Awkward moment?

Nursing Students Male Students

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So I'm a male nursing student, I graduate in a couple days. I precepted in the ICU and I personally have no issue with going in and doing bed baths and such, genitalia isn't an issue for me. Do any male nurses feel awkward performing baths on females that are totally with it, but perhaps incapable of doing it herself? I only ask because when I was completing this task during a precepting I had a patient that wasn't able to do it herself, but completely alert and everything, was just there for very close monitoring. I hadn't thought anything of it, until the PCA said to me when I walked out of the room she wouldn't feel comfortable if I was her nurse performing a bed bath on her unless she was sedated and didn't even know it was going on.

Another thought, from a future nurse and not a cna point of view. Just have the CNA do the cleaning. Seriously, it is within the scope of a CNA.

Final thought...have the PCA do it once your an RN.

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Specializes in ER.

If it gets to the point of where they need someone to give them a bed bath, most are used to it and no longer care.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
Another thought, from a future nurse and not a cna point of view. Just have the CNA do the cleaning. Seriously, it is within the scope of a CNA.

Final thought...have the PCA do it once your an RN.

Not all facilities have them. Some facilities use a total care model where the RN does all the care. Effectively what does this mean? It means don't be so sure that you, the nurse, will be able to pawn that off to someone else.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I don't think it was that big of a deal. I wouldn't judge your nursing practice on what some PCA would prefer if she was the patient.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Exactly what ^^ said, who cares what the PCA said. Just do your job with utmost professionalism. I myself have said those words, "I wouldn't let a male nurse or doctor see me 'down there' " but that is only my distrust as having something happen to me when I was a kid by a trusted male family member. It's possible she may have had a similar experience. Now, after having conversations with my student nurse friends about this, that it's OK to have my opinions, but not OK to impose them on others, like she did to you. Best wishes to you, we need more men in this profession.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Exactly! The best way to earn trust is to say what you are going to do, and then do only that. I've seen female nurses just jump right in without telling the pt. what they are going to do, and then you see the pt.'s face full of surprise when they start getting washed.

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Specializes in Emergency.

It's only awkward if you make it awkward. You do not need a nurse of the opposite gender to assist in bathing a patient.

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The things we say, let's not forget where we have come from! Speaking as a nursing student that's been a CNA, med-aide and MHT since the 90's when most of the students I attend school with were just born. The CNA is on the front line they are with the patients everyday, they know exactly how it is to be on the other side and how patients feel about certain ADL's. Take it from me don't get your pct CNA or assistants against you. They can make your job easy or they can make it hard.. You decide. They are the ones who usually see changes in patients before the nurse even realizes there is a problem. Delegate tasks because you trust them not because you don't want to do it yourself.. Good leaders are willing to do what most people won't do.. I'm a leader are you? We are going to be nurses responsible for people's lives, if your not willing to give me a bath are you even willing to calculate the dosage of my medications right.. Get my point. Don't mean to carry on and on. But everyone is not ethical and trust worthy and would do the right thing. Wish they have lie detector tests along with the NCLEX

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Not all facilities have them. Some facilities use a total care model where the RN does all the care. Effectively what does this mean? It means don't be so sure that you, the nurse, will be able to pawn that off to someone else.

True, all facilities might not, but if you got them, don't be afraid to use them.

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The things we say, let's not forget where we have come from! Speaking as a nursing student that's been a CNA, med-aide and MHT since the 90's when most of the students I attend school with were just born. The CNA is on the front line they are with the patients everyday, they know exactly how it is to be on the other side and how patients feel about certain ADL's. Take it from me don't get your pct CNA or assistants against you. They can make your job easy or they can make it hard.. You decide. They are the ones who usually see changes in patients before the nurse even realizes there is a problem. Delegate tasks because you trust them not because you don't want to do it yourself.. Good leaders are willing to do what most people won't do.. I'm a leader are you? We are going to be nurses responsible for people's lives, if your not willing to give me a bath are you even willing to calculate the dosage of my medications right.. Get my point. Don't mean to carry on and on. But everyone is not ethical and trust worthy and would do the right thing. Wish they have lie detector tests along with the NCLEX

Oh I plan to be elbows deep along with my cna's. But please don't treat all cna's as holier than thou. I see way more bad CNA's than I do good. Sad to say my cna's will have to earn my respect through their work and not just expect it. That's how I decide.

As for doing those adl tasks, you got to ask yourself where you will be more effective, sure I can give a bed bath or clean a blowout that is from head to toe, but that takes time. Is my time as nurse more productive calculating doses and passing meds on time with a meal or helping a CNA with a task that could/should be done by them or with help from another cna? And that ain't no lie.

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Another thought, from a future nurse and not a cna point of view. Just have the CNA do the cleaning. Seriously, it is within the scope of a CNA.

Final thought...have the PCA do it once your an RN.

I plan on working in the ICU, and there is only 1 PCA to 18 patients. It's the nurses responsibility.

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Great that you are thinking like a nurse and working on your delegating skills set forth in the BON website on delegating. Trust me when I say this, but the bad CNA that you have run across were good at one time and really believed that what they were doing was helping someone, but along the way some one or something turned them into the CNA from hell. Maybe because no one show them that they are appreciated and needed, showed them respect or tested them. Yeah as the nurse you are responsible for that patient so if the CNA doesn't do their job well guess who they come to for the answer.. Yes they have to gain our trust but it's Also twofold they are not trusting you yet either as the nurse. Give a little to get a little. Trust that is!

So the talk about just let the CNA do it to the PCT will get you nowhere with the CNA's. For example I used manage an assisted living residence. I was the CNA who worked my way up in the ranks. I never forgot where I came from and the feeling I had when I was a CNA low on the totem pole. I still helped out when I could and it help me gain their respect as a manager now. Yes your drug calculations are important do them, give your meds and go ask the CNA if they need help with anything the answer will be no but just asking let's them know that you care and they are part of the team not just the blowout cleaner uppers.

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