Male pericare

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2007

I know this is an old thread, but in case there are any new readers....way back in the old days when I went to nursing school, we were told to bathe everything else first, then hand the soapy cloth to the person and tell them they could "finish the bath", then be there with a clean cloth or 2 to rinse. This gives them a little privacy and most people can reach that part of their body to "finish the bath". If not, then they probably are not in any condition to be embarassed or to embarrass you.

As far as crude remarks, I have only had a few (probably cause I work in ER and we don't generally do baths). Most have come from drunks and are not worthy of comment. If it continues, then I tell them they can lay there in their own vomit, urine, feces, etc. until they can show some decency. If not, then they lay in it. As a human being, I don't have to put up with their crap. It is my responsibilty to offer to help them get clean, but responsibility runs both ways.

Sometimes being old and crotchety has it's rewards.

peridotgirl · Jul 24, 2007

Hi Aviator411. I wanted to thank you for posting that thread about pericare. I didn't think that in a man, it there does not need to be stimulation in order for an erection to occur. But I was wondering: is an erection involuntary?

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2007

When I worked on the floor I would tell the patient that I would wash as far down as possible and as far up as possible and then they can wash "possible" Now in the ER I just do whatever needs to be done. There is no time for foolishness. But we do have a good time and work and it is cheap entertainment.

jnmoore02 · Jul 25, 2007

When I worked on the floor I would tell the patient that I would wash as far down as possible and as far up as possible and then they can wash "possible" Now in the ER I just do whatever needs to be done. There is no time for foolishness. But we do have a good time and work and it is cheap entertainment.

I agree with Gonzo, I've worked in a LTC facility and during rounds we had to change diapers when patients are in bed. I'm a male and once actually a few times had a female older patient moan and groan as I was wiping her pernatel area. I found this to be gross but funny. When you get use to changing diapers, during rounds you just want to get in and get out, there's no time to mess around and talk to the patients. I usually just come in and wake them and tell them what i'm doing and do it.

Kay28 · Jul 31, 2007

When I took my CNA class we didn't have male maniqens to practice on. And to be truthful I had never seen a member before. What a suprise I got! After a while you will get used to performing male pericare and you won't even bat an eye. Good luck!

amanda1229 · Jul 31, 2007

A lot of things won't bother you when you get to work, and have to be a CNA. For instance, most people would are turned off immediately knowing they'll have to clean someone after bowel or bladder incontinence. Most of us can honestly say it doesn't bother us in the least with a bag, some gloves and clean wipes. After all, the resident is probably much more troubled by it then you are.

In my experience with male pericares, very few men have had erections! There is only one resident I can think of who constantly gets one when we do pericares, but he is in our locked CCDI Unit. He is the resident that has been psychologically evaluted because of his tendency to reach for or grab other women in certain areas -- I am constantly asked for "one good night kiss, please."

tattooednursie, LVN · Aug 9, 2007

I was very nervous about doing that at first. Now its nothing. You seen one you've seen them all. Its just another part of the body. If they can do it them selves, by all means let them do it themselves. The same goes for any type of care. if they are unable to clean themselves, then most of the time they really appreciate that some one is there to do that for them. Erections may occur. Don't let it bother you as it may not even be anything sexual, nothing more than a response to stimulus.

As for the crude remarks it is okay to tell them that it is inappropriate and not appreciated. Personally I blow off the mild flirting old men may give. Sometimes thats all they have left, but it is not okay for them to ask or demand certain tasks. You will know what is okay and what is not. When they do or say something that is uncalled for, be sure to document it.

umpalumpa14588 · Aug 21, 2007

Thankfully, I have never had to do pericare on a man with a full erection. I have had to wash someone that was a frequent maturbator, but you just go about your business and ignore it. As far as tolerating remarks, no one has to take that. Either ask them not to talk to you that way, or if they are, for example, a dementia resident, they probably aren't in their normal frame of mind anyway. Excuse the comment, meaning ignore it, and move on. Oh, and for dignity's sake, they aren't called diapers!

EmBeMap · Oct 10, 2007

Male pericare is not as bad as female imho ...im nervous about not covering the female enough or doing something too roughly. If the guy gets an erection, we are usually more embarassed than you would be. If the guy is crude then i would take a break to recoup and let the patient know that for his comfort you will need "smaller towels" to deal with his particular case.. and document his comments and let the RN know so that him taking care of his own peri-care can be added to his care plan. No one deserves to be harassed.

amanda1229 · Oct 11, 2007

I agree, I think male pericare is so much easier. And I'm a female! It's only because, really, who uses eight washcloths to wipe after they use the bathroom? So this whole lengthy procedure involving eight corners, etc. is INSANE to me. Makes sense, but so annoying!

The worst thing I've ever seen was, when performing male pericare, is a HUGE wad of yeast-like buildup when pulling back the male's foreskin. I had seen it before in female pericares, but I was just .. oh, it was just weird, and it was so much, I was shocked.

MedEthicsResearcher · May 13, 2008

mar 09, 2007, 04:15 pm

aerorunner80

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join date: dec 2006

re: male pericare

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thanks for the responses. i finally performed my first male pericare yesterday and i have to admit that it didn't bother me at all. i think it was because i had put on my cna game and just went in there and did what needed to be done. i didn't freak or anything. the guy was acting more embarassed than i was.

#8

mar 11, 2007, 11:11 pm

ashleyf

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join date: mar 2005

re: male pericare

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good for you!

#9

mar 20, 2007, 11:28 pm

niko1999

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join date: aug 2006

re: male pericare

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that was the biggest question i had for my mother who was a nurse for years. i asked her, what am i supposed to do if they get an erection!??? and she told me, just go on with what youre doing. i have two residents, who get errections every time peri-care is done on them. im pretty much oblivious to one of them the other one is, well, a little perverted. but you just do what you gotta do. i find myself excusing myself as i do it- i think it helps them realize that i am not in it for, well, ya know. good luck!

#10

jul 24, 2007, 09:03 am

peridotgirl (female)

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join date: jul 2007

re: male pericare

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originally posted by allantiques4me

its been a long time since ive performed male peri care,but i think if hes alert and oriented enough to get an erection and say crude remarks,maybe he might be able to do his own peri care.offer to assist with preparing his bath equiptment,water ,towels,ect.it does sometimes happen.be the professional you are.if he speaks crudely or sexuallly to you ask him not to talk to you like that.

first of all, in doing pericare it depends on who you are working with. if the man is an elderly, then it will require a lot of stimulis to get an erection. however, if he does have an erection, this is normal and he might be embrassed, so say that it's normal and it happens from tme to time. i agree with allantiques4me in saying that if he is alert eneough to have an erection, then he can do his own pericare. i too, have practiced on maniquins in school and i would be a bit nervous on doing pericare on a male. i think it takes practice with the procedure. the more real-life expierence you get the more comfortable you will become with the procedure. if you do feel uncomfortable on your first time doing pericare, then ask an rn to supervise you. as for doing the pericare on the oppsite sex, i believe that there has to be another witness in the room, but i'm not completely sure. i wish you the best of luck!

a few responses to these posts. why does no one suggest that, if available, perhaps the patient should be given the choice of a male nurse? do you ever ask? and what does it mean to "put on my cna game"? that's interesting. sounds like it might be a kind of distancing, objectifying the patient, going into routine mode, focusing on the task not the person. is that it? interesting that the new nurse felt better about the whole situation because the patient was more embarrassed than she was. i suppose from her point of view that made it less threatening. but how about from his point of view? and when you suggest that, for example, a witness be brought in, or an rn to assist, does that mean the male will have two females working with him? how will that make him feel? or would you try to bring in a male nurse? i'm trying to look at this from the patient's point of view. you're in a position of power. the patient is naked and vulnerable, not feeling well, perhaps really sick. most won't ask for the same gender, even if that would make them more comfortable. just because they comply does not mean they agree. some men are more comfortable with this kind of situation than others, as are women. everyone is different. these issue, i realize, have been discussed in other forums, but it's interesting how they come up all over the place. as i've said in other posts, i hope i'm not sounding overly critical of nurses. i have great respect for the profession. you are the front line of health care. you have tremendous power, perhaps not with doctors, but certainly with your patients. most people can't comprehend the kinds of pressures and stresses you're under every day. even with all that in mind, never "get used to" these uncomfortable situations to the point that you don't empathize with the patient. be the one to open up communication in cases like this and be the one to offer the patient a choice of same gender care if it is in any way possible. if you do that, you be surprised. your honest and compassion may help create a trust relationship and the patient will feel more comfortable working with you instead of a male nurse.

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Alaskagirl71 · May 13, 2008

I have a lot of concerns when it comes to performing pericare on a male. So far I have only done it on a maniquin (sp?). That didn't bother me because there was no real person attatched to the member but in real life I know there will be a person at the other end. I'm very scared of the male getting an erection or saying something crude and sexual. Has this ever happened to you? As a female, you do pericare on a male by yourself (noone else in the room)? What is your centers policy on doing pericare on the opposite sex?

I've been a CNA for 3 years and am a current RN student. My experience has been limited to geriatric patients, but I can say that I've never had anyone get an erection during pericare. I was really nervous at first, but you get to the point where it's just a part of the body and it becomes no big deal. :yeah: