Group Forums >> Gaylord Focker Followers: Men In Nursing >> Discrimination
Discrimination
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Posted 11 months ago I am looking to start nursing school next year. I have been told by some people that male nurses are often discriminated against. Like that male nurses require supervision while doing certian procedures on patients while female nurses do not...is this true? Also, that patients often refuse to be treated by male nurses and they spend alot of time sitting at the station doing nothing...I want to help. Are there areas other than general staff nursing where men are more accepted? ...any help is appreciated. |
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| Posted 10 months ago I work as a CNA in a county hospital. As a nursing assistant, I see and do things for patients that some don't even want there spouses to do. . . with that, I to have had a degree of discrimination placed in my road as a nurse. . . the question is what do you do when this happens. Well, the best thing is to respond in a way that is professional. When the L and D floor asks for a CNA to be floated from my floor they always skip me on the list. You might want to think of the reasons the patient only wants a female. There may be culture issues or even religious concerns to consider. Actually, it just so happens, that for me this was an issue. And, is one of the things I learned to deal with my first semester in the RN program : not to be ethnocentric in dealing with my patients. Also, there are positive ways of educating people on how Men can have the healing touch, just like women. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Nulife I am having a hard time posting a pic. . . It always seems to time out . . . any answers? I know this is off topic but you know how it goes. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Well, Nulife, I wanted to give you some hope. Or at least tell you about my experience last night . . . The same request for a NA to float up to post-pard. And, I was next on the list . . . I said "send someone else, they won't take me," but the Charge for the day shift said "beggars can't be choosers." . . . Which I would like to say now, I told her I'm not going to say that because "I will not be made out to be something less, or someone less." . . . Now back to the main point. I went up and didn't come back down. I told them I was floated and didn't give them a chance to send me away. I asked for report and sat in on the meeting. Not one of my patient refused my service. And, I learned a great deal from the staff concerning the special needs of this type of patient. Keep fighting the good fight. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Yeah, it depends on what area you are working in as to how much supervision you need. If you are in OB/GYN or in long-term care, there will be a lot of supervising. I say don't even bother going into those areas. I am thinking radiology or surgery work and that way there'll be so many other workers and doctors around that it will be a non-issue. Plus, at the risk of sounding like a 12 year old boy, it'd be awesome to be around all the blood and guts. |
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| Posted 10 months ago Also, if anyone gives you a hard time about pink scrubs, assert that you are just very comfortable with your masculinity. I don't really wear the pink ones anymore, though... |
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| Posted 9 months ago Hi nulife, I am a recent grad of nursing school, and a man, and have cared for many female patients of all ages. The only time I was supervised one on one was when I performed a procedure for the first time or if I asked for help. The only patient I had who refuse to have me as a student nurse was a man. Dont let others dictate your outlook about being a man and a nurse. Good luck and enjoy your schooling. |
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| Posted 8 months ago Thanks for posting these kind of questions, guys. I was supervised during my clinical rotation at the nursing home, but have had some more freedom at the med-surg ward. I appreciate the heads up about the different issues that might come up--I just completed my first year of school and never worked in the hospital setting before. |
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| Posted 8 months ago I've been a nurse for a long time and I'm female. I would never police another nurse, male or female,unless there was a specific reason to do so. However, in this day, with all the sexual suits and sexual misconduct allegations etc, if you would ask me to witness a procedure such as a inserting a foley to cover your butt, I would be most happy to assist you. Male physicians, when doing gyn exams, must have, in many states a witness, preferably female present. Where I have worked, the male nurse work just as hard as the female nurses and no one is sitting around doing nothing. Deb
