Can I ask those of you who would refuse a male nurse

[Thefishewife]

Just wanted to know really why those who would refuse a male nurse would at the same time accpect a male

Athisisitst
Surgon
Surb nurse
Jr doctor
Odp

Afte much chat about this on here I was telling oh about this who is a male nurse and he told me about a lady who didn't want a male nurse as which is her right but then went on to be examined by the male jr doctor and then the male consultant and operated on her and quite frankly saw more the oh ever would as he just wanted to take obs the scrub nurse was male saw also saw the lady half naked I would imagin

It wasn't a emergancy op btw

I just have always found this very very strange

I have a male OBGYN but I guess it didn't occur to me to object - he's amazing and has taken me through the birth of my two babies without pain or discomfort.

I can totally understand why people would object to having internal exams though, and it's a total personal thing.

I don't think I'd object to a male nurse, midwife, etc but thankfully I haven't been in the situation where it might have been an issue.

I wonder if it's an innate assumption that doctors have to be men and nurses (the traditional caregivers) have to be female? I don't know, i'd take either I think.

i was fine with a male midwife and male doctors checking me out down below when i was pregnant but when i had breast problems i froze up and asked for a female doctor no idea why i suppose having a man wobble my breasts around just seemed more personal to me (and i really know how silly that sounds!)

I never refused a doctor or nurse but have requested a female doctor a couple of times and for dh I requested a male doctor once. Both times the receptionist didn't bat an eye and just gave me my request which I was grateful for.

I don't like being treated by male healthcare professionals and would always prefer a woman if possible.

None of your business why.

Of course I have been treated and operated on my male doctors and surgeons. I'm not going to make a fuss, I don't feel that strongly about it but, if I had the option, I'd choose a woman.

I recently had an examination for something very minor and cringed the entire time the doctor (male) touched me. He ran his hands over practically every part of me (a dermatology issue) and it felt so intimate I just hated it.

I don't need to hear your reasoning, quipping and rationalising to know how something makes me feel.

I am not sexist or man-hating.

Oh and I don't think anyone is getting off on feeling me up...which is what I'll be accused of next

I haven't ever requested a female healthcare professional, always been happy to see a male doctor/nurse. I don't have a problem with it, if they're a professional. As the old saying goes, they've seen it all hundreds of times before, why would anything of mine be any different?

I think it's good there is an option to ask for a male/female doctor/nurse, etc. though.

If your friend is going to be made sad by being asked to not perform intimate tasks on women, then he might need to have a rethink. It's not about sexism, it's not about doubting his professionalism, it's about putting your patient at ease during a difficult time in their lives. If putting patients at ease causes him a drama, and causes you to get hot under the collar, then it behooves you to look at why that might be. What will you do if a male patient asks for a male HCP to help him with his care?

Back in the day when you actually had a relationship with a GP, it would probably have been easier for me, but as that's no longer the case, I will ask for a female doctor and female HCPs of whatever stripe where intimate care is going to be involved. This isn't casting aspersions on their professionalism, it's not saying that I think that male HCPs are 'creepy' it's to do with my fear reaction getting in the way of me receiving proper care.

Hooby in general anaesthetics is more and more a female dominated speciality. It's just where I work that the ratio is so abnormal! (Rural NZ) The dept was run by 4 blokes back in the day when women were a rarity generally - & what with one thing and another and the old boy network they tended to recruit more males when the department expanded.

I would prefer a female nurse to do something intimate like a vaginal swab etc just as I would prefer a female doctor, but if it is something non intimate I wouldn't mind.

I had a male mammogram nurse - which I foundsurprising... given the lets just lift this up, move it about a bit and squish it in here level of intimacy... but it didn't really matter or bother me that it was a man, it feels just as awkward when it is a woman man handling your breasts in that way.

"If your friend is going to be made sad by being asked to not perform intimate tasks on women, then he might need to have a rethink."

This. Why is he making such a big deal out of his feelings and not focusing on the patient?!

Can I just add, to the previous poster who said ODP's don't have any patient contact, this is I fact horse shit. ODP's take your pre op observations, can insert urinary catheters, venflons, airway equipment, suppositorys and remove swabs from vaginas etc. We also shave your intimate body hair, position you for surgery, somestimes naked, legs up, prone etc. Can provided surgical assistance, clean your body after surgery replace your hospital clothing, clean you up if incontinent, check your wound/dressings, drains, catheters etc. We also do a mean CPR.

It is a 3 year degree course, and more advanced practitioners after further training can give anaesthetics, perform minor surgery, give acupuncture for pain, and nipple tattoos following breast reconstructions. In my trust we are also heavily involved in itu, A&E resus, cardiac arrests and external in internal transfer of critically ill patients.

