[JTinSC]

Baths are nothing, you get used to it after awhile. The patients are usually very old and not able to care for themselves, and no patient has ever made me feel awkward about bathing them. Normally after you do, their family will come in and notice how clean they are, especially if you have someone you shaved, and they'll greatly appreciate it. This really does make it seem like even the simplest things do matter even though it might not seem like such a big deal to you.

Now the most uncomfortable thing for a male nurse is the OB rotation. I know the instructors go in and ask each patient if they mind a male nurse, but I've come to the conclusion that the patient really isn't aware of what you'll actually be doing. I've had a few tell me they didn't want me assessing their perineal, they didn't want me to assess their breasts, lord forbid me look at an episiotomy. It really does **** me off because I walk in as a professional and I feel like a professional, and then they treat you like you're just someone off the street, but most of their ob/gyn's are males.

I've been kicked out of one room by a patient who changed her mind, I've been chased out by a husband who didn't want me walking in to take vitals because the mother was breast feeding. I've had the nurses give me attitude sometimes, especially the OR nurses, they seem to have a really bad attitude towards male students.

Its not only us males either, I've seen the females have hard times in OB clinicals also. It just seems we're not as appreciated as we are on the normal med/surg clinical rotations. My last OB clinical was this past Thursday, and I am done with it FOREVER. It was the greatest feeling I've ever had since starting this program. You just don't know the feeling of telling a female "I'm going to assess your perineal/private area, ok?" "Oh no you're not."

[MB37]

This thread is ancient, but I'll throw in my 2 cents - not all of us women have any interest in spending half a semester staring at vaginas either! Would all of you men love to have an entire course in urology, or the prostate gland? I guess I have the parts, but especially those of us who don't have kids don't know much more going in than the guys do. I wish we had more of a choice in classes and could avoid OB entirely, but unfortunately they put questions about it on the NCLEX. I don't even like to hold babies - always afraid I'm going to drop them or something. I'm sure that will be different once I have my own, but you can keep other people's kids far away from me please. Especially the process of having them! Oh well, it's just one more hurdle we all have to jump before we graduate.

[mshultz]

Originally Posted by Daytonite

Moongirl is right. 32 years ago in nursing school we were also taught to keep patients covered except for the areas of the body we were bathing or working on. The only time the genital area was EVER exposed was if the patient was unable to do any part of washing that area at all--and even then, we were taught to keep them covered and just work underneath the bath blanket. Can't help exposing that area during urinary catheterizations though. Otherwise, the remainder of the patient's body should be completely covered. They would freeze to death anyway if you didn't keep covers on them! The only time I've ever seen people in any kind of frank nudity was in the ER during a trauma or a code blue, something that happens frequently in the areas you say you are interested in. Even then, someone will usually put a towel over the person's genital area and then other areas if possible.
...

Interesting. The trauma team uncovered me, then introduced themselves before beginning to work on me. I was not covered up again until admissions (also done by this team) was finished and I was sent to the Critical Care Unit.

The first thing the CCU nurse did was to uncover me so that I could slide over onto their bed. She then introduced herself. I was shivering violently during the brief time I was uncovered. She waited until I had time to warm up before giving me a much appreciated bed bath (I had dried blood and fecal matter on my body from a GI bleed). I was uncovered during the entire bath. I then ended up with gown, slippers, and even pajama bottoms (they must have had only one pair, as they had to order extras the next day).

Patient nudity was treated as entirely natural, which made me comfortable. I had privacy when urinating and defecating, which was appreciated, as public urination is not one of my talents.

Washing a patient's genitals underneath the blanket seems odd, but then there was a time when male orderlies did intimate personal care on males, so that the female nurses did not have to (or perhaps, were not allowed).

The important part of my visit was that I ended up making a more than full recovery.

[mshultz]

Originally Posted by old_guy

LOL!! I'm amazed sometimes as to how frank women can be about such things. I NEVER talk about personal bodily functions with anyone except my wife or my doctor, but I've been around plenty of women - family and not - who simply don't seem to care. I was sitting in Bible Study class last night and the gals were talking about someone having trouble with ovarian cysts, then the discussion branched into PAP smears and other stuff. I considered being mischevious and asking something like "Ummmm...should we guys step outside for a few minutes?"

Through the process of attrition, I am the only male in my Sunday School class. Circumcision was mentioned during one of the scripture readings. The women started talking about whether they had had their male children circumcised. I got embarrassed to the point of a panic attack. I turned red, my face broke out in sweat, and I even started to get light-headed. At least no one asked whether I was circumcised.

I find it interesting that I was far more comfortable lying naked in the ED and the CCU than I was fully clothed in church that day.

[NurseKatie08]

Originally Posted by carolinapooh

Not necessarily true. We had students do their preceptorships in ICUs...depends on the student, the school, and the hospital.

But the tidy-whitey quote is both true AND funny!

