do you ever get comfortable with nudity

Nurses Career Support

Published

Hi,

Where do I begin? I am 42 and have a good paying job as a letter carrier.

The only problem, I absolutely hate being a letter carrier. The weather is far to challenging and I spend every day virtually alone. There is very little human contact. The hardest part is that the job is absolutely mind numbingly boring.

That is why a year ago I thought about becoming a nurse. I started attending evening classes and have completed all of the science pre reqs with a 3.65 GPA.

Because I already have a BS in Bus. Admin I was eligible to apply to the Accelerated BS to BSN program at Seton Hall. This was all good while I was dreaming but now the time to decide as arrived. I received my letter of acceptance and classes start in Sept. The problem is I have to quit my job at the Post Office in order to attend. Needless to say, I'm having the am I making the right decision jitters. I am not concerned with the classroom work too much, although I know it will be hard I think I can overcome it. What really has me worried (and I guess I'm the only one cause I haven't seen any other posts about it) is do you get use to dealing with naked strangers? I don't have any point of reference for this in my life. I can't imagine I would be the only person who would think of this as potentially embarrassing. Do you get use to inserting catheters? I would hate to go from a boring job to an embarrassing job. Help:imbar

during my training, i was more embarrassed than the patients. yes, we do get comfortable with nudity and most of the patients have become use to it, too.

"i am ... a letter carrier." well, you already know what it is like to be on your feet for hours and hours.

"i received my letter of acceptance and classes start in sept." "i'm having the am i making the right decision jitters."

do it - go for it! what might you be saying 10 or 20 years from now? "i wish i had." :crying2: "i did it and it wasn't for me" :stone or "look where i am now. i'm so glad i did it."

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks to everyone who responded. Some of the stories are so great.

To Helllo Nurse, you wouldn't be the first nurse that wanted to trade jobs with me! Maybe we could switch off every other week? Sort of balance the stress level.

The more I think about it the worse thing that could happen is that I wind up with another job I don't like. Besides, I can always go back to the Post Office.

On the funny side, I now find myself looking at strangers everywhere I go and asking myself could I deal with seeing them naked. (Very strange)

Oh, I got to tell you I was watching the Discovery channel today and they had on that birthday show. Basically Labor & delivery. Definately not the place for me to start a nursing career. That's real up close and personal!!

Thanks again,

Bogeydog

I'll have lots of questions once school starts so be prepared!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You bring up a very good point. The nudity is something that you get used to. I have told my non-nurse friends and family that sometimes you get tired of looking at naked people all day long. I've been a nurse for over 6 years and I can honestly say that I'm not embarassed by it anymore. I remember being a nursing student, 20 years old, and having to wash my first male patient. That was a bit awkward! I remember how horrified I was to give my first suppository. The only time I do find it embarassing is if a patient is getting 'fresh' with me (which has very seldom happened) and trying to embarass me.

I just try to focus on not embarassing the patient, yet still doing my job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm use to the fresh part. My father in law was a 76 year old pig. He use to ask everyone and I mean EVERYONE who came in his room if they wanted to see his catheter. Hey, maybe thats where I get this fear from! I guess if I can't come to terms with it I can always find some kind of nursing that doesn't require that type of exposure. School nurse maybe? Thanks again Bogeydog

By the way I'm from NJ too!

You bring up a very good point. The nudity is something that you get used to. I have told my non-nurse friends and family that sometimes you get tired of looking at naked people all day long. I've been a nurse for over 6 years and I can honestly say that I'm not embarassed by it anymore. I remember being a nursing student, 20 years old, and having to wash my first male patient. That was a bit awkward! I remember how horrified I was to give my first suppository. The only time I do find it embarassing is if a patient is getting 'fresh' with me (which has very seldom happened) and trying to embarass me.

I just try to focus on not embarassing the patient, yet still doing my job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There are, of course, exceptions. An example is the young skateboarder who came in for a knee replacement awhile back, and all I will say about him is that his, ahem, dimensions were rather impressive........so impressive, in fact, that even his surgeon couldn't help remarking (quote:"Holy God, did you SEE the d**k on that kid in there?!) :chuckle Otherwise, most of us never really pay attention to what people look like. :)

:rotfl: -pees her pants- :uhoh21:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Bogeydog - after a while it is like it's just another job, you are a bit more focused on the tasks at hand, although later on in the evening the thought may pop up "oh my God ! that thing was absoultely inhuman !"

It's not so bad in psych, we tend to see them in all their clothing wxcept for a few exhibitionists, then again, every so ofter we announce naked hour, and everyone gets it off their chests, so to speak......................... only kidding

Since you are a Postal employee or have been one, you can use that time if you go work for the VA Hospital, or I believe govt. time is good if you go work for the State but only as a one time deal. The VA is always looking, good luck whatever you do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Re: inflicting pain and nudity-

Ya just get over it, the first time you do a cath or an injection you will be so worried about proper technique you wont even notice if it hurts the pt or if they are nude, really.

As an Ob nurse I dont even think about it honestly, I am just trying to do my job, and I'm not thinking about what this girl in the bed looks like, and I might say sorry as I stick her with an 18g IV but I'm not really lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In nursing school do you have to bathe a person? or is it after youve graduated?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
I prefer naked strangers over naked friends...

Nudity never bothered me in the least and it still doesnt

But on the other hand I prefer naked friends as to naked strangers

anyone want to go swimming

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think everyone feels a little uncomfortable at first, I mean it's not the "norm" for us all to go around looking at each other naked, that's why we wear clothes. But just like anything else, you get used to it. I work in OB too and I don't think anything could shock or embarrass me now. :rotfl:

In nursing school do you have to bathe a person? or is it after youve graduated?

This was the first thing that I did in nursing school. They break you in really fast. :wink2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Great thread. I'm really, REALLY uncomfortable with seeing people naked too.

It feels like you're making them so vulnerable and I hate that!

I think I'm really scared of dealing with naked people, especially patients whom I like, because I feel like I'm degrading them and that they might guess this. Like, I don't think the people's bodies are beautiful or anything and most of the times think people's bodies are really ugly-looking and I feel bad that I think so disrespectfully? Degradingly? of someone's body, even if I don't show it. Like, if anyone knew that I thought they were ugly or that their body disgusts me, they wouldn't take off their clothing for me to think that theiy were ugly, so why should they trust me enough to do so? Like, I don't deserve that they're trusting me to think that they're bodies are basically beautiful and unique.

I really have issues with this. Like, I dont know what to do. I try to objectify everybody's body into one?

On the other hand, then, there are those people that are so happy to take off their clothes for you because they know it embarrasses you and upstes you so much and they want to make fun of you and torment you (oooohhh, I dont feel bad for these people....ohhhhh, I hate them....)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I will never forget the first gentleman I bathed during a nursing home rotation. He was disabled but his mind was razor sharp.

There were two of us: me (I don't get embarassed by much) and the youngest person in our class, just 18. SHE was horribly embarassed, until he started referring to his endowment as "Big Thunder" and talking about it as though it were a separate person (and not in a naughty way either; just silly). It was so hilarious that both she and I were in stitches -- and she was never embarassed after that. The only people I've seen have more fun with a bath are two year olds with toys.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment