Discrimination...You think??!!?!

Nurses Men

Published

:angryfire I encountered a situation over the weekend that I'm not quite sure how to deal with. I have worked at this facility for going on two years now, and have always worked one particular hall...well, until this past weekend! According to my schedule, I was scheduled to work on my usual hall all weekend. However, when I arrived at work, I was shocked to find I had been switched to another hall without prior warning and no one had an explaination for the move. This weighed on my mind and after med pass I decided to call the DON myself. I asked her If I had done something to deserve the move. She stated, "NO, if I have a problem with you..I'll let you know." She then said that I was moved because it wasn't in the best interest of the center for two males to work on the same hall.:angryfire :uhoh3: ??

So, what exactly is this supposed to mean? Society is okay with two females working together in health care...but not two males..That comment insulted me in every humanly possible way. I have never felt so degraded, useless or worthless in my life. I have worked with this same male in the past with nothing ever said...so why now?I don't know what to do with this rude encounter. It is making me physically sick. If I quit, they win. If I stay, I feel as if I am giving in and ignoring my self respect as a professional. Never mind that males work together in dietary..and females worktogether on the halls! Lord forbid I work the same hall with another male. Just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me...maybe it never will. So what do you guys think of them apples??

Specializes in Med-Surg/Cardiac/Surgical Stepdown.

I agree with 58flyer, tolerating such behavior gives those who practice it tacit approval to keep on practicing discriminatory behavior.

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

Although i am not agreeing with the method that your move happened, could it be that some of the female pts requested a female on that hall? I have had the situation in our group homes where we have to schedule one person of each gender due to our individual's requests.

either way, you should have been notified/consulted before the move., please talk to your DON face to face to clarify!

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ER.

Ok I'm a female but I read all threads and I have to say... that's just wierd. Heck if we didn't have males working together, my ER (and my previous floor too) would be short staffed (not that we aren't anyway of course).

I can't imagine such a half-orificed answer as not having two males on the same hall. Has to be more than that to the story. I don't necessarily think discrimination right off (from what you posted) but my first thought was, as others stated, "spreading the muscle". Or, does a floor with no males think the hall with 2 males has an advantage? Perhaps you two guys work well together and get things done well and the other hall was jealous? Just throwing out ideas as to where this could possibly have come from. Of course, the other idea, that each hall has patients with preferences (IE 99yo ladies who wouldn't DREAM of having a male other than her spouse see her nekkid shoulders) has merit too.

I'd be very interested to see what explanation you get for this.

But please do keep heart. Where I work, we love our nurses who're guys. They know they're stuff, they teach well, they think quick and they generally tend to have a great attitude! Course, I'm not biased or anything towards MY co-workers lol.

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Thanks guys for all the comments. I have cooled down to a simmer...lol. I guess this weekend will tell whats to come. He and I are both scheduled to work.So,we'll see what develops. I will be sure to let you guys know how it all goes down. I'm going to get off here and watch Grey's Anatomy on TIVO.( Izzie is so hot...I just love her to death).lol. See you all later.

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What the original poster exemplified is called a "hostile working environment" legally speaking, a form of illegal gender discrimination. Isolating an individual from other males is evidence of the same. Such isolation techniques have been used by plaintiffs in law suits involving "hostile working environment" as evidence probative of the same.

By isolating the male nurse from other male nurses, other discriminatory practices can be utelized against him surrepticiously.

I suggest that you contact an attorney about this matter.

I would not refer the issue to the E.E.O.C. as this same agency has been sued by the Center for Individual Rights (I believe that that is the correct name) asserting that this same agency promulgates massive reverse discrimination against caucasian males. I believe the law suit was entitled "Worth v. Jackson".

This agency would, probably, only collude with the employer to cover up and promulgate further gender discrimination.

However, again, I suggest that you contact an attorney with regard to this matter. I am not an attorney. I am a Certified Legal Assistant and an R.N..:)

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Now, if she had followed that up with the fact that she needed a male on another hall to help the females with lifting, etc, then that is a different story. If that was her reason, she would have said so.

Uh, some bias here much?

What makes the male nurse automatically more "capable" of lifting? Not to mention that if more lift help is needed, they could call nurses from the other hall to help, not specifically the male nurse.

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Uh, some bias here much?

What makes the male nurse automatically more "capable" of lifting? Not to mention that if more lift help is needed, they could call nurses from the other hall to help, not specifically the male nurse.

Well carole you see physiologically on average males carry more muscle mass, not only that but they have more neurogical innervation with respect to the muscles which means they are stronger than women, and stronger than women pound for pound. As a matter of fact, the last time I checked I dont see women being as strong as men in athletics.

For instance, I can guarentee that I am more capable than you in lifiting, because i can deadlift 325lbs for repetitions of 8. I dont thinkt taht many women are capable of that feat, save some east german powerlifters.

Point being, it makes perfect sense. 95% of men are PHYSICALLY stronger than women, hence they can lift more weight. I really dont see what the dispute is with this, I think you are taking it personally that men are stronger than women, which you shouldnt, you should jsut accept it as a fact of life, which it is.

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Uh, some bias here much?

What makes the male nurse automatically more "capable" of lifting? Not to mention that if more lift help is needed, they could call nurses from the other hall to help, not specifically the male nurse.

Basic biology, that's what.

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Uh, some bias here much?

What makes the male nurse automatically more "capable" of lifting? Not to mention that if more lift help is needed, they could call nurses from the other hall to help, not specifically the male nurse.

If women were as strong as men they would play in the NFL :nuke:

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Specializes in Case Manager, Home Health.
gender discrimination is only considered discrimination when it's against women. when it's against a man, it's always explained away. change your gender, change careers, or learn to live with it. (i'm not saying learn to like it.)

sadly, fins, you are exactly correct. women get discriminated against...men, we're supposed to suck it up and deal. who ever heard of a man filing, let alone winning, a discrimination suit? (solely on the basis of being a man, not including being a minority, i.e. race)

i don't like what you said, but it is the truth...

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take a deep breath

don said that when she had a problem she would talk with you about..take her at he word

there are different slants to this

a. maybe they feel that every nurse should be familiar with all pts, at least well enough to know them by name and major dx

b. maybe there was a pt who might need your expertise which don valued over other nurse

c. what ever when you are calm with don in noncofrontational manner

get the fact and then make your decision

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The nurses in charge always did this to me too. Would change me to different halls because she said that we needed at least "a guy" in each hall. The residents we had were very heavy, and most of the girls couldn't do anything by themselves. That's why it kinda sucks working in a field that the majority is all girls. But, either way. I quit soon after, because it was discrimanatory, it doesn't matter what anyone says, it was the worst place to work.

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