Male nursing and needing chaperone

[Sirkraker]

So my hospital just released a new policy stating that all male team members (including nurses) must have a female present when your patient is female and you are going to be behind a closed door or curtain. Any violation results in termination This is crazy when it comes to taking care of my patients, medicating my patients, ect. We never have enough help, so looks like patient privacy is out the door for my patients. but of course physicians and advanced practitioners are exempt. What are my fellow male nurses think about this new policy. Is this not discrimination? Shouldn't it be vise versa for the females?

[DoGoodThenGo]

Just so you all know, having a female nurse or whatever present when attendng upon a woman/girl does not always equal a free pass.

Male physicans, nurses, et al have been hauled into court on claims by a female that something "happened", even when a female nurse or other healthcare worker was present during the entire time.

A new mother recently sued her anesthesiologist because she claimed to have felt his mout (to put it bluntly), on one of her breasts. How this could have occured in a L&D suite with several nurses and other health care workers present boggles the mind. Never the less she went ahead with proceedings.

At trial the doctor won, but you have to ask yourself at what cost to his pocket, and reputation?

Finally there is the age old problem of a female patient getting a thing, if not the hots for her doctor or male healthcare worker. In such a situation there is a very fine line to walk indeed. Hell hath no furore as woman scorned. And a female patient who thinks she has been thrown over can cause plenty of trouble, even if the man did nothing wrong.

[megan_121]

So my hospital just released a new policy stating that all male team members (including nurses) must have a female present when your patient is female and you are going to be behind a closed door or curtain. Any violation results in termination This is crazy when it comes to taking care of my patients, medicating my patients, ect. We never have enough help, so looks like patient privacy is out the door for my patients. but of course physicians and advanced practitioners are exempt. What are my fellow male nurses think about this new policy. Is this not discrimination? Shouldn't it be vise versa for the females?

At the office where i work it is just the opposite. If we have a male patient requiring an intimate exam a chaperone (usually female) is involved if the physician is a female. It seems like a double standard exists to some degree. maybe its just the difference in the inhibitions of the sexes that naturally exist

[Cul2]

megan_121 -- Please explain. Does the male have a choice of chaperone

gender, or is he forced to have two females in the room. If he refuses a

female chaperone, is the exam canceled? Also, what do you mean by "maybe

its just the difference in the inhibitions of the sexes that naturally exist."

Explain to me this "natural" difference in inhibitions that "exists" between

the genders, and please supply a reputable source for this assertion.

[CaDad]

Megan121-don't you think that makes things worse? Now the poor male pt has to contend beig exposed to two females-UG, whats a guy to do.? This double standard of giving privacy and modesty consideration to females pt's and ignoring their male counterparts is ridiculous and really really needs to just stop.

I happen to be in Er the other day , at the request of a physician to discuss a piece of medical equipment,when a youn man ( I have no Idea his real age), a teenager though, made it pretty clear how much he hated the women ignoring his modesty and he would rather be dead then ever go to a hospital again. How sad is that? I think that this happens more often then not, a lot of males simply will not go to the doctor because they do not wish to deal with the attitudes a lot of female Doctors and nurses have about male modesty. Putting a chaperon in with another female is just the most stupid, craziest thing I have ever heard. Simply amazing!

[advo-kate2]

If the female doctor thinks a chaperone is needed for male patients, then she should invest in a male staffer. This is obviously for her protection and not consideration for the patient. I would hope that he be given the choice as to the extra female in the room, and leave if he feels it is not appropriate.

I would be curious as to the amount of complaints she ( the doctor) receives for this practice.

[elkpark]

Megan121-don't you think that makes things worse? Now the poor male pt has to contend beig exposed to two females-UG, whats a guy to do.? This double standard of giving privacy and modesty consideration to females pt's and ignoring their male counterparts is ridiculous and really really needs to just stop. [/b]

Having a chaperone in the room does not necessarily involve being "exposed to" both individuals. I've had many, many physicals and pelvic exams over the years by male physicians who chose (their choice, not my request) to have a chaperone in the room, and the nurse or tech who was in the room with us was just in the room -- she wasn't looking under the drape up my crotch, or anything. I doubt that the chaperones "saw" anything that mattered. A good, competent healthcare provider (regardless of discipline) doesn't expose any of a client's body any more than necessary to perform the exam/procedure/whatever, and the client shouldn't be "exposed" to the chaperone in the room (regardless of the gender of the chaperone).

