Husband uncomfortable with my job!

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I started my CNA class this week (it is required for acceptance into nursing school here). I was telling him about the different things I'll be doing as a CNA and then as a nurse. He became upset when I talked about bathing people.

My husband is concerned that I will be touching other men to bathe them. I tried to explain that it's just a bath, kind of like bathing a child, nothing sexual, but he's still concerned.

Now, he hasn't gotten angry or tried to talk me out of nursing, but he still isn't comfortable with me touching other men. Any suggestions on how to ease his mind?

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Specializes in Operating Theatre and Occ. Health.

Tell him it's called nursing! If he was in hospital he'd expect someone to be caring for him, wouldn't he?

FWIW, there was a report put out once (many years ago) about permissions and privileges and 'personal space'. Usually only intimates are permitted in our personal space implying personal contact of course, and strangers are totally prohibited as a rule with the exception of ...

Doctors

Dentists

Nurses

Physiotherapists

Chiropractors

Osteopaths

Chiropodists

Masseurs

Hairdressers

Beauticians

Being allowed inside another's personal space is a great privilege and demonstrates a considerable degree of trust from the recipient, patient, client, whatever.

but - sadly - it also includes prostitutes!

Don't know if this helps or not but I found it interesting!

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

Well I know what I would tell him, but it would probably offend him. So maybe just "hey honey, let me know when you graduate from the third grade and we'll have a mature conversation about this."

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Good grief. Are there really people out there who think when we bathe a patient that it is sexual? Let's be adults now. It's our duty to bathe the patients. Who else would if not for us? Tell your husband that there is nothing sexual about bathing a patient.

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This is a control issue...this has absolutely nothing to do with your job as a CNA and I'll be honest, it's a sign of an abusive personality.

Even if you quit tomorrow, give him a few weeks, and he'll find something else he has a problem with.

He has a MUCH bigger issue than having a problem with you bathing other men.

Been there, seen that.

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Specializes in med-surg, telemetry,geriatrics.

reassure him that you will save the sexually bed baths for him and that you will need to practice on him alot. And in clinical settings you have latex gloves get in wipe a few place and your done, but at home you will give him that real long sensual cleansing that only he gets, then show him how you do it in the hospital so he can see there is nothing to it.

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Specializes in dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC.
I started my CNA class this week (it is required for acceptance into nursing school here). I was telling him about the different things I'll be doing as a CNA and then as a nurse. He became upset when I talked about bathing people.

My husband is concerned that I will be touching other men to bathe them. I tried to explain that it's just a bath, kind of like bathing a child, nothing sexual, but he's still concerned.

Now, he hasn't gotten angry or tried to talk me out of nursing, but he still isn't comfortable with me touching other men. Any suggestions on how to ease his mind?

What did he think we did...stand them in the corner and hose em off...:nurse:

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Specializes in LTC.

I would express my concern to him that he thinks that scrubbing down a 90 year old man covered in poop is sexy.

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Specializes in ICU.

OMG! I'd have to tell him to grow up....best not tell him about holding a man's member in your hand for foley insertion and better keep suppositories a secret. :chuckle

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
This is a control issue...this has absolutely nothing to do with your job as a CNA and I'll be honest, it's a sign of an abusive personality.

Even if you quit tomorrow, give him a few weeks, and he'll find something else he has a problem with.

He has a MUCH bigger issue than having a problem with you bathing other men.

Been there, seen that.

:yeahthat: I've been there too. Run.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
What did he think we did...stand them in the corner and hose em off...:nurse:

LOL that's funny.

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Specializes in ICU.
I would express my concern to him that he thinks that scrubbing down a 90 year old man covered in poop is sexy.

I was going to say something very similiar...because truly that is who we are doing it for most of the time. I also agree with the other poster who suggested that this might be a control issue, which I would consider if your husband usually tends to have problems with things or picks on things just to pick fights. If not I would really stress that usually the people you do this for are like a baby, have Alz or are not in their right mind anyway, and usually have poop or vomit on them, and smell like old people. It really is like bathing a baby.

Janis

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