I have worked in the healthcare field and been a patient way to many times....
At the hospital; I have worked with amazing nurses male and female. And a few not so nice ones (they are rare)
As a tech, I have had patients request/demand a female tech, and I respected it, never once had I been offended of the request. I always thank them for letting our department know of the request, so other techs would know before going to the patient's room. If a female was not available, we would reschedule it when a female tech was available, unless it was life/death situation.
As a patient I have had a bad time with female nurses, rude comments, saying, it is no big deal for them to see me undressed, swearing, etc. (These nurses I did not worked with) I got to the point that I had a family member go with me to any medical appointments... and even then I had a nurse cussing at me , when I politely corrected her... (My big mistake) and she refused to leave the room while the doctor was trying to do an exam. She demanded that it was her "Right" to:madface: be present in the room regardless if she was needed or not. (A male nurse doing this would have been fired and his license revoked) Since then I have refused female healthcare providers completely...
I am a modest patient, (I have had some similar issues that a female patient would only have a female healthcare provider) I had allowed female providers as long as I was covered appropriately... I only go to male doctors because of the modesty issue, and that it is hard for a female doctor to fully treat me with all clothes on at all times... So rather it becoming an issue when a doctor would need me fully undressed, I will only have a male doctor.
I had to go to a specialist that was outside the provider lists, I and my Health Insurance company, (surprisingly they agreed with my request for a male provider since it was a male issue) located a male specialist, the doctor/office agreed to the Male only healthcare, so I go to this doctor numerous times, and had a female nurse while I was covered. Once the specialist couldn't find a cause, he tried to get me to go to his female Physician Assistants, I refused... (The modesty issue, and the fact that the cost to see a Physician Assistant was the same as seeing the specialist)
The office manager (female) screamed at me, how I was "Intimidated" by women:no:, that I wasn't a real man for discriminating competent females... I told her that as long as I was fully covered at all times, it would be fine, (it couldn't happen due to the male issue) the manager said she would not put her female Physician Assistants through it, I asked for the door to be open at all times, she said no again... I asked for a male nurse to be present, which they did have... she said no again, as that male nurse had better things to do.... I asked for the normal procedures for a male doctor female patient, yet they refused to accommodate a male patient in the same manner they accommodated a female patient...
Question is....
If it is no big deal to see it, why is it a big deal NOT to see it? (genitalia)
Is it really offensive for a female nurse to go get a male nurse?
Do they really think that by asking for a male nurse, that it immediately means a male patient is intimidated by females?
Should a female nurse be allowed to stay in the exam room after being told to leave?
Is it her "right" to be in the room when she was not needed?
This one was awhile ago, I am overweight, and very honest about it. Some meds are given by weight, so I watch my vitals/medical very closely... The nurse had written my weight, about 100 lbs off from actual weight, so I politely corrected her, she came back instantly with, along the lines of "Now you're b*tch*ng about me making you seem inshape"
Gotcha. I was going to ask the question of you what happens when a female patients asks that you not be her nurse because she only wants female providers. But, you're not a nurse. Which confuses me a little as to why you're posting on a forum FOR nurses....
I would pressume it is so he can get the perspective of Nurses about a situation regarding Nurse practice. Nothing wrong with that.
Gotcha. I was going to ask the question of you what happens when a female patients asks that you not be her nurse because she only wants female providers. But, you're not a nurse. Which confuses me a little as to why you're posting on a forum FOR nurses....
Ah before my disability I was on the student list to become a nurse at the school I was attending.... Plus being on a nurse’s website, I could get honest opinions FROM nurses already working in the field. "Look before you Jump" And If I haven’t said it before ... I had a few patients request female techs, I thanked them for letting us know, and that I would post "Female Techs only Room# _ _ _ " so everyone would know to give the patient what they requested. If there were NO females on the clock, the nurse would tell the patient, and give her the option. When it wasn’t life or death, we rescheduled the patient to be the first on the list for the female tech. When it was life or death, we tell the patient that the test could not wait, and gave them the option, because even with a life or death scenerio, the patient still has the choice.
There were cultural issues on top of the gender issues. I had a pregnant patient; her culture said no males may see/touch her in any way. Only her husband could see/ touch her. She was there for delivery and other medical issues, made the procedure life and death, First (with the patients permission) we spoke to her husband, stating the issue of only males on duty and that the next female would be over a 4 hours wait.... We made a compromise; I had him watch the entire procedure (what/where my hands were) and only uncovered the smallest possible area for the test. After it was done, the husband and wife thanked me for caring about them and their needs.
This site may be for nurses, but it helps many other medical professionals.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
The only situation I could see being a "valid" denial is a life or death emergency and no male provider available. (as in need treatment now not 5 minutes from now). Even cultural/religious belief systems make exceptions for life saving emergency stabilization & treatment. There are a few cultures in my area that have gender specific needs that in an emergency any qualified provider is acceptable and the local facilities work on getting a specialist or transfer as appropriate once the patient is stabilized.
