What is the Different betwen Male Nurse and Female Nurse in the Ward?

33 posts · started Mar 19, 2007

Indonurse Mar 19, 2007, 3:49 PM
Share your Opinion about that here:

1. In my opinion :

Male staff nurses like to do the dirty jobs like; Dressing, Catherization, etc.

Female staff nurses like to do the simple jobs like : Charting, arranging, etc.
SoldierNurse Mar 19, 2007, 5:18 PM
Indonurse wrote:Share your Opinion about that here:

1. In my opinion :

Male staff nurses like to do the dirty jobs like; Dressing, Catherization, etc

Female staff nurses like to do the simple jobs like : Charting, arranging, etc
IMHO, the likes & dislikes regards to duties performed by male, or female nurses is purely an individual preference. My wife & I are both RNs. She does not particularly care for charting, or arranging. She prefers to spend most of her time at work with the patient, rather than chatting at the nurse's station with peers. I do like doing dressing changes, but not a big fan of catheters, LOL. I don't mind charting as long as it does not take my time away from the patient.

This is a very good thread & hope other male & female nurses will contribute in a professional manner.
;)
cougarnurse Mar 19, 2007, 10:49 PM
Perhaps things may be cultural, also. Some male patients may not feel comfortable with a female nurse doing the catherterization, just as some females would feel uncomfortable with a male nurse in the room.

'Cat' :)
SoldierNurse Mar 19, 2007, 11:08 PM
cougarnurse wrote:Perhaps things may be cultural, also. Some male patients may not feel comfortable with a female nurse doing the catherterization, just as some females would feel uncomfortable with a male nurse in the room.

'Cat' :)
Excellent point! Frankly, I'm not a fan of doing foley catheters, period.

However, I can do it & for an awake female patient will ask another female staff to be in the room with us.
SoldierNurse Mar 20, 2007, 1:29 AM
TomB wrote:What is the Difference between Male Nurse and Female Nurse in the Ward?

Gender.
In otherwords, a nurse is a nurse no matter the gender. ;)
SoldierNurse Mar 21, 2007, 3:26 AM
Marie_LPN wrote:The difference where i work? The female nurses use the "women" restroom and the men use the "men" restroom.
:endof:

To the OP, we don't mean to be rude... it's just that a nurse, is a nurse. ;)
cassioo Mar 21, 2007, 4:43 AM
Difference should have been learned in grade school health class as said before a nurse is a nurse...

I'm female I HATE charting. I wish I had a secretary to follow me around all day and write what I do and just let me take care of patients. I can do tasks all day don't mind any of them really except colostomy bags, I can teach all day and even birth babies :) it's just that darn writing, going to meetings, doing those required classes again this year, code whatever drills just let me take care of my patients
Indonurse Mar 21, 2007, 6:57 AM
huhahhahah???

I am working in Surgical Ward in Hospital in Kuwait, That really I hate my job when i have to do Shaving and Skin preparation for my patient before they are going for Surgery.

What is your opinion if the Female Staff Nurse is doing Shaving for Male patient?
SoldierNurse Mar 21, 2007, 8:08 AM
Indonurse wrote:huhahhahah???

I am working in Surgical Ward in Hospital in Kuwait, That really I hate my job when i have to do Shaving and Skin preparation for my patient before they are going for Surgery.

What is your opinion if the Female Staff Nurse is doing Shaving for Male patient?
IMHO, in the U.S. problems usually don't arise regards to female nurses providing care to male patients. However, with the roles reversed, i.e. a male nurse placing foley catheter in an awake female patient, performing feminine hygiene, etc. can be tricky.

If, your referring to something like an abdominal shave prep for surgery this should not be a gender issue, IMHO.

Keep in mind, we need to take into consideration the cultural gap & maybe a nursing gap so to speak with nursing done in Kuwait vs. nursing done in the U.S.


:39:
Cammer Mar 21, 2007, 3:31 PM
Indonurse wrote:huhahhahah???
What is your opinion if the Female Staff Nurse is doing Shaving for Male patient?
MagRedC5 wrote:IMHO, in the U.S. problems usually don't arise regards to female nurses providing care to male patients. However, with the roles reversed, i.e. a male nurse placing foley catheter in an awake female patient, performing feminine hygiene, etc. can be tricky.


