I've had to do alot of things I've felt uncomfortable with-catheterizing male patients, bathing young male patients, shaving males pelvic areas. It's all part of nursing. When you become a nurse you know these issues will pop up. If the patient requests a female nurse-that's a different story. However I feel male or female, doesn't matter in nursing. You're a nurse, plain and simple. Do the task required of you.

I thought that is what nurses were supposed to do. If you feel uncomfortable about a procedure or don't know the procedure then you get another nurse. Women don't need male chap.'s so why do you? I've never heard that before. When I did my first male cath, i felt nervous and uncomfotable but 1. I needed to do it for clinical paper and experience and 2. he was a he. But I talked to him throughout the procedure and acted liked I have done it numerous times. I think it is all in how you feel and treat things. I can now just look at a patient and treat them as such. No gender issues

Most GYNs who'd be giving a woman an "examination" are men. Most nurses who'd be shaving a man below the waste, bathing a man, etc.. are women. If I'm a patient, I couldn't care less who's giving me an examination (I understand that a lot of patients do). I would feel comfortable doing whatever. If I need a chaperon, so be it... I'd want to have my arse covered just in case, because you always have "that one" patient out there who'd outright lie or misinterpret. A woman can go in for 100 different types of abdominal surgery and not think anything of a man being up to his elbows in her bowel, uterus, etc.. with everyone and their mother seeing her privates. The same woman might get antsy with a male nurse examining something as simple as a small puncture wound to her buttocks. I think in the U.S. we've gotten to the point where we're so "choosey" and feel as if hospitals should make "allowances" to and for both patients and staff. Because of legalities, I'm 100% behind chaparones.. however I feel that any nurse, physician or pharmacists who refuses to help a patient due to his or her personal issues should be fired.

My take (generally speaking):

A black physician better do his best to aid the Grand Dragon, because that's his or her job.
A Jewish physician better bust his or her rump trying to aid a Hitler wannabe because thats the job.
A male nurse better do female caths w/staff present because we don't pick-n-choose based on sex.
A female nurse better hop-to-it, and help prep a male to be "snipped" because she shouldn't pick-n-choose.
A pharmacist better give a 19yr old the morning after pill because thats his/her job.. to serve the public, not to pick and choose public service based on his/her personal view, ethic or morals.

If all the above can't do their jobs. I'd terminate them on the spot if I was in a managing position to do so.

Again, thats just my opinion, and to all you fine folks who feel differently, I respect your view as well :)

Respect to all..

Teila

Can LVNs do catheterizations? I am 'considering nursing' preferably for the RN Program. My local CC is tough with enrollments (lottery system only). LVNs can enroll/transition into the ADN-RN Program upon space availability. Anyway, tasks such as this (catheterizations) have crossed my mind - still doesn't change my mind about becoming a future RN.

Thanks for the food for thought.

I think it's fair enough to get a female nurse to do a catheterization if you have to have one nearby anyways. And return the favour by doing the guys if your on. Things like that shouldn't be big deal. Generally speaking I believe women patients are more comfortable with female nurses doing the catheters so it's easier to default to that if its available. There are always exceptions for either sex so should play it by ear. If I had a male patient and a male nurse willing to do the job I'd be happy to accomodate the patient if the male nurse didn't mind. At the end of the day, if there is the time and the staff available who really cares? I've taken alot of male catheters out and I always find talking to them and distracting them works if I sense they are uncomfortable. We are all human... bottom line whoever does the job just needs to be good at it.

It is true that there are other cultures and that we should, most definitely,respect them Even the American culture.

You haven't heard of a nurse refusing to do something and getting away with it?? You've never received an order from a provider that you felt was dangerous or completely inappropriate? As the patient's primary advocate, that is your duty. Small example...I refused today to give Haldol via the IV route. I still have a job. Here is my male view of catheterizations & the like. Historically, Nurses have primarily been females. It was accepted that if you were a male and needed something done "down there" it would more than likely be a female doing it. The fear in most of our minds (the males) is that of the potential to have a female patient claim that you were in some way inappropriate. nursingaround is absolutely correct in saying that this is a litigious society. One of my colleagues was accused of horrible things with a female patient. His life was hell for months until the girl finally confessed that she had lied. You don't see this much with female nurses and male patients, but it's at the forefront of our minds. I grab a female colleague to be with me in any situation that could potentially put me at risk for a complaint. Would I refuse to put in a female catheter? No, but I wouldn't do it without a female chaperone.

Well guys, perhaps I sounded a bit harsh, the words of JennyJay sum up more simply the way I feel, it's a practical issue for me. My home hospital even has a policy that men do men and women do women, although it is not always adhered to.
Reading back over my comments I do sound a bit severe and I apologise. My first female catheterization happened in my first two weeks of nursing. My preceptor said my 40yr old hysterectomy patient needed a catheter as the one from theater had come out. I asked her for help, and she said, "You'll be fine, just look for the small hole". I am not kidding when I say this.
Anyway, have found your comments interesting and thought provoking and may even be willing to change my ways a bit.
Thank you all.

