transgender nurse (transvestite)

CCU NRS · Jan 17, 2004

old school nurses eat their young but the new generation is trying to get beyond the hatred. don't hate

i hope and pray

CCU NRS · Jan 17, 2004

Originally posted by Big Bab's
I think the main thing here should be, is this person competent??....Can/does this person do the job well??....is he'she a competant and caring nurse??.....If the answers are yes then, what's the problem???...and what does the gender a person presents to the patients have to do with this person being a "good nurse"??......This truly should not be an issue.

She is concerned about disruption and problems in a class with a person that will for obvious reasons be a distraction by default!

BarbPick · Jan 17, 2004

Originally posted by CCU NRS
She is concerned about disruption and problems in a class with a person that will for obvious reasons be a distraction by default!

It is a shame this went in too many directions. Seems I always agree with CCU NRS. I could write a book with stories of what student nurses can pull. This to me sounds like a general concern for everyone's well being. Before I start getting nasty grams from students, two of my examples were when we rotated through a V. A. psych unit and students were told to wear plain clothes, one showed up in jeans and a tube top.

Another one connected metaphysically with a surgical resident and I saw her sneeking off the floor, I followed, I grabbed her coat as she was about to enter the doctor's on call room.

This is not eating young it is making sure there is a smoothe class.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2004

Originally posted by CCU NRS
Old school nurses eat their young but the new generation is trying to get beyond the hatred.

I have news for you - I have seen plenty of new nurses out to chew up old nurses. The "eating" and the "hating" goes both ways.

SnowymtnRN · Jan 17, 2004

Originally posted by caroladybelle
I have news for you - I have seen plenty of new nurses out to chew up old nurses. The "eating" and the "hating" goes both ways.

Yep i agree. ANd its all in the "personality of the nurse". Its like some feel its a rite of passage or something.

CCU NRS · Jan 17, 2004

Originally posted by caroladybelle
I have news for you - I have seen plenty of new nurses out to chew up old nurses. The "eating" and the "hating" goes both ways.

Lets stop it NOW especially here in this forum where we come to vent and discuss issues. How many times do you see things just like this issue get overheated and usually off the original subject. In the early posts many people took offense to the word deviant.

de-vi-ant ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dv-nt)

adj.

Differing from a norm or from the accepted standards of a society.

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

the person we are discussing definately fits this definition, but some people have a negative conotation in their own minds about this word and then begin to pound on the OP for the use of a word.

Others felt that she was putting down transgendered people or gays and took offense and flamed her for that.

Her point and it was a valid one was that she was going to have problems, issues and disruption because of this student and she was seeking to find a place to discuss the topic with Nurses and hopefully some people with experience in this area. She jumped in and posted only to run head on into the hatred and negativity of a bunch of people that can basically tolrate being vomitted and shat upon by strangers but can not find a kind word in their hearts to attempt to assist a sister in the field of nursing with some either constructive criticism or just simple I am sorry you feel that way and perhaps you should try to see this from another perspective such as etc.

I know flamiing is sort of a pass time around here but is really shouldn't be if everyone voiced their opinions in a reasonable manner and just stated that it is their opinion and that maybe you would benefit from another point of view we would probably all be happier!

GraduatingERRN · Jan 17, 2004

Nurse Cathy,

I think you have seen the very differing opinions regarding this subject and I applaud you for seeking input on something you felt uncomfortable about. I am currently a senior nursing student and know how difficult it can be so I am sure this student will have some stress during his stay but she will make it! As for the rest of the class, staff and patients accepting her, the attitude of the instructor plays a big part. I have seen this for myself - if the instructor doesn't like someone and makes it known then the rest of class follows... might not be good but it happens. I am sure that you will do you best to treat everyone equally. Good luck! You might be surprised!:) :)

NurseMikki · Jan 17, 2004

Please, plese keep an open mind. Like a previous poster replied, your transgendered student doesn't feel as if he is misrepresenting himself at all, he believes that he/she is only now finally able to take the steps to becoming the person he was originally meant to be. I had the pleasure of working with a post- op transexual cardiologist at one of my travel assignments and I have to say by far this was one of the most sensitive and caring docors I've ever had the chance to work with. She was also an amazing Dr to boot, and no one could ever question her technical skills or judgement. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to work in an enviornment that was so open minded that she was afforded the amount of respect that she was. Also, as an African American travel nurse, it also helped to ease my fears after travelling 1500 miles away from home and unfortunately having had worked in places where the color of my skin somehow made people think they'd be able to judge my level of competence.

Like I said previously, try to keep an open mind, you might just learn something from your student.

LydiaNN · Jan 17, 2004

I could agree with all the posters who are counselling the rest of us to give nursecathy the benefit of the doubt if she hadn't tacked on the last line in her post: "What about my rights?" To me, this sums up her attitude. Which rights could she possibly be talking about? The right to only teach those students that look and behave the way she thinks they "should"? Asking that question convinced me that her concerns are not about the well being of the student and the class dynamic, but about her "rights" to prejudge her students and to not have to teach students she's uncomfortable with, and the fact is, she *doesn't* have those rights.

sbic56, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2004

Wow. I can't believe where this thread has gone! I saw it when it was first posted and was waiting to see if the OP was a troll before I posted. The initial post had an odd, unprofessional quality to it. Sorry for the negative first impression, nursecathy...I see from subsequent posts this is very real.

Anyway, this student earned a place in the program under the current admissions criteria. Psych evaluation is not a part of the admission process to nursing school. Thank goodness for that or alot of us would never have made it in! So, the stability issue is a moot point. The student needs to be informed that he needs to remain one gender throughout the entire program. If he starts the switching back and forth again, that would be reason for expulsion from the program, as it would be too disruptive. Pretty simple solution, IMO. Still this has been an interesting HOUR reading all these responses!!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2004

My skin must be very very thick. I've enjoyed this thread. I haven't noticed any "freaking out" or hostility that would send me running. Some strong disagreements, yes, perhaps I need to go back and reread this thread.

But I'm a charge nurse, I get yelled at by supervisors, by staff, by doctors, by respiratory therapists, orderlies, phlebotimists. Nothing bothers me.

I think the bottom line that most agree on, is that the student should be fairly admitted to the program. It is definately going to be an issue that staff, students, patients are going to have to deal with. But hopefully, a good nurse can come out of it and perhaps some minds can be opened.

hawaiit, thanks for sharing your story.

Carry on! :)

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2004

Please remember that if you feel a post is unfair or is a "flame" you can always report it we do not keep tally on number of reports in respect of one, two three - out. Rather we review the post that has been reported and see if we can make the discussion go smoother.

Having said that I just had the pleasure of caring for a transgender patient. She was the lovliest kindest person you would ever like to meet and was a pleasure to nurse. I kept thinking of this thread and thought of her and wondered what sort of nurse she would have made - I think outstanding. To me the only thing that is less important and less of an impact on your abilities than your sexual predilictions is your skin colour. Neither should mean squat. I personally would be more concerned for the little troll that smart comments all the way through the lecture, sit up the back knitting and or just stares at you the entire time. The class can be more disrupted by those behaviours than by someone dressing differently. The ONLY time sex should disrupt a class is if they are actually indulging during the lecture..