transgender nurse (transvestite)

iliel · Jan 12, 2004

Tweety, Dave....your posts put a smile on my face.

I know there are a lot of ppl that feel transgenders, etc have issues, but what if we put some issue some of my fellow students have up for discussion? I bet a lot of ppl would think some of us are crazy and shouldn't be allowed to be nurses, but since we can hide our problems on the inside, then it's ok?

It sounds like the teacher will be the one getting an education here.

I for one welcome ppl like this into my life, I can lean a lot more from them.....to me, they are living life the way they want and finding their true selves.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jan 12, 2004

Allow this person the dignity of obtaining the education if they are qualified. If there are problems, handle them in a professional manner just like any other student. If there are emotional problems, poor work ethic, or unsafe conditions, then handle this according to school policy.

Goodness, here I am in the hills of WV, having seen only one such person, telling a "teacher" to be fair and don't judge on appearance alone. I could say the same thing about myself, this grandmother is finding more and more grey hair among the auburn, so I guess I don't want to be judged on my appearance, just my ability.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2004

Originally posted by CCU NRS
Transgender is obvious to many people just on sight of the person and will become an issue without any extraneous effort on the part of this student it will be an issue because it is obvious. Are all of these things stressful and difficult to deal with on top of attending school absolutely but a transgender situation will be more difficult by a factor of ten.

CCU NRS, I applaud your open-mindedness and willness to offer your opinions and suggestions.

As your statement indicates the problem comes from without this person. i.e. other people see she's transexual and have an issue with it.

These things are stressful and difficult to deal with yes. But you have to realize that this person probably has been dealing with it his entire life. From being different in grade school, through high school.

Remember the effeminate kid everyone picked on when you were a kid. Well here he is now, trying to presue his dreams and live his life.

Trust me. This person has been dealing with stress, negativity, disgust and rejection for a long long time. She can handle it in nursing school just fine.

mattsmom81 · Jan 12, 2004

I worked agency at a facility where a nurse was initially sexually confused, then later in transition and dressed both ways. It was a very strange work environment and it was stressful for everyone...patients and families in uproar, nurses and staff having to smooth over situations for him constantly. People need to trust their nurse and someone who is 'too wierd' or offbase just doesn't generate a lot of trust. Hospitals DEPEND on their nurses to gain patient trust.

This will have to work itself out on its own. Laws prohibit you from discriminating based on sexual matters. But eventually, enough 'customer complaints' to a program or facility will either get him rerouted or placed in a less conspicuous place where it isn't causing trouble for the company. That or he will learn how to be less 'out there' and less a risk.

If I were this young man's instructor I would be very careful about coming across in a way that might seem judgmental. I would be very practical minded, and document problems objectively (if you see them)...and be sure he is held to the same standard as everyone else.

I remember being in nursing school with a few who I thought should not be there at the time, but they turned out to be decent nurses. :)

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2004

mattsmom81. Ihave to say the last couple of posts you made to this thread have been rocking!

button2cute · Jan 12, 2004

Good Afternoon, Everyone:)

I read this posts on this board for a hour and half. I am not sure where to begin. I think some of the posts were off the topic and related in other areas that are controverisal with our society.

On the Orginal post stated concerns about an individual who is in the process of becoming a transgender. He/she has not arrive to the school as of yet and the rumor mill is in full operation.

As instructor, one should not listen to the rumors of other people and not judge the cover of the book till you open it up and read it for yourself. I feel this student may challenge you as an instructor and as a person. Because you had a written this post on the board. And I believe you may use some of these posts to defend your position of getting rid or setting this person up for failure. Therefore, I would love to be a fly on the wall in your classroom this fall.

Believe or not the students will work it out among each other and with the student. Sometimes an issue will bring some people together through this tough boot camp of nursing school. Therefore, the class as a whole will redefine their accpetance of others and philosophies in life.

In my nursing class we had three leasbian out of 18. I was one of them and I was so call to speak in the closet. I do not discuss who is in my bedroom or what I do sexually with anyone. When I am outside my home, I carry myself in a respectful way that does not offend anyone. In addition, I hate listening about my friend's sexual appetite in class and at work.

As far for my mental capability....I was stable. I was the only one not on pschye medication or taking natural herbs for depression, panick attacks and aniexty. I thought I was abnormal cause I was drug free. My classmates revealed the mind games in school effected their daily lives as a student, wife, gf, husband, mother/father, and individual. I protected myself by not allowing them to get to me mentally. Actually, I go to them cause I would not react. I came through with flying colors and I am a nurse. Therefore, sexuality of changing one's gender does not make someone incomponent.

Nursing school is tough phyiscally and mentally due to class work and the pressure by the instructors. If one finishes nursing school and overcome the obstacles that were presented in clinical and classes....he/she will be a stronger individual to deal with the issues as a nurse in the hospital or clinical setting they chose to be in.

I feel the following about nurses:

There are the "Old school nurses and the new school nurses" and it is a turmoil amoung the profession. Oh, do you all know the term "Nurses eat their own?" ....Well it is true and there are nurse who place the dagger into your back with a twist.

We need to come together and be open minded. We need to understand our issues, boundaries, morals, ethics, cultures, religion, race and backgrounds. If we can respect our patients diversities and who they are as individuals....why can't we do the same to each other as nurses?

We as Nurses posses the skills and education to take care of people in all stages in health. However, we as nurses are the most ignorant, prejudice and unpredictable group in society. Before you get pissed or have negative thoughts about my statement. Sit back and think about it. Reread these posts, memorize an issue at the workplace that brought up controversial and an issue that cross your boundaries.