Even in an urgent situation, there should be time to reasonably accommodate your request or refer you to a provider who can meet your needs.
Regardless of modesty or nature of your medical needs, your request for male providers or door left open etc should be accommodated as it is not unreasonable or unrealistic.
I apologize for the way you have been berated and treated in the past. Hopefully going forward you can successfully find providers that can meet your needs.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
You have been treated badly.
If it were me (and I am probably not as nice as you), I would jump up the ladder from the office manger who "screamed" at you. I would would be hunting her job just now as I understand exactly how unacceptable that type of behavior actually is in her role. I would be communicating my exteme dissatisfaction with the way my reasonable requests for things well within my patient rights have been dismissed by the staff, with the physician in the practice. I might consider writing a letter to the editor of the local paper to discuss their insensitive treatment of male patients.
I'm sorry for the treatment you have received by nurses.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
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What a load of BS OP. Sorry to hear that, I always ask my younger female patients if they are ok with a male nurse. especially if it comes to something like Vaganitis...
While a hospital will generally try to accomodate your requests, at a physician's office, they don't have to take on or keep any patient they don't want to keep. So if you refuse the staff they're offering you, you may have to find another office that will better suit your needs.
While a hospital will generally try to accomodate your requests, at a physician's office, they don't have to take on or keep any patient they don't want to keep. So if you refuse the staff they're offering you, you may have to find another office that will better suit your needs.
I agree with that, if they cannot offer the services required, I can (and have) go to another practice. However with this particular practice KNEW ahead of time and had AGREED to the services needed. That is until the "doctor" couldnt find a cause or proper treatment, this is after high doses of narcotics which gave me bad headaches, injections into my spine.... I followed ALL requests/tests/medications, asked of me. Then instead of saying "sorry I am unable to fix the problem" he tried to just pass me off to the PA... You know the keep me doped up, and coming back.... Its like a Chris Rock joke, They havent cured anything since polio... there is no money in the cure, just the come back....
It is reasonable to honor the sensitivities of any patient with regard to gender issues, when they can be accommodated. When they cannot, it should be explained.
When they cannot be accommodated, the patient still needs care and will have to deal with it.
That said, being a jerk about it, on either side of the question is unhelpful.
If it is no big deal to see it, why is it a big deal NOT to see it? (genitalia)
Is it really offensive for a female nurse to go get a male nurse?
Do they really think that by asking for a male nurse, that it immediately means a male patient is intimidated by females?
Should a female nurse be allowed to stay in the exam room after being told to leave?
Is it her "right" to be in the room when she was not needed?
First of all, I am very sorry for your experience. I would hope that is NOT the norm elsewhere. I am a female nurse and have had only one patient refuse me as a provider because of my gender. Unfortunately it was a new admission and that night we had no male nurses on shift. I respected the patients wishes and documented his refusal of skin assessment. It would be battery to touch a patient who had made it clear that he did not want me to.
I would not remain in a patients room with the doctor during an assessment/exam if the patient already stated they did not want me there. If the physician is there, why would that be necessary? Perhaps it is necessary... I don't know the exact situation. But it's my right" is a ridiculous statement.
Whenever possible we respect the patients wishes on gender matters. I do not mind getting a male nurse if necessary. If I know the male nurse is busy I will offer to do something for him in exchange for helping me. I never take it personally if a patient wants an older/ more experienced/ stronger/ male nurse over me. My feelings are not important in patient care.
The only time I would ever be firm is if patient safety were were an issue. Example: post OP patient with large amount of blood on dressing, need to asses, it is in the perineal area. If no males are available then I would explain first WHY it necessary for me to asses the site, what I would do to keep the patient as covered as possible to maintain modesty, and remind them that while their modesty and wishes are important to me, that their safety came first.
One example where we could not feasibly accommodate was in a male fall risk patient who needed assistance to the bedside commode. He wanted to be left alone but would attempt to self ambulate and fell once already during hospitalization. One night we had only female staff. Since we already knew his preference we explained the situation and that for his safety we did have to have a staff member present. We made sure to explain that his privacy was very important, his safety was more important. We made sure he was covered at all times and the female PCT turned her back while he was exposed, only helped when necessary. The patient ended up very fine with that and thankful for our attempts to accommodate him.
Oh and for what it's worth I don't think a male patient asking for a male nurse is automatically intimidated my females. He could be modest, it could be for religious reasons, he could find male nurses to be more intelligent. I don't speculate because it doesn't matter. The request matters, not so much the reason.
For what it's worth, my father will NOT see a female physician. He trusts a male doctor as being more intelligent. I don't agree with him but that is his preference and he is able to make that choice.
when I politely corrected her... (My big mistake) and she refused to leave the room while the doctor was trying to do an exam. She demanded that it was her "Right" to:madface: be present in the room regardless if she was needed or not. (A male nurse doing this would have been fired and his license revoked) Since then I have refused female healthcare providers completely... 
Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN
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