Nudity in healthcare classes education or violation?

[Alnitak7]

I can count two classes where one or more people were asked to disrobe in class.

The first time this happened, we all understood that this had multiple purposes. First it was to teach us how to be empathetic to the patients since we would be undressing them.

Second, we had to learn procedures the way they're supposed to be done.

The R.N. teacher let us know ahead of time what we would be doing.

The classmate I got paired me up with was trustworthy and I had no problems with her.

The second time I was in a class that required nudity, was a few years later in one of those schools that only cares about making money and not about the students.

The teacher did not tell us that someone would be asked to disrobe.

Instead it was, "Who wants to be the subject?" Since I did not know what I was getting into, I got on the table.

I was laying there in front of a class that had both men and woman while the lecture went on.

When they went to take my shirt off and required me to be exposed

I adamantly refused to cooperate. Another student had to take my place.

It's been several years but I remember being offended that they would put someone on the table in front of their classmates and expect them to have their shirt taken off without telling them first before they asked someone to volunteer.

I remember being treated as if I was terribly shallow and self-involved because I would not allow them to take advantage of me this way.

Was this my own misinterpretation, I'm not sure.

I do know I was so insulted by them talking about my "attitude" that I contacted my teachers later on only to find out they did not even make those comments on my grade report. Instead, it was the owner of this school who was already getting complaints.

I was so offended that I sent a letter to the state board who adamantly sided with the school and informed me that it was for the purpose of education.

I do think it makes a difference how this is handled and no one should be obligated to get exploited for educational purposes.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

Ok... I'm sympathetic however I think what your statement brings to mind is that they strip you totally nude and then have you stand in front of the class 30s med school style, or heals up getting a pelvic exam. I'm sorry your not comfortable being exposed in any way but I have and have had coworkers who have had to disrobe, only as much as necessary, to demonstrate a task or procedure. All efforts to maintain modesty, but if I had a dime for every coworker who I found sitting in the squad room with only a bra on top so that the new student can practice a 12 Leeds I could buy a nice dinner. This is part of how we learn there is no substitute for a real person.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Ok....well...this was several years ago. I would just let it go. I'm sorry you experienced this. I had NOT encountered a program that required the students to get undressed. If this still bothers you years later you might want to talk to a professional.

Your title implies that you were naked. You were not naked but you were exposed and yes you should have the right of refusal.

[heystargirl]

My program is very strongly opposed to any kind of nudity outside of clinicals. We practice on each other, but it's always over top of clothing, and anything else is done on a mannequin. I guess, in the end, it depends on your program. I'm going to have to echo what Esme said and suggest you talk to someone about the way you're feeling.

[kcataldo31]

Every school must is different and has different attitudes towards nudity. My frist semester we were practicing basic assessmesnt skills on eachother and I lifted (with permission) the shirt of my partner up to expose her abdomen to perfor an assessment and the teacher very quickly came over and told me that any skin exposed that would otherwise be covered is against policy. I understand the use for it but I also know that I would in no way be comfortable in front of a classroom. I strongly believe you should have been made AWARE of what you were volunteering for though. There is no reason to put a student on the spot like that regardless of the "educational value" it seems like it was done as shock value, especially if nudity in lessons wasn't common place in your classroom thus far.

[Alnitak7]

If this still bothers you years later you might want to talk to a professional.

Your title implies that you were naked. You were not naked but you were exposed and yes you should have the right of refusal.

Being shirtless and having breasts exposed on a table in front of your classmates is almost the same as being naked. Even if you were gowned with exposed body parts it still can be humiliating.

What I actually did was drop out of this school and go to an accredited school instead. I talked to my teacher there and she sided with me.

She pointed out that disrobing sometimes might be good for education but part of that education is about the feelings and rights of others.

I also talked to a classmate about the owner who filled out my grade report and I won't repeat what he said about them.

Why pay a professional to tell you things a classmate can tell you for free.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

If a guy is willing to remove his shirt, then fine. But other than that, we use manikins. That is why someone invented manikins.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

We never disrobed either. I hear this occasionally though.

We did have to wear shorts one day as we learned assessing pulses in feet and assessing skin.

But that was it. I wouldn't disrobe either. We used manikins for just about everything - including placing 12-leads. We did do BP's on each other and assessed heart/lung/bowels sounds with a stethoscope. But not on a disrobed student.

[Episteme]

Wow. Would not happen at our school. Finding the deltoid for an I.M. (Not giving it... just locating the site) maybe. Hands, feet, OK. Definitely practice BP's on each other. But no! No nudity That's where SIM lab comes in.

Imagine the risk to the school. A student is challenging a failing grade and says... "you've been against me since the time I wouldn't take my clothes off!" Or worse, "You have been abusing me and even made me undress in front of the class."

It's a very litigious day and age. It wouldn't happen now. (PS: We used to make students drop an NG tube on their classmates. We use models now.)

Oh, and BTW: Did you know that medical schools pay people to come in and have complete history and physicals by med students? Complete with pelvic and anal exam. These people are paid well for their discomfort but they are "professional patients."

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Being shirtless and having breasts exposed on a table in front of your classmates is almost the same as being naked. Even if you were gowned with exposed body parts it still can be humiliating.

What I actually did was drop out of this school and go to an accredited school instead. I talked to my teacher there and she sided with me.

She pointed out that disrobing sometimes might be good for education but part of that education is about the feelings and rights of others.

I also talked to a classmate about the owner who filled out my grade report and I won't repeat what he said about them.

Why pay a professional to tell you things a classmate can tell you for free.

I NEVER said it was not humiliating and frankly I would NOT have disrobed either. This school was not accredited so it was a blessing that you left.

I am curious what has made you bring this up today if you have moved on from this school. I take life lessons and moved forward. I think credible schools are not going to humiliate you and have you display your body against your better judgement. I would have reported this "school".

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Oh heck no, I would have refused as well. Good for you! I wonder too, what if the student in question happened to wear a long dress and a hijab? I'm sure they'd be falling over themselves to be sensitive to her--and well they should. But they should also be sensitive to anyone who opposes showing her breasts, bra clad or no, to a group, especially a mixed group.

[Big Blondie, ASN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

Ridiculous to ask you to expose yourself. In grad school we had to pay a female and a male to let us do exams on them. Mannequins for other not so intrusive exams.