transgender nurse (transvestite)

SnowymtnRN · Jan 10, 2004

Originally posted by nursecathy
I am savvy regarding cultural diversity and do not consider this a "cultural issue". I am concerned about this persons welfare and feel that he will be treated less than well at this hospital by both staff and patients. I am also a patient advocate and I know that last year this person would be male one day and female the next. Would you feel comfortable with this person providing care to your private areas? Be honest. It is easy to say, "He has rights" and other statements that sound like the familiar soapbox jargon but can you really be totally honest about what kind of nurse you want for your most personal needs. I have a vision of my preference. I feel that he/she should complete the change process before entering nursing. Why should all society change to protect the rights of a few deviants? What about my rights?

I think you are wrong wrong wrong. You are assuming that the patients would KNOW there was a gender change with this student. Honestly how is it any different to be cared for by a transgender/cross dresser or a homosexual person? its not. Maybe it would be easier if this person completed the change before becoming a nurse, but that's really an personal battle that only s/he can fight. s/he shouldn't have to conform just so others aren't "confused". You really sound biased and discriminatory by calling this person a deviant. That's not right at all. And if this person were my nurse, i would look for caring and compassion from him. NOthing else, and like any OTHER nurse caring for me, male, female, green blue, gay, straight, if i weren't comfortable with them, i'd just ask for another nurse. I guess i'm confused as to why you feel this is an issue or problem. I think this person should be treated as anyone else in your program. its all about the grades and attitude isn't it? not if she's a man or woman?? Does that REALLY matter??

SnowymtnRN · Jan 10, 2004

Originally posted by fergus51
Do patients have the right to determine the race/age/sex/religion of their nurses where you are? If not, it is none of your business whether this person has a member or a lady parts.

TOTALLY AGREE!! just didn't put it that way! :roll

LisaRN2B · Jan 10, 2004

Originally posted by stevielynn
I agree with Fab4Fan . . . . I think this student has alot of things to work through first before attempting school. There are all kinds of emotional situations in people's lives that must take precedence at times. It sounds like this student is still struggling. The timing is off.

steph

I agree as well.

While I am not homophobic nor closed minded, I think that cross-dressing and/or transsexualism IS deviant behavior in our society. It certainly does stray from the norm.

I have participated in an educational environment with a fellow student who was in the process of becoming transsexual. He had to live for two years as a female for all intents and purposes before he could undergo the surgery. It was an awkward situation, not only for most of the other students, but for him/her as well.

I can understand the OP's question as to whether patients would feel okay about being taken care of by a transsexual nurse. Can you imagine some of your patients (maybe especially the older ones) reactions if it was obvious that this person was not the sex for which they are dressing? Maybe it won't be obvious, but it was in the case of my fellow student. It just made it that much harder for a lot of people to accept.

I think the OP has no choice but to accept that this person is going to be a student and must not show disdain toward teaching this student, regardless of personal opinion. It is not her place to tell the student they cannot be there if they have been accepted and enrolled by the powers that be. As for the timing issue, this student will have to come to that conclusion (if they do at all) on their own.

usmc94201 · Jan 10, 2004

I think that to discriminate anyone is wrong. I dont think that I would have a problem being cared for by someone who is transgendered. I do think that with the growing population of elderly people that are in the health care system they might have a problem with it. I do not think that that should limit the persons oppertunity.

I am sure then when males entered this field some people felt the same way.

usmc94201 · Jan 10, 2004

Question?

Do we assume that because someone is transgendered that they will be inappropriate in their actions or perform somekind of sexual misconduct?

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jan 10, 2004

I think the primary issues need to be patient safety, both real and perceived. If the person is a competent caring nurse they should be allowed to practice. BUT they also must take into consideration the patient's comfort (after all we deal with the psychological and emotional health as well as the physical). So is there anything about their appearance that would make someone's great grandmother fearful or concerned for her safety? Are they obviously crossdressing, or do they make an effort to be a part of the team at the hospital in manner as well as appearance?

I have to say though that some differences in appearance are beyond a person's control, and obviously consideration should be made if she has made an effort to make those around her feel comfortable, but there are things that cannot be physically changed- for example, a large Adam's apple. Coworker support would go along way to smoothing the way. Your student should be counselled on what will be expected of her to be a part of the team, and then get the utmost respect and support from staff as she does her job, following mutual guidelines.

