Should men be school nurses? Have you ever heard of any?

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2011

We had a school nurse in my district who happened to be male. He only stayed a year, but that had more to do with the money than the job.

The only issue I see is for the rare cases where young girls need catheterizations...I have 2 in my school. I don't think the parents would be thrilled about that, but otherwise I think it is great to have a little testosterone in ALL fields of nursing!

LACA, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 24, 2011

We have a male nurse in our district...he was working at one of the middle schools as a special ed assistant/nurse but has since moved to an elementary school doing basically the same thing. He's a great guy, fantastic nurse, and the kids love him. He can be a bit over the top at times, but he is a wonderful addition to our district team of nurses. Definitely has his own perspective on things and often gives us great ideas and different ways of thinking about things!

Nurse_Ziba · Feb 25, 2011

We have a male school nurse and he fits the job just fine. :) And yes they can be a bit over the top at times but in general he's okay especially during sports activities.

HazelLPN, LPN · Feb 25, 2011

We had a school nurse in my district who happened to be male. He only stayed a year, but that had more to do with the money than the job.
The only issue I see is for the rare cases where young girls need catheterizations...I have 2 in my school. I don't think the parents would be thrilled about that, but otherwise I think it is great to have a little testosterone in ALL fields of nursing!

The parents would have to get over that one, a nurse is a nurse. I agree with the testosterone in all areas of nursing. The only thing I imagine would be a bit odd is to have a male nurse midwife in OB. But heh...I'm open minded.

mmm333, LVN · Feb 25, 2011

Remember that not too long ago, it was a pretty far-out thing for a man to be a nurse at all. The times change, and social mores change along with them.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2011

The parents would have to get over that one, a nurse is a nurse.

I disagree...the school setting is much different than the hospital setting. I know neither student I cath daily would be comfortable with a male nurse doing this on a daily basis, and neither would their parents. Should we really expect a 7 year old girl to be comfortable with an adult male going into the bathroom with her, undressing her, and catheterizing her twice a day, simply because "a nurse is a nurse"? As much as I am pro- men in nursing, if it was MY child, I would not allow her to be subjected to the potential embarassment and distress of this. It is one thing to expect an adult patient to understand the reasoning of "a nurse is a nurse", but when it comes to kids and their comfort levels, all bets are off and we have to do what is in the best interest of the child.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Feb 25, 2011

i see your point, Purple scrubs, but at the same time if the district did hire a male to be a school nurse and there was a student in need of a sensitive procedure, what would you suggest the alternative be? I don't think that someone should be denied a job (or reassigned to a different school) based on their gender for the potential of having a student that required such a procedure.

Supernrse01, BSN · Feb 25, 2011

The nurse that I replaced was male and the kids loved him.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2011

i see your point, Purple scrubs, but at the same time if the district did hire a male to be a school nurse and there was a student in need of a sensitive procedure, what would you suggest the alternative be? I don't think that someone should be denied a job (or reassigned to a different school) based on their gender for the potential of having a student that required such a procedure.

Oh, I absolutely agree...no one should be denied a job because of gender. In a large district like mine, it would be easy to move people around and make accomodations if the need should arise. I would guess that only about 10% of the schools in my district would require this type of accomodation. If it was a smaller district, I would let a female teacher or administrator be trained to do the deed. It is not really that common for kids to get cathed in school (I just happen to have two, lol), so the need for such accomodations would be few and far between. I just had a problem with the post stating that the parent should get over it because a nurse is a nurse. It isn't about the nurse...it's about the comfort and well being of the child.

Gampopa · Mar 7, 2011

I'm a male school nurse for the past 2 years and replaced another male school nurse who was in the position for 20 or so years. So far there's been no issues. I do have a 15 yr old w/c bound quad girl who insisted on having the female teacher's aids change her. I have no problem with that. I do have to remind the kids that I am a nurse and not as they think a doctor. I do keep myu door open at all times unless there is a need for privace with a studnet. I would bring in a female "helper" if need to just to have another adult in the room and to avoid any accusiations. I also have a female health aid if the girls would rather talk with her. Often times the older girls come by for a pad and it's not a problem.

allnurses Guide · Mar 10, 2011

Just finished an audiometry class - 25 women and 1 man. All school nurses.

I don't see a problem other than what Purple Scrubs described.

steph

HazelLPN, LPN · Jul 11, 2011

I disagree...the school setting is much different than the hospital setting. I know neither student I cath daily would be comfortable with a male nurse doing this on a daily basis, and neither would their parents. Should we really expect a 7 year old girl to be comfortable with an adult male going into the bathroom with her, undressing her, and catheterizing her twice a day, simply because "a nurse is a nurse"? As much as I am pro- men in nursing, if it was MY child, I would not allow her to be subjected to the potential embarassment and distress of this. It is one thing to expect an adult patient to understand the reasoning of "a nurse is a nurse", but when it comes to kids and their comfort levels, all bets are off and we have to do what is in the best interest of the child.

I certainly do see your point. Perhaps I'm speaking still as a retired PICU LPN vs a school nurse and I almost always do high school...elementary school isn't my thing at all.

Playing devil's advocate however...

Would you feel differently about a male doctor?

The wording you used left me a bit puzzeled when you said"an ADULT male". Is the alternative a male who is not yet an adult? The wording left me feel like you were inferring that this male nurse might be up to no good.

Ideally, I would want the parents and child to form a trusting relationship with the male nurse. I think its important to teach our children from a young age that doctors and nurses can be men or women and it should not matter. I suppose if that wasn't okay with them or the child, then we could talk about other arrangements. The one male school nurse I work with is excellent. Once he called me into listen to a girl who had sexual questions and she said "No...I'm too embarassed to say it in front of her". It was because she didn't know me and she had a trusting relationship with him. I also still wear my nursing cap and white dress, so I think I scared her a bit.

I responded "a nurse is a nurse" because back in the old days (1950s-1960s) nurses didn't cath male patients. Male orderlies were trained to do that or the docs did it (at that time, all men). This was a catholic hospital where I did med/surg before the ICU was even invented. The hospital made it seem that male patients might get some cheap thrill if a women cathed them. However, male doctors did everything to women. Looking back I think "how silly" about so many things we did back then. I remember standing up when the doctor walked in, writing his orders for him like a secretary when they rounded, even making coffee. I never liked it one little bit.

Perhaps I'm also speaking as a feminist and believer in non traditional gender roles and am still a rebel from my past.

In the end, however, you are right. It was what our parents and children are the most comfortable with, even if we as professionals feel differently.

Don't want to start an arguement or have bad blood with you....I enjoy reading your many thoughtful posts on school nursing and respect your thoughts.

Best to you,

Mrs H.