transgender nurse (transvestite)

Jaaaman · Mar 17, 2004

I would if there is gender confusion involved. :rolleyes:

unknown99, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2004

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.

Why would we stop them from becoming a nurse? Does sexual orientation prevent someone from being a good nurse? Does it make them a bad one?

phyrenrain · Mar 17, 2004

Nursecathy, I don't know what area of the country you live in and really it shouldn't matter. "Misrepresents their sex?????":uhoh21: I couldn't disagree with you more. It's comparative to saying someone can't be a good nurse because of their sexual preference! WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. As long as this person can maintain a professional relationship with pts., demonstrates good clinical skills, etc. YOUR personal opinion on their sexuality shouldn't interfere. Looks a little like discrimination. If, however, this person is inappropriate in a clinical setting, that's different. That doesn't seem to be the issue with you.

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.

phyrenrain · Mar 17, 2004

Does ANY pt. feel "comfortable" with ANY healthcare professional caring for their "private areas???????" :angryfire PUH-LEEEAAASE! You, Nursecathy, are not being objective. As far as the treatment this person will receive from other staff, don't you think the student has considered this and probably already been dealing with it in other settings????? To borrow John Stossel's coined phrase, "GIMME A BREAK!"

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?

phyrenrain · Mar 17, 2004

Can I answer that one???? USMC, I think you and I both know that any variation from the commonly accepted sexuality carries with it a HUGE stigma of those people being highly sexual by nature. In actuality, it's not the case at all......

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

phyrenrain · Mar 17, 2004

Agreed, Kevin. If their was a true identity crisis and this person wanted to transgender, you would think there would be no waffling with dress.... :confused:

When I read the initial post, my thought was that this person was uncomfortable as they had been born, and were working towards correcting what they see as an error. However, as I read on, the first sentence above gave me serious pause.
As I understand it, a true transgender dresses as if they already were the gender to which they wanted to change. Someone who changes their gender appearance back and forth, as I understand it, is a whole new ball game.
In this case, the issue isn't whether I or anyone else feels comfortable with this person providing peri-care. The issue is one of mental and emotional stability. From what you describe, this person has some serious issues that need to be resolved before becoming a nurse. I would not care whether my nurse was transgender or not. I would seriously care if my nurse was emotionally unbalanced.
The stakes are too high, the risk is too great. I would want this person to be examined by a mental health professional before beginning nursing school, and I would want assurance from said professional that this person was stable enough to be entrusted with the care of a sick, vulnerable population. I certainly would not want this person anywhere near my enfeebled 84 year old mother. Would you?
Kevin McHugh (with flame suit on)

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2004

I will admit that this goes beyond any understanding that I have of this form of whatever it is they are.

I just dont understand

Thank Lord Byron Nelson

RI ER RN · Mar 17, 2004

My Aunt is married to a "transgender" person. He only "discovered" he was transgender 5 years ago (he is 54) he began dressing like a women and insisting everyone call him Vanessa. In short it sucks. He has created alot of problems in our family and makes it difficult for me to spend time with my aunt...a person I care deeply about. I personally dont care if he wants to wear panties...I just don't feel like the rest of society has to know about it or accept it.

I for one would not want a transgender person giving care to me. However, if I diddnt know about it...how could I complain?

stargazer1956 · Mar 18, 2004

You have a point there and I think they should be allowed to refuse like they do if one of us students has a patient. I know that would wreak havoc on management and staffing but it is the price you pay for good customer service while respecting the right of the nurse.

deliverygirl99 · Mar 18, 2004

I am a transgendered nurse. I knew when I was very young that I was a female trapped in a male body and I also knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a nurse.

The transision process is stressful and at times difficult and not made any easier by bigoted people who pass judgement on you based on their beliefs of what is right and what is wrong.

I think you would be pretty hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable, more caring nurse anywhere than I am. I provide wonderful care to my patients and have NEVER in 15 years had a patient complain about the care they have received from me.

I am a female so there is no reason to refer to me as s/him or s/he. I use the ladies room just like any other woman would. Yes I have some different external genitalia but that doesn't change the fact that inside I am a woman.

I have lived my life as a female for over 20 years. No one that I work with knows that I was born male it is none of their business. My employer doesn't know that I was born male it is none of their business. My patients do not know that I was born male, it has absolutely no bearing on their care.

My life partner knows that I was born male, it IS their business.

I will be taking off time from work later this year to have my final surgery done then I will be free of these male encumbrances and will finally be completely female inside and out.

Try not to be so judgemental. This person (that is what they are, a person) chose to take a huge risk in telling you of their birth gender, don't throw this back in their face and deny them their dream of being a nurse.

As far as switching back and forth between male and female you have the right to request that the person only dress as one gender while in school or in clinicals. It is not fair to the other students or the patients to have to deal with Fred one day and Fredrika the next.

Best regards,

Missy

stargazer1956 · Mar 18, 2004

If I came across as judgemental I apologize, I know what my co-worker/friend is going through at the work environment. I presently work in a government office that chose to threaten us with our jobs if we said a word to her, talked about her surgery, etc. Management left us with a bad taste in our mouth and they tried to say my friend wanted it that way. I for one am tired of the snide remarks and the way they act when they are told she might be working with us. No, it is not in a hospital setting, this is a business office that I feel should be more receptive in lieu of the government philosophy of equal rights. She is very sensitive and has explaine that the hormones sometimes make her very weepy ( I think she is just one of those whiny women and I tell her that all the time) but she is also a very good shoulder to cry on. I have also told her that I may not agree with her choice but it is her choice and I will stand by her choice to live her life as a woman.

I guess I am seeing how badly one person can be treated for being "different" whether it is racial, gender, or religion and I would hope as nurses and future nurses we can put those difference aside an work in a team atmosphere.

By the way, good luck when you go through the final surgery, I know it was a frightening time for her.

Energizer Bunny · Mar 18, 2004

My personal opinion is that sexual orientation or whatever should not factor into how we treat a person. As long as they are doing their job as well as the others around them, who would I be to judge?