How Does Gender Matter in Patient Care for a Nurse?

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Gender equality is the new change. A change, which lets women and men, enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all the sectors of the society. Certainly a good one. After all, as far as the economic participation, decision-making, aspirations and needs of the women and men are valued and favored equally, this has to be an appreciated change.

However, gender does matter when it comes to medical care. This is something a nursing student is taught while pursuing nursing education program. This consideration of gender has nothing to do with depicting either of the genders as inferior. Instead, it has some valid and rather scientific reasons supporting it. By the end of this blog, you’d certainly agree that gender does truly make a difference as far as medical care is concerned.

Undoubtedly, the physical differences are not at all under the realm of argument. In fact, the trouble occurs when the diseases that affect both the genders imply a different diagnosis, treatment, and medication, for each. This has to be understood by nurses, doctors and all health care professional.

Let’s look at certain differences in patient care reported by the health care professionals-

How Medical Care Differs for Heart Attacks?

We know that all humans have identical hearts. For instance, we have identical functioning as well as the size of this organ. However, does that make it necessary to face the same troubles by both the genders? No! Over the years, doctors, nurses, and various health care professionals have realized that heart faces troubles differently-

  • Firstly, women are likely to suffer from heart attack at older ages as compared to male fraternity.
  • Secondly, women face different issues and pain signs. Nausea, shoulder and neck pain are the common ones.
  • It is more difficult to track when a woman is struck by a heart attack.
  • Most of the women do not even show any waves or traces on the Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). Therefore, it becomes equally difficult to deliver treatment for women as quickly as men do.
  • There are different levels of risks involved in the treatments as far as both of the genders are concerned.
  • As compared to men, women’s response to the treatment could differ and may require a different approach.

How Medical Care Differs for Vaccinations?

Ever thought of it to be possible? Indeed, men and women respond differently to different vaccinations. This has been researched to be happening due to the hormonal variations. For instance, women experience more antiviral, cellular and inflammatory responses to the vaccinations. Moreover, since women face greater side effects of the vaccinations, custom-made vaccines were recommended for future usage. Apart from this, there are many drugs to which men and women react differently. While these differences may be minute, it’s necessary to make sure they are not dangerous.

For professional nurses, there’s a lot to learn about how different genders respond to medications while practicing it in real time. There are Post Degree Nursing Programs In Canada for internationally educated nurses that allows them to enhance their skills and knowledge in their area of specialization.

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