male instructor touching students - I voiced my concern

[mmh_bc]

Hi guys, I don't know if you remember that some weeks ago I posted a message here regarding my health assessment male instructor touching the female students during lab classes. Anyway, 98% of the students in my class are women from 19 - 44 years old, and at least half of us (maybe more) feel really uncomfortable with this specific instructor. Anyway, he can be nice and funny at times, but many of us think he is quite bossy and arrogant, and overuses his power making some of us feel really small. So I was already frustrated about this whole thing, and two weeks ago when we had to do the abdomen assessment, I was lying in bed and 2 other students were working with me, assessing each other. We had curtains around and our instructor said that we didn't need to wear gown, so I was lying there with my shirt on top of my breasts and my jeans opened. He came into the cubicle where we were, and he asked me to show my pubic bone. But I was feeling kind of uncomfortable, and he said: "If you can't find it, I will!" And he reached down my panties and started touching my pubic bone, not taking into consideration that he was crossing my comfort zone and didn't respect the fact that I didn't want him touching me. Then when he grabbed my jeans to drop even more I said "NO".. and he ended up making comments about my pubic hair, as there was no reason for me to be shy because he had seen lots, and he looked at the two students and said that eventually we have to be forceful with patients.

I just felt that my privacy wasn't ensured at any time. He again overused his power, compromised my learning, and then came back later to ask if I was ok. Then the next day, he phoned my house to apologise, but because I was already fedup, I phoned the other campus (same University) and talked to the dean of health sciences and explained to her what had happened and I was curious to know what his job description really is and how far can he go. So to make the story short, the Dean of health sciences ended up phoning the coordinator of the nursing program and told her that I had phoned, and the dean also talked to the male instructor.

But it seemed to me that after the Dean talked to the instructor, they were convinced by his version of the story, and I felt as if I am just being a whiner and although the said that they understand my concerns and changes will be made, I think they are saying that just to pretend they are supporting me. The coordinator of the nursing program who is a female, is defending him, and said to me that "he is a nurse and he did that to me, just because he was trying to demonstrate to me where my pubic bone is"

I still think he shouldn't touch us at all. But apparently he thinks that he needs to keep demonstrating how to do things. I also suggested us wearing shorts and tanktops instead of just panties and bra, but I noticed some resistance to the idea.

Oh well... I just get a negative vibe from him, and I am happy to know that he won't ever tough me again, but I really wish something could be done, so people wouldn't feel intimidated to go to his class.

Thanks for listening..

[Race Mom, ASN, RN]

Thats about all I can say!

maybe not...

If he called you at your house, to apologize....

why? Nurses have to be forceful, right. What did he have to be sorry for? He is WAY out of line. Hello! Most of us have pubic hair above our pubic bone, not to mention, we learned about the location in A&P! He had ABSOLUTELY no right to go into your pants! What was supposed to be palpated there?

What a creep! I would look him up in the sexual offenders list for your state. This is NOT normal behavior...for anyone? Was your fellow student supposed to forcefully stick their hands in your panties?

Give me a break! This loser is guilty of exactly what you think he is.

Woogy

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I don't think he had ANY reason to go poking around in your crotch. There is no excuse for that, and any reasonable person would agree. He has apparently convinced TPTB that it didn't happen the way you said it did, so you need witnesses, or someone else to complain.

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

:yeahthat:

What the two previous posters said. Palpating the pubic bone for an ABD assessment? Maybe I've forgotten my anatomy, but I thought the ABDOMEN ended where the UROTGENITAL area began (ummm abdomen, bladder, pubic bone...somebody correct me if I have the order wrong). PULLLLEASE.

On top of that, he made such a stinkin BUSINESS about it. He was completely out of line making that crack about finding your pubic bone.

No, you're not a whiner; your instincts are part of what will make you an outstanding nurse. I'm so sorry the University is not being more supportive. Stick to your guns and encourage other classmates who may have had similar experiences to come forward; I think in your case it's only power in numbers that's going to make a difference where this yo-yo is concerned.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Report him to the BOARD.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Very disrespectful behavior....I imagine I would also persue this matter.

Good luck to you!

[KatieBell]

Really this is not normal behavior. You learned where the "Pubic bone" which is not the correct anatomical term ANYWAY was when you took anatomy. You knwo where it is. Palpating bones is not part of an abdominal assessment. This is not normal part of nursing school instruction. I'd defintiely complain to the Board of nursing in your state if you can't get help from the school. It's so completely in appropriate that it is blowing my mind.

[Soleilpie]

Sounds almost like the Dean wants to shove this situation under the carpet. I mean if the word got out that an instructor fondles his students, it would look pretty bad for that school!

It is so clear that he's stepping out of bounds. Why does he feel it's necessary to have other students or himself touch anyone in any private areas during class? For crying out loud, what was he trying to assess? How far would he go? What if he wanted to show everyone where the cervix is!

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Yikes! you did the correct thing by calling the dean, but don't just stop there. Report him. Who knows what more he is capable of.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

If you are smart enough to make it into nursing school, I think you would know where your pubic bone is... The instructor sounds like a perv!

[Katydidit34]

In my state it would be considered battery. There is NO reason WHATSOEVER that an instructor of either gender should have for putting their hands down the pants of a student. What does the pubic bone have to do with the abdomen? Give me a break. His conscience was obviously bothering him since he took the effort to call you at home to apologize. Sounds like he was trying to cover his butt to me. He took advantage and I'm telling you that I would make noise about it until I felt like I was being heard. Were there witnesses? Have there been other incidences of this with other students? My skills instructor is a male and is very careful about how he carries himself and the words he chooses, not to mention anytime a body part needs to be pointed out, he does it on a mannequin!!

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Seems grossly inappropriate - he should understand boundries better than that.