Male rejection

[hartb2]

As a male student or nurse taking care of a patient that is female and is very private and will let you take care of her but won't let you assess more private areas. How do I assess those areas for breakdown or any other problems that could occur without vilolating my patients rights?

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

Accept it, don't take it personally and haves female do it. I just had a male patient tell me he didn't want me to put his foley in for him. My response? "Sure thing!" Walked out smiling, handed it to my preceptor and said "guess you drew the short straw today!"

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

You need to decide just how critical is the issue and whether you really need to assess her "more private areas." If there's not a high degree of suspicion, just let it be and chart appropriately. Otherwise, ask a female colleague to do it for you.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

How often do you have to assess a woman's private area? Unless I am doing peri care or put in a foley I don't have a need to look down there. If a woman is having bleeding, drainage issues, etc I will just matter a factly ask her to describe it, same with pain, pad count, etc.