? Regarding Facility's Decision Not To Hire Male CNA/RNs

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So, I've been doing my CNA clinicals at an adult care facility in their skilled nursing unit. My first day there, as usual, I was nervous but ten minutes into being there a resident passes away. She'd been there for the better part of 20 years, her CNA is hysterical (she'd been caring for her for over 15 years) -- sitting on the floor crying, hyper-ventilating, etc, she was completely unable to provide post-mortem care. I jumped in and offered to help and she begged me to, saying she couldn't do it, so I did it.

Her, my instructors, the other CNAs all said I handled it like a professional. So, being the only male in my class and the only male at all (other than residents) in the facility, some of the residents have begun asking for me by name "Go get that new male CNA I saw, I want him to take me to the bathroom/change my clothes/give me a shower/etc." Which I'm all more than eager to help and I do.

I've really hit it off with a lot of the residents and several of the CNAs/RNs. Quite a few of the residents hate the lifts or have such fragile skin that we can't use lifts on them (they have to be lifted by hand), and what might take 2-3 of them to do, I can on my own very easily. Because of what I bring to the table for the staff (a strong back, eagerness to learn, proverbially get **** done -- I like geriatic patients, a lot) and to the residents (I'm the only male in the facility, I can talk about sports, women, cars, hunting, etc with the male residents and some of the female ones have told me they'd wish they hire some males).

So anyway -- residents and staff have made comments about me working for the facility and that they'd like me to be there, I'd love to work there. Great staff, even better residents. So, I'm speaking with one of the RNs and ask:

Me: "I haven't seen a single male here outside of a dining hall cook and a janitor. Are there no male CNAs or RNs for the residents?"

RN: "Umm...nope, we don't have any on staff."

Me: "Why? You and the other staff have talked about how great it'd be to have a male or two around, and the residents say the same."

RN: "Oh I do feel that way but I don't make the hiring calls. HR has made it their official policy that no male CNAs or RNs are to be hired."

Me: "How? That has to be illegal."

RN: "Oh I'm sure it is. A while back we had a male on staff, I think he was a CNA, pretty sure anyway. Well, without going into too much detail but I'm sure you can figure out...he got SUPER friendly, and not in a good way, with some of the residents. So, ever since then HR has decided that males are prohibited from working here as a CNA or RN."

Me: "So because of one guy's decision to molest some patients, people like me are now screwed?"

RN: "Seems that way. But don't take it personal, we love you here. You're eager, quick, and we don't need to hold your hand and coach like most of the students who come through. I'd hire you but I can't."

So...what do I do? Can I do anything? I'm still in clinicals so I don't want to do anything while here that might get me thrown out and jeopardize me finishing this so I can sit for my certification. But I also want to march into HR and go "This is what I heard from your staff , is this true?"

Sorry for backstory but I wanted to put it all into perspective.

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It's stories like this that I find so disturbing. I can show you a thousand articles on the web ofunprofessional behavior by female nurses and cna's. Yes,even sexual assault. There is even a website devotedto making patient member jokes started by nurses. If a maleresident refused intimate careby a female nurse and there was no male cna to perform that care thenthe patient would have to be transferred and his care delayed. That would result in a Hugh lawsuit. You cannot force care onanyone. Every patient should beaccomodated. This notion thatfemales are gender neutral makesme sick.

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Specializes in Telemetry & PCU.

you are correct in that this shows a pattern of discrimination; however, it is hardly worth the effort to fight it. maleness is not a protected class in the eyes of the eeoc........ but, all is not lost!

ask all of the charge nurses, cnas, and the residents that like you to tell the don that they think your great. once you get your certificate, have a great resume, and thoughtful cover letter show up unannounced in a suit and tie and ask to see the don. let her know that you think this is the best run, greatest team, super residents, etc and that you want to work here. if everyone is saying we want him, then the powers to be might have a tough time not hiring you.

if she says will get back to you, come back a few days later and go to hr and repeat the process; if that doesn't work 3 days later show up at the head honcho's door and repeat.

now if they say no and someone in power says we don't hire men, go get a job somewhere else as most facilities would probably love to have you and go to the aclu and see what they will do for you. i would also write a letter to your state's civil rights entity with a formal complaint.

also, if your planning on going into nursing, at some point go to work in a hospital to get a broader experience base.

the most important thing to remember is this: we work in a female dominated profession and they are all a bunch of icky girls and have cooties!

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Specializes in RN.

