Transgender nursing student!!

[Rn2bKatie]

my nursing class has so many problems we are in the first semester and have just started in june. today the director of nursing came to talk to the whole class about a student in our class that is feeling that the study groups in our class are making him feel left out and then she announced that we have some gender issues so of course we questioned what she meant she said one of the students in our class is transgender and feels we are making fun of him. for 1 no one in the class knew he was actually a she undergoing hormone treatments so we were shocked, not that we have a problem with it we just think there may be a ethical issue for the patients in clinicals who are under the belief that they are being cared for by a male nurse. anyway the problem is we feel like kids in highschool since when do we get in trouble for belonging to studygroups?

has anyone else in nursing school ever been treated like this the whole class doesnt know how to cope

[Dewgrl]

It's been my expiriance that many transgender individuals are very eager to be noticed in their new "role" and I have to wonder if the student brought attention to it on purpose. Think of it like when you get a new haircut, and you want everyone's opion on it. A male to female I knew wanted to show her breast development and "pretty" nails to anyone that walked into the room. He/she was simply proud of the changes in his/her life....

[weetziebat]

Whether the student did or didn't experience discrimination, I do think its pretty childish of him to go running to the instructor. Suppose it had nothing to do with gender - do you think the instructor would have said anything? I don't. Maybe they are trying to bend over backwards to be PC.

Also can't see myself wanting my whole class to know that kind of personal information about me.

I've known a couple of transgendered folks and I hate to say this, cause I do not mean it in a discriminatory way, but both of them were folks I personally found 'strange' and, as noted by previous poster, very into having everyone know far more than anyone wanted to know. Both of them seemed obsessed with discussing sexual issues and were too 'touchy feely'. Just my experience. Of course, I realize two people do not speak for all transgendered folks out there.

Perhaps it is a personality issue that keeps him unwanted in study groups, and has nothing to do with gender issues. I don't like whiners - suck it up and get on with the program.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Whether the student did or didn't experience discrimination, I do think its pretty childish of him to go running to the instructor. Suppose it had nothing to do with gender - do you think the instructor would have said anything? I don't. Maybe they are trying to bend over backwards to be PC.

Also can't see myself wanting my whole class to know that kind of personal information about me.

I've known a couple of transgendered folks and I hate to say this, cause I do not mean it in a discriminatory way, but both of them were folks I personally found 'strange' and, as noted by previous poster, very into having everyone know far more than anyone wanted to know. Both of them seemed obsessed with discussing sexual issues and were too 'touchy feely'. Just my experience. Of course, I realize two people do not speak for all transgendered folks out there.

Perhaps it is a personality issue that keeps him unwanted in study groups, and has nothing to do with gender issues. I don't like whiners - suck it up and get on with the program.

Weetize I'm surprised at your statement "whether the student did or didn't experience discrimination............." You make it sound that people should not report discrimination.

I've always kept my mouth shut and "sucked it up" and handled things myself. Being "different" I've come to expect a certain amount of gossip and nonacceptance from other people. It's the story of my life. Mostly it's shame issue that kept me from from letting teachers know I was being made fun of. I applaud this student for speaking for himself and not "sucking it up". Ignoring it only allows it to continue. Sometimes even speaking up makes the complainer realize the harrassment really isn't occurring because it opens up a dialogue. I've had that happen when I was a charge nurse when I was accussed of treating the black LPNs differently than the white RNs. We came to an understanding about what was real.

Since we are only hearing the only the onesided story of the op, not necessarily privy to everything that went on with this student, and what events lead him to report his concerns to the instructor, or the conversation he had with the instructor, I wouldn't be so quick to just it was just pc. It just might be pc, she might be covering her school's butt, but because lawsuits can be won if a student brings to the attention of the higher ups harrassment and nothing is done.

Students have a right to an education free of harrassment and discrimination. I'm disappointed that you think it's childish to report it.

And yes, not being part of a group is not necessarily harrassment and discrimination.

I wonder is the op talking about two different student, one transgendered and one not part of a group, or is it the same person making the two complaints.

We can only speculate. It's easy for us to trivilize a pesons feelings, especially the life they've had that lead up them feeling the way they do. Perhaps it's a minor incident to us, but add it to his lifetime perhaps we can relate a little.

I hate whiners and complainers too. :)

[kadee7]

I have just got to say something about this. The instructor should have not handled the descrimination that way at all! The student should not matter male, or female should be able to have a choice to make a better person for his/herself, it is hard enough in this world to just get a career, but when you are transgender, black, white, hispanic, or any other that I haven't mentioned. As for the student,:welcome: , you go and go far. For the instructor shame on you no matter if you had permission or not, you should of known better.

[SoulShine75]

That instructor should be punished for violating HIPPA. Unless that student gave permission and I really can't imagine they would she violated his/her privacy and probably embarassed the he** out of them. Shame, shame.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

That instructor should be punished for violating HIPPA. Unless that student gave permission and I really can't imagine they would she violated his/her privacy and probably embarassed the he** out of them. Shame, shame.