What is your opinion of a male physician performing a gyn pelvic exam? Would that be any different than a male nurse inserting a urinary catheter? If so, then why? What about a male nurse midwife delivering a baby? Would that somehow be unacceptable? What about a female nurse inserting a catheter in a male patient? Or a male urologist inserting a catheter in a female patient? What about a male patient who thinks he's female? What then?

Not in reference to anyone who has posted in this thread, but it seems that some people would be happiest if all men in nursing were to become eunuchs.
EUNUCH - Definitions from Dictionary.com

This gender issue needs to be dismissed.
SoldierNurse Mar 21, 2007, 4:10 PM
Cammer wrote:[/SIZE]

What is your opinion of a male physician performing a gyn pelvic exam? Would that be any different than a male nurse inserting a urinary catheter? If so, then why? What about a male nurse midwife delivering a baby? Would that somehow be unacceptable? What about a female nurse inserting a catheter in a male patient? Or a male urologist inserting a catheter in a female patient? What about a male patient who thinks he's female? What then?

Not in reference to anyone who has posted in this thread, but it seems that some people would be happiest if all men in nursing were to become eunuchs.
EUNUCH - Definitions from Dictionary.com

This gender issue needs to be dismissed.
Hey Cammer, where you been? Glad to see ya back! BTW, keep in mind the OP is not of the same culture as ours. The gender issue [i.e. males in the nursing profession] is probably way more prevalent in the Middle East.

... food for thought
Cammer Mar 21, 2007, 4:51 PM
MagRedC5 wrote:Hey Cammer, where you been? Glad to see ya back! BTW, keep in mind the OP is not of the same culture as ours. The gender issue [i.e. males in the nursing profession] is probably way more prevalent in the Middle East.

... food for thought

I was having some trouble with this site not allowing me to see threads or post. It kept telling me that there was something missing in my profile, but I wasn't able to fix it so I gave up for a while. I needed to pay more attention to family/school/work anyhow - in that order. The site seems to be working fine for me now. I'm not sure where the glitch was but it seems that it's fixed.

But more to the topic of this thread - you pointed out that the OP is from the Middle East. That's true, and in my reply I kinda went off the deep end a bit, but I really was curious to know if there is as much of an issue with gender differences when it comes to physicians and nurses in the OP's culture?

In the USA it seems that there is a perceived problem with patient care in reference to the nurse's gender. However, this problem magically disappears if the caregiver is a physician. (Can physicians really be called caregivers? !!!!) So why is this a problem? I have been asked to leave the room when a female patient needed to undress, but the male physician remained. I see a problem with that situation, possibly relating to overall public misperception of men in nursing, but I'm not sure how it relates. More thought needed there.

EDIT - By the way, I have heard anecdotal evidence that men in nursing are much more common in the Middle Eastern countries than in the USA. Just hearsay, but that is an interesting point to explore. Probably related to the cultural taboo against cross gender caregiving therefore requiring same sex nurses and an overall more equal gender ratio.
SoldierNurse Mar 21, 2007, 5:07 PM
"EDIT - By the way, I have heard anecdotal evidence that men in nursing are much more common in the Middle Eastern countries than in the USA. Just hearsay, but that is an interesting point to explore. Probably related to the cultural taboo against cross gender caregiving therefore requiring same sex nurses and an overall more equal gender ratio." - Cammer

...
Maybe the OP [Indonurse] can elaborate further?


----
Darko Mar 21, 2007, 6:25 PM
I work in stepdown. I'm the only male nurse there evening shift. what's the difference between me and the females? coming from the patients they say the females are noisier. :endof:
cassioo Mar 22, 2007, 2:53 AM
Darko wrote: coming from the patients they say the females are noisier. :endof:

I would have to agree with you on that one. My unit has some very big mouths and you leave with a headache if you work with 3 of the biggest talkers on a single shift they all talk at once and nobody listens and the phone rings and their kids call and their friends, sisters, parents, ex-in-laws. All are great in their jobs but they're talking and they can't shut up. One says her husband says she talks in her sleep and I've been on a trip with one of the other ones and I know she does....and our night shift can be worse
Darko Mar 22, 2007, 5:00 AM
cassioo wrote:I would have to agree with you on that one. My unit has some very big mouths and you leave with a headache if you work with 3 of the biggest talkers on a single shift they all talk at once and nobody listens and the phone rings and their kids call and their friends, sisters, parents, ex-in-laws. All are great in their jobs but they're talking and they can't shut up. One says her husband says she talks in her sleep and I've been on a trip with one of the other ones and I know she does....and our night shift can be worse