WOW! Disgusting...seems like they would want a male because we can lift :scrying:

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you are correct in that this shows a pattern of discrimination; however, it is hardly worth the effort to fight it. maleness is not a protected class in the eyes of the eeoc........ but, all is not lost!

actually, sex is a protected class with the eeoc. a complaint could be file with the eeoc, but good luck getting anyone to admit they won't hire a male.

types of discrimination

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Hey guys, I appreciate your comments but you are perpetuating some of the same stereotypes as you claim the facility is doing. Never, and I mean ever claim that a facility should hire males because we can "lift" patients are other stereotypical tasks. Yes, this is and remains a female dominated profession. But us old coots that helped pave the way for you new male nurses to enjoy the climate you practice in today paid a huge price to help make nursing more gender neutral. When I started working as a nurse in the 70s it was automatically accepted that we were all homosexual. Out of my entire graduating class of 11 male nurses none were homosexual. But in order to prove we were not we had to chase every skirt that can by us and boast about our conquests. Needless to say it was stressful. I lost many friends that could not put up with the stigma and constant need to prove that we were good nurses. Finally after many years I have seen a huge acceptance of men in nursing that I would have told you 30 years ago would never happen.

The one thing that I find still frustrating is the need to practice safe patient contact between male nurses and female patients. Due to the threat of lawsuits I now tell my young male nurses that anything above the waist is okay to be alone with a female patient. But below the waist, you want a female chaperone. Has nothing to do with the professionalism of the nurse, has to do with plaintiff lawyers and the probability of suits. I just talked to our Risk Management attorney regarding male MDs and female patients and she said the same thing. Not worth the risk. And the double standard exists for MDs as well, she does not advise our female MDs to be chaperoned with males when performing genital assessments or procedures. Totally accepted. However, we both agree that if it was not for the risk of lawsuit that society would find it acceptable. I went into a room the other day to remove a lady partsl packing and while I was simply explaining what I was going to do and before I could inform the lady that my female PCT was coming to assist me she had the sheet down to her ankles and the gown to her shoulders. She was in position to remove the packing with no further positioning. I simply told her that it wasn't necessary and asked her to put her gown down, pulled the sheet up and then my PCT came in the room and I completed the procedure. The patient did not have one single thought about my being a male nurse or any risk of assault. She simply wanted the packing out so she could go home. We have come a long way since 1970. If it wasn't for lawyers we would be much further.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
So...what do I do? Can I do anything?

Yes, you can do what the rest of us do: Finish up your clinical, go on with school and find a job somewhere else.

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Specializes in none.
Yes, you can do what the rest of us do: Finish up your clinical, go on with school and find a job somewhere else.

I wouldn't give these idiots a second thought when it comes to a job. Just get the CNA. and get another job. They are not worth the time of day. You go the way of the lawsuit, you get a job there, they will retaliate by firing you for hopping in bed with an eighty year old. Just get the CNA and get out.

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Specializes in Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care.

I am absolutely convinced that I have been passed over for nursing jobs based on the fact that I am male. After working in Primary Care for over a year I applied at the local hospital's Urgent Care. Keep in mind that I am a former military medic/EMT and am now an LVN. I had letters of reccomendation from two fomer supervisors and two MD's. Never once did I get a call. I applied for the same positon 15 times within 6 mos. Nada...Just for fun I changed my first name to a feminine one on the online application. Got a call the next day for an interview. Told them who I really was and was immediately told that the position had been filled. The next day the ad went up again on the company website. Oh, well. Their loss. I applied for and got a killler job at my local VA hospital where I get treatment as well for being a vet. My service is respected and appreciated by every single one of my colleagues. Hoo-Rah!

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All forms of discrimination exist. Age, sex, race, religion and sometimes just plain appearance. My podiatrist only hires good looking blond nurses and support staff. It looks like a modeling agency when you go in there. I hope his wife is just not that naive!

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Specializes in none.
I am absolutely convinced that I have been passed over for nursing jobs based on the fact that I am male. After working in Primary Care for over a year I applied at the local hospital's Urgent Care. Keep in mind that I am a former military medic/EMT and am now an LVN. I had letters of reccomendation from two fomer supervisors and two MD's. Never once did I get a call. I applied for the same positon 15 times within 6 mos. Nada...Just for fun I changed my first name to a feminine one on the online application. Got a call the next day for an interview. Told them who I really was and was immediately told that the position had been filled. The next day the ad went up again on the company website. Oh, well. Their loss. I applied for and got a killler job at my local VA hospital where I get treatment as well for being a vet. My service is respected and appreciated by every single one of my colleagues. Hoo-Rah!

Hoo-Rah, is that a Marine thing? We never said that in the Air Force. We said things like, "Why wasn't the wine chilled at brunch?" I served state side. Seriously, I bet the person that rejected you wear a little flag pin. Are you considered a hero? I used to be called 'Baby Killer'. I agree with you the VA is the only one that has respect for us Veterans. When I first went to the VA clinic, the first words out of the receptionist mouth was," Thank you very much for your service to our country." I know it's a catch phase now but after 45 years it was better than Baby Killer. You are not paranoid with the job. I sent an letter to a hospital and within three days got an application back with a female name close to my own. In a letter from the DON, she state they had many positions open. I filled the form in, sent it back, six weeks later I got a letter stating they had no positions open.

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Specializes in Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care.

I'm AF as well 4MOX, or 911 in the old days. And yeah, I guess we did have it better! Plus the girls were much cuter...

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