Guys, how should I handle this?

suanna · Dec 2, 2007

I'm not clear as to how far into the nursing program the class was but for many students physical assessment, body issues, nudity are part of the learning curve. Some inappropriate banter was most likely just a bit of embarrassment and anxiety comming out. In the clinical arena it is a whole different story- anyone who makes comments like that around a patient isn't mature enough to be in nursing. I would hope your instructor would take the oppertunity to open a dialogue when this happened about how learning to be comfortable in an immodest situation and helping the patient feel more comfortable as a nursing role. If it made you uncomfortable you could let the instructor know so they could address these issues.

KungFuFtr · Dec 2, 2007

I guess we all need to pick our battles. Its better comments like that are made in class vs the clinical setting.

frail316 · Dec 2, 2007

There really is no justification for that kind of behavior. I can understand that its just for humor sake and that there are worse things out there in the real world practice, but thats just the beginning of a slippery slope. To find humor like that to be acceptable in a theory setting is edgy while in clinical it is totally unprofessional. If such behavior occurs consistenty it should be addressed to the head of the program for it to be addressed to the whole program. Its time to be a mommy.

piezo-electricite · Feb 12, 2008

This sort of behavior is absolutely unacceptable.

Batman24 · Feb 12, 2008

Female pre-req nursing student here. If the laughter and joking is being done solely in the classroom I wouldn't worry about it. That probably is to lessen the stress level, have a laugh, etc. This is being done amongst equals in a private setting and I would be fine with that.

If this was being done in clinicals where patients could hear and see then of course action would and should be taken immediately.

Inland18mempiree · Feb 13, 2008

Is this a 1st semester class? usually this is the time to "get the giggles out". They'll grow out of it (I hope). I'm a guy and I must admit, I was a little immaturre in the beginning. During our first semester our instructor brought in a male maniquinn complete with male anatomy for a catheter demonstration. I laughed along with some others. The instructor said "I noticed some of you laughed, and you'll just have to get over that." And we did.

Dr.Nurse2b · Feb 17, 2008

This is a gal wanting male input: we had a "problem" in our last two semesters when we were watching videos of examinations. In one movie, the pretend doctor pulled up the gown of the pretend patient and one of the guys said "slow down the video!" There have been similar comments in that vein. Now, I'm not a prude--not after having been married 26 years LOL-- but I feel a patient is a person in a vulnerable position and it is of the utmost importance to make sure that patient does not feel ANYTHING sexual is going on.
When complaints were voiced, the guys replied, "the girls were laughing too" and brought up an instance where the girls giggled during a circumcision video. Now, I'm sure you guys would be the first to admit there's nothing sexual about circumcision and I think the giggles were from watching the guys squirm-- but I definitely felt the other comments made were sexual in nature and completely inappropriate. Any feedback?

To me, what you are describing sounds like a response that is sexual in nature. Being a guy and knowing the nature of "The Guys" I am certain this was horseplay. However I think it is important to squelch behavior - male and female - such as this before it leaves the classroom...I am talking about conditioning.

I think everyone, male and female, nurse and patient like to joke around and sex is a great topic for making fun, however inappropriate in a professional setting. So I think the professional setting should be defined as the classroom and any patient care areas. I think this falls in line with knowing the difference between right and wrong...as the teacher I think all you need to do is define what is and what is not acceptable. I believe the students will take care of the rest.

:wink2:

Jake1444 · Feb 24, 2008

This is a gal wanting male input: we had a "problem" in our last two semesters when we were watching videos of examinations. In one movie, the pretend doctor pulled up the gown of the pretend patient and one of the guys said "slow down the video!" There have been similar comments in that vein. Now, I'm not a prude--not after having been married 26 years LOL-- but I feel a patient is a person in a vulnerable position and it is of the utmost importance to make sure that patient does not feel ANYTHING sexual is going on.
When complaints were voiced, the guys replied, "the girls were laughing too" and brought up an instance where the girls giggled during a circumcision video. Now, I'm sure you guys would be the first to admit there's nothing sexual about circumcision and I think the giggles were from watching the guys squirm-- but I definitely felt the other comments made were sexual in nature and completely inappropriate. Any feedback?

Relax!!! Give the guy some credit...do you think he would do this in a true clinical setting? I know from working in CCU that nurses, both male and female, can have a pretty crude sense-of-humor...and it's not limited to CCU (doc's, RT's etc. etc.). The thing is they deal with a lot of stuff i.e. death, feces, vomit, death, family members, did I mention death? If they didn't find some way to laugh, it would eat them alive. Okay, maybe they are a little crude sometimes, but sometimes "knock-knock" jokes just don't cut it. And by-the-way, I'm the class clown...but I know when to keep my mouth shut (To self: maybe this was one of those times).

mrs.captain.kangaroo · Mar 9, 2008

We had a male professor making those kind of comments. He constantly embarrassed the male students by saying something like "Oh 'male student's name' is really going to look forward to studying breasts. The male students were made to feel really uncomfortable. The male students were very respectful unlike the professor.

Obviously it was the professor that had the problem not the male students.

I wrote it up in his evaluation and I hope he read it.

manofcare · Mar 10, 2008

First, in the classroom it is not a professional environment. It is academic. The students pay to be there,and are not being paid to do so. Second, the behavior in the clinical setting would be totally inappropriate, and would very unlikely happen.