transgender nurse (transvestite)

[nursecathy]

I am a Practical Nursing Instructor. I have had a transgender accepted into my program. He/she is a cross dresser, presents as a female but has male sex organs. I had no control over this person getting in based on numbers only. What are your thoughts on this issue? Should we allow a nurse to take care of the patients who misrepresents their sex? I feel that it is wrong. Nursing is much too personal at times.

[nursecathy]

Originally posted by lgflamini

If you think about it, it was you who made it a sexual issue when you brought up the topic of transexuals doing peri-care.

And I think it was you who started this ball rolling as well when you started talking about your rights being taken away by "the deviants."

Not to start trouble- just an observation. :stone

Perhaps you are right. I guess I have been sheltered too long. Live a quiet life and rarely debate these kinds of issues. I appreciate the insight I have obtained and I apologize for the use of the word deviant. It was a bad choice. I was quoting someone else that had said it that day. I should not have said it. I don't even use that word. I do intend to view this student from the inside out as said in my previous post. I just know the problems that will present and it is going to be a tough year for the student, the school, and myself. Right or wrong, it will be difficult. I intend for it to go as smoothly as possible. I used the words "what about my rights" to say..do we not have rights to choose who takes care of our personal needs and I believe we do. I reassign a student who does not want a particular sex to take care of them. I make the assignments and I do not ask up front, only if the pt brings it up do I change the assignments. I do feel that most people who scream discrimination are usually discriminators themselves. Like I said, don't do to another the very thing you are accusing them of. Some people on this board have made some very mature and open minded responses and I would like to thank you all. You know who you are!!!

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Cathy,

You don't have to carry the entire weight of the patients on your shoulders, and you don't have to be responsible for this student's hurt feelings if things get hard for her once she's doing clinicals. The worst thing that could happen is that the pt will refuse care from the student(if they even have an idea what's going on). Are you feeling like you're going to fail either the pts or the student in some magnanimous way? What terrible scenarios are you predicting? They might not be so different from the scenarios she's predicting herself.

The only thing you are responsible for is teaching this student to be a good nurse, and for being fair to her and the patients, right? Maybe that isn't such a huge conflict?

Everything happens for a reason. And maybe there's a reason that this situation has arisen. And far be it for me to say this, but usually when my Higher Power puts something in my path that causes me to feel a lot of conflict, it's usually because I need to learn something from it.

[CCU NRS]

Nursecathy I think that many of us were very open and honest and did not go the flame route on you. You must not post or read here very often because there is always a lot of hatred towards other Nurses by nurses, it is amazing. What you have to be able to do is remain objective yourself and understand that opinions are like a-holes everybody has one and some are full of IT! I think if you read some of the posts you will find veiws that were open minded, and veiws that were inflamed, and some that were just getting into a shouting match because they have to take every word literally. Although they take the definitions that are in their minds for such words as deviant.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=deviant

Deviant adj.- Differing from a norm or from the accepted standards of a society.

This is what I feel the accurate definition of deviant is and I feel that your student fits this description to a T.

Is it our fault that there are social norms? Perhaps in as far as we follow them and to this degree perpetuate them. Were there socially accepted norms before you or I were born? Of Course!!! Will there be accepted social norms after we are gone? Most definately. Are they ever changing and becoming more liberated? YES

Here is a quick example: as recently as the 1950s a young girl that became pregnant was shunned by an entire community. Today young girls get pregnant younger than ever before. Is this a good thing NO but we as a society have learned to accept it as a fact of life. As recently as 1955 before Rosa Parks stood her ground Blacks had very few rights. Today all people are equal! Is there still prejudice? Certainly. Will there be long after we are gone? Most definately!

As tweety mentioned he has grown up in a time when people persecuted and abused gays. Does this still happen? Yes, but most of society has adopted a live and let live philosophy. We can not control what others do we can only teach by example and do what we feel is right!

The point is our social views do change and they change because of people like your student. Will there be more problems and will it become much harder before it gets any easier? Most definately. One of the reasons for this is the exact thing you found on this board, even those that prech let others be, preach with hatred towards those that they don't feel are letting it be!!!

I know everyone who reads this will agree that it is the supreme idiocy to Kill an abortion clinic Physician to stop abortions! These things happen. It is OUR society and we will slowly over time change it but until then you can only be the best person or instructor or nurse you can be and try not to let the extremes of either side govern your social attitude but try to be open minded and middle of the road and stand when it is time to stand and accept things you can not change!

Nurses as you found also have very firm opinions and are very boisterous about those opinions and can be very articulate with expressing these opinions. Please note that many of us attempted to discuss this issue with you in an adult and open minded manner and don't go away hurt because a few people flamed you that is sort of a pass time here someone is always flamming something.

boisterous adj.- Rough and stormy; violent. Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=boisterous

Thank You, Goodnight

CCU NRS has left the building!!!!

ps look at the bright side you have made people aware of this issue there have been almost 5000 views of this thread and when i posted 158 posts that is quite a bit of notice.

