do you ever get comfortable with nudity

FROGGYLEGS, LPN · May 29, 2004

Yes, I was more than a little intimidated by the thought of inserting catheters and by having to ask people to remove their clothing as part of my work.

I was not sure that I'd ever get comfortable being this up close and personal with people. I was scared of it and there were plenty of others in my nursing class that held the same fears.

Actually, the progression from fear to comfort didn't take long. I was almost completely over it before clinicals had much time to begin. The few last remaining feelings of discomfort disappeared shortly after graduation.

Going into nursing from something completely different is...well; different.

I also remember being mortified by the prospect of taking blood pressure. I was so scared that I didn't know what I was doing and would get an inaccurate reading. I think one of my instructors picked up on that. Before clinicals had even started we were assigned to attend a health fair at a local factory. I was assigned to check blood pressures on the employees for 6 straight hours. By the end of that day I was 100% confident and comfortable with this task.

I think we all have fears, particularly when we are starting out. I think you'll see that the majority of these fears vanish once you have a little experience doing it.

bogeydog · May 29, 2004

Dear Froggy Legs.

Thanks so much for the honest answer. I knew I couldn't be the only one!

Bogeydog

RN-PA, RN · May 29, 2004

It was uncomfortable to me at first-- I am naturally pretty modest, and it was strange to be having such intimate contact with virtual strangers, since I'm not very comfortable with my own nudity ...issues:imbar :uhoh21:... But you become very task-oriented and focus on your job at hand, either assessing or performing a procedure. My modesty also helps me to be careful and gentle when I deal with patients. I only uncover the area of a patient's body I need to assess or perform a procedure on. The curtains are always closed, and I perform and interact very matter-of-factly, business-like, but friendly-- to put my patients' minds at ease, and maintain some modesty and dignity.

All the best to you in your new career!

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · May 29, 2004

BogeyDog,

Can we please please please trade jobs?

I would love to not have to talk to people all day! I am sick of all the demands coming from every direction. Mind-numbingly boring sounds great. I am sick of high intensity heart rate at 120 all day long jobs.

As for the nudity thing, I find when the pts are the same age as me, it's a lot more ebarrassing for both of us. If they're elderly, they are usually not embarrassed at all, and neither am I.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 29, 2004

I remember the first time I ever gave someone a bath who wasn't a member of my family. I was 22, married barely a year, and starting a new job as a very inexperienced and very green home-health care worker. It was also the first time I'd ever seen an uncircumcised member, and I hadn't a clue as to how I was supposed to, uh, wash him :imbar . Worse, the elderly gentleman's wife was standing right over me, and she yelled at me "You're doing it wrong! Don't you know how to give someone a proper bath?" the whole time, as I struggled with my embarrassment and revulsion. I quit the same day. :stone

Flash forward to some 20+ years later........I've seen more nude bodies than Hugh Hefner, and I'm so far past shame it's not even funny. I'm very sensitive to my patients who have modesty issues---I'm ALWAYS the one who pulls the curtain, even with the door to the room shut---but I personally couldn't care less. I drop my shirt for my annual mammogram without protest and sail through my pelvic exams without even bothering to blush, and it doesn't bother me at all to see other people naked.........it's just part of the job, and I don't even think about it.

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. :)

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · May 29, 2004

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. :)

ahahaha! :rotfl:

dansamy · May 29, 2004

We are all naked under our clothes.

GEO · May 29, 2004

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

Had a young man who started his first day in orientation. First thing on the to do list was view some videos...he came to me and said I can not do this job. VERY DISTRESSED. We discussed his fears and embarrsssment. He was very honest and respectful.........long story short...he made a very wonderful nurse aide whom the patients just loved. The clinical side is very important, but its also the compassion and concern for others. Takes both to be a good nurse. (good gpa and brain goes along ways too :nurse: GOOD LUCK TO YOU

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · May 29, 2004

I'm fine with the nudity.

Think the toughest part for me will be causing another pain (tough needle sticks, cath's, etc.). And doing so to babies and children will definitely ratch it up several notches.

Would love to hear experienced folks' suggestions on how to most successfully get over my little preoccupation about the above. Know I'll be fine when the time comes, but help me make it easier. Thanks!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · May 29, 2004

I got over my discomfort when I realized the patients were much less embarassed than I was. Most of them were LOL who had birthed 5 children, no modesty left. )

psychomachia · May 29, 2004

Hi,
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? Help:imbar

I prefer naked strangers over naked friends...