Should I enter the NHS as a trainee nurse if I am gender critical?

[Balicious]

I have been offered a place on a nursing degree apprenticeship within a GP surgery. Since I applied I have watched YouTube videos that GP nurses have posted in relation to the trans healthcare they have to provide. It appears the NHS is pro-trans and since the scandal came out about the rape on a NHS ward and the gaslighting of a patient following this assault, I am rethinking entering the NHS at all. Please help! I am deeply concerned about gender ideology and the effects it is having on women and children. I must admit I would struggle to treat anyone under the age of 18 with hormone blockers/hormonal injections. Will I struggle in the NHS with these views? Am I nursing material or should I reconsider? Honest opinions will be greatly appreciated.

@acrimoniousone

Ex-nurse, first post. Nerve touched.

I worked in ICU (fun fact - it's brilliant for newly qualified nurses but they are frequently scared off) and had a patient who attempted suicide. Although they survived it wasn't a cry for help and they suffered devastating injuries. The patient was no longer able to live with their immediate family's rejection of their chosen gender identity.

This led to a bizzare situation where some staff supported the patients' choice and others sympathised with the parents views - this person was over eighteen but still at home. It led to stupidity such as the patient's name above their bed being changed with the shift.

I thought it was fucking disgusting and advocated for the patient. This young adult had horrific trauma both physical and mental - this wasn't attention-seeking but a miraculous survival. I had sympathy for the parents but their principles mattered more than the child desperately reaching out to them. To see this supported by a majority of staff - well, I didn't work there much longer.

They made a reasonable recovery but it was life changing injuries. It is hard - in ICU your patients are, on the whole, asleep or out of it so the main interaction is with the family and of course you build a connection.

But it is never the place of a nurse to make value judgements when it is related to a patient. They should always advocate for their patient and respect their choices. This was a few years ago and hopefully it may have improved now but I will never forget it.

I also won't forget the rampant bullying from both staff and patients, the appalling starving of the NHS over many years and the abysmal care I have both observed and received. And it wasn't that long ago.

You will notice I don't mention my own views on transgender issues. Because it doesn't (or shouldn't) fucking matter. If you can't stow your opinions you shouldn't be even thinking about nursing, it's no different to views on abortion.

This totally. I’m gender critical in my private life and a midwife at work. The main thing about being a nurse or midwife is that you provide individualised care. So I would have no problem at all supporting or advocating or treating a trans person.

@FabFitFifties

Something fishy about this thread.

Hang on I think your are right. As far as I know to train as a nurse in the UK you must do a degree at uni. Apprentiships discontinued years ago. After your degree you specialise in other areas including working ina GP practice. OP is talking crap. You’v been rumbled OP. 🤣

Your job as a nurse is to care for people - not to judge them.

That’s incorrect. Nursing apprenticeship are definitely a thing and are a split between uni and work. They’ve been brought back.

@Crystalvas

There are apprenticeship pathways to being a staff nurse in the NHS Trust I work in.

If you can't stow your opinions you shouldn't be even thinking about nursing, it's no different to views on abortion.

Very much this.

If you can remain neutral with your opinions and treatment yes. If you can't, then no. You've already suggested you'd feel uncomfortable treating a patient in a way that clashes with your opinions, so I'm dubious.
You will see FAR more stuff that concerns you and that you potentially disagree with than this particular topic so you need to question your ability to practice against your beliefs on more than just gender.

We do Open University in our trust, where staff can train as a nurse whilst working as an auxiliary in their own ward/dept. So I would say it is definitely a thing.
OP, you will learn all about how to understand and deal with this stuff in your training. Do it!! Best job in the world.

Will I struggle in the NHS with these views?
No. The thing about trained health professionals is that they know a thing or two about biology.
You might not be able to be as open as you wish but please don't think the NHS is full of believers.
Am I nursing material or should I reconsider?
Could you care for someone who is trans or is questioning their identity with respect and dignity, taking into account that they may have had a complex history?
Most trans people aren't angry activists, and most want to draw as little attention to themselves as possible. The rape was appalling, as were the lies told afterwards but don't allow yourself to think this rare assault is a regular occurrence.

@SpaceFarce

If you can't stow your opinions you shouldn't be even thinking about nursing, it's no different to views on abortion.

Very much this.

Agree. I've treated paedophiles, abusers, drug addicts, people who are very unpleasant to you, people who make very unwise decisions about their own care / life styles etc - we treat everyone the same regardless of all of that. That's what being in healthcare means.

@acrimoniousone

Ex-nurse, first post. Nerve touched.

I worked in ICU (fun fact - it's brilliant for newly qualified nurses but they are frequently scared off) and had a patient who attempted suicide. Although they survived it wasn't a cry for help and they suffered devastating injuries. The patient was no longer able to live with their immediate family's rejection of their chosen gender identity.

This led to a bizzare situation where some staff supported the patients' choice and others sympathised with the parents views - this person was over eighteen but still at home. It led to stupidity such as the patient's name above their bed being changed with the shift.

I thought it was fucking disgusting and advocated for the patient. This young adult had horrific trauma both physical and mental - this wasn't attention-seeking but a miraculous survival. I had sympathy for the parents but their principles mattered more than the child desperately reaching out to them. To see this supported by a majority of staff - well, I didn't work there much longer.

They made a reasonable recovery but it was life changing injuries. It is hard - in ICU your patients are, on the whole, asleep or out of it so the main interaction is with the family and of course you build a connection.

