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.
