Ron Oswald

I would like to reply to qedy. My intention was not to offend and I apologize, if that is what I have done. The post that you quoted was sincere. My co-worker's gender (as in the social construct and/or the biological trait) is of no consequence to me unless it interferes with our ability to provide appropriate patient care. I cannot think of any circumstance where this would be the case. I agree with you that assumptions and microaggressions (assumptions) are based on ignorance. They are also the product of confusion.

Conflict with co-workers is only one of many factors that can contribute to burnout. Some of the stresses that can push us to the brink are difficult to recognize. The best advice that I ever received, regarding burnout, was that mental fatigue should be treated with physical exertion(but not in the workplace). I wonder if physical fitness gets the attention it deserves, as a mental health tonic. Second piece of useful advice might be that we cannot control the other person but we can control how we react to them.

After reading the posts for this article, I wonder how much of history some of you are aware of. Historically, nursing was one of the few professions that women could choose. Times have changed. Nursing is no longer a female dominated profession. The idea that "caring, selfless, loving and tender" are feminine traits could be challenged ("maternal" not so much). Compassion and respect are traits that some circles would argue cannot be taught and are inherent in the individual's personality. These traits, often times, separate the really good nurses from the sort of good nurses. The fact that non-nurses look for these traits in nurses suggests that they are important. If you consider that most people who are under medical care are afraid, of what is happening and what is going to happen, you can see how important soft skills are. For every time that "mistrust of intelligence and education in nursing" stems from reaction formation there is also a time when it stems from simple observation. Although I do believe that everyone deserves respect and understanding, nursing is a profession where care is provided for people who are at their worst. We would do well to remember that we are there for the patient.

Identifying as gender fluid makes it near impossible to avoid confusion. If I was caring for a gender fluid patient, which pronoun would I use to describe that person? The biological traits are useful in the medical setting because they provide us with anatomical and physiological information that may be pertinent to the situation.

2/3 & 1/3 is a hypotonic crystalloid that is sometimes prescribed post-op. It has been associated with pediatric deaths due to hyponatremia. Once inside the body the dextrose is rapidly metabolized. The remaining solution supplies free water. Reported pediatric deaths were due to cerebral herniation.