AWKWARD but admittedly hilarious situation......

[nurse2211]

Verbosity is one of my worst traits, so I'll try to keep it short. This morning I entered the exam room to do what I always do: Take the vitals and pose the requisite questions for a new patient so the PA can perform a routine annual exam. I entered to find my male neighbor (my age, three houses down) in his poker-themed boxers (hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs) and black socks. Sorry, but black socks and boxers always remind me of one of those zany 1940's comedies where some hapless fool ends up on a building ledge in Times Square in his underwear at high noon, running from some monsters. He apparently rejected the the yellow paper gown offered by our MA, minutes earlier, as male patients often do. I left long enough for him to don he gown. He's known for 11 years that I'm a nurse but had no idea where.

He became flustered and reached for his shirt like a guy diving for the winning Powerball ticket, in order to cover himself. I made light of the whole thing but he was quite flustered by it all. Not pissed, just very embarrassed.

Bottom line is this: My husband and I, along with two other couples, have a scheduled night at the movies on Saturday night (in two days). One of the couples is the aforementioned neighbor and his wife. Seriously, do I say anything (not publicly, but privately to him)? Let it be? Not say anything unless he brings it up?

With ISIS running amok, the deficit, and the price of ground beef, this is a non-issue, but if there's something I can do to smooth it over, I'll try.

Again, sorry post is so long.

[nurse2211]

If he was super embarrassed then he wouldn't have worn those boxers in the first place. Sounds like a fun guy, right?

I agree with everyone else, it never happened unless he says something.

"It never happened unless he says something." Great quote. LOL

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

When I worked at a county jail I ran into people I knew a bunch. I never said anything to them outside of the jail.

[nurse2211]

When I worked at a county jail I ran into people I knew a bunch. I never said anything to them outside of the jail.

Yes, certainly that makes perfect sense. I would only engage him if he said something first, which may happen, given the fact he was seemingly upset about it. If he does, I want to bury the issue without appearing trite or casually dismissing his modesty concerns. He's a friend. Well, I'll find out tomorrow night. Six of us are going to the movies!

I've learned one thing: When undressed patients are embarrassed, the worst thing a nurse (or doctor) can say (and most of us say it), is "Oh, you've got nothing I haven't seen already." In response to that, an embarrassed 19 year old male in for a required sports physical several years ago, said, "Yeah, well, you haven't seen MINE before."

[nurse2211]

Everyones personalities are different, but I cant see why a grown man would be embarrassed about being seen in boxers.

A hemorrhoid exam or hernia check whole different ballpark, but something like this not a big deal at all.

Of course some people are very sensitive...

Your point is well taken. And experience tells me that most guys could not care less about underwear. It wasn't the boxers, that was the issue. He rejected the gown offered by our MA. It was the fact that a woman he's known for personally for years, walked in.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

Perhaps he was embarrassed to be in his boxers in front of his neighbor. I wouldn't bring it up at all.

This.

Some men do have preferences not to appear in their underwear in front of certain people.

(Mine doesn't like to be shirtless in front of the neighbors and he would certainly not be in his boxers unless there was an emergency.)

You socialize with him so that places him in another category particularly since he was unaware of you would be his nurse at the MD office.

My suggestion is to leave it be. Carry on as if nothing occurred unless he broaches it with you.

[nurse2211]

This.

Some men do have preferences not to appear in their underwear in front of certain people.

(Mine doesn't like to be shirtless in front of the neighbors and he would certainly not be in his boxers unless there was an emergency.)

You socialize with him so that places him in another category particularly since he was unaware of you would be his nurse at the MD office.

My suggestion is to leave it be. Carry on as if nothing occurred unless he broaches it with you.

I concur entirely. We and two other couples, including my neighbor are going to the movies in about 7 hours, so I'll find out. At the end of the day, it's a non-issue. But as you correctly stated, everyone has their preferences.