how many use the line when giving shots to women?

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"don't worry you're just gonna feel a xxxxx" or something similar. pretty good for breaking the ice, getting some laughs, etc. i don't say it to all women, just ones i think will be receptive, some are too receptive and it goes over the head of some. women 40+ seem to take it the best.

good for having fun and joking around at work.

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I have no idea how many of your colleagues use such a line, but I would be offended if a male healthcare provider of any sort said anything like that to me. There's certainly a place for humor in healthcare, but I can't say the same for sexual innuendo.

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That would make me extremely uncomfortable if it came with a smirk.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I like to keep things light as much as the next person, but I think that one crosses the line.

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That really just seems dumb, and a good way to lose your job. People in compromised positions don't want sexual connotation, a joke is fine, but it should be neutral.

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it all started by accident, the majority of women that respond to it, take it like i'm talking about their husband, boyfriend, ex-husband, ex-boyfriend, son in law, brother, neighbor, etc. and they then go on the tell me how much of a turd (actually the other word i used) that person is, hilarious.

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Specializes in Mostly geri :).

All people are different....I could care less if it was said to me, just avoid using it with clergy.

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"don't worry you're just gonna feel a xxxxx" or something similar. pretty good for breaking the ice, getting some laughs, etc. i don't say it to all women, just ones i think will be receptive, some are too receptive and it goes over the head of some. women 40+ seem to take it the best.

good for having fun and joking around at work.

I never tell a patient not to worry because it is a natural thing to worry, it is a waste of time because they are going to worry anyway and it just comes between you and your patient(they feel they cannot communicate their true feelings to you) and I know it sounds weird but it is their right to worry. I just tell them the truth about what they are going to feel and let them deal with it on a real level. Maybe I didnt understand what you were saying in your post. I am not sure what you mean by "xxxxx. Must be something interesting if you have to decide whether or not they are going to be receptive to it?

OK. I just reread my post before I submit it and it sounds mean. I didnt mean it to. But what is xxxxx? What happens if you think they are "receptive" but it turns out you were wrong and they are not? Does it blow the nurse patient relationship? Sometimes if you say something that makes a patient uncomfortable they will laugh on the outside just trying to blow it off but inside they just want you to go away.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

This falls under what is referred to as a "Boundary Violation".

Many NPA will address this type of violation.

This can be grounds for discipline.

Be very careful saying this if at all. IMO? One should not be flippant with patient care and never cross professional boundaries unless it is a brief departure that is therapeutic with a quick return to a professional boundary.

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Specializes in VA-BC, CRNI.

I have a hard enough time maintaining professional boundaries with my patients. I cannot tell you the amount of sexual advances I get while working...I am sure you all have your stories too.

There are just way too many false accusations of sexually inappropriate behavior between male Nurses and patients to warrant a "sexual joke."

I try to maintain a strict boundary with my patients. I will go as far as telling a patient my wife is a fellow Nurse but that is about as far as I delve into any type of sexual or relationship related conversation.

Telling a female patient your going to feel a little XXXXX would make me think that when you have to insert a Foley, suppository or anything below the belt a little uncomfortable.

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i do this at a pt gig i have. the nurse (female, she basically runs the place) that trained me says it to everyone, she's been a nurse 40+ yrs. it all started by accident, i had never said it b4, b/c i figured it would be improper b/c i was a male, but after hearing her and others (female) there say it all the time it slipped a few times and i had neutral or positive feedback from patients, so i figured go with it. however, i've had some rare patients that don't like it at all, so they've gone to the old mule (stubborn) nurse that trained me and she basically tells them the only reason they have a problem with it is b/c i'm a male. she tells them that's what she and others there always say (or some varient) and will continue to say (she's given some of these folks shots b4 with no prob), so she's not going to make me stop b/c i'm a male and that she probably couldn't do so legally anyways. the issue is usually smoothed over right there. of course, some then take their complaint to one of the docs, but nothing changes.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Respectfully, if you continue to use this during your patient care, you can honestly say that you've been given good advice here.

Please sincerely think about this if you decide to continue with this practice.

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