[nursecathy]

This has really been a hot topic. I hope we have all learned something. It is scary that some of you are nurses but others are probably awesome. I am awesome! Now, I am new here and never heard of being flamed but I can deal with it. There is some deep rooted anger that needs to be ventilated. So glad I could be of help.. See Ya!! I doubt seriously if I will update you guys on the topic as it plays out. Just ain't worth it!

[CCU NRS]

Originally posted by nursecathy

I doubt seriously if I will update you guys on the topic as it plays out. Just ain't worth it!

probably safer that way too from a legal standpoint

[PMHNP10]

Originally posted by CCU NRS

probably safer that way too from a legal standpoint

I'd have to agree here. When I read this thread, I couldn't help but think this situation the OP is posting about is going to end in a lawsuit. I sooooo hope I'm wrong.

nursecathy...

I don't know if you were too busy taking the repeated kicks to the gut to notice, but I was being sincere when I asked about the rules and regs and gender identity disorder. GID is a psychiatric disorder, as is dissociative identity disorder, borderline, bipolar, etc, so are there special provisions for this potential nurse? If you don't know, you might want to find out because it would be in the student's best interest to be made aware of this.

While for me this has been an interesting subject, but as I wrote above, I agree it's probably best to share no more of the goings ons there. On the other hand, I do hope to read future posts from you.

[angelbear]

When I attended nursing school 6/7 yrs ago we had to abide by a very strict dress code. No nail polish, no long nails, If you had long hair it was to be tied back or up, only one earing each ear if you were female or male, no other peircings or tatoo's visible, neat and well kempt male or female. All white approved uniforms. I would say that if this student is willing to abide by the rules and codes of every one else and can do the class and clinical work according to set standards then there should not be a problem.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I have been one of the ones who has continued to be unduly harsh on Nursecathy, despite her clarifications on her stance in this issue (which does have validity), and I'd like to publicly apologize for it. It was unnecessary, unfair, and inappropriate. For that I am truly sorry.

Cathy, you posted a couple very good explainations (after the post that got some of us, myself included, riled up), and it should have gone on from there- not repeated references to the one post that was thought to be offensive. I am sorry I took part in that-especially sorry if I instigated it, and I hope it won't deter you from posting in the future.

CCUNurse, you are right- there could be a little more open-mindedness on the other side of this issue, too. Thanks for making that point- I learned something from it.

[Sheri257]

Originally posted by nursecathy

See Ya!! I doubt seriously if I will update you guys on the topic as it plays out. Just ain't worth it!

I don't blame you at all. Boards can be just as hurtful as they are helpful.

Judging by the way everybody freaked out on this thread, I'm afraid the student might experience the same reaction which, unfortunately, isn't surprizing.

[MishlB]

I noticed many posts about the impact this nurse would have on patients...since when do we ask patients which nurse they prefer? Are all students judged based on their appearance/culture/religion/sexual orientation, and what the patient might think? I sure hope not.

[athomas91]

i find it disturbing that as nurses we attack each other just for having differing opinions.... that is what makes our profession unique and wonderful...

nursecathy - you have some very valid concerns - and you seem like a caring, intelligent, and concerned teacher....

she states concern FOR THIS STUDENT as well as for patients - which IS her responsibility as a teacher and as a nurse....

Although raised in a strict christian home - and although i hold many of those values - i have very good friends that would by biblical standards be considered wrong.,.....i however love them the way they are....

many in this post nearly lined up those w/ conservative view in a firing sqad line....THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE DIFFERENT - JUST LIKE THIS STUDENT DOES.... you are doing the same things to those who hold different views as you accuse them of doing- shame on you!

i, like most of you, wish this world were different, and accepting of those that were different - and i try to help that along - HOWEVER, i also deal in REALITY.... as an educator, nursecathy must look into the prospective future and gauge what horrible reactions are possible...not only for the nursing program, but for this student's welfare.....she was not being judgemental - she was being concerned - which to me speaks of a caring instructor.

[MishlB]

Originally posted by Bevi

I don't find you savvy at all..... more..i find you offensive, and scary..... and the fact that you're an instructor is more frightening still! You say you have a vision of your preference.... what if that vision did not include latinos, or women, or blacks?

Uh yea..... it IS the same thing. I'll tell you what i would feel comfortable with...a COMPETENT NURSE. Gender has nothing to do with that.

I am not however comfortable with predjudice disguised as concern for the "patients".

I feel sorry for your students... i feel they would get much more from an instructor who showed both personal and professional courage and faced her own sterotypes and misconceptions. An instructor who would be a seeker of truths, and unafraid of educating herself.

Perhaps you should consider another line of work.

YEAH BABY!!!!!!!!!

That's what I'm talking about!!!