I was called forth by a coworker to assist in initiating IV access on a patient that she had unsuccessfully attempted to do so on.
As I walk in to the room, the patient begins to stare at me. At this point I'm completely under the impression that perhaps he is scared and anxious. I reassure the patient by introducing myself, my role, and the rationale for the IV.
As I'm getting all my supplies prepared. Such as tape pre-cut and ready, pig tail flushed, and so forth. The patient starts small talk:
"Where are you from?"
"How's the weather?"
When suddenly he says "Oh you are cute, oh no no you are beautiful, (insert my first name)" all while smiling as I'm about to insert a large bore IV into his vein.
I've been hit on by grannies but never a young male patient.
It was a bit awkward. It didn't help that the family said
"Oh you're making this poor nurse blush".
I didn't know I could blush, I have olive toned skin.
I'm gay myself so I just took it as a compliment, I think even if I was straight I'd just take it as a compliment.
I just said "thanks" and continued prodding his vein.
Now I know how some female nurses feel being hit on.
I'm the type that's oblivious to when people are flirting with me. The dots didn't connect until one day a discharged patient called the unit to give me his number a week or two later. I was completely shocked and so uncomfortable. Then to make things even more awkward, I was on a different unit a year later and guess who gets admitted? Yeah.... I was not his nurse.
I'm a male and I don't view myself as being particularly attractive, but the amount of times I've been hit on or even harassed is crazy.
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.
One of my elderly patients requested one of my male coworkers to help her walk because he was "cute with those big strong arms". Needless to say, the patient's husband and I had some fun with that one.
One of my elderly patients requested one of my male coworkers to help her walk because he was "cute with those big strong arms". Needless to say, the patient's husband and I had some fun with that one.
Grannies usually enjoy a stroll down the unit with the male employees.
Recently went to help another nurse's patient who was trying to get out of bed. (Bed alarm going off) I'm really short, and as I went to stabilize him, he grabbed both of my "cheeks" and gave them a good squeeze. From that point on it took a *whole lot* of redirection. Strangely I wasn't as bothered by the groping as I was by the fact that he was also staring and giving me "compliments". Gah. No family around to help, either.
I made sure to update the report sheet with "impulsive" and "somewhat grabby".
I remember the first time another guy hit on me in a patient setting. Hard to take vitals when he was wanting to pat my bottom. A lesson in empathy lol
A lesson in empathy lol
hawaiicarl, BSN, RN
327 Posts
Taken out of context ..... snicker