Really? My presumption is the student gave the director permission. As hard as that is to believe. This is what makes me believe we don't have the full story of what went on. It was bad enough for the student to report it to the administration and bad enough for the admission to speak to the class.

Again, we're getting a one-side perspective. My first response is much like the others. But I also realize as I said, from my home judge and jury box, I don't have the full story.

If the instructor spoke to the students without the students permission and "outed" him, then yes, shame shame shame. I'm not "outing" in this setting violates HIPPA. Does HIPPA rights extend to the classroom?

[JTwin]

we just think there may be a ethical issue for the patients in clinicals who are under the belief that they are being cared for by a male nurse.

If he were born with ambiguous genitalia, would you expect him to tell all his patients what's been his legs? If he doesn't, they might think they're being cared for by a guy whose genitals look like their brother's. Maybe I should tell my patients the length of mine, so they don't think they're being cared for by someone who's got a bigger or smaller one. Please recognize that for a transgender person, this is a birth defect like any other, being born with the wrong sex chromosomes. He's getting surgery and hormone treatments to make his body fit his gender. Medical treatment for a medical problem.

I also think that discrimination should be reported, but you said that no one knew of his transgender status, so his being left out was not an issue of discrimination and it should've been something handled between him and his classmates instead of getting the instructor involved.

[willdgate]

I believe that it was an excuse for a nosey director to blast, dude. You get in trouble for having a study group, dang, whatever. I wouldn't be getting in trouble, petty things people do to hate:bugeyes:

[charebec65]

As far as feeling like you are being treated like high school students I can sympathize. We had similar issues in my class and I found that it only got worse before it got better I am sorry to say.... However, I found that if I minded my own business, tried to just get along with everyone, and worked hard on my studies everything worked out. Believe me this was not easy especially when we had assigned seat and other punishments but I want my license and if I have to be treated like a kid again to achieve that I will it is that important to me. Things will get better. quote]

Sounds like you go to my school. Graduation is this week thank goodness.

[romie]

I definitely agree with Tweety that we are only get one side of the story. I presume that there must have been enough incidents to warrant the student to go to a faculty member to share his feelings of exclusion ( I highly doubt it is just about being excluded from a study group--there must have been other incidents).

More and more you are begining to see transgendered people included in the equal opportunity statements of organizations, both private and public, you know that statement that a particular organization does not discriminate against people based on their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression? It is very possible that the faculty member, with the consent of the student, brought up the issue in order to demonstrate that the school would not tolerate discrimination against someone because of their gender expression. Fear of lawsuits?

What disturbs me is the "poor baby, quit complaining" tone of most posts. Had this thread been about a jewish student or a black student you would not be seeing the reactions on this thread that have been expressed. Unfortunately for transgendered people there is a substantial "ick" factor that most middle mindset people can't see past. I wish the nursing student the best in his endeavors and applaud the school for at least making an attempt to show tolerance and acceptance of people who are different.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I definitely agree with Tweety that we are only get one side of the story. I presume that there must have been enough incidents to warrant the student to go to a faculty member to share his feelings of exclusion ( I highly doubt it is just about being excluded from a study group--there must have been other incidents).

More and more you are begining to see transgendered people included in the equal opportunity statements of organizations, both private and public, you know that statement that a particular organization does not discriminate against people based on their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression? It is very possible that the faculty member, with the consent of the student, brought up the issue in order to demonstrate that the school would not tolerate discrimination against someone because of their gender expression. Fear of lawsuits?

What disturbs me is the "poor baby, quit complaining" tone of most posts. Had this thread been about a jewish student or a black student you would not be seeing the reactions on this thread that have been expressed. Unfortunately for transgendered people there is a substantial "ick" factor that most middle mindset people can't see past. I wish the nursing student the best in his endeavors and applaud the school for at least making an attempt to show tolerance and acceptance of people who are different.

I agree. I was going to go there, but didn't. If the student were Asian and were called a "Paki" by fellow students and shunned, among other things, would you say to him "whether or not you are discriminated against or not you should quit your crybaby whining"?

Having only one side of the story is a disantage here.

I really don't have much more to add to this discussion, but it's nice to see I'm not the only one who wants the whole story before I judge. :)

[JTwin]

What disturbs me is the "poor baby, quit complaining" tone of most posts. Had this thread been about a jewish student or a black student you would not be seeing the reactions on this thread that have been expressed. Unfortunately for transgendered people there is a substantial "ick" factor that most middle mindset people can't see past. I wish the nursing student the best in his endeavors and applaud the school for at least making an attempt to show tolerance and acceptance of people who are different.

I agree with your point, but I'm not sure that this was the situation. The OP said that until the instructor said something, none of the students had known he was transgender, so not including him wasn't about that fact.