Published May 18, 2005
markjrn
515 Posts
I hope this post doesn't offend anyone, it's an account of something that happened recently that I found really inappropriate. I'm so disgusted.
A patient who had a foley kept yelling that his "dinky" hurt. The nurse taking care of him said she hated the word "dinky" and was trying to teach him to say "wang" instead.
Can someone please tell me that I'm overreacting. This is really bothering me because I think it's completely unprofessional.
Thanks for letting me vent.
barefootlady, ADN, RN
2,174 Posts
Who cares what name is given patients privates, was the issue of pain address?
The first question I asked myself was "was the issue actually addressed?", which it wasn't.
I guess I just feel it's inappropriate that this nurse's main concern was teaching him new slang. There is so much crap going on in this unit I think I've just had my fill. It's time to move on. I travelled for 8 years, and I think I'm going to start again.
Thanks for the response.
jnette, ASN, EMT-I
4,388 Posts
Yes, but I think the OP was focusing more on this nurse attemting to get the patient to use this "other" word... which to me, is just as ridiculous, IMO.
No, as a professional, I would not be teaching my patient to use the word "wang".
I'd just overlook his personal term and addresse the pain issue and move on.
Like I said, if you work long enough you will hear all kinds of names given to patients private parts. I would be very distress too. This nurse was inapproiate and uncaring. I hope you addressed this matter with the HN. A patients complaint of pain should not be dismissed for a language lesson.
No, as a professional, I would not be teaching my patient to use the word "wang". I'd just overlook his personal term and addresse the pain issue and move on.
Thank you! So maybe I'm not insane? lol I'm just feeling a little defeated if this is what nursing has come to. Do you know what I mean?
fergus51
6,620 Posts
I admit, I would have responded using the correct term (I don't say wang or dinky or cootchie or anything like that). But, I would still have adressed the issue of pain.
I hope you addressed this matter with the HN
Actually, it was the Charge Nurse who said it, and unfortunately she is friends with the NM.
Yeah, I personally would have said "member". It just really bothers me that she didn't address his problem, and that she was more concerned about her personal preferences than her patient.
I guess I'm too busy at work - I can't take the time to teach patients new terminology that I prefer. It's just all so ridiculous, and I keep stewing over it.
Sounds like stress has a good hold on you today. Please, take a few minutes to unwind. I wish you a better shift the next time you work.
Tweety, BSN, RN
35,406 Posts
I allow patients to use whatever terms they choose to use. Like fergus, most of the time I'm not going to use that term myself but use the "correct" term.
Sometimes though, I'll use the slang patients use. Maybe not for private parts but for things like "making water" (urinating) "bo bo" (what the locals here call a bowel movement) if that's what they've been using, and are acting confused as to my language.
This nurse was trading one slang for another and wasting time.
pricklypear
1,060 Posts
Like Oprah used to say all the time "If you get mad about something like socks on the floor, there's something more going on!" Sounds to me like any little straw at this point will break the camel's back for you. You sound frustrated all the way around.
And I don't think it's appropriate to "teach" a patient a new slang word like "wang" It's a little on the disqusting side. I agree that using the appropriate term and dealing with the underlying problem is the answer.