What are your thoughts on patients who request no male nurses taking care of them?

Lynx25, LPN · Jun 25, 2012

I don't see a problem with it- until it's the alert/oriented/walkie-talkie that ONLY wants the little young female CNA to do his bed-bath.

I have one LOL in my LTC who will burst out crying if a male attempts to change her, and we just never assign the room to a male.

leslie :-D · Jun 25, 2012

the last time i was hospitalized, i had a male nurse - no problems, he was great.

but - i was pretty independent with selfcare so there were no problems.

however, if i needed someone to bathe me, i would request a female.

and my primary treaters are all female.

i would let my husband care for me, however.

while i think i understand the offense some males take, i really wish they'd understand that it has nothing to do with them personally.

leslie

aachavez · Jun 25, 2012

I'm pretty sure the vast majority of the time these requests have more to do with modesty than anything else. At my dermatologists office I ask for the female provider, especially if Im getting an all over skin check. I feel embarrased enough as it is being naked in front of almost strangers, I would rather have a woman doing my exam than a man, tho if there isn't a female available I'll suck it up and work with the male.

It's totally different than asking for racial preference, and hope than whenever I ask for a femal I don't offend any one, it certainly isn't my intention, as I'm sure is the case for many that make this type of request.

klone, MSN, RN · Jun 25, 2012

What are your thoughts on patients who request no male nurses taking care of them?

I would wonder if they also request no male physicians, and if not, wonder why people have a hang-up about male nurses, but don't seem to bat an eye about male doctors.

This is a common request on the OB unit on which I work, where we regularly have women who are from Egypt or Somalia, and it's a common cultural practice that they only have female care providers (nurses AND physicians). Luckily, most of the residents at our teaching hospital are women, so it's easy to accommodate.

minnymi · Jun 25, 2012

we regularly have women who are from Egypt or Somalia, and it's a common cultural practice that they only have female care providers (nurses AND physicians).

requests like this being honored due to "culture" or "religious beliefs" is exactly why all requests should be honored. how is it fair for a certain group of people to be accomodated because their request is in the name of religion, but deny another's request because of personal preference? if that's the case...everyone should just start saying it's against their religion to have a male care for them.

i'm not saying i agree or disagree with people requesting males. i just think if we accomodate one then we should accomodate all.

docomo · Jun 25, 2012

I think it's a reflection of our society. In general, men are not as trusted in any situation where there is high risk of some pervert exploiting the situation for sexual gratification. Is it right? No, but at this stage in our society, it's probably the best we can do. I'm a new grad, and during my preceptorship, I noticed that a male nurse was covertly peeking up the gown of an attractive young woman who had just come back from surgery during a bed transfer. I think to me, and to the patient, it was obvious what he was doing. Because those kind of things happen, and we all know they happen, I think it sufficiently justifies a woman's request to have a female nurse if they prefer. The other side of the coin is that some women are just as unscrupulous, but men are less likely to care or be offended. I support that claim by illustrating the number of women teachers recently who have been arrested and put in jail for having sex with their students. Many of those women were considered very attractive. No one would ever suspect them of such a thing. A male in the same situation would be suspected at the drop of a hat.

Much of this has to do with the basic way our society treats women. Such as, men can be topless in public, women cannot, etc. In a sense, as humans, we create these sexual distortions between men and women, which ultimately leads the the manifestation of deviant behavior. These traits are obvious when you compare the cultures of countries that think nothing of a topless woman on a beach versus those that would put a woman in jail for going topless on a public beach. Such as is the case in good ol' America, the same country where male health care providers are so severly distrusted.

sauconyrunner · Jun 25, 2012

I do think a lot of women choose female providers for out of hospital care for reasons of comfort. In hospital, I think I'd probably have to suck it up and have the nurse du jour.

I do always ask men though, when I am going to put a catheter if they would prefer one of the males to do it. I have been surprised that several of them really DO want a male provider....

If I think it is a modesty issue I don't mind trying to accomodate. Sometimes some ridiculous people state they don't want a male nurse because they are afraid the nurse might be gay. Usually these are younger men. It's pretty hard to deal with that, because of course, we aren't really revealing sexuality to our patients anyway.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Jun 26, 2012

I had male nurses and CNA/Student techs when I was in and out of the hospital a few times last year. Sometimes total care sometimes not. If you had asked me prior to that if that would bother me I would have said yes. When it came down to it it didn't at all. I needed help with something and they helped me. Frankly I don't think any guy would be all the interested in what I had to offer in my infirmity.

When I flipped out jumped over the side rails and hid in the bathroom it was the male charge nurse who talked me round, called my hubbie at 3am and tucked me back in while my female nurse was also flipping out.

I prefer good nurses.

sapphire18 · Jun 26, 2012

I agree- it's modesty- having all your personal care done by someone else is embarrassing, and if we can make the patient a little more comfortable and at ease then I think we should honor that request. Some women may also have PTSD issues and having a male- usually a stranger, no less- do these things can be a trigger. If a man wanted a male nurse over me for modesty/embarrassment issues, I wouldn't be offended.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 26, 2012

i can honestly say that this only occur once in my long nursing career, and it came from a young 30 something female, and my response was without missing a beat "certainly we have many nurses let me switch pt. with one of hers" however, the pt. in question came into ed with an extended bladder and severe pain, and as i turn she yelled out "forget it you'll do" :cool:

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2012

It works both ways. I've seen male patients request to have male nurses.

edmia, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2012

What are your thoughts on patients who request no male nurses taking care of them?

I think it's pretty ridiculous for regular nursing care and would explain that it can't be accommodated . I will also explain that for matters that involve private parts, such as putting in a foley or daily bath/wash, we will provide a same sex provider if available.

It's really this part of the care they are worried about.

I wouldn't want a guy placing a foley on me. I also would never have a male gyn provider. I go for a midwife or NP (female) for all my lady issues

And, I respect my male patients and if on duty, I get one of my male colleagues to place a foley if needed.

The only population that we really try to accommodate is the religious patients i.e.-- orthodox Jewish or Muslim. It makes them very uncomfortable for a woman to be seen by a male that is not their spouse.

It really hasn't been a problem except in the ultra orthodox populations. Most patients are fine with us having same sex care givers for just the sensitive areas of the body.

As someone said, I don't believe it is a reflection of the nurse, just modesty.

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