At the hospital where I worked as an attendant in the late 70s all the nursing staff were women. That would have meant that only women would have catheterized men if the policy was that caths were done by the nurse. Fortunately for the male patients at that hospital it was not thought proper that a 22 year old Jane Doe with an Associates Degree would perform such an intimate procedure on, say, a 24 year old man. They still respected the privacy and modesty of male patients. Only the full time male attendants or doctors cathed men.

I have talked to nurses who on occasion for whatever reason cathed male patients and the nurse will comment how always the man did not like her doing it. The man is always embarrassed and humiliated. The men don't know or understand it is their right to demand that the female nurse leave and get male staff to do the procedure. Is this arrogant disregard for the privacy and modesty of male patients taught to female nurses in nursing school or is it aquired OJT?

I would not allow a female nurse to catheterize me or do an abdominal prep on me. I would first ask her "who are you and what do you want to do? I would then ask her if I needed to be cathed a second time would if be another woman with an Associate Degree or would she have a 1 year LVN diploma. Get my point ladies?

Maybe some ethics complaints and legal action are needed to get the 95 percent female nursing profession to start respecting the privacy and feelings of male patients.

No I don't get your point Dumb Dumb, why would you want a man poking at your private? and what difference does it make if it's a RN or an LPN if you are in the habit of choosing who get to save your life you need to think again. Maybe if you get something caught in your throat one day and you can't catch your breath, then you should pick and choose who you want to help you, if there are females around tell them to get out of the way and bring on the men.

"I would not allow a female nurse to catheterize me or do an abdominal prep on me. I would first ask her “who are you and what do you want to do? I would then ask her if I needed to be cathed a second time would if be another woman with an Associate Degree or would she have a 1 year LVN diploma. Get my point ladies?"

First of all, it is alright to request a male to do certain procedures on you- that is your right.

However, I don't think it matters if an RN or LVN performs a catheterization- the procedure doesn't change from one degree to the other. It is learned the same way, and done the same way, by either one.

And just as a side note, neither RNs nor LVNs are going to try and insert a catheter , or prep you for abdominal surgery without explaining to you first what she is going to do.

But you go right ahead and ask that stupid question. That is also your right.

I think there is alot of liability in today's world for a male nurse to insert a foley catheter in a female, without a "chaperone". I would readily agree to swap this job for my male counterpart, for one that needs to be done for one of my patients. I don't know why this should be something that a manager should have to get involved with, as professionals, we should be able to work with our colleagues and get the job done!

nursingaround said:

I refuse to do female catheterization, while female nurses do both men and women. Do you think this is right?
Before you judge me, here's my reasoning:

1. I need a female chaperon, so what point is there in me doing the deed?

2. It's hard to think of an occasion when a female catheter needs to be inserted urgently. Every time it's been needed there have been plenty of female staff around.

3. It's definitely more difficult for women to have a man doing such a job as opposed to a women doing the job on a man. I've spent plenty of time in the urology surgical ward as well as the walk in STD clinics, and trust me when I say it is generally less stressful for the men than for the women.

4. The argument that nurses are professionals and as such we can do it all, is just insensitive--to the patient as well as the nurse.

Bryn

nursingaround.blogspot.com

I've never heard of an RN needing a chaperone for this type of procedure - weird!

Cheif10 said:

At the hospital where I worked as an attendant in the late 70s all the nursing staff were women. That would have meant that only women would have catheterized men if the policy was that caths were done by the nurse. Fortunately for the male patients at that hospital it was not thought proper that a 22 year old Jane Doe with an Associates Degree would perform such an intimate procedure on, say, a 24 year old man. They still respected the privacy and modesty of male patients. Only the full time male attendants or doctors cathed men.

I have talked to nurses who on occasion for whatever reason cathed male patients and the nurse will comment how always the man did not like her doing it. The man is always embarrassed and humiliated. The men don't know or understand it is their right to demand that the female nurse leave and get male staff to do the procedure. Is this arrogant disregard for the privacy and modesty of male patients taught to female nurses in nursing school or is it aquired OJT?

I would not allow a female nurse to catheterize me or do an abdominal prep on me. I would first ask her "who are you and what do you want to do? I would then ask her if I needed to be cathed a second time would if be another woman with an Associate Degree or would she have a 1 year LVN diploma. Get my point ladies?

Maybe some ethics complaints and legal action are needed to get the 95 percent female nursing profession to start respecting the privacy and feelings of male patients.

charlita said:

snowman said:

I think (with the exception of viewing female anatomy) that yes we should....it's known fact that most male nurse get a higher salary than female nurses....is that fair?...NO!.....so stop griping and do the job....

Wait a minute!! Male nurses get paid more then female nurses?? What's up with this??