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?

The hospital policy where I work is that if the provider is male, then he needs a chaperone to assist with any pelvic exam. It can be male or female, unless the patient specifically asks for a female to perform the procedure, or asks for a female chaperone. We had a problem with our ER always calling the L&D unit for a female chaperone because they only had males working, and we had to nicely give them a copy of the hospital policy. Since then, they don't call us to chaperone too much, but we still can't get them to triage pregnant people that aren't in labor (still working on that one :) ).

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Specializes in 14 yrs ER, 1 yr psych.

I am a military RN who has worked in the ER all my life, it seems. I occcasionally do pelvic exams(with a female provider), of course. We do not allow 2 males to conduct a pelvic exam due to litigation issues. If there is a female provider, we will always ask the patient if she objects to a male standby. We always go along with patient wishes

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

rnjeffrey - first - thanks for your service! Second - thanks for being attuned to your patient's needs, whether male or female.

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Wow, this has been quite a thread. I just want to bend it by a little. I have been an ER nurse, performing pelvic exams and inserting catheters in females for 17 years. Not once have I had a patient complain about my being their caregiver. Maybe it is because I have always taken the time to explain the procedures with the patient and have told them what to expect. I always ask my patients if I may provide their care for them. I try to make my patients feel like I am genuinely concerned about their care and comfort. There have been very few times when a female nurse has been requested.

Now the bend... I think that male nurses are more compassionate toward female patients and female nurses are more compassionate toward male patients. There is sometimes the "just get over it" attitude by same gender caregivers. I have often noticed my female co-workers make light of female patients with typically female problems. Seems a little understanding about individual needs is in order. And I am sure the same goes with men.

I feel that we as nurses should always keep the door open to making everyone as comfortable as possible during the delivery of healthcare. It is a profession, but it is a profession about caring and giving.

Arnie

"Sometimes I sits 'an thinks. 'An sometimes I jus sits."

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i avoid them like the plague, i like to keep my libido and that stuff destroys it. lol

This comment is so offensive! If this were what men were thinking when I permit them to do my pelvic exam, than I would never NEVER want a man present durring my exam. Fortunetely, the male nurses I work with are much more professional than the person who posted this message.

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Specializes in ICU,ER.
i avoid them like the plague, i like to keep my libido and that stuff destroys it. lol

Well, if my libido didn't get destroyed by what I've seen from male pts. in the ER....then I promise, you will be ok.:uhoh3:

Case in point.....yesterday I, along with a couple of other co-workers, got chased around a trauma room by a great big hairy naked guy covered with charcoal. Not pretty. Will I be thinking of that the next time my libido gets called to action? I think not.

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were i used to work in ED i was never asked to assist a Dr with a PV exam. i have put in several female idc's as well as male. its quiet weird down here because up untill about 5 years ago nurses were never allowed to put in male idc's but a male nurse could???? i could never work that one out.

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Where I work, we often have all boys night at the ER. If a pelvic needs to be done it gets done. Everything is set up, I stand at the head of the exam table while the doc does his thing. At all times the pt's privacy is respected. If she requests a female then I will try to get a nurse off of the floor to assist the doc.

My mantra is "a nurse is a nurse is a nurse". Why draw lines based on gender, don't we have enough problems in the field already?

As far as foleys, I will ask the patient if she is AAO, if she objects or requests a female I look once again to the floor.

This type of gender typecasting for interventions is a pet peave of mine. I left a job I loved because I was told "no male will work in my L&D". I was OK to do newborn nursery, postpartum, and women's services though. I was also OK for attending high risk deliveries and C-sections as the nursery rep. The EEOC decided I was right on that one! It would have been much cheaper for the hospital to fire the NM of L&D and hire me and a new manager after they were done. After that battle I left the hospital and took up ER nursing.

bob

I completely agree with you and it's a big peeve of mine too. I don't understand why I (female) am expected to foley men without a chaperone, wipe their bums, teach them about ED and anything else that may arise (no pun intended) but for some reason my male colleagues are questioned when they try to do the same for women? When these same women are perfectly content to be treated by a male MD? I just don't get it. We all know that there is nothing even remotely sexual about these procedures, so why should it matter?

Now, I will give exception to the patient male or female that requests a person of the same gender perform their care. If they are uncomfortable, no point in increasing their discomfort to make a point about gender equality, but otherwise...

Amanda

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Specializes in Nothing but ER.

Think about it! Surely if you are a woman you can understand!

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Specializes in Nothing but ER.

Think about it, Really an Actress.Surely if you are a woman you can understand!

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Just a question--why would it matter if you had a male nurse doing your rape kit? Unless the male nurse in question was your rapist, why would it suddenly be uncomfortable?

I've heard this idea before but I've never quite understood it.

Is it really that weird or confusing that someone who was just violated and brutalized by a man doesn't want to be touched - in the same area- by another one immediately afterwards? And the wrong kind of touch could make things worse for her emotionally and mentally.

Most rape victims go through a period of distrusting/being suspicious of/disliking men. It happens. But I don't see how it's so strange that it's hard understand it.

And to address the original poster:

I was raped and I have no problem with male nurses in general. My favorite nurse is a man. He's gentle, he's friendly, he's hilarious, and he does everything well. I love when he's on duty at my doctor's office. But I would never allow him or any other man to help out with any kind of pelvic exam or breast exam. If I ever have kids, I don't want any male doctors or nurses while I give birth. And honestly, after reading some of the posts on here, my opinions and feelings are reinforced. I'm not trying to insult anyone, but that's how I feel.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Just a question--why would it matter if you had a male nurse doing your rape kit? Unless the male nurse in question was your rapist, why would it suddenly be uncomfortable?

It does matter, trust me.

And right then is NOT the moment to argue to a pt. about what they should be uncomfortable about or not.

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