transgender nurse (transvestite)

beth07 · Apr 30, 2004

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

I think you really hit the nail on the head. I'm not attracted to every man I see, why would we assume that a homosexual/transgendered would be? As a woman, do you find it difficult to take care of men? I don't. There's men in a social context and men in a patient context. If your student can differentiate, I don't see the problem. I think a lot of times when things make us uncomfortable for whatever reason, we jump in and say "but this isn't good for the patients, my kids etc." In reality, it's not good for YOU, but it isn't PC to say so. If this individual is going to be a nurse, probably the most helpful thing you can do is talk to them, attempt to sort out your feelings and teach her in the best way possible. As a teacher, you may deal with students whose morals don't agree with yours on many levels. As a nurse we deal with the same thing. It's very important to be open minded in this profession, and you never know, she may be uniquely qualified to be an empathetic listener in a patient's life somewhere down the road. Good luck with your situation. :)

sbic56, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2004

I think you really hit the nail on the head. I'm not attracted to every man I see, why would we assume that a homosexual/transgendered would be? As a woman, do you find it difficult to take care of men? I don't. There's men in a social context and men in a patient context. If your student can differentiate, I don't see the problem. I think a lot of times when things make us uncomfortable for whatever reason, we jump in and say "but this isn't good for the patients, my kids etc." In reality, it's not good for YOU, but it isn't PC to say so. If this individual is going to be a nurse, probably the most helpful thing you can do is talk to them, attempt to sort out your feelings and teach her in the best way possible. As a teacher, you may deal with students whose morals don't agree with yours on many levels. As a nurse we deal with the same thing. It's very important to be open minded in this profession, and you never know, she may be uniquely qualified to be an empathetic listener in a patient's life somewhere down the road. Good luck with your situation. :)

Excellent post. You clearly point out just why people feel the way they do. All nurses need to have proper boundaries with their patients, so it really is a moot point as to their sex, sexual orientation or sex of origin.

Jaaaman · Apr 30, 2004

I agree totally. I have a question, though, to some of you who prefer a female when your issues are "female" issues. How would you feel about a lesbian caring for you? I just thought I'd ask since sex seems to be an issue, but what about sexual orientation? After all, the transgender man feels like a woman on the inside, but looks like a man.

A female is a "female" even if she is a "lesbian" and many patients with "female issues" would probably still prefer the female care provider (if for nothing else other than "comfort issues").

Some of these questions are starting to get ridiculous IMHO.

Energizer Bunny · Apr 30, 2004

hmmmm...i thought it was a good, logical question with the way the trend was going here. I have already said that I wouldn't mind whoever or whatever sex as my nurse but I can see where there are women that also would not want lesbians working on them if they have "male" issues. The issue is sexual so what would the difference be between a man and a lesbian in this instance? They both want the same sex.

Jaaaman · Apr 30, 2004

The difference is one is truly "male" and one is truly "female". Just because someone wants to be another sex does not make them that sex.

Energizer Bunny · Apr 30, 2004

The difference is one is truly "male" and one is truly "female". Just because someone wants to be another sex does not make them that sex.

But they desire the same sex, no matter what organs they have hidden, so if someone is uncomfortable with a male for sexual reasons, then it stands to reason that they would be uncomfortable with a lesbian.

Jaaaman · Apr 30, 2004

But they desire the same sex, no matter what organs they have hidden, so if someone is uncomfortable with a male for sexual reasons, then it stands to reason that they would be uncomfortable with a lesbian.

Not necessarily..... if the "lesbian" care provider comes into the patients room who wants a "female care provider", her wishes are being met.

Energizer Bunny · Apr 30, 2004

That's very true, as long as they have no idea that she is a lesbian, because if so, I would bet that "most" times they would still want another nurse. There is no real way to know...and I can't give my account because like I said, I just don't care as long as they treat me well. It would be interesting to do a poll but can you imagine the fighting on that thread???? LOL!!! Thanks for the back and forth on this one.

ayndim · Apr 30, 2004

That's very true, as long as they have no idea that she is a lesbian, because if so, I would bet that "most" times they would still want another nurse. There is no real way to know...and I can't give my account because like I said, I just don't care as long as they treat me well. It would be interesting to do a poll but can you imagine the fighting on that thread???? LOL!!! Thanks for the back and forth on this one.

Since I feel like I started this I will respond. I don't care if the nurse/dr is a lesbian. I also don't care if my female nurse used to be male and has undergone (or is in the process of it) the process of becoming a female. I simply don't want a man caring for me in a personal way. And I am not alone in this feeling. I am a member of a support group of women who have survived a rape and many feel that way but there are also some who don't. And after physically being held down and raped I do not want to be naked and up in stirrups with a male or examined during labor by a male. And I consider a man male if he has a member. I don't care how he uses it. I honestly would not have a problem with a female who used to be a male. But I don't think if I ask for a female that a male who is simply a cross dresser should be presented as a female. It is not a sexual orientation thing it is a gender issue for me.

It really doesn't matter if someone doesn't mind a male, female, black,red, white or green nurse. But if someone does mind then they should be accomadated. I would not mind what color my nurse was but if someone didn't want me based on my color I would be okay with that.

I am glad for the women who have healed enough to not have any problems from their rape. But I am not one of them. And I doubt I ever will be. It has only been recently that I would even admit it. Of course my husband knew but it took me a long time to trust him. I have alot of angry feelings of course from something that was taken from me. I was young, well mid-twenties, and was waiting to have sex until I got married. Of course my husband says I was a virgin when we got married no matter what but it still bothers me inside. Sorry if that is too much personal information but I want everyone to see it from my point of view. And why I will probably never be comfortable with a male nurse or doctor.

Energizer Bunny · Apr 30, 2004

I am glad for the women who have healed enough to not have any problems from their rape.

Oh wow...I never said I didn't have any problems from my rapes and past sexual abuse, just not this particular problem (anger issues are big, etc...but that's waaay off topic). Now, I have had "some" men make me uncomfortable, my BIL being one of them, and I just stay away so I absolutely can see where you are coming from. There was also a time when I was where you are and didn't want a man near me for any kind of exam. I completely understand where you are coming from and I appreciate your thoughts and feelings on the issue.

Clarvina Streisand · Apr 30, 2004

Listen here, woman.

You have no RIGHT to "allow" her to dress as a woman. She IS a woman, and she will dress just like the other students. Simple as that.

"Transvestite" is a term that describes heterosexual men who have a fetish. I can tell from what you've said this woman is NOT a transvestite and please do not refer to her as such. She is a woman.

Sexual orientation and gender are two completely unrelated things. To be a professional, who could be taking care of me or any of my loved ones, I am ashamed that you know so little of the human conditinon.

In all honesty, if you can't deal with people, you need therapy.

Clarvina Streisand · May 1, 2004

Now I will be the first to admit I dont understand them. Maybe Im just a simple old country boy, some people ask which country.
But if there is an X and a Y chromosome then its a male no matter how its surgically altered. Like I said, Im simple.

Gender is a lot more than chromosomes. And gender is not the same as sex. It's how your body functions and there are more than two ways. Gender is what's between your ears, it's your mind and how you feel. And there are also more than two examples.

I'm curious how to feel about intersexuality. PLEASE, before you answer, research what intersexuality is. Tell me how you feel about a person born with any number of mosaic chromosomes. Do you even know what that means?

Unfortunately, for you, buddy, life isn't.

People, don't throw around terms you know nothing about. I've seen homosexuality and transvestism mentioned twenty times. This has absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality or being a trasnvestite. In order to properly discuss such things you must first know what you're talking about!