My school, as did many others had an ICU rotation. I took care of ICU pts with the primary RN/my instructor, just like any other clinical, meds, IV pushes, vents & all. Every place is different.

[R2ndof7]

Originally Posted by mshultz

Through the process of attrition, I am the only male in my Sunday School class. Circumcision was mentioned during one of the scripture readings. The women started talking about whether they had had their male children circumcised. I got embarrassed to the point of a panic attack. I turned red, my face broke out in sweat, and I even started to get light-headed. At least no one asked whether I was circumcised.

I find it interesting that I was far more comfortable lying naked in the ED and the CCU than I was fully clothed in church that day.

Thanks for the laugh! The most that I have had someone remark about personal care done during a bath was an interesting older gentleman to whom I was providing much needed peri care. Having worked as a CNA at my hospital for almost a year now, I am way past the embarrassment factor, almost to a non-empathetic point (I have to put myself in their shoes often to remember that while I'm used to seeing people naked, that does not translate into every patient being comfortable like that. They certainly don't deal with it day to day unless they come from LTC.) I just replied to this older patient that while I really wasn't uncomfortable like he thought I was, I realized that it certainly could be a different matter for him. I try to impart a definite willingness to be there to provide care for the patient - a "that's what I'm here for" assurance that I hope sets aside some of that "you're in my very personal space" response. Then you start getting the amusing male patients who take my willingness to help to the extremes, just to try to make me blush. Oh, my.

I certainly respect the male population who goes into nursing, though. I love the male nurses at my hospital - there is nothing that is more comforting to me than to see what excellent care they give. I can't imagine how the dear little lady who is being patted on the hand must feel. Being a female myself, I hope that no one will think I'm being sexist by recognizing the different care personalities of each gender. I think nurses in general are very special people. This is especially evident when they are able to take a few extra minutes with a patient, even when their phone is ringing and they're an hour behind on meds. Thanks for the great examples that are set by the amazing nurses out there!

[ADPIE10]

Originally Posted by jturpin4

Hey everyone! I am currently a pre-occupational therapy student. I have been thinking about Nursing as a possible career as well but had some questions to ask before I get into it. In nursing school, do you have to bathe nude patients? What is the hardest thing for a male nurse to do while in nursing school? I think that would be definately hard for me to do. That's mainly one thing that I would not want to do, but I guess I could do if I had to to pass. I am mostly interested in ICU Nursing/ER Nursing and possibly becoming a NP. Hope you can help me!

Yes we have to bathe nude patients. My school also had us perform bed baths on each other before touching a patient. I think that it was more awkward to be nude in front of my classmates and instructor. I was surprised by the sensitivity and competence of the person performing the bed bath. Overall, it was a positive experience and good preparation.

You might want to consider volunteering at a local hospital. I was allowed to do so in an Emergency Department. Shadowing nurses will help you decide if you want to be a nurse. Remember that passing a phase of nursing school is only the beginning, not the end. The things that you are instructed to do with the patient while attending school, will most likely be the things that you'll do quite often once you graduate.

[eljamstudent]

Originally Posted by ADPIE10

Yes we have to bathe nude patients. My school also had us perform bed baths on each other before touching a patient. I think that it was more awkward to be nude in front of my classmates and instructor. I was surprised by the sensitivity and competence of the person performing the bed bath. Overall, it was a positive experience and good preparation.

You might want to consider volunteering at a local hospital. I was allowed to do so in an Emergency Department. Shadowing nurses will help you decide if you want to be a nurse. Remember that passing a phase of nursing school is only the beginning, not the end. The things that you are instructed to do with the patient while attending school, will most likely be the things that you'll do quite often once you graduate.

Out of curiosity, your school had the students nude for bed bath practice? Is this the norm? Also, was it mandatory? I have heard of many schools requiring bathing suits or shorts and a tank top, but not nude. Just curious.

[ADPIE10]

Originally Posted by eljamstudent

Out of curiosity, your school had the students nude for bed bath practice? Is this the norm? Also, was it mandatory? I have heard of many schools requiring bathing suits or shorts and a tank top, but not nude. Just curious.

You are correct. I wore shorts. :-) And still... as students, we were still very uneasy about everyone watching the bed bath. It's easier when there is an actual patient with a purpose in receiving a bed bath and there isn't a huge audience.

[elagantabyss]

Okay, so I read through all of the replies and I am still unsure.

I will be starting my first semester of NS in 22 days. While I have worked in the medical field and was very successful during my pre-req.'s, I am so nervous about what is coming.

I have known many Nursing students and I am familiar with the dedication and sacrifices that will be expected of me. It is fear of the unknown. I am afraid that I will not "get it" or that I won't be able to think "critically".

I have so many concerns. How much studying is enough. I do not work, but I have 3 small children. I have a very supportive and loving husband and family. I have already set a tightly organized schedule for studying, housework, and family time. What do I need to know for my first semester? Is it possible to be more than a C student in the Nursing Program? I need reassurance! I need pointer! I need to just get started!