[Gabie Baby]

The whole point of a chaperone for male doctors was, I thought, to protect the doctor from unfounded accusations that he did something untoward to the patient.

I never thought and never was taught that the patient's comfort was the issue. Reading it here, I do see the light now! Thank you. So, coming from that position, it seems completely counterproductive to subject a female patient to a male doctor AND a male nurse.

You're the boss. You make the rules. Get rid of anyone who won't follow them.

[Gabie Baby]

Originally Posted by MS._Jen_RN

I would agree. Because it is for the safety and comfort of the patient, they should choose. If the patient just wants someone, reguardles of their gender, that's OK too.

Just to play devils advocate , what if the female MD preforming the exam is a lesbian? What if the male MD were gay? Would women feel that they needed a chaparone? (assuming the patient knows - I know)

~Jen

I've wondered that, too, Jen. Life is so darned complex. Sigh

[gth]

Originally Posted by Hoping2/19/07

Maybe to ensure all patients are able to express their wishes for a chaperone there should be some sort of check box on some form stating they would always like a chaperone or a female nurse or doctor. That way they don't have to ask or tell the doctor they feel uncomfortable, that in itself is not comforting.

Personally, I feel more comfortable with males, maybe because I was raised by my father? Who knows. I totally understand the second person in the room, but male or female, it's always seemed a little creepy to me because they are just standing there...watching...and watching . For me that's more uncomfortable than being alone with the male.

I think your check box is a great idea. I am a male and go to female internist with no problem but I feel any time a person goes to new Dr. a nurse should be present. Personally would prefer female as never seen a male nurse in any office.

[Melina]

Originally Posted by diamondmeadows

however, i disagree with your statement about the female care provider and the male patient. again, for the benefit of the patient and the care provider, i think a male chaperone would be preferable.

As a girl, I really don't have the expertise to have an opinion, but would a man really want another man in the room during an exam 'for support'? It seems that the fewer witnesses to a prostate exam, the better. Any men have an opinion? Would you want another man (or woman, for that matter) in with you during your exam?

~Mel'

[masstudent]

[quote=nursedude1] "No one in their right mind would deny a chaperone to a patient that requested one, but to require one for each and every encounter only sends the message that we as professionals are not trustworthy. What's next? Video monitors at the bedside to record every move that we make?"

The problem with only supplying a chaperone when a patient asks for one is when the patient feels uncomfortable asking for one. Many patients feel vulnerable during a pelvic/breast exam be it done by a male or female. I had a patient complain that she didn't like being examined without a female present after the fact. If my clinic had a standing rule to provide a female chaperone we could have easily made her happy. Many patients don't speak up and as nurses we need to advocate for all of them, especially those who don't have a voice. In the clinic I work at we have many females from other countries and their english is limited. I am sure they would like to have a female in the room but won't speak up. I also went to college with a lot of Muslim students and my roommate who was Muslim wouldn't even think about getting a breast/pelvic exam from a female doctor even though it could possibly save her life.

[nursedude1]

You're probably right as far as the patients not able/comfortable speaking up for themselves. There are always three sides to every story, each one usually not without merit...

I happily advocate for the comfort, safety, and privacy of each of my patients. I only worry about the message that this sends to our patients and to the public with regards to men working in nursing. We have a hard enough time recruiting men to this profession to begin with. Now we present with the perception that men in nursing are not trustworthy (while women are). It doesn't matter if that's not the true meaning behind all of this. The general public doesn't care about details, only perception. We male nurses, as a minority, should be trying to change the public's perception about us, not apologizing for being here.

I know that this probably qualifies as a rant, so let me just summarize by saying that while there certainly many people out there who have different values than our own, I also think that the public perception of men in nursing is influenced by our own attitudes and behaviors. In my 2.5 years (a plethora of experience, to be sure) of OB/GYN nursing, I have found very few patients (even those from more modest cultures) that I have not been able to 'win over'. Even the most reluctant ones, in the end, would admit that my determination and sensitivity changed their minds about having a man "take care of them".

[58flyer]

Originally Posted by Melina

As a girl, I really don't have the expertise to have an opinion, but would a man really want another man in the room during an exam 'for support'? It seems that the fewer witnesses to a prostate exam, the better. Any men have an opinion? Would you want another man (or woman, for that matter) in with you during your exam?

~Mel'

My opinion...as a male, I would definitely want a male chaperone if the caregiver is female and is performing an intimate exam/procedure. However, having had some bad experiences with female medical personnel (nurses and docs), I would most likely not accept such care from females at all.

[diamondmeadows]

Originally Posted by Melina

As a girl, I really don't have the expertise to have an opinion, but would a man really want another man in the room during an exam 'for support'? It seems that the fewer witnesses to a prostate exam, the better. Any men have an opinion? Would you want another man (or woman, for that matter) in with you during your exam?

~Mel'

you're right. i am not a man, and i'm not even going to pretend that i have some special insight into the male perspective.

i suppose i was just thinking that it might make some men more comfortable in the way that it makes some women more comfortable, but that could just be my naivete. i was also thinking about the lawsuit opportunity: "well, they were both women, and they were working together to sexually abuse me." i don't know if this has ever happened before; i just always tend to think of the worst case scenario. based on my very limited knowledge, i think that ultimately it should be whatever makes the patient most comfortable and the health provider most secure, within the limits of practicality.

[58flyer]

Originally Posted by CEG

I have always found it creepy to have an extra person hanging around the room during a pelvic exam... But after one horrificly bad experience I only see females for my care so it's not an issue anymore. If a female provider offered a chaperone I would decline unless she was uncomfortable with it.

Sorry to read that you had a bad experience. You are not alone. Would you like to share it with us? That's how we learn. Of course if you don't want to, I respect that.

[JaneyW]

As a nursing student a few years ago, I chaperoned a doc doing a pelvic on a woman in her 70s on a med/surg floor. I forget exactly why she was there, but the male doc was someone that had been called in to consult. What I will remember forever about that incident was that the patient was very uncomfortable about having an unknown male touch her--appropriately--and was just mortified by the whole thing. After he was gone, she was tearful and when I hugged her she thanked me for being there and for supporting her and listening. He was a polite, good doc who did nothing wrong, it was just the situation that was disturbing for her. For her, I needed to be there and be female. It was one of those 'art of nursing' moments that keep me in this profession.

Don't get me wrong, nurses of the male gender are also great practitioners of the 'art of nursing'. I just think that, as many others have already posted, we need to keep the needs of our patients foremost in our minds and be advocates for them--not ourselves and our own need to feel like we can do it all regardless of what the patient may feel. Maybe it is a left-over remnant of the "mom-love" thing in us that makes us comfortable with females? I don't know. I am not anti-male--don't flame me. I have three sons!