Just bear in mind you may well have an all male team in theatre and if this is not somthing you want you need to mention it at the earliest opportunity, ideally pre op or to your consultant, as it can be tricky on the day to relocate staff and your surgery may not go ahead if you are not happy to proceed. Also to add we do only have females inserting female urinary catheters, unless a dire emergency.

Fuzzy, sounds like an excellent job!

For me, it's my fear reaction, it has prevented certain procedures from being able to take place, so once I'm out, that won't be a problem. Waking procedures would be however.

How bizarre that my mate's mild sigh is being now portrayed as some unfeeling male hissyfit.

I am also very suprised that the vast majority it seems of posters on here would be uncomfortable to some degree with a male nurse. I honestly didn't realise it was so widespread.

Currently 10% of nurses are male, and it would be fascinating to see how welcome they truly are, given the intimate nature of general nursing jobs. It makes me wonder what a national survey on female patients opinions would say.

I had (briefly) a male midwife whilst being assessed for admission with my 2nd, and he had MASSIVE HANDS, like a goalkeeper

Think I had the same one, St John's, Chelmsford, on placement as a student. He was lovely though, v v kind and gentle; infinitely better than the midwife with incredible halitosis, when I was practically a permanent fixture for the whole pregnancy, due to severe hyperemesis :(

How bizarre that my mate's mild sigh is being now portrayed as some unfeeling male hissyfit.

What's more bizarre is your reaction to him being asked, quite reasonably to leave while a woman birthed her baby, and his reaction, if you described it. You are there for the patient. If you can't be sensitive to your patient's needs, have a think about your future.

A male nurse would be welcome with open arms, just not if to do with intimate care, a lot of women may feel that way, given that 1 in 4 women will be raped or sexually assaulted at some point during their lives. The men on my cohort are all managers now, as happens with most men in nursing.

"How bizarre that my mate's mild sigh is being now portrayed as some unfeeling male hissyfit."

Annarose - I was reading the responses to your posts in some disbelief as well! I am a teacher and at school am obviously professional and all the rest of it; sometimes I come home and have a whinge to my friends about how X student has behaved or reacted to me or what they've said to me. Presumably all those criticising your friend for doing the same never complain/comment on/even talk about any aspect of their work to their friends

CaptChaos - I sometimes teach boys who are not happy to be taught by a woman because of the culture they were brought up in. Do you think I could be 'quite reasonably' asked to leave the room because otherwise I am being insensitive to their wishes? And then do you think I should not go home and be upset by that request and talk it over with my friends?

I have had several male nurses involved in my hospital and midwifery care. They were all fantastic however I would expect the option of female nursing staff should any procedure or care be of a sensitive nature or involving intimate parts (breast/vagina). I would expect a female nurse during a smear for example.

Other than that I don't see the problem. I would probably also request a female doctor if the above applied. I think it's important to feel as comfortable as possible.

Interestingly I didn't care who attended the births - the pop could have watched for all I cared I just wanted my babies out. However I understand that not every woman will feel that way.

*the pope

wherever possible, a patient's wishes around who cares for them intimately(washing, catheter insertion etc) should be accommodated.

it isn't being sexist, or precious- you don't know a patient's history. even without a history of abuse, being cared for by someone of the same sex may be what a patient needs to maintain their dignity.

i am amazed by posters who think it a whim, or who make analogies to pupils not wishing to be taught by a woman. as if the level of intimacy and vulnerability is anything like the same as someone having vaginal swabs removed

those who aren't bothered about who cares for them,let them stay unbothered. for those that are, what justification can be given for violating their wishes in that way?

I don't think it is sexist at all.

On ward level women may be ok with obs being done and blood sugars ect with the curtain open, but prefer to have a female to do more personal care.

I have worked on many wards and often male nurses are in charge of male bays.

I had a male GP do a breast exam on me once, which I was absolutely fine with (well as fine as you can be having a breast exam done) but he insisted I had to have a woman in attendance, so went off to find someone. When he came back he had the receptionist with him!

I would have been much more comfortable with just him, a professional, completing the task alone then I was with the receptionist watching us!

Also, I have a male gynae consultant who I trust implicitly to examine and treat my body, he's amazing; very skilled and caring.

But if I was on a ward having help washing, for example, I would be much more comfortable with a female hca than a male one.

It completely depends on the situation. My gynae is most skilled person to do that job so gender doesn't come into it, whereas being washed a male hca or nurse would be just as skilled as a female one but the female one would have a bonus of making feel more comfortable (hopefully).

Good grief awsomer the receptionist shouldn't be a chaperone!