transgender nurse (transvestite)

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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.

Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Originally posted by kwagner_51

This is strictly my OPINION!! The Instructor does have rights. It could very well be against her religion. How can she justify, teacching someone whom she knows is living in sin? Doesn't that violate her beliefs?

I guess with this viewpoint, that would make most of us unworthy of nursing school.The instructor is also not allowed base entrance to the program on religion, creed, etc. Maybe she would like to check all the single people to see if their Hymens are intact too???

And why are people assuming the student in question isn't already aware of the problems she will face as a nurse? It's not like it's all wine and roses for her in society as it is. Like she's going to face more problems as a nurse? Well, don't we all at one time or another?

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Specializes in IMCU.

Ok. Id like to get my two cents in on this. I agree with almost everyone. I see both sides of it. I see that everyone has the right to pursue happiness and dreams. I also see that as a patient I may be uncomfortable with this nurse caring for me. Whether it is politically correct to say so or not. But our job is to care for our patients, and if a patient cant get past the gender issues with the nurse then there is no opportunity to provide care. When I was in nursing school the rules were so strict on dress code and hair length and perfumes to makeup. Nursing really is about rules and maybe there shouldnt be feelings of fearing what you do not know, but it still exists. As a nurse I have no probs working with anyone however as a patient I prob would prefer someone who made me feel comfortable.

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Originally posted by kwagner_51

This is strictly my OPINION!! The Instructor does have rights. It could very well be against her religion. How can she justify, teacching someone whom she knows is living in sin? Doesn't that violate her beliefs?

Being an instructor is her profession..Just like nursing is a profession. Would a nurse refuse to take care of someone who say is atheist, homosexual ?? If she is religious and this is part of the problem then she should not be in the position she is in..Of course this is my opinion...:) Erin

I once took care of an individual in the upper ranks of a white supremecist group...The belief system of this individual went against my entire being but I still did my job..I figure that person will answer to powers higher than myself someday, besides who am I? I am sure that I have done things in my life that would not be in keeping with someones definition of what is right....

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I have to say I am surprised this thread has gotten this much attention(negative and positive).Wow!Nursekathy opened up a can of worms and disappeared.You know I really don't know how i would react if I were the patient. tthe people that go through these operations have to go through years of counseling before they get to the point of the operation and it can't be an easy choice to face society.I think the nursing instructor has a lot of personal issues and fears to address.

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Originally posted by lgflamini

I guess with this viewpoint, that would make most of us unworthy of nursing school.The instructor is also not allowed base entrance to the program on religion, creed, etc. Maybe she would like to check all the single people to see if their Hymens are intact too???

And why are people assuming the student in question isn't already aware of the problems she will face as a nurse? It's not like it's all wine and roses for her in society as it is. Like she's going to face more problems as a nurse? Well, don't we all at one time or another?

In nursing school a SN must be able to take Pts and learn all the things that they need to learn and I can see a problem with so many people refusing this person as a caregiver that he will probably not recieve adequate education however if his grades are adequate he may be passed on clinicals D/T fear of law suite from exactly what everyone here is arguing his rights to be there and he has a ready made case for bias on many levels.

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.
How can she justify, teacching someone whom she knows is living in sin?

Gee, hope she doesn't have any men or women students who are living with their girlfriend/boyfriend. Otherwise, that would go against her religion as well, teaching someone who is "living in sin".

Why must every one tell everything about themselves?

I don't remember reading where this person verbalized their sexual preference. I don't think the original poster mentioned that this student comes into the classroom, divulging any personal information about themselves.

ISMT that when someone comes 'out of the closet' thatey are trying to draw attention to themselves, as if they are special humans.

No, they are simply trying to live the life they felt they were meant to have. I know that with gay men, there is scientific proof of a physiologic reason why they feel different inside (of course, this does not go for ALL gay men, especially with the new attitude of "it's hip to be bisexual, gay, etc"). I'm still not sure about gay women, but my great aunt has been with her partner for well over 25 years now and is quite happy with her life. She doesn't think she's "special" and is not trying to "draw attention to herself". She just wants to be happy.

I have absolutely NO problem with people being homosexual, transgendered, transvestied, etc as long as they keep it to themselves!!

You say you don't have a problem with this, but you keep mentioning how "they don't keep it to themselves". Well, I am able to tell some gay people rather well and I don't consider that person "shoving it down my throat". Or a transvestite....uh, they can be pretty easy to spot (sometimes) and that's not shoving it down our throats. Maybe someone doesn't like the color of your hair...should you go change it so you are not "shoving it down their throat"? I'm not trying to attack, but simply make a point. If you are able to walk down the street holding your husband's hand, then why can't a gay couple do the same thing without it being said "they are trying to shove it down our throats". They aren't trying to PROVE anything....they are just a happy couple enjoying each other's company. Yes, I agree...there is a large population of the gay community that relishes being outspoken (We're queer, we're here), but again, freedom of speech prevails. That's what is so great about the country we live in.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Originally posted by kwagner_51

This is strictly my OPINION!! The Instructor does have rights. It could very well be against her religion. How can she justify, teacching someone whom she knows is living in sin? Doesn't that violate her beliefs?

