I’m a mental health nurse working on locked ward with females with personality disorder - ask me anything

[Dino90]

Please ask away if there’s anything you’d like to know

You are aware of the hugely different offending rates for men and women? And the fact that this does not change for men after transition? This has vastly more relevance than your anecdotal experience.

Are you aware that when you address a contentious issue, you retreat behind platitudes and jargon?

Are you aware that when you address a contentious issue, you retreat behind platitudes and jargon?

No she doesn't. She gives a clear answer based on her expert training and experience. You just don't like it because it's not what you want to hear.

It worries me the TWAW in the context of a locked mental health ward.

How damaging to women who might be struggling with reality, delusions, paranoia etc anyhow, to be presented with a male, with a penis and have all the "sane, healthy, professionals" around you refer to that person as "she" when you KNOW they aren't a she at all.

I actually think it's very cruel.

The thread is very interesting to many an insight into what it is like working on a ward with women who have been diagnosed with a personality disorder. I think the answers have been clear and with an obvious passion for the work. It’s not a thread about how in an ideal world (and that is a matter of opinion what is ideal) a mh ward/service would be run.

There are plenty of threads on the trans debate. What the op’s personal opinions are about the trans issues is irrelevant anyway her job is to remain professional to all who she works with

Should a doctor refuse to treat a child sex offender? a nurse refuse to treat a murderer? a surgeon refuse to operate on a terrorist?

The answer is no. Your personal opinions about the person you are treating is just that your opinion it shouldn’t impact on your care

Should a doctor refuse to treat a child sex offender? a nurse refuse to treat a murderer? a surgeon refuse to operate on a terrorist?The answer is no. Your personal opinions about the person you are treating is just that your opinion it shouldn’t impact on your care.

But we aren't suggesting they be refused treatment, we're pointing out they shouldn't be on a women only ward.
It's nothing to do with "personal feelings." It's about safety and dignity. What about the impact on the other patients on the ward? Have you ever thought about that?

we're pointing out they shouldn't be on a women only ward

Well go and tell that to the NHS then. Because all OP can do is act within policy. She does not make the policy - some overpaid suit does. Perhaps direct your anger towards them, it would be far more constructive.

@JanMeyer
I'm not sure why you are being so aggressive and unpleasant towards the OP. If you think there is something wrong with the way these psychiatric units are run wouldn't you be better to direct your anger towards the people that are responsible for the policies rather than the OP.

You seem like you are out for a fight but I don't think your are fighting the right person or people.

I find the rest of this thread fascinating and I find the OPs replies thoughtful and intelligent.

Cross post....

Again you are turning this into a discussion about the trans debate

There are many times one patient has a negative impact on others for many many different reasons.

Do I care? yes. am I at times concerned? yes. do I feel the right decisions have been made? no not always. do I carry on doing my work to the best of my ability with all who I work with? yes

And given the answers from the op I’m quite sure she absolutely cares and is concerned about the patients she works with.

Male nurses are more of a danger to female patients I would think. I have direct and indirect experience. I don't believe in male nurses on female wards particularly psych wards. I've just about gotten used to male nurses on general wards - which makes it awkward, as I had to to on past admission to ask for Canesten for thrush. It's just not fucking ideal. They could do better I think. That said, some of the male nursing team are lovely, but it's just not ideal.

I hope that this thread continues without loads of trans focused posts. The OP answered the (many) questions on this particular point, continuing to post about this is derailing the thread.

My question: when patients leave your unit do they get social work involvement? Are they supported in the community by social services? I guess Im interested to know who takes responsibility for their support; nhs funded mh services or local authority funded social services

Considering the horrific issues with institutional racism in the mental health services, as illustrated by the cases David "Rocky" Bennett and Seni Lewis to name just two, I am absolutely aghast, that you state this so blandly to try and serve the trans issue:

There are certain ethnic and religious groups, for example, which statistically present with increased risks in certain areas. Again, we aren’t discriminatory against any one group of people.

Firstly, statistically, mental health services present as an increased risk to well-being to people from certain ethnic and religious groups, especially black men.

Secondly, by any statistics available males commit the vast majority of physical and sexual crimes. Saying "But women do it too" is MRA nonsense.

And yes, there is legislation concerning single sex provision, the Equality Act 2010.

My question is, given the woeful under funding of mental health services, where in the UK is this amazing fully funded ward where irredeemable “females” with “personality disorders” can go to be treated for years by health care professionals, including male professionals who need to be constantly protected from these falsely accusing “females”.

@TheKrakening3

My question is, given the woeful under funding of mental health services, where in the UK is this amazing fully funded ward where irredeemable “females” with “personality disorders” can go to be treated for years by health care professionals, including male professionals who need to be constantly protected from these falsely accusing “females”.

I don't understand this

There are a number of posts, written between 23.33 and 0.13 which unfortunately demonstrate a lack of understanding and a lack of willingness to see reality, driven by fixed ideas about a subject and a desire to shoehorn that issue into every conversation.

It's an important issue, absolutely, but OP has answered you. Repeatedly. You've chosen to ignore someone who actually knows what they're talking about in favour of propaganda and your own fixed beliefs.

I'm sorry, are you dismissing an actual case (Karen white) which involved a transwoman raping women as propganda? It happened. Fact. Not propaganda.
What I mean by propaganda is that information which has a basis in truth is being used selectively to justify an argument. In this situation (for example), the person was in prison, not the sort of unit the OP is describing there are huge differences in the way they are staffed and managed. I only know what I've just found online, but the articles I've read talk about sexual assault rather than rape which is awful and should never have happened, there were clearly (from the reports) warning signs which should be picked up in the risk assessment that the OP discussed. I'm not sure if you have information about rape from other sources.

*Fixed beliefs? Well yes, men are men and women are women. That's not a belief though, again that's fact.
**I'm not the one lacking in understanding here, it's the idiots that are arguing that a small subset of males should be allowed in female spaces that are lacking understanding.
*If someone can't acknowledge or understand the importance of the differences between men and women then i think they've pretty much proved they have no clue what they're talking about.
Funny how you label being able to tell the difference between men and women as a fixed idea. Yeah, that's kind of how it works.

Well this is the crux of it, you disagree with the legal position, that's your prerogative.

Unfortunately i can see reality all too clear, i see someone who claims to be a professional working with vulnerable women blithely unconcerned about letting males into that space.

Wow, that's a huge leap.

As has been pointed out by others, the OP has been very professional and measured in (presumably) her responses, she is not responsible for making laws and writing policies but she is bound to adhere to these.

Whilst I don't know the OP and have some differing views from her, Based on my experience of these services and the way she has responded to some of the posts on here I have no reason to think that she wouldn't do her best to protect all of her patients from harm.

Sorry OP I'll try and butt out now 😉😂

@Everysinglebloodytime I've PMed you.

I'm on the talk app and can't see where I would get messages. Will try and remember details to log into the full site

I've replied x