Gender Uncertainty & Good Manners

[mobey]

The angry ones will be angry regardless...

This is a great point. As we all know, some people are searching for a reaction, and are going to get offended and dramatic no matter what.

[scubanurse]

I've always been pretty blunt with most things... I just ask do you identify as male or female.

[paramedicmike]

Identity doesn't always match genetics.

[scubanurse]

Exactly why I ask the way I do. I've had a for sure male, inserted the foley myself, but she identified as a woman so out of respect, I referred to her as a female in all but the paperwork.

[Just Plain Ruff]

Yeah, I had a male who identified as female, it took me a couple of times identifying him has HIM and then finally converted for this patients request. talked to that patient like he was a she for the rest of the ER visit. When you can do that for a patient, it provides them with the respect that they ask for. I got a glowing thank you card and a Press Gainey Patient satisfaction survey that blew our Risk management and quality people out of the water. All for just the little act of my preserving the dignity of a traveller who suffered a migraine headache and decided to stop by our small ER in our small town.

[scubanurse]

I just don't see why people have issues with this. It'd be like going up to someone and saying you're not allowed to dye your hair red. Identity is what we choose for ourselves not what others impose on us.

[paramedicmike]

Right. I agree. But asking how one identifies hem-/her-self won't always get you the answer you need if you're trying to ask for their gender. Gender and identity are two separate questions with potentially two completely different answers.

[scubanurse]

I get it. Blonde moment/post Hawaii moment. I was thinking more in terms of conversing with the patient than r/o diagnoses based on gender. My bad.

[Caduceus]

I don't work in a medical environment, but I am often mistaken for a guy even though I am a girl. On a regular basis people call me "sir". Doesn't really bother me, but I'd just want people to ask. Gets it out of the way as soon as possible, and if someone addressed me the way I wanted to be, as Capt said, then I'd definitely feel like I got a lot of respect from that person and I'd be glad they asked rather than continued being wrong/guessing.

Edited November 22, 2013 by Caduceus

[Secouriste]

The adam apple can be an indication, not matter what the face looks like?