But it is never the place of a nurse to make value judgements when it is related to a patient. They should always advocate for their patient and respect their choices. This was a few years ago and hopefully it may have improved now but I will never forget it.

I also won't forget the rampant bullying from both staff and patients, the appalling starving of the NHS over many years and the abysmal care I have both observed and received. And it wasn't that long ago.

You will notice I don't mention my own views on transgender issues. Because it doesn't (or shouldn't) fucking matter. If you can't stow your opinions you shouldn't be even thinking about nursing, it's no different to views on abortion.

An excellent post.

I am also an ex-nurse and I will second how important it is to be able to leave your own views about all sorts of things from vaccination to abortion to drug use etc at the door.

During my time in nursing I cared for criminals, drug addicts and dealers, a child sex abuser and numerous prostitutes. I probably cared for many more people who had done things that I didn't agree with as well but never knew. You just have to try not to judge.

Some patients weren't very nice people but you have to see beyond that and do your job regardless. It can be very tough.

@acrimoniousone thank you for your post. I found it very insightful. I hope things got better for your patient.

@acrimoniousone

Ex-nurse, first post. Nerve touched.

I worked in ICU (fun fact - it's brilliant for newly qualified nurses but they are frequently scared off) and had a patient who attempted suicide. Although they survived it wasn't a cry for help and they suffered devastating injuries. The patient was no longer able to live with their immediate family's rejection of their chosen gender identity.

This led to a bizzare situation where some staff supported the patients' choice and others sympathised with the parents views - this person was over eighteen but still at home. It led to stupidity such as the patient's name above their bed being changed with the shift.

I thought it was fucking disgusting and advocated for the patient. This young adult had horrific trauma both physical and mental - this wasn't attention-seeking but a miraculous survival. I had sympathy for the parents but their principles mattered more than the child desperately reaching out to them. To see this supported by a majority of staff - well, I didn't work there much longer.

They made a reasonable recovery but it was life changing injuries. It is hard - in ICU your patients are, on the whole, asleep or out of it so the main interaction is with the family and of course you build a connection.

But it is never the place of a nurse to make value judgements when it is related to a patient. They should always advocate for their patient and respect their choices. This was a few years ago and hopefully it may have improved now but I will never forget it.

I also won't forget the rampant bullying from both staff and patients, the appalling starving of the NHS over many years and the abysmal care I have both observed and received. And it wasn't that long ago.

You will notice I don't mention my own views on transgender issues. Because it doesn't (or shouldn't) fucking matter. If you can't stow your opinions you shouldn't be even thinking about nursing, it's no different to views on abortion.

Not just nursing but any NHS clinical post. I am shocked by @acrimoniousone's post, that any patient should experience such appalling treatment. Its not the same but round me the isssue used to be fox hunting. I live in a BIG bloodsports area and many of the homes I used to visit would show (to me) gruesome evidence of this. While I did judge in my head, I never showed a hint of this by my behaviour and anybody who can't do the same doesn't belong in clinical care whether NHS or private.

@QuebecBagnet

That’s incorrect. Nursing apprenticeship are definitely a thing and are a split between uni and work. They’ve been brought back.

As far as im aware the training placements are part if the uni degree. No such thing as a nursing apprentiship.

[quote anotherbrewplease]@Crystalvas

There are apprenticeship pathways to being a staff nurse in the NHS Trust I work in.[/quote]
Is that not nurse axilleries.

@Crystalvas I work as a university lecturer. We have a nursing apprenticeship programme which is separate to the normal nursing degree. There are also midwifery apprenticeship courses now.

www.tees.ac.uk/landing/shlsDA/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw0PWRBhDKARIsAPKHFGicpOKdNYMLUU0by4MJkjz93_g_I0a39LUlnMs5zUYxJ0hCAGIlbfoaApzlEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Hang on I think your are right. As far as I know to train as a nurse in the UK you must do a degree at uni. Apprentiships discontinued years ago. After your degree you specialise in other areas including working ina GP practice. OP is talking crap. You’v been rumbled OP.

OP is correct. Nursing associates or apprentice is nursing revamped. They now have to be NMC registered also.

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/nursing/roles-nursing/nursing-associate/nursing-associate

Men/dicks and bollocks shouldn't be on women's wards and I wouldn't be able to hide my contempt.

[quote QuebecBagnet]@Crystalvas I work as a university lecturer. We have a nursing apprenticeship programme which is separate to the normal nursing degree. There are also midwifery apprenticeship courses now.[/quote]
Ok So in the Uk a degree is’t necessary to become a staff nurse.

Sorry, nursing auxiliaries revamped.

Ok So in the Uk a degree is’t necessary to become a staff nurse

The UK used to have a 3 year nursing diploma then you registered as a nurse. Many practicing nurses only have the diploma. The diploma was phased out replaced with the degree. This is different to the nursing associate programme.

If you can't treat patients appropriately regardless of who they are then don't accept the placement but I think the examples you have given are really specific and are highly unlikely to ever arise.

I agree.

I don’t think this is the career for you OP.

You will have to deal with many things that you don’t agree with like drug addicts, alcohols, incredibly rude people, anti-vaxers etc and if course trans people and your job will be to treat everyone the same which is sounds like you would struggle with.

Definitely reconsider.

n the Uk a degree is’t necessary to become a staff nurse.

They’re degree apprenticeships so people are still degree qualified. Have a look at the link I posted if you like. But you’re spouting an opinion on something you know nothing about