Should a gay male LPN reveal his sexual orientation...

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Should a gay male LPN reveal his sexual orientation to clients when asked? Some might say go ahead...your facility can't fire you for it...it's against the law? But actually, I live in Nebraska and it is legal to fire someone based on sexual orientation. And even if it was illegal it would be easy for an employer to fire an employee based on sexual orientation and then try to pass it off as if it were for some other reason.

For example, what if a young patient...10 y.o. asked me if I have a date on valentines day...and I do...with a guy...should I tell the kid...even if ma and pa are sitting 7 feet away listening...and what about when I work with mentally unstable patients...they say you are supposed to be honest with them always...because they don't deal with dishonesty well...but it seems like if I did tell them the truth it might set them off...or be counterproductive some how...anyway someone plz share with me some insight...maybe with some anecdotes and some tips

If questioned by patients about personal matters i don't wish to discuss i just cheerfully pipe up that i'm just a big old bore and i'd rather talk about them. You owe nobody an explaination.

I really like this deflection. I will use it! thx!

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I wonder.....

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Specializes in LTC.

WHy does it matter? Just say yeah I hav a date and leave it at tha or change the subject....I'm bi but I dont' feel the need to correct people when they say "Do you have a boyfriend?" I can honestly answer no and leave it at that..they dont need to know I have a gilfriend atm instead. *shrug* Especially if you are in a hostile state...

Esp to little kids..they dont understand the difference and they dont need to. Just say little as possible.

My personal life is no one's freakin business. At work or off of work.

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Sometimes just turning it around and saying "why do you ask?" shuts some people up, like rude nosy coworkers.

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Specializes in Cardiac surgery ICU.

Your sexual orientation or sex life is nobody's business, it's your private life, and if anyone asks you, tell them it's private, not public information. Also personal questions if you are married, single, engaged, how many kids, if any, whatever. Just say it's private and you don't want to answer, not that you prefer not to answer, but that you do NOT want to answer. That will shut them up.

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I think that a question from a 10 year old should be answered as simply as possible. Yes or No or answer the question with a question ... "do YOU have a date for Valentine's Day?" most of the time that will get a kid giggling and their curiosity will have

moved on. Keep your personal life just that, personal!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I'm not gay so feel free to ignore my advice but I recommend you not say anything related to your sexuality or love life. It sucks in this day and age people have to still worry about things like that but honestly all it takes is one judgmental or bigoted patient or a family member to make trouble for you. I've seen patients and family members get staff fired just by making stuff up about them because they didn't like them.

And if you're working with less than open-minded co-workers, supervisors, or management that can complicate things so much more. Even if you do live in a state where they can't fire you or not hire you for being gay, all they have to do is come up with some other plausible reason to get rid of you.

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First of all, I think its wrong to fire someone over their sexual orientation. I can't believe that Nebraska is allowed to do that? Wow. Anyway, I do not hold a persons sexual orientation against them. To me, its none of you patients buisness what your sexual orientation is. You should not feel that you have to give out this information if you are not comfortable doing so. You are there to help and take care of your patients, you should not feel that you have to let them know your personal life. As for the 10 year old situation, of course you have to remember that children are inoccent. They only see in "black and white", unlike us adults we know the more complexities of life and of course its hard to explain to a young child that not all grown ups date the opposite sex. Of course its an innocent question from a child if he/she were to ask you this and if you did have a date you can say yes. Because you do and they don't need to know that its with another man. As far as dealing with adults and anyone who is mentally challenged, they do not need to know personal details about your life. If someone asks you can polietly say that your not allowed to discuss such things on the job. Once you tell them this they should respect that this is something not to be discussed on the job. Hope this helps! Also, remember we are all unique and each one of us has our own special qualities. Always be proud of who you are and don't let anyone make you feel otherwise.

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Say the name is "Freddie", which could be a boy or a girl. Better yet, do what everyone here has advised and just avoid your personal life altogether.

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If the child asks the name of your date, you can playfully say "its a secret." And you can leave it at that!:thankya:

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I live in the bible belt and everyone of my male classmates have been kicked out of a male pt's room atleast once because the pt doesn't want a "insert derogatory slur here" to do their care, because to them, a male would only become a nurse if he were gay. Pretty sad...

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"5. never get your honey, where you get your money"

i looooove this, hilarious! :bowingpur

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