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| Posted 8 months ago Even female docs I've worked with have a chaperone when they do pelvics. I chaperone male nurses when asked. But male NAs perform peri-care unassisted all the time. I suppose they should have a female in the room with them. But I would never not give a male staff member an assignment based on gender. I used to work with a male nurse who refused to put foleys in females, but also refused to reciprocate by putting foleys in male patients unless they were his patients. I finally got tired of it and told him I'd chaparone him, but from now on he could do his own work. And he did. I don't mean to slam male nurses tho. I'm glad more men are getting into nursing. I think their perspective adds quality to patient care: men view the world differently than women do, and pick up on things with patients that a female nurse might miss. I'm fairly strong, and very tall, so I've seldom needed male "backup" when dealing with difficult patients for family members--but I'm sure some of my colleagues did. The charge nurse where I did my L&D rotation as a student was male. He was a terrific nurse, and really knew his stuff. And really, I didn't see why he couldn't be an L&D nurse when so many OB docs are male. |
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| Posted 8 months ago From my experience, as long as one acts professional and respects the patient and treats the patient as a person not and illness/disease or injury, there should be no problem, I always introduce myself, make eye contact, touch the patient in the arm or shoulder, explain to the patient what my role is, and what I am going to do, ask if he/she has any concerns and continue to talk to the patient as I prep and perform the procedure. For me, most of my challenges are from the older floor nurses that have a chip on their shoulder, but then again I know that respect is earned not given. |
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| Posted 8 months ago Actually my philosophy is everyone has my respect, you lose my respect and it's going to take a very long time to earn it back. Deb
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| Posted 8 months ago al_chamizo said: I totally agree with you. |
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| Posted 5 months ago Isn't a nurse a nurse, not supposed to matter what sex we are. Sometimes it is our own problem, I don't feel comfortable doing pelvic exams so I don't work in that area. In school my ob rotation was exciting and watching the birth of a child is fantastic but, can't work there. I think each nurse be they male or female choses where they are comfortable. Isn't a patient a patient? |
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| Posted 5 months ago I'm not an RN yet, but as a student I have a couple guys in my class. I can honestly say they get "special" treatment. I think the program is pushing for men to get involved in nursing. It's a good thing....as Martha Stewart would say. LOL
*Samantha*
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| Posted 5 months ago I have never seen the males sitting around doing nothing. Not sure who gave you such information. I think that what you will see is not discrimination but safeguards for both you and your patient. If a female refuses a male nurse, you will just need to be understanding of that. It is not discrimination but a matter of who someone is comfortable with. I also think that the males are not being “supervised.” Many offices and facilities have policies that a female person be in the room when a male is performing an exam or a procedure on a female. This is for your protection as well as the patient’s. I know that when I have a male M.D. I am always very grateful for the female MA or nurse that is in the room with me. As far as the male patient that did not want a male nurse, again it was probably not discrimination as much as it was ignorance or chauvinism. To this day many still think that if you are a male nurse than you are gay. Maybe the guy was stupid, homophobic, or preferred a cute, young female to hit on.
Ginny |
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| Posted 5 months ago I will ask my older female patients if they would prefer a female nurse for certain procedures (there's really not that many procedures where I would have to touch them near one of their "special places"). Most of these ladies could care less. For younger women, before cutting clothing off & doing assessments or whatnot, I will ask a female colleague to accompany me in the room. I'm from the "Tailhook" scandal years in the Navy. That was early 90's and I'm still scared. |
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| Posted 5 months ago The only time I can remember a patient refusing a male nurse was a hasidic jewish woman because of religious reasons. She apologized over and over about it and so did her husband and we respected their wishes. Deb
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| Posted 26 days ago As a male caregiver, in assisanted liveing, most of the women and guys that DOSEN'T have some form of memory impairement are more then happy to have me take care of them. But some of the women doesn't want me to touch them, and i respect that, cause that is there right! I'm currently waiting to see if I passed the ENCLEX test, and from what I understand from talking to the female nurses the love to have male nurses take care of them. It's the showers and changes that they don't care for that much! I get called on alot from some of the other female cargivers and nurses to helkp them lift and change some times. The main thing they told me when I started was don't be a "hero" and try and lift people by your self! I always watch how I lift people so I don't hurt my back! But there is a few female caregivers the abuse the fact there is male caregivers who won't help transfer people when they ask for my help! I take it with a grain of salt and move on! Cause the imporant thing is the care given! I think as long as your careing, kind, have a gentle touch, and the big thing is respect then you shouldn't have too mauch of a issue! I know they love haveing me there! In the City, Country at heart! |