EXACTLY. When i read your post it sounded like you work at the same unit as I do. The unit is so loud specially my co-workers that i just call the monitor tech. on her extension so that i could ask her some questions regarding a patients heart rythm. and I'm more or less 10 feet away from her.:firedup:
Indonurse Mar 28, 2007, 8:49 AM
How is this Post??

Now...What do yo thing?? How Female can Work in Male Ward but Male can't work in Female Ward?? this is unfair, I like to work in Female Ward..is it possible???

:frustrated: :whipping:
AmandaWIRN Mar 28, 2007, 11:00 AM
TomB wrote:What is the Difference between Male Nurse and Female Nurse in the Ward?

um.... genitalia, boobs, facial hair (sometimes....) ;)
kwnurse Mar 28, 2007, 6:16 PM
OK I hope I'm not imposing is this forum only for male nurses.
Business is business you would hope but never for nurses. We all have our things about nursing we like to do or don't like to do & by most of these replies I dont think our gender has much to do with it.
Patients do. I have seen women refuse male nurses & aids. I've seen there husband & fathers do it for them. It's frustrating the work then gets pushed of on female nurse. I went to school with a great male nurse & he was out of the loop all the time especially in OB very unfair!!!!!! But it is the patients right which I support & as a woman I could understand where there might be a misconception as to what a man might be thinking about while performing the more personal aspects of care (sorry guys) as a nurse I think that its just business evaluation of anatomy & second nature to nurses as well as docs. The only reason I could guess why people feel different about docs is the relationship is a choosen one & more personalized as most docs are known over time.
Maybe I'm out line but what male patient wouldn't prefer a female nurse to a male nurse inserting his catheter.
NavyJim58 Mar 28, 2007, 6:38 PM
kwnurse wrote:OK I hope I'm not imposing is this forum only for male nurses.
Business is business you would hope but never for nurses. We all have our things about nursing we like to do or don't like to do & by most of these replies I dont think our gender has much to do with it.
Patients do. I have seen women refuse male nurses & aids. I've seen there husband & fathers do it for them. It's frustrating the work then gets pushed of on female nurse. I went to school with a great male nurse & he was out of the loop all the time especially in OB very unfair!!!!!! But it is the patients right which I support & as a woman I could understand where there might be a misconception as to what a man might be thinking about while performing the more personal aspects of care (sorry guys) as a nurse I think that its just business evaluation of anatomy & second nature to nurses as well as docs. The only reason I could guess why people feel different about docs is the relationship is a choosen one & more personalized as most docs are known over time.

Maybe I'm out line but what male patient wouldn't prefer a female nurse to a male nurse inserting his catheter.


I for one would not. I would feel more comfortable having a male do it. Why would you think all men would want a female to insert their catheter? Believe it or not when I am working on patients I viewthem clinically and not as sex objects. I have worked post partum and OB and it was just a job. Only a very few women asked to have a female nurse. Granted, If I had the choice today I would ask not to be floated to those areas because of todays litigious society and crys of sexual harassment by every other female.
Cammer Mar 28, 2007, 7:19 PM
kwnurse wrote:Maybe I'm out line but what male patient wouldn't prefer a female nurse to a male nurse inserting his catheter.

Well... why WOULD a male patient prefer a female nurse to insert a catheter? Are you thinking that a male patient would "get off" on having a female nurse insert a tube into his bladder? I don't think so. If he did then he's got some issues way beyond anything we can help him with. I'm sure that some prefer a female nurse because of homophobic issues, but I have been told by several male patients that they prefer another man to do this particular procedure because they have had bad experiences with women performing it. Various reasons come to mind for this, cultural, etc, but from the remarks I have heard made by the patients, and female nurses, I have come to the conclusion that some female nurses are more forceful and rough when doing this.