Someone mentioned being a male one day and a female the next. I think a commitment to one sex should be made, since essentially patients will think they are dealing with two different people if a male/female switch is made, and that would be deceiving and argueabley dishonest.

LisaRN2B · Jan 10, 2004

Originally posted by usmc94201
Question?

Do we assume that because someone is transgendered that they will be inappropriate in their actions or perform somekind of sexual misconduct?

I'm not sure that's it. I think people ARE afraid of something they do not understand. In my little Midwestern town we do not see a lot of transgender people, though there are a few here who make their presence known in a big way.

I do think that that this student should be given every opportunity to follow their desires career-wise. They will meet with people of all kinds, those who will accept this and those who will not. It is something I am sure that this person is use to anyway if they have been open about being transgender for any length of time.

Would I personally feel uncomfortable being cared for by a transgender or transexual person? Well, it would depend. But it wouldn't be because they were transgender. It would depend on how well I was cared for.

adrienurse, LPN · Jan 10, 2004

so, should we make a habit of checking our nurses genetalia before they care for us?

Really, to the poster who started this thread, you should feel honored that this person has been as open and honest about his/her sexuality -- because really it is none of your business, nor is it this business of your school and it certainly is not the business of those who like to begin their paragraphs with "not that I have any problem with that but..........", and then proceed to make judgments about one's biological inclination.

I doubt he is the first transexual nursing student and he most certainly will not be the last.

adrienurse, LPN · Jan 10, 2004

I'm not sure that's it. I think people ARE afraid of something they do not understand. In my little Midwestern town we do not see a lot of transgender people, though there are a few here who make their presence known in a big way.

so precisely whose problem is that?

LisaRN2B · Jan 10, 2004

I'm not sure that's it. I think people ARE afraid of something they do not understand. In my little Midwestern town we do not see a lot of transgender people, though there are a few here who make their presence known in a big way. [/b]

Originally posted by adrienurse
so precisely whose problem is that?

IMO, it can be both the problem of both.

I am not going to argue the point that people should not discriminate. It's just a fact that it happens. I only have control of my own thoughts and actions, as does everyone else.

My point about "my town" was that while it may be commonplace in a much bigger city, it is not here, therefore the transgender meet with more raised brows than in some other locals.

As for the ones that make their presence known, there is a transgender person in my city that advertises her Media site address all over her SUV. She is a pretty looking woman, and I could not tell from the web address or her appearence that she was transgender or that the site was not just some run-of-the-mill homepage. I curiously looked up the site. Well, found out she hasn't had the sex change operation yet. :imbar Truth be known, with the discrimination running rampant in my little city, it's probably the only way she can make money, to sell memberships to her site (or, hey, she just wants to, I dunno).

Hey! Don't kill the messenger, just stating my observations from my little corner of the world!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2004

The questions was asked would I feel comfortable having a transgendered persons do intimate care.

Yes I would. Some people obviously would not.

Some people have issues with male nurses taking part in the intimate care of females. Do we not allow males to be nurses because of this. No we allow patients access to a gender they are comfortable with.

Bottom line with me is as Canoehead said: is that nurse a safe and competent nurse?

Just because her sex is in transition doesn't mean she has "issues". In fact if she is indeed in transition, then the "issues" are being dealt with by her. The "issues" are primarily of the rest of us. She probably just wants to be a nurse and live her life in peace while the rest of us debate her right to exist.

Give her a chance is what I say. Make judgements later. Yes, there will be patients not comfortable with it. You as an instructor are going to have to deal with that. Don't destroy her dream.

Sheri257 · Jan 10, 2004

Since I have lived in big cities like San Francisco, I've actually known a few transgendered people personally over the years.

Some you can't tell the difference at all. Others you have to wonder why they are doing this since, for example, they still look very masculine regardless of how many treatments they do, etc. In some cases the transition, so to speak, simply doesn't go very well, at least with their appearance.

I know it's easy to say don't discriminiate. But I can also see how it could be very disruptive for patients if the person is one of the more obvious transsexuals who's undergoing a difficult transition with their appearance. It can be a huge distraction from the task at hand, especially if the patient is conservative.

At the same time, I've seen the pain that transgendered people deal with on a daily basis. I honestly don't believe there is anything wrong with these people, other than they're going through a gender identity crisis. A lot of them have families and regular jobs. All they want is acceptance because they're probably ostracized more than anyone in society.

I honesty don't know what the solution is. Unlike race or homosexuality, our society really hasn't dealt with transgender in any significant way.