly how procedure was performed and who was present. My spouse and I are both RN's and work in different CCU units. When this issue comes up for him I go do the procedure myself.

[dotherightthing]

It's even a little embarassing for a female to cath a male but it should be handled for what it is, a procedure, and done in a professional and tactful way. Because nursing is still, to some degree, thought of as a female profession, it's not been a problem that I'm aware of but because of the possible embarrassment factor, it should be handled in a professional and routine manner.

And it's not a bad idea to have a female in the room when a male is caring for a female. It reassures the patient.

[systoly]

Hello, I'm a male LPN with 18 years of practice. I really struggled with this issue at the beginning. A lot of the procedures I perform, especially on female patients, violate the values and concepts I was taught during my upbringing. Surprisingly, I received a lot of help from patients themselves.

Today, the issues related to the topic are no longer a problem for me.

So here are my 2 cents. First, determine if the procedure needs to be performed without delay ,or if it can wait without harm tot the patient.

Explain the procedure to the patient and whenever reasonably possible offer the patient a choice of having a female do the procedure. In my experience very few patients ask for a female (chances are their doctor is a male). Also, according to female coworkers and family members, having a female gynecologist does not guarantee compassionate care. I always have a female present during such procedures and will not compromise on this. Final thoughts: Placing a foley, giving vaginal suppositories ( yes, I' ve done that - no other route was available ), etc. are not my favorites,

but how much worse must it be to be on the receiving end. No foley placement or other procedure was as bad as wearing the content of a JP

(yes, that too happened).

[guest239592]

I've read a lot on here that many ppl feel men should give the woman the choice of having a female do the procedure and always having a woman in the room. Isn't that kind of a double standard? Does a female RN always have a male RN or some other male personal in the room when doing a sensitive procedure for a man, or give them a choice? If a woman specifically asked me if a female could do the procedure, certainly I would accommodate this request, but with the extremely busy nature of the hospital and the personal nature of our cares I don't feel like it's very practicle to have a woman in the room whenever a sensitive procedure is performed or offer a choice for a ton of cares. I just know from my own experience if I asked another nurse to come into the room with me everytime i gave a simple bed bath, not only would they be frustrated, but other patients' care on the unit would be lacking from that nurse being away from them to be with me for a procedure I am well capable of doing myself.

[Tessaprn]

Female in room does reassure a patient, a female in the room when a male does these type of procedures protects any false accusations which in today's world is running out of control.

[systoly]

I agree that it would be a double standard if left at that, however, I've placed many a foley in male patients assigned to female nurses. A lot, or most of this depends on the circumstances. You do the best you can with what you have. I worked at one hospital where they had urinary techs (like IV techs). We (floor nurses) all liked it - the patients didn't.

[millicent56]

Hi i have nursing for 34 years, and have seen many male nurses com into the profession. Many of the male nurses are fantastic, and very often the female nurses love being looked after by them. However there are some that are not so good, and i think that this is an example of a male nurse not wanting to give full care of his patients, and basically getting out of some work. I bet he doesnt reciprocate and do some of the female nurses work while she is doing his. Sharon

[Flatbelly]

And it's not a bad idea to have a female in the room when a male is caring for a female. It reassures the patient.

Sure, let's take it to the extreme and call the entire staff to witness I'm joking of course, but I am making a point. I myself would prefer NOT to have anyone else in the room besides the caregiver (I don't care for the gender) than turning my pericare into a Broadway show.

Of course, in the pt requests it or the male caregiver prefers to have a witness in the room while washing a female pt, let them have it. But assuming it's reassuring to every pt is simply not true.