Just for the record, sexual harassment goes both ways. Over the years I've had quite a few female patients make remarks to me that involved sexual innuendo such as "how often do I get to have you give me a bed bath?" or "I really need some help getting out of these clothes" (said by a patient who is young and very capable of undressing herself). I have even been propositioned for sex a few times. It appears that many female patients have fantasies about being intimately cared for by a nurse of the opposite gender. Based on my experience I would even go so far as to say that it's a common occurrence. I'm sure that the women who are prone to this type of behavior feel that it is more allowable because this issue is ignored by society.

If I were to mention these occurrences in casual conversation I would be accused of being egotistical and making it all up to make myself look like a "stud" or something. I know this because it has happened to me. So I just keep my mouth shut, forget about it, and go on about my duties. Twice it has been so bad that I have requested, and received, an assignment change for these reasons.

My main point here is that there are sexual issues from both the male and female perspective. Contrary to popular belief, not all men have sex on the mind 24/7, especially when on the job. I personally believe that men are singled out and vilified in our culture, when in actuality both genders have an equal likelihood of performing sexual harassment.
AmandaWIRN Mar 29, 2007, 11:01 AM
Indonurse wrote:How is this Post??

Now...What do yo thing?? How Female can Work in Male Ward but Male can't work in Female Ward?? this is unfair, I like to work in Female Ward..is it possible?

In the United States, there are not "male" wards & "female" wards. The only all-female ward would be a obstetrics/gynecology unit. Otherwise, in all other areas, men & women are usually all on the same unit- in separate rooms, but the same "ward." Male nurses are able to work on an OB/Gyn unit- it's not as common, but it's not "against the rules." Hope that helps.
kwnurse Mar 29, 2007, 2:19 PM
I'm not saying those things are right it's just been some experiences I have had or have heard other people having. Personally I donot feel there should be any differences between the genders on the job or anywhere else. Women talk just as much sex if not more than men. I thoroughly agree with the fact that a nursing assessment is just that assessing parts of the body & I personally donot have sexual thoughts while on the job. That's not to say everyone is the same.
The cath comment is just that, a comment, said for both reasons homophobia & the other. I don't think all men think about sex
24/7 but alot of other people may disagree.
Ricu Mar 30, 2007, 4:32 PM
Cammer wrote:Well... why WOULD a male patient prefer a female nurse to insert a catheter? Are you thinking that a male patient would "get off" on having a female nurse insert a tube into his bladder? I don't think so. If he did then he's got some issues way beyond anything we can help him with. I'm sure that some prefer a female nurse because of homophobic issues, but I have been told by several male patients that they prefer another man to do this particular procedure because they have had bad experiences with women performing it. Various reasons come to mind for this, cultural, etc, but from the remarks I have heard made by the patients, and female nurses, I have come to the conclusion that some female nurses are more forceful and rough when doing this.

Just for the record, sexual harassment goes both ways. Over the years I've had quite a few female patients make remarks to me that involved sexual innuendo such as "how often do I get to have you give me a bed bath?" or "I really need some help getting out of these clothes" (said by a patient who is young and very capable of undressing herself). I have even been propositioned for sex a few times. It appears that many female patients have fantasies about being intimately cared for by a nurse of the opposite gender. Based on my experience I would even go so far as to say that it's a common occurrence. I'm sure that the women who are prone to this type of behavior feel that it is more allowable because this issue is ignored by society.

If I were to mention these occurrences in casual conversation I would be accused of being egotistical and making it all up to make myself look like a "stud" or something. I know this because it has happened to me. So I just keep my mouth shut, forget about it, and go on about my duties. Twice it has been so bad that I have requested, and received, an assignment change for these reasons.

My main point here is that there are sexual issues from both the male and female perspective. Contrary to popular belief, not all men have sex on the mind 24/7, especially when on the job. I personally believe that men are singled out and vilified in our culture, when in actuality both genders have an equal likelihood of performing sexual harassment.

Hey Cam,

Nice post. I have had similar experiences and felt the same way. Sometimes I think it's expected that men would view these encounters as flattering but I never did. Like you, I learned fast to keep my mouth shut. The one time I mentioned being fondled by a patient, the remark made by a female colleague, by the way, was " so, now you know what it feels like". It was as though as a man, I couldn't understand how degrading the experience could be.

