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 LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I think part of the inhibition is that most women don't actually shave. I pluck my chin, shaving seems rather masculine. Many women wax, I'm told. It's sort of personal and a bit taboo, which is why I asked, because I suspect from reading this thread that this is a neglected area of personal care.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
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!

I think it's more addressed in LTC. When I worked LTC the residents were taken care of in this manner by the day CNAs.

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

I had a patient request for me to tweeze her mustache and since I had the time I did. As a brunette, I would be very happy is someone offered to tweeze my few offending facial hairs if I were incapacitated!

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Specializes in LTC, home health, private care.

Very true - it's normal care in LTC. I don't think I would ask anyone in a hospital setting.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown.
I think it's more addressed in LTC. When I worked LTC the residents were taken care of in this manner by the day CNAs.

ditto

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