[Cul2]

elkpark -- Please explain the value of a witness, called a chaperone, in the room who didn't seen "anything that mattered." I've also heard of chaperones standing behind curtains or drapes. Doesn't make any sense. A chaperone or witness needs to actually be a witness. They need to know the basics of the procedure, how it should be done, and they need to see what's going on. Also, most polices on chaperones list "patient comfort" as the major purpose of a chaperone. But, if the patient doesn't what a chaperone, or, if they don't want one of the opposite gender, how can one claim patient comfort as the chaperone's purpose. Unfortunately, the main unstated purpose of a chaperone is for protection, and not necessarily patient protection. It may make the caregiver feel more comfortable. If chaperones are required, that needs to be made know up front to the patient at the time they make an appointment. Also, if required, patients should be able to select the gender of the chaperone. That's diginfied, ethical and courteous.

[elkpark]

elkpark -- Please explain the value of a witness, called a chaperone, in the room who didn't seen "anything that mattered." I've also heard of chaperones standing behind curtains or drapes. Doesn't make any sense.

I am certainly not defending the "value" of having a chaperone in the room -- just questioning the notion that a chaperone being present automatically means that the client is being "exposed" to two individuals rather than one.

My understanding has always been that the purpose of the "chaperone" is to protect the provider from allegations of inappropriate behavior. If clients are uncomfortable with a provider and whomever they utilize as chaperones, clients can seek treatment from another provider more to their liking.

[DoGoodThenGo]

elkpark -- Please explain the value of a witness, called a chaperone, in the room who didn't seen "anything that mattered." I've also heard of chaperones standing behind curtains or drapes. Doesn't make any sense. A chaperone or witness needs to actually be a witness. They need to know the basics of the procedure, how it should be done, and they need to see what's going on. Also, most polices on chaperones list "patient comfort" as the major purpose of a chaperone. But, if the patient doesn't what a chaperone, or, if they don't want one of the opposite gender, how can one claim patient comfort as the chaperone's purpose. Unfortunately, the main unstated purpose of a chaperone is for protection, and not necessarily patient protection. It may make the caregiver feel more comfortable. If chaperones are required, that needs to be made know up front to the patient at the time they make an appointment. Also, if required, patients should be able to select the gender of the chaperone. That's diginfied, ethical and courteous.

Under the *old* way of thinking, it was assumed a person would be on their best behaviour with another license/person in the room. However it is perfectly possible for a doctor or nurse to get up to something even with one or more persons in the room or area.

Pipe: https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/crna-accused-sexual-514544.html

As Elkpark pointed out, there is a difference between a chaperone and observer.

In order to witness and or observe a proceedure or treatment you are either going to have to expose the patient more than required (to give a clear view of the activities), or find away to get the observer in there and up close under the drapes (again for the same reason). Each situation comes with their own set of problems and risks. For one thing it is one thing to obtain a patient's conset for a "chaperone" to be "in the room", while another to have someone *right up in there*, so to speak.

The senses of touch and being touched are highly subjective. What one woman/girl may consider no problem, may register as groping or something else by another. We see this not only in nursing, but with such things as LE or airport pat downs of females. These by and large take place in front of a witness, but yet scores of women file complaints/begin legal action claiming "inappropriate" touching every year.

[biblepoet]

I am a female. Looks to me a true double standard. We are professionals not like a male nurse is there to do anything but his job. After giving the pt. the option I think that is all you need. I do not go into men pt. rooms and ask them if they would like a chaperone. I just do my job and go on. If I had a male nurse and I was the pt, then I would think he would do the same thing.

[just4]

gender discrimination is illegal, period. it does not matter whether the person being discriminated against is male or female. the fact that your workplace selectively discriminates only against male nurses and not male doctors makes it worse. contact the equal employment opportunity commission (eeoc) to file a workplace discrimination charge with the state or federal agency. most claims begin at the state level, with the exception of those filed by federal workers. these claims are investigated by both state and federal officials.

[middleager]

Elkpark while I understand your point, I think the other part of this would have to be, would a male gyn using a male for a chaperone-observer whatever you want to call them be acceptable. The point is, a female Dr. feels it is just fine to bring a second female in for male patients, but the reverse would not be accepted, thus the double standard even in this case is apparent, and extends beyond male nurses to include male patients.