For example, my nursing supervisor was a very prejudice nurse and made it well known. She assigned me to a young man who was in the KKK....beleive I could had died. He called me a ******, coon, and all of the southern words he possible could find. Throw fetus at me and told me to lick his butt clean. I had to endute this assignment for 12 hours. I did not allow her or him to break me. After my shift, she stated "dam I thought your ****** butt would be gone." and I replied "is this my assignment tomorrow?" She said "yes." I had that jerk for a week and Guess what? I am still a Nurse and she is still making other nurses uncomfortable and had support by the administration and other nurses who felt the same.

In conclusion, of this long post....I am sorry. I am saying that as nurses we need to look at ourselves prior to making a comment on issue/s that we do not have all the facts. We need to perform our own research on the issues through books, attending groups, meeting the person, and ourselves. Do not allow yourself to look like a clown without gathering the facts. Because one day the prejudice/s we have within will come to surface and it can get us into many negative issues. If the student ever get a hold of these posts and take it to court....I would not want to be in the shoes of the instructor. Therefore, Just take a look of the information or issue, read it, digest it, seek out other materials about the issue, look with in yourself, and then make a comment. (stay with the facts at hand and not the rumors)

Sorry for the long post and I hope I came across positive and informative.

Buttons

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Jan 12, 2004

Great post, Button. Welcome to Allnurses.

ShelleyERgirl, LPN · Jan 12, 2004

Originally posted by lgflamini
(((Navynurse))), thanks.:kiss

You are welcome sweetie.

nekhismom · Jan 13, 2004

Great post, lgflamini. It's always good to hear about open minded, loving and accepting people. It doesn't matter what their sexual orientation is, or any thing else for that matter. It's just important to know that there ARE very tolerant and accepting people out there. People are people, and everyone deserves a chance. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

CCU NRS · Jan 13, 2004

Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy
CCU NRS, I applaud your open-mindedness and willness to offer your opinions and suggestions.

As your statement indicates the problem comes from without this person. i.e. other people see she's transexual and have an issue with it.

These things are stressful and difficult to deal with yes. But you have to realize that this person probably has been dealing with it his entire life. From being different in grade school, through high school.

Remember the effeminate kid everyone picked on when you were a kid. Well here he is now, trying to presue his dreams and live his life.

Trust me. This person has been dealing with stress, negativity, disgust and rejection for a long long time. She can handle it in nursing school just fine.

I agree s/he has been dealing with this issue for a long time but I still see it as a very large obstacle in a nursing program. S/he will have to deal with Pts and families daily that will not want to talk to her D/T her appearance and the situation. Like I mentioned earlier it will also be problem introducing this SN and asking for permission for her to be the caregiver, I mean really is everything supposed to be genderless surrounding her, if the instructor can not in good faith introduce her as a female when male SN's are always expected to be singled out when permission is obtained from clients. Like I mentioned about the program I attended the instructor had to ask each client for permission to use SN and if we were male that was also a separate issue, esp. in OB, Delivery rotations etc. If the instructor asks permission for a SN to be the care giver for a client then for instance the client tells the staff nurse later something like {when they asked me to have a student nurse I did not know it would be a he/she} or something of the like?

Note from my earlier post I do think that she deserves her chance to participate esp. having passed entrance criteria and making the cut of 18/65 I am simply stating the obvious difficulties surrounding this entire issue that will not necessarily be for her to deal with but the instructor or the school etc.

renerian, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2004

Not in the mood for a flame LOL.

renerian:uhoh3:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2004

Originally posted by CCU NRS
I agree s/he has been dealing with this issue for a long time but I still see it as a very large obstacle in a nursing program. S/he will have to deal with Pts and families daily that will not want to talk to her D/T her appearance and the situation. Like I mentioned earlier it will also be problem introducing this SN and asking for permission for her to be the caregiver, I mean really is everything supposed to be genderless surrounding her, if the instructor can not in good faith introduce her as a female when male SN's are always expected to be singled out when permission is obtained from clients. Like I mentioned about the program I attended the instructor had to ask each client for permission to use SN and if we were male that was also a separate issue, esp. in OB, Delivery rotations etc. If the instructor asks permission for a SN to be the care giver for a client then for instance the client tells the staff nurse later something like {when they asked me to have a student nurse I did not know it would be a he/she} or something of the like?

Note from my earlier post I do think that she deserves her chance to participate esp. having passed entrance criteria and making the cut of 18/65 I am simply stating the obvious difficulties surrounding this entire issue that will not necessarily be for her to deal with but the instructor or the school etc.

It's a whole other battlefield for this student, one in a long line of battles she's fought to get where she is. There's no guarantee it's going to be easy, or if she'll be sucessful. You're right, when people's prejudices get in the way then they are probably going to drag the instructors into it, and it becomes more than the student's problem.

A lot of it depends on how the student presents herself and handles herself. If she's professional and well studied and approaches her practice with confidence and compassion then that's half the battle. Intelligent people will look past the transexualism if they are sick and need care. If she's flamboyant, flippant, loud, dramatic and flightly she's going to stand out.

The school I went to generally didn't ask the patient's permission. We introduced ourselves as the patient's student nurse, and once in a blue moon a patient would request not to have a student nurse. Many were confused or comatose, so it didn't matter. We only had two males in my class, so there were no incidences in any rotation where a patient declined a male student nurse. But I imagine if someone saw a transexual come in the room, rather than see what kind of nurse they were, they would reject the student all together. If this is a school where they ask permssion, then it would be weird to say "would you mind having a transexual student nurse today?". :)