help!..2 bothering questions...

[tss2507]

I have 2 nagging question regarding nursing in general that has been bothering me...

1.) *As a student nurse, when doing basic personal care on a patient, I know we should always ask the patient first if we can do it...but what if the patient is semi-comatose or just not able to communicate that well (to give a clear expressed consent)?

**For example, I remember last semester's clinical I had a patient who was really old and in poor health that needed a bed bath but didnt answer at all when I asked him if it was okay for me to give him a bed bath, change him, etc. I honestly ended up simply not doing it because I just didn't feel comfortable doing it when he never gave me a clear "yes". Looking back, I probably should have asked my instructor's opinion regarding what would have been best as oppose to simply foregoing it all together but that time has already passed. Anyways, how do nurses approach situations such as this? I imagine this must be fairly common too since nurses frequently take care of the badly injured or geriatrics population.

2.) **As a male nurse, should I always have a female coworker in the room with me whenever caring for a female patient with any scenerio in nursing? Do all male nurses typically do this? I say this because I remember last semester's clinical in which this wasn't the case for the students nor the R.N.s

I'm sorry to bombard you with these unrelated questions but this has really been bothering me. I feel as though there's still a lot in nursing I still need to figure out. God bless to any and all that take the time to answer me!

-Trevor

[merlee]

When pt's are able to reach, they should wash whatever they can, even if it is only their face and upper body. You wash what they cannot. If they are unable, you do it all. And a running commentary is always a good thing! As for the male nurse thing, unless a patient or family objects, you do it all. You can always refer to the patient's 'private area' if you are unsure of how to address that area!

And why are you too afraid to ask your instructors these questions?? These issues should be discussed before you get to that first bath!

Trevor, how far are you in nursing school, anyway???

[babilidose]

If the client is comatose, bathe them. THink what you would want. I wouldn't want to be sitting in my own filth, dirty as all get out. If they can't respond, you do it for them. Only competent, alert and oriented patients make those decisions for themselves.

Second, i don't think it's necessary to always be with a female when cleaning a patient. It really depends on the patient and the family's preference. One of the best CNA's I know is a male. Sometimes I'd go with him at request of the patient and the family, sometimes we'd trade patients, but most of the time, female patients were okay with him doing his job. He was, and is, extremely professional.

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

undoubtedly, if a pt. can't answer for themselves and they are on "semi-comatose state" then am care should be performed, imagine what the skin is being exposed to if the pt. is not bathed, not to mentioned the odor. in addition, regarding having a female nurse present, (it depends on the situation). i personally advised the staff i work with, if you feel uncomfortable; if you're about to perform any invasive procedure like catheter insertion or breast exam, call upon a co-worker. needless to say, it's better to safe than sorry.

[Merlyn]

I work with a few male nurses and they provide full care to female patients with no one else present.It's not required and we don't have time for that.

They are setting themselves up for a law suit. Time was when no one would think twice about a male taking care of a female patient but not in today's world. It only takes one female to complain, then bye bye license. I always asked a female to come in the room with me when I did patient care on a woman. If she wasn't able to come in, she would be in ear shot or the intercom would be turned on at the desk. I worked too hard for my license to have it taken away by some loony tune. I think in some states it's the law, that a female must be present.

[bosslady781]

When I was a student I had a patient who refused his bath daily. My instructor suggested: walk in with the supplies and say " mr..it's time for your bath."his response" ok, I'll be a good boy." sometimes being matter-of-fact works!!

Another great tactic is to ask them if they would prefer to take a bath now or in 30 minutes. It has worked 90% of the time for me!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

" i work with a few male nurses and they provide full care to female patients with no one else present.it's not required and we don't have time for that." "

they are setting themselves up for a law suit. time was when no one would think twice about a male taking care of a female patient but not in today's world. it only takes one female to complain, then bye bye license. i always asked a female to come in the room with me when i did patient care on a woman. if she wasn't able to come in, she would be in ear shot or the intercom would be turned on at the desk. i worked too hard for my license to have it taken away by some loony tune. i think in some states it's the law, that a female must be present. "

oh, horsepucky. research shows that most women know perfectly well that a nurse is a nurse, male or female. there are lots of men in women's health units all over the country. if you can't figure out, or learn, how to present yourself professionally so it becomes a non-issue, then maybe you should try something else.

and another thing: one complaint does not mean "bye, bye, license." honest to betsy, i have no idea where these blanket statements keep coming from-- certainly not from nurses with any amount of actual practice.

there is entirely too much paranoia about "losing one's license" around here. our state nursing association publishes the list of revoked and restricted licenses and the reasons for them (yours does too, it's a matter of public record), and i can promise you that, "somebody complained that she had a male nurse" is not right up there with the felony theft, narcotics diversion, fraud, and practicing under the influence. sure, if there's a cultural reason that a male should only have a male nurse, or a female only be cared for by a female, that's something we would always accommodate. otherwise, most women are just happy to have a nurse, any nurse, respond to their call bells and do what they need done.

[Merlyn]

" i work with a few male nurses and they provide full care to female patients with no one else present.it's not required and we don't have time for that." "

they are setting themselves up for a law suit. time was when no one would think twice about a male taking care of a female patient but not in today's world. it only takes one female to complain, then bye bye license. i always asked a female to come in the room with me when i did patient care on a woman. if she wasn't able to come in, she would be in ear shot or the intercom would be turned on at the desk. i worked too hard for my license to have it taken away by some loony tune. i think in some states it's the law, that a female must be present. "

oh, horsepucky. research shows that most women know perfectly well that a nurse is a nurse, male or female. there are lots of men in women's health units all over the country. if you can't figure out, or learn, how to present yourself professionally so it becomes a non-issue, then maybe you should try something else.

and another thing: one complaint does not mean "bye, bye, license." honest to betsy, i have no idea where these blanket statements keep coming from-- certainly not from nurses with any amount of actual practice.

there is entirely too much paranoia about "losing one's license" around here. our state nursing association publishes the list of revoked and restricted licenses and the reasons for them (yours does too, it's a matter of public record), and i can promise you that, "somebody complained that she had a male nurse" is not right up there with the felony theft, narcotics diversion, fraud, and practicing under the influence. sure, if there's a cultural reason that a male should only have a male nurse, or a female only be cared for by a female, that's something we would always accommodate. otherwise, most women are just happy to have a nurse, any nurse, respond to their call bells and do what they need done.

are you a male? i wasn't talking about having a male nurse, i was talking about false accusations of molestation and rape. i have seen it, been accused of it and had to fight like hell to keep that license from going bye bye. that's what i'm talking about.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

anecdote is not the singular of data. there's still waaaaay too much hysteria (word chosen deliberately) about this.