Do you ever offer to shave female patients?

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I had a female patient Sunday who had quite a bit of facial hair. I have never offered a female patient a shave, but I thought of it. I didn't know how she handled her facial hair situation, she didn't have a full beard, just that post-menopausal goatee. Her post-menopausal daughter came in and had the same situation.

I've never brought up the subject with female patients, probably out of a false sense of politeness. How do you all handle this aspect of personal grooming with your female patients?

Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
Facial hair? I had to shave ''down under.'':nono: If the patient was embarassed I offered to shut my eyes. :lol2: Don't worry everyone finished with the parts they started with. What's the diff? Women shave men.:uhoh3:

AMEN I offer to shave both if I get a chance during a bath Men or Ladies. Some elderly would be mortified if they knew they had beards facial hair. Now if we could get other techs to do the same.:idea:

I have even shaved legs and arm pits,LOL.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

My former mother in-law has a mustache, it is noticeable and she isn't lying in an ICU. I couldn't/can't stand it. How can women who aren't sick NOT notice facial hair? I look in my magnified, lighted, make-up mirror at least every other day. If I see ONE stray hair that is dark and noticeable, it is plucked immediately! ICK!

About your pt., I take care of babies, so I've never had to deal with that, thank you!

If I had a good relationship with the pt., I would MAYBE hint around about it somehow.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

P.S. The WORST thing is hair growing out of MOLES! Ladies(and gents) please get rid of them so we don't get sick to our stomachs! I pluck mine!

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
You'll have to add an extra column to your flow sheet:

Facial Hair:

□ Absent

□ 40 Grit

□ Willy Nilly

;)

You can squeeze it between the fall precaution flow sheet and the pain assessment section! Greg, you need to start working for JCAHO!!!:lol2:

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Greg, you need to start working for JCAHO!!!:lol2:
Please don't wish that on me...

;)

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Greg, you need to start working for JCAHO!!!:lol2:

as the female surveyor with the goatee, walks in....

leslie

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
as the female surveyor with the goatee, walks in....

leslie

Now THAT is a scary visual! :eek::eek::eek:

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Specializes in Urgent Care.
as the female surveyor with the goatee, walks in....

leslie

I remember her!

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Specializes in Medicine.

This is such a great post, because I have always wondered why it is so unheard of to ask/shave female patients?? We had a women on my floor recently who was there FOREVER and no one ever offered to shave her. In my mind I would be SO mortified if I had a mustache brewin :uhoh3:, so I always in a polite way ask if they would like me remove those unsightly hairs. Most often they say yes. Just my two cents!

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This is such a great post, because I have always wondered why it is so unheard of to ask/shave female patients?? We had a women on my floor recently who was there FOREVER and no one ever offered to shave her. In my mind I would be SO mortified if I had a mustache brewin :uhoh3:, so I always in a polite way ask if they would like me remove those unsightly hairs. Most often they say yes. Just my two cents!

i have to admit, i was rather surprised by this thread.

am i wrong for not even asking?

i just considered it a part of my a.m. care.

never thought twice about it...

now i'm beginning to wonder...

leslie

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Specializes in Medicine.

No I am totally with you Leslie, I think out of common respect I should do. I would abloustely DIE if I had a full blown mustache when I was in the hospital. I think that regardless of your socioeconomic status most people know that women should not have facial hair and that it's embarassing if they do. I couldn't imagine walking into a room and seeing my loved one in the bed with facial hair.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, private care.

When I was a CNA in LTC I did it for residents after every bath. I have always just thought of it as part of care. Every morning I pluck my own - hopefully if I ever land in LTC someone will do it for me!

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