Do you ever offer to shave female patients?

Published

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 have PCOS, which means that I have excess facial hair, a few years ago before laser hair removal, I was due to be admitted for surgery and I paniced about my facial hair, and asked my aunt to use wax strips to remove it, even if I was in ICU!

My friend Angie and her sister are both nurses and they are menopausal and have a pact with each other to pluck their facial hair if either of them are hospitalised!

I think that there are more women out there who are concerned about how their body hair is handled when they are hospitalised.

How did the lasar hair removal work for you? I was considering looking into that for myself...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.

I usually don't do anything about it but... A couple of years ago i had a older patient, she had a serious goatee and everything else. It was so bad the roommates family thought she was a man, i felt really bad for the old girl. When she heard the family member she started crying. Well i gave her a shave, manicure and spiffed her hair up a bit. i was precepting that day and the census was a little low. When her husband came in and saw her, he sought me out and at first i thought he was mad but then hugged me and said "she always was particular about her appearance but since her illness she was too ill to care" I guess she told the husband about the rude roommates guest and what i did for her.

I guess it just depends on the situation and the patient you are doing for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What if you left the question open: "Ms. Hirsute, what can I get you to help with your morning grooming?" This avoids being obtrusive and allows you to meet the patient where they are.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

wow.

shaving female pts. has always, always been a part of my care.

never even thought to ask.

i see whiskers and feel compelled to shave.

it takes 2 minutes.

and boy, are they grateful.

if anything, you can see that some feel shy, but always offer a grateful "thank you".

i would have never thought not to.

leslie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, ER/Trauma.

"Ms. Hirsute...." HAHA this is hilarious!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Urgent Care.

I graduate next quarter. Last week in clinicals this came up with one of my patients. The female nurse I was working with was younger than me (I am 41 and male) and brought it up to me, she was unsure of approaching the subject with her just because of what you all mention here.

Well, I seemed to have a good repoirt (sp?) with her on day 2 so I just said "would you like to take care of that little bit of hair on your chin?" (it was more than a little, and she was the same age as me so that made it seem more delicate than if it was an elderly pt, but long hx of ETOH, narcotic abuse, depression, and cutting too, besides severe current medical issues) she said "yes" and I asked her if she wanted to do it or if she wanted me to. She wanted to do it so I brought the razor and stood by (couldn't leave her alone with it of course). So i say big deal, access the situation and ask politely. I always prefer the direct method.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in nursery, L and D.

If you say her daughter also has facial hair that is really noticeable, then maybe it is not their culture to shave/wax it? If they did, I would think the daughter would do hers, KWIM.

It can be a touchy subject! I have shaved female pts, in LTC, and their families were usually grateful. On the other hand, I have had several complaints from families that the CNA, nurse, etc, "shaved their moms face, without permission"!! Can't make everyone happy all the time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

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:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
If you say her daughter also has facial hair that is really noticeable, then maybe it is not their culture to shave/wax it? If they did, I would think the daughter would do hers, KWIM.

It can be a touchy subject! I have shaved female pts, in LTC, and their families were usually grateful. On the other hand, I have had several complaints from families that the CNA, nurse, etc, "shaved their moms face, without permission"!! Can't make everyone happy all the time.

I did feel like my suggesting to shave the patient might have been viewed as condesending. The family appeared to be uneducated and from the lower socioeconomical side of life. The daughter looked somewhat unkept. The daughter was actually from my town and her husband had gone berserk and burned down their house a few years ago after making threats on the family, I remember that well, we had all gone to watch the house burn, it was quite an event. So, I didn't want to do anything to make these people feel demeaned or feel as if I was above them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown.

well, i would offer if it looked like it had been shaved before, or if the pt was chronic as in, maybe she did when she was younger, but has been too sick and no one offered. if it looked like she was used to it just growing willy nilly, i wouldnt offer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
well, i would offer if it looked like it had been shaved before, or if the pt was chronic as in, maybe she did when she was younger, but has been too sick and no one offered. if it looked like she was used to it just growing willy nilly, i wouldnt offer.

That sounds like a good approach, thanks. :idea:I'm going to include this in my assessment from now on. In her case, she did look like it was going willy nilly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That sounds like a good approach, thanks. :idea:I'm going to include this in my assessment from now on. In her case, she did look like it was going willy nilly.
You'll have to add an extra column to your flow sheet:

Facial Hair:

□ Absent

□ 40 Grit

□ Willy Nilly

;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion