Transgender nurses?

Published

Hey y'all,

I'm preparing to go to nursing school and I'm also starting my transition. It's a really scary, bizarre, interesting, and fulfilling time for me. I think that it's really important to have transgender nurses. I'm just wondering, how represented are we in the field? What are some barriers you have found in nursing? Have you had any issues with getting into nursing school or getting licensed as a transgender person? Have you had issues with employers? Coworkers? What kind of nursing did you all get into, and why?

If you're not out and don't feel comfortable commenting here and outing yourself, you can message me.

Thanks!

Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
2 minutes ago, HandsOffMySteth said:

The most common definition of trend is something that is increasing in frequency(as in statistics). Of course trend can also mean a fad as you pointed out. So yeah, I can see that. Perhaps a poor choice of words but essentially true using the most common definition. I guess it's a matter of perspective.

I do hear where you're coming from. I guess it's the difference between the trend in the uptake of surgery rather than being trans itself being a trend, or the trend in gay people coming out rather than there being a gay trend.

Group hug!?

Specializes in retired LTC.
2 hours ago, DavidFR said:

I do hear where you're coming from. I guess it's the difference between the trend in the uptake of surgery rather than being trans itself being a trend, or the trend in gay people coming out rather than there being a gay trend.

Group hug!?

Good explanation.

Specializes in ER.

I am just observing, no experience with being trans, but it seems like people go through a second puberty when they start hormone therapy. Some of my patients have had mood swings that troubled them enough to come to the ER. I think if you are starting a stressful career like nursing, you should be ready that the hormones may give you a rougher ride.

Anyone that has actual knowledge can chime in.

Specializes in ER.

I consider a trend as, a direction that a part of society is going. It's not a moral judgment to say so, in my opinion.

You will likely get some flak from patients but you really can't control that. I have met a few TG nurses and never noted any overt discrimination in the workplace.

Specializes in Emergency.

I just want to add my two cents and say that you are loved and appreciated for who you are. Good luck in school (only said for school stress reasons) and if I ever work with you, then I work with YOU. You are exactly as you need to be.

Specializes in CMSRN.

I know this does not really answer any of your questions but hope it gives some positive vibes your way.

I work with an aide that transitioned while working with us. Changed name during that time too. (Old fashioned 80+ year olds, strong chrisitan faith clientele in a christian based facility). A few ended up refusing care, because he was a man not because of the transition to being a man. It took a bit to remember to say his preferred new name. For the most part it was a positive thing. Still works with the same people and residents.

Specializes in Adolescent Psychiatry.

I'm a transgender nurse, MTF. I transitioned prior to nursing school and had legally changed all my documents as well. Nursing school I had almost no problems with people since no one really knew I was trans, mainly because I only tell people I'm friends with and the people I told never seemed to care much or were surprised. The only time I ever had a problem in school was for one day during my maternity clinical, where a nurse who knew I was transgender kept missgendering me on purpose. My instructor eventually talked to her and the nurse apologized to me. I never saw her after that day with how shifts lined up. I haven't started working yet since I decided to finish my BSN (expected to graduate Jan 2021), but I don't foresee it being an issue when I do start working. After you've transitioned and time has passed, being transgender becomes just a small part of your life, even though right now it probably seems like such a huge part of it.

Specializes in Peds ED.
On 7/17/2020 at 9:59 AM, Emergent said:

Just be a good nurse and respectful and nice to your coworkers. Don't make a huge deal about your status as a transgender person. Just do your job well, and be a great co-worker. I assumed once you have transitioned you will look like the gender that you have chosen. People might not even realize.

Keep in mind that other people have different opinions about this new trend in society. Hopefully they just keep their mouths shut and are polite, if they disagree. If they aren't I'm sure that goes against company policy and anti-discrimination laws.

Not all trans people are “passing” or intend/want to be passing. And there are also people who are nonbinary who feel most themselves when they exist in a gender ambiguous presenting appearance. So it’s possible that no one will know, but also possible they will.

I haven’t worked with any nurses who I have known to be trans. And I have seen coworkers exhibit varying degrees of competence in dealing with trans patients. My hospital explicitly teaches cultural competency on caring for trans patients and discrimination and harassment based on gender is explicitly addressed in our training. At this hospital I do see nurses being a little better with pronouns for patients and addressing them properly but it’s still a work in progress.

I have a facebook friend who is trans and living in the midwest. I know she has dealt with bigotry from coworkers and patients. She’s an amazing advocate especially for harm reduction work.

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

During my 42 years working in hospitals I got nosy enough to work about one or two registry shifts most months.

Once I went to a unit where I hadn't been for a couple years. The amazingly efficient unit secretary was an RN and a woman. She was just as friendly, hard working, and kind as before. She even had the same name. Her coworkers seemed glad she chose to stay rather than go to another facility or unit.

At another hospital I was told in report, "She is an experienced nurse and knows this place so ask he any questions you have. By the was, she used to be a man. Had the same long shiny hair." She warned my that RNs drew ABGs there. (Most places it is respirator therapists). She anticipated what I didn't know and explained before I could ask. She did have a deep voice, but so do other women.

I've been pleasantly pleased to observe most patients are so appreciative of a kind competent nurse that appearance is unimportant regardless of why a nurse or other caregiver seems different.

Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I'm not going to lie to you and say that nursing is full of the most progressive minded people and you're never going to experience any discrimination, just do a good job.

You'll have a tough road, but you already know that. It's not going to be as easy as becoming a therapist, or a professor at a liberal university. It's not going to be as hard as becoming a firefighter or a cop. Nurses tend to lean conservative. I have not worked with any transgendered nurses, but have worked with many transgendered patients. More often than not nurses are ignorant about the importance of pronouns and I have not seen a nurse other than myself ask a patient what their preference is regarding pronouns. Hospitals are just now starting to educate staff on this issue.

So it will be a tough road, and an important one and you will likely be a pioneer. You have very important work ahead of you and you have my heartfelt support.

Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM.
On 7/18/2020 at 3:31 PM, DavidFR said:

I'm sorry to seem sensitive but I used to hate it when people talked of being gay as a trend, as if I just decided to be gay one day because I thought it was cool.

I realise there was no harmful intention in the post and I really don't mean to get at anybody.

I think what the poster meant was that there is a trend toward more transparency now. Thank goodness. My son is gay and a very good nurse. I am so happy that he can live his life as he wishes. People are becoming much more transparent with their lives, and I am glad to see it. The Health Director of the State in which I live is transgender. She is my hero the way she is handling this pandemic. She is not without her ignorant detractors, but the majority of the people love her.

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