Will I need a female RN with me every time????

[PHLEBOTOMIST_TO_RN]

Hello future male RN here, and I just wanted to know if I am assigned a female p.t. will I need a female RN with me every time I do a cath or wipe their a**?? With all the crazy suit happy idiots out there I can see where someone would try to pull that on me for no other reason then just because im a guy. I would imagine if I had to get a female nurse to witness every time im working on a female p.t. the staff would get annoyed with me quickly. I have talked to a lot of guys about why they don't want to be nurses, and the number one response is "I don't want to be sued."

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

I wouldn't feel comfortable with a male RN doing those things to me. Even at the gynocologist they always have a female in the room at all times when they are doing a check. So if dr's have to do it, I don't see why you would be any different. Actually, I would ask for a female RN if I had to have my private parts wiped. It is a comfort thing. And I would think you would be respectful of that.

The face of nursing is changing, but even today it's usually possible to find a female nurse on the floor. I've never heard of a patient not being allowed to request having a female nurse assigned, and I've never had a female nurse decline to help me out when one of my pts. had a modesty issue. On the other hand, I've had a number of patients who've asked for the female aide for toileting, baths, etc., but eventually been happy to have me handle it rather than wait. Some of our aides can be a bit slow to answer calls, and even the best can be tied up elsewhere. Depending on the urgency, a male nurse on the spot can be better than waiting.

We try really hard, and usually succeed, in respecting a patient's needs and concerns. My experience has been that simple decency and common sense go a long way.