Male RN-assist with pelvic exams?

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I'm a male RN, who left ED nursing ten years ago, and just returned. When I left, male nurses had nothing to do with "intimate" procedures on female patients. At my new ER, I have been told that I am to insert foleys and assist male MDs with pelvic exams on female patients.

If anything, I think that all the sexual abuse news should make it even more imperative that I avoid doing these things. Some of the male MDs agree with me. Your opinions?

I'd have to agree. It's hard to think of sex or libido when you are dealing with someone sick, in pain or in need of care. However, it's not so hard to wonder if the individual for whom you are caring may tarnish your career with an unfounded accusation.

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I am a male nurse and been in nursing for over 20 years...both male and female...I have seen it all...big, little, deep and wide. Pelvics or Foley if the patient doesn't raise a big stink well...time to do your job.

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Specializes in ER.

I am so sick of this! If I can assist with all male GU items (I am female) then a male can do it with the females. Especially when we have the nursing shortage we have, begggars (patients) can't be choosers. My goodness it is just a medical procedure. If looking at a felmale affects your libido then there is something wrong with you. I too as well as other females get tired of looking at all the memberes but it is a neccesary part of my job.

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I'm a male that had worked in the ED for many years, I am now an NP in a cardiology group. I've always acted professionally and explained to patient's what I'm going to do, if they didn't protest I did it. If the patient asked for a female i got one. If we, as males, contiinue to look the other way when it comes to doing things we feel uncomofrtable with we will never get the respect that we deserve. Male MD's do internals, breast exams etc. In October 2006 (one month prior to quitting to take my new job as an NP) I had a women come in to our ED stating that the "baby was coming", we do not have OB in our ED. The female MD was intubating a traumatic arrest and told me to do a lady partsl exam (knowing I was an FNP) and asked if I felt comfortable. I brought a female ED tech with me and explaine to the patient that I was going to examen her. PS, the baby was crowning, so I had the registrar call for a paramed unit and I delivered the baby with the assist of the tech (this was the 7th baby I've asisted with over the years). The mother and father had no complaints and all went well.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

I avoid that female stuff whenever I can. Actually Im just trying to get out of work. I do the heavy lifting, take care of the combatant drunks. Let the women do the female things.

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Specializes in Trauma Administration/Level I Trauma.

If I have a female R.N. availiable I'll ask her to assist which is 90% of the time. If not I'll do it...

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I am so sick of this! If I can assist with all male GU items (I am female) then a male can do it with the females. Especially when we have the nursing shortage we have, begggars (patients) can't be choosers. My goodness it is just a medical procedure. If looking at a felmale affects your libido then there is something wrong with you. I too as well as other females get tired of looking at all the memberes but it is a neccesary part of my job.

What a lovely attitude you have about patients and patient rights. It is our choice as patients and it is battery if you violate that choice. Perhaps it is time for you to take a break when you refer to patients as "begggars".

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, ICU/CCU/NICU, EMS, Transport.

I believe during ANY intimate procedure (anything covering the "bathing suit" area) that regardless of the pt's gender, the practitioner doing the procedure should have an opposite gender chaperone whenever possible. Even female RN's doing cath's, IMHO, should have a chaperone also.

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Specializes in Emergency, outpatient.
What a lovely attitude you have about patients and patient rights. It is our choice as patients and it is battery if you violate that choice. Perhaps it is time for you to take a break when you refer to patients as "begggars".

1. I don't think ENW was referring to pts as beggars. I believe you misunderstood the posting.

2. Pts always have a choice and we as nurses understand that to the nth degree.

3. Perhaps you should use the "Preview Post" button to review your posts prior to posting mean statements. :nurse:

I believe during ANY intimate procedure (anything covering the "bathing suit" area) that regardless of the pt's gender, the practitioner doing the procedure should have an opposite gender chaperone whenever possible. Even female RN's doing cath's, IMHO, should have a chaperone also.

If you have the available personnel and the pt requests it, by all means do so. But last night when the place was rockin' and rollin' and my CHF pt with 100mg of Lasix on board needed the foley NOW, I couldn't find any available males to do the deed. (I did offer to get one, pt said, naw, no worries.)

I agree that genital exams of any sex require a chaperone for the safety of the staff member, but I don't think foleys fall into that category. What next, are you going to get a chaperone to give a bedpan or urinal?

:twocents:

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

Where I work, only females chaperone for pelvics. However, if it's a trauma situation, whoever is available puts the foley in. In any other situation, we try to help each other out and the male RNs do the male foleys and female RNs do the females.

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"I am so sick of this! If I can assist with all male GU items (I am female) then a male can do it with the females. Especially when we have the nursing shortage we have, begggars (patients) can't be choosers. My goodness it is just a medical procedure. If looking at a felmale affects your libido then there is something wrong with you. I too as well as other females get tired of looking at all the memberes but it is a neccesary part of my job."

I understand the pressure, and I understand one cannot always secure a chaparone, which patients can understand when told, still she did call patients beggars. That could not be more clear.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

"If I can assist with all male GU items (I am female) then a male can do it with the females."

I think the issue is being missed here. The chances of a male accusing me (a female) of sexual harassment when placing a foley is significantly less than that of a female accusing a male nurse or MD of such when a pelvic exam/bi manual is performed.

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