I'm sure that many other men can say too, that they frequently are on the receiving end of nonsexual contact that were they to be the ones touching, it would be viewed as inappropriate. I'm an affectionate person so I like being touched in a respectful way. It's sad to say however that like other men, I must be keenly aware of and usually resist reciprocating the touch. I find oddly enough, it's easier for me to touch other men than it is to touch women because it isn't perceived as sexual. In fact, let me share an example of how it can be really powerful. I'm sorry if this pushes some sensitive buttons but there are some things about how men and women are socialized in this country that won't be changing anytime soon. I'm one of those big and strong guys and end up being treated like one most of the time even though I'm really a teddy bear. As such, even if I'm not assigned to him, I'm usually the one asked to mobilize the "big guy" surgical patient. I have a personal training background and done strength training for years so, I do these things very well. Anyway, we all know how unsure and unsteady such patients are but when they see another big guy, they usually relax a little. Excellent body mechanics notwithstanding, it's my size that they see and it's my touch that they feel. When lines, tubes and drains are secured, I get down close and make sure we make eye contact. When the patient finally stands up holding onto me, feeling how sturdy I am, he trusts that he's safe and that he isn't going to be allowed to fall. It's been my experience that while standing or taking those first few steps, they lean in and I think, sometimes hug me. It happens often enough that I have spent some time thinking about why. I wonder if it's a combination of fear and anxiety giving way to trust and relief. There is a powerful dynamic also between two people, especially men, when one is vulnerable to the other and he doesn't get victimized. Regardless, I'm very moved when it happens and consider experiences like this to be the best parts of my job. It's high praise to be trusted so well. I give the same care to my female patients and while gratifying, I don't find the exchange to be as powerful. It's my speculation, but maybe more women are willing or emotionally able to be care receivers. Has anyone else had similar experiences?

R
orionseal Apr 10, 2007, 4:04 AM
Indonurse wrote:Share your Opinion about that here:

1. In my opinion :

Male staff nurses like to do the dirty jobs like; Dressing, Catherization, etc.

Female staff nurses like to do the simple jobs like : Charting, arranging, etc.

the truth is the only difference I have ever seen is that not one of my female coworkers has been asked if they were a homosexual.

:frustrated: What gives?:sad:
Ricu Apr 14, 2007, 8:59 PM
orionseal wrote:the truth is the only difference I have ever seen is that not one of my female coworkers has been asked if they were a homosexual.

:frustrated: What gives?:sad:

Right or wrong, I think it's the time honored tradition of sexrole stereotyping. I wonder how many female plumbers, electricians and mechanics get asked if they are lesbians.

R
luvanurse34 Apr 14, 2007, 9:25 PM
I wonder if this "issue" will ever come to rest. It seems to be such a novelty to alot of people that a man would ever consider becoming a nurse. Maybe when the older population dies off, then the liberal mind of the younger generation wont make such a big deal of it. It boils down to this, man or woman, you just need to do your job. Nursing duties should not be gender specific. Hey men, lets go lift this heavy patient, because barbie the nurse cant do it. Hey ladies, lets go give Mrs Smith a back massage and stroke her hair, because men aren't sensitive enough to care about her discomfort. See how ridiculous this sounds. Even if the day never comes that nurses are not recognized as a specific gender, but for their ability, I will always make sure that lives will be changed for the better. That is what nursing is all about.
Ricu Apr 14, 2007, 10:10 PM
luvanurse34 wrote:I wonder if this "issue" will ever come to rest. It seems to be such a novelty to alot of people that a man would ever consider becoming a nurse. Maybe when the older population dies off, then the liberal mind of the younger generation wont make such a big deal of it. It boils down to this, man or woman, you just need to do your job. Nursing duties should not be gender specific. Hey men, lets go lift this heavy patient, because barbie the nurse cant do it. Hey ladies, lets go give Mrs Smith a back massage and stroke her hair, because men aren't sensitive enough to care about her discomfort. See how ridiculous this sounds. Even if the day never comes that nurses are not recognized as a specific gender, but for their ability, I will always make sure that lives will be changed for the better. That is what nursing is all about.


I like the way that your last sentences sum the issue up. "...always make sure that lives are changed for the better." Thanks for the insight.

R