Males asking for female patients?

[Axmann, RN, BSN, NREMT-B]

In my lab yesterday, one of the instructors was talking about having a female assist if a male has to perform a procedure which a female patient might potentially be uncomfortable with. She then said something about males requesting females (I forget exactly how it came up), and I was a bit taken aback. She didn't seem to think like it was a very big deal.

Females, how would you feel about caring for such a patient? Males?

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

Of all the floors I have worked on, I have only seen two instances of a male nurse having to adjust their cares because of a female patient. The first was that they weren't able to care for one patient, because she had extreme PTSD from a horrific attack and was terrified of men in general, but even moreso when in pain and on analgesics. The other was a Muslimah with cellulitis...she requested female nurses because of her modesty requirements. No chaperones ever requested for cares.

I don't know if you are trying to imply that there is a double standard for female to male attacks or something, but quite frankly, I don't think there needs to be chaperones for nearly anything. I've never seen a nurse need a chaperone. Doctors have requested them, but never nurses. Having asked my instructor about this suggestion, she was just as perplexed.

What's your investment in these questions? They're very leading...kinda what some wonks would call pushes.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I don't understand why a male would be uncomfortable with another male nurse, barring either "creeping" or extreme insecurity in their sexual orientation. I mean, whatever makes him uncomfortable with a male nurse, why isn't the fact that females don't evoke the same uncomfortableness in him worry you?

it takes a conscious thought process to have a preference for caretaker gender. As for me, the gender of my provider matters nothing to me because I'm not there to engage in any activity wherein gender matters whatsoever.

Your logic makes sense, but I have had female patients who request only female aides/nurses/doctors and I had a female patient request a male doctor (although I think this was based on old fashioned stereotypes more than anything). I have also had males request a male caregiver (especially is the problem is R/T the genitalia). Although, personally, I have never seen it, I'm sure there are males who are more comfortable with a female. It's just part of the job and it is not necessarily creepy.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

If it's good practice for a male nurse to have a female chaperone when taking care of a female patient, why is it absurd to think of a male nurse being a chaperone for a female taking care of a male patient?

It's not absurd. I had a patient who came in with testicular pain. The female doctor had me come in to chaperone her testicular exam. If a female nurse had to insert a Foley into a male (particularly a younger male) I would expect them to have a male chaperone and I would think it absurd if they chose not to have one.

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

Y'know, one more thought I want to add.

If one is to assume (which is going around a lot in this thread) that requesting certain genders for cares is somehow related to sexuality and what not...

...what about bisexual or gay nurse/patients?

Does someone kick the bisexual or lesbian nurse out of the female patient's room in fear of impropriety?

Gender does not equal sexuality does not equal modesty does not equal creepiness.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

As for me the gender of my provider matters nothing to me because I'm not there to engage in any activity wherein gender matters whatsoever.[/quote']

Just because you feel this way doesn't mean that your patients do. Remember, your patients are in a very vulnerable position and that is a very scary place to be. You work in healthcare so seeing ALL of patient doesn't mean anything to you, it may to them. It can be a humiliating experience for these patients who can't take care of themselves. Maybe it really isn't a gender issue but a compassion issue.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Going back, I'm a bit confused. The title of the thread is "Males asking for female patients?" I interpret this as a male nurse/student asking to take care of a female patient. Yet most of the responses are about a patient requesting a nurse of a particular gender. Which is it? If it is the former (male nurse asking for a female pt), hey, you don't get much of a choice--when you are up for the next patient, you get whomever comes in (with a few extreme exceptions).

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

It's not absurd. I had a patient who came in with testicular pain. The female doctor had me come in to chaperone her testicular exam. If a female nurse had to insert a Foley into a male (particularly a younger male) I would expect them to have a male chaperone and I would think it absurd if they chose not to have one.

Where is one to find these male chaperones? As I said, when I worked in the hospital we had two male nurses (and zero male CNAs) on staff. Both men worked permanent nights. Should the 18 yr old male quad not be straight cath'd at all on the day shift because no men are available to chaperone the female nurse? THAT would be absurd. Are we to ask the male housekeeper or EEG tech observe such a task? That would also be absurd.

Going back, I'm a bit confused. The title of the thread is "Males asking for female patients?" I interpret this as a male nurse/student asking to take care of a female patient. Yet most of the responses are about a patient requesting a nurse of a particular gender. Which is it? If it is the former (male nurse asking for a female pt), hey, you don't get much of a choice--when you are up for the next patient, you get whomever comes in (with a few extreme exceptions).

I agree, the title doesn't match with the OP which is why I, also, requested clarification in my first post.

[Emergent, RN]

I think, generally, people trust women more. It is a statistical truth that the vast majority of sexual predators are men, whether gay or straight. A significant portion of the male population, also, are not heterosexual, or can swing either way. Maybe it makes a few men uncomfortable to know that the man viewing their privates might be turned on by it. I know that I chose a female PCP largely because of psychological discomfort with a man doing a pelvic exam!

Another factor that the patient might not want to reveal, but would definitely would affect him, is that he may have been a victim of sexual molestation or assault in the past. This might leave him with a phobia about men.

In short, I think men deserve the same consideration as women. People are complex. If someone makes a simple request that we can possibly accommodate, why not do so. If a patient, then, turns out to have ulterior, inappropriate motives, we should respond with zero tolerance though.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

It's honestly more for your protection than for the female patient. In this day and age, I think it is smart to have another female in the room when a male examines a female. Years ago I had a male gyno and it never bothered me have a man look at my stuff but he always had a female nurse in the room with him when he examined patients. And I understood it was for his and mine protection. I honestly don't care who I take care of when I am a nurse, but I am sure someday we will get to the point where we have to have males in with females when they perform treatments on males. Just the way of our litigious society.

[mrsboots87]

How old is your instructor? I only ask to see if it is maybe a age related suggestion. We have one older clinical instructor who also comes in to assist with lab teaching. She is the only instructor to ever advise the men to seek a female nurse or CNA for assisting in female patients bathing/peri care. She never really gave a good rationale for it either. All other instructors just advised the men to ask the female patients if it is ok for a male to provide their care. Some of them are CNAs and have either never had an issue arise, or very rarely have issues arise of females not wanting a male to provide their care. They just act professional and do the job and haven't had issues. I think a suggestion like that comes from a thought that either nursing is for women, or that males are more predatory on the opposite sex then females are. I find both thought processes outdated but that's just me. For now, just do what your instructor said t make sure you are not docked points or given unsatisfactory rating, purely for not finding a female assistant.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

In my lab yesterday, one of the instructors was talking about having a female assist if a male has to perform a procedure which a female patient might potentially be uncomfortable with. She then said something about males requesting females (I forget exactly how it came up), and I was a bit taken aback. She didn't seem to think like it was a very big deal.

Females, how would you feel about caring for such a patient? Males?

Meh. People can want whatever they want. I've had male patients tell me outright they want a female nurse because they think male nurses are gay.

I remember one case in particular. I'm straight, but I wasn't about to placate him by telling him that so I switched patients with a female coworker.

Which kinda made me smile because I knew who his nurse would be, I knew she had a demanding assignment, and I knew how she tends to get task saturated. So the homophobic patient's requests for warm bankies, emptied urinals, and fresh icewater might just be delayed a bit.

I must admit I rather enjoyed seeing him in a gown standing at his door yelling, "Can someone get me a warm blanket?!?!!?"

I said, "I'll tell your nurse you need to see her, sir" and kept right on charting.

[christina731]

As a caregiver and as a patient, I don't care about gender. Knowledge and experience are much more important factors.