Why must every one tell everything about themselves? When did it become appropriate to tell EVERYONE about their sexual orientation?? I have absolutely NO problem with people being homosexual, transgendered, transvestied, etc as long as they keep it to themselves!!

Well I guess I have no problem with someone being a religious zealot, either. AS LONG AS THEY KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES.

Originally posted by kwagner_51

ISMT that when someone comes 'out of the closet' thatey are trying to draw attention to themselves, as if they are special humans. They are not special, but they are human!!

Uh, maybe they're tired of living a lie. What if you had to keep your religious views from everybody you loved, because there might be a possibility they would disown you? Or what if you had to hide them from society, because you feared for your personal safety? Yeah, gay people are human- duh.

Originally posted by kwagner_51

My daughter had a homosexual friend who insists that everybody cater to him, because he is different!! Unfortunately, this kid is also a liar and a thief!! I have told her that she can not judge all homosexuals by this one person. Not all homosexuals are liars and thieves. Just this one.

OK, what's your point here?

Originally posted by kwagner_51

All I am asking is why must people outside the norms of society try to push their crap [whatever it is] down our throats?

I am a Christian and sexual conduct outside the realm of 'normal' as set up by God [to me] is wrong!! Yet no one thinks that Christians have rights. All I hear is I am homophobic, and all kinds of hate spews out of people's mouths when I mention that I am a Christian.

And you shoving your religious views down everybody else's throats is different how? Maybe the "hate" spews out toward the very unchristian comments you make attached to your claims of being a Christian. God made everybody the way He made them for a reason, and it ain't for you to decide what that reason is, sister.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Originally posted by RNnTraining1973

You say you don't have a problem with this, but you keep mentioning how "they don't keep it to themselves". Well, I am able to spot a gay person rather well and I don't consider that person "shoving it down my throat".

You have "Gaydar", too? :chuckle
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this may be one of the best nurses you will ever find.....given what this person has had to deal with in their life, he/she may be one of the most compassionate nurses you'll know........do not label as a deviant......you may have children one day that are in this predicament

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Originally posted by CCU NRS

Don't know where you live or how long you have been nursing but Facilities do pander to customers and if a person complains about not wanting a certain nurse then you can bet if at all possible that person will have a different nurse.

I have been nursing for a while and currently live in a big Canadian city, though I have nursed in very rural towns (24 bed hospital). We don't pander because we are not required to. We don't do customer service, we give nursing care (this is one of the things that makes me think twice about going back to the US). We do not need to compete for patients at all, we have too many as it is. We have had parents and patients request certain qualities in a nurse (christian, muslim, white, older, thinner, no accents, etc.). They are informed that they will have a competent nurse. According to human rights laws here, a hospital can be held liable if it discriminates against a nurse based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, race, etc.

Again, the only reason that requires us to accomodate a patient's request is religion. And it must be specific. So unless there is some Bible passage that says you can't accept nursing care from a transgendered nurse, we are not required to accomodate it. Being uncomfortable with someone "living in sin" just won't do it, cause that would rule out at least 2/3 of our staff.

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Well I guess I have no problem with someone being a religious zealot, either. AS LONG AS THEY KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES.

Igflamini

You said it well...

When I delivered my last child I had a nurse that was overly zealous in the religion dept..Now mind you, I am a spiritual person but I finally had enough and requested she be removed from the room..In the way that only preg woman in transitional labor could :D . She kept saying, "Lets pray for the baby" and taking my hands and praying..she would then mark on the strip where she had prayed for my child.. I thought it was nice but strange the first time but after multiple "prayer sessions " I was irritated. I filed a complaint against her since her behavior was completely inappropriate. For one thing she scared the cr** out of me that something was going on, on that strip that I didn't know about....My friend works in L and D at that hospital and the nurse was eventually let go for "praying for a baby's soul" since the mother was young and not married...sorry to get off subject but the remarks of an instructor imposing her beliefs on a student brought it back..:) Erin

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Originally posted by CCU NRS

I really hate to toss my opinion in on that but here goes.

I do not think this person should be in a nursing program!

Again I will admit that the issues involved are my own that said, I don't think nursing programs are designed to help students adjust to anything but nursing care and all the rules and regulations that entails, this issue being inv0olved brings too many variables into the ring to contend with. This person should be absolutely certain which gender he intends to immulate and then do it consistantly without change and he should probably have been through all of the process and be a "complete" male or female before undertaking a career challenge such as a nursing program.

there it is my Opinion

Thanks for you opinion. I agree that if someone has emotional problems they shouldn't be allowed in nursing. But if a transgendered person has no emotional problems, and we shouldn't assume she does, then let her in.

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