[luvmy3kids]

I was watching "A Baby Story" on TLC and the soon to be father was on the phone talking with his parents about how the delivery went. Baby had a BM during delivery and the dad stated it like this... "The baby went to the restroom during delivery!!"

Too funny!

[Elvish]

Originally Posted by MedEthicsResearcher

That kind of response may work at times, and if it does, that's fine. When you say something like that, though, you've switched the focus from the patient to you. It becomes about your feelings, not the patients. If a patient is uncomfortable and either expresses those feelings verbally or with body language, perhaps you should acknowledge the patient's feelings. A remark like the one above is one way caregivers control patients. Comments like "We're all professionals here," do that, too. They transfer the the focus. Of course you're all professionals. The patient knows that. Of course you've see naked bodies before. Of course you've done this task a thousand times. But the patient hasn't had it done to him or her a thousand times. If a same gender caregive is available, make the offer if necessary. If not, acknowledge the patient's feelings and use your best communication skills to establish trust.

Please keep in mind this is a humor thread, used for levity and not for seriousness. I think it's safe to say that the whopping majority of nurses here and elsewhere fully understand and respect our patients' feelings in this regard. And we understand that those feelings of nervousness or embarrassment are perfectly normal.

[MedEthicsResearcher]

Originally Posted by MedEthicsResearcher

That kind of response may work at times, and if it does, that's fine. When you say something like that, though, you've switched the focus from the patient to you. It becomes about your feelings, not the patients. If a patient is uncomfortable and either expresses those feelings verbally or with body language, perhaps you should acknowledge the patient's feelings. A remark like the one above is one way caregivers control patients. Comments like "We're all professionals here," do that, too. They transfer the the focus. Of course you're all professionals. The patient knows that. Of course you've see naked bodies before. Of course you've done this task a thousand times. But the patient hasn't had it done to him or her a thousand times. If a same gender caregive is available, make the offer if necessary. If not, acknowledge the patient's feelings and use your best communication skills to establish trust.

Please keep in mind this is a humor thread, used for levity and not for seriousness. I think it's safe to say that the whopping majority of nurses here and elsewhere fully understand and respect our patients' feelings in this regard. And we understand that those feelings of nervousness or embarrassment are perfectly normal.

Point taken. This isn't the thread for this discussion. And I agree that most nurses understand and respect patient feelings. But consider that what a professional considers levity may not be funny to the client. And I could be wrong, but the tone I read in your response suggests you don't think this is really an issue. A significant amount of research out there says it is an issue. And then there's the issue of the feelings of nervousness or embarrassment of the nurse and how that affects the patient. It's a complex topic. But you're right. This discussion doesn't belong on this thread so I'll stop here.

[Elvish]

Originally Posted by MedEthicsResearcher

Originally Posted by MedEthicsResearcher

That kind of response may work at times, and if it does, that's fine. When you say something like that, though, you've switched the focus from the patient to you. It becomes about your feelings, not the patients. If a patient is uncomfortable and either expresses those feelings verbally or with body language, perhaps you should acknowledge the patient's feelings. A remark like the one above is one way caregivers control patients. Comments like "We're all professionals here," do that, too. They transfer the the focus. Of course you're all professionals. The patient knows that. Of course you've see naked bodies before. Of course you've done this task a thousand times. But the patient hasn't had it done to him or her a thousand times. If a same gender caregive is available, make the offer if necessary. If not, acknowledge the patient's feelings and use your best communication skills to establish trust.

Please keep in mind this is a humor thread, used for levity and not for seriousness. I think it's safe to say that the whopping majority of nurses here and elsewhere fully understand and respect our patients' feelings in this regard. And we understand that those feelings of nervousness or embarrassment are perfectly normal.

Point taken. This isn't the thread for this discussion. And I agree that most nurses understand and respect patient feelings. But consider that what a professional considers levity may not be funny to the client. And I could be wrong, but the tone I read in your response suggests you don't think this is really an issue. A significant amount of research out there says it is an issue. And then there's the issue of the feelings of nervousness or embarrassment of the nurse and how that affects the patient. It's a complex topic. But you're right. This discussion doesn't belong on this thread so I'll stop here.

I didn't say it's not an issue; I said it's not something being discussed here at the moment. That's all.

[lyndamic]

This discussion doesn't belong on this thread so I'll stop here

Thank you. Nothing like a lecture to bring a thread to a grinding halt. Personally, I'd send a pm to a fellow nurse (if I felt it was my place to do so), rather than call her out publically and possibly embarrass her. But I'll do it your way this time.

I once had a CNA argue with me, in all earnestness, that women urinate from their vaginas. I got out a flippin' anatomy book and proved my case, but she still didn't believe me.

I also had a new nurse tell me that Lasix would only cause her CHF patient more distress. She was under the impression that Lasix 'drew water TO the lungs'. ??? I went to answer a call light while she called the doc. She looked sheepish the rest of the night.

[lyndamic]

OOOPS! Didn't realize this thread was so ancient! Got my dander up and just replied...

[Hygiene Queen]

I once worked w/ an aide who couldn't figure out why her tampon hurt in church. She had never used them before and did not know (that is, READ the DIRECTIONS) that she was supposed to remove the applicator! Her response to her fellow aides and nurses, to whom she related this episode of discomfort to, was almost like a Edith Bunker moment, "Oooooooooh!" You know, the light switch clicked on. LOL!
I also, more recently, had a conversation w/ another aide about hermaphrodites. She thought hermaphrodites had to be gay. She also couldn't figure out how they had sex... I told her I thought she was, well, maybe thinking TOO hard on that one! She was very opinionated on this subject-- as though a hermaphrodite has a choice and they had somehow offended her. Being the devil that I am, I suggested that maybe hermaphrodites are blessed-- they get the best of BOTH worlds!
She didn't have much to say to me after that!

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

Originally Posted by MedEthicsResearcher

This discussion doesn't belong on this thread so I'll stop here.

Thanks. Feel free to go lecture on the ER nurses' forum--Lord knows they are used to it by now!!!

[prmenrs]

My son is a "special needs" young adult. He has a girlfriend (also special needs) and has decided that having a baby would probably be a bad idea for the 2 of them, so he wants to get a vasectomy. He gave me this news flash and then said: "But, Mom! When you get a vasectomy, what do they cut off?"

(I explained)

[nursebabygirl 08]

It never amazes me just how ignorant some people can be.... During a discussion about the benefits of breast-feeding babies, i shared with my co-worker that i breast fed my son until he started to "cut teeth". After making this statement, my co-worker stared at me with a blank expression. (I'm a black woman and my co-worker is white). She then looks at me with wild-eyed amazement and asked me if my milk came out brown