Patient privacy and pelvic exams

[cphillipslpn]

Okay, so I'm a nursing student about to start externship in a physicians office. I recently was a patient at my gynecologist's office, my doctor was female, and they are required to have a chaperon. This particular nurse likes to stand between my legs right next to the doctor and watch the whole procedure. The second time I was there a different nurse stood opposite the doctor to where she could not see what was going on. So my question is; do you have to watch what is going on during a pelvic exam as the nurse? Because it made me very uncomfortable to have so many people down there and I don't want to have to make my patients feel uncomfortable. Where do you all stand during an exam?

[Biker53]

Nurses are patients as well. Turns out we have a perspective of wearing different shoes. Why a non-nurse would join a forum not meant for them and post long diatribes like you have done is beyond me. Sorry, I'm a firm believers that non-nursing persons do not belong here.

I understand and apologize if I have intruded where I am not wanted. I had seen many non-nurses make posts and thought patient perspectives were welcome.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

https://allnurses.com/allnurses-news-announcements/welcome-to-allnurses-894884.html

that is the link to the welcome page that talks about the purpose of this site. Clearly, you skipped over this part when you created an account here.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

The short answer for OP is: yes, absolutely. For the patient's needs as well as one's of provider.

A long, long time ago I'd seen a career of new Ob/Gyn physician almost destroyed by a patient who sued the doc and office staff for "stealing" a very special gold stud she claimed to be implanted into her cervix. The chaperoning RN was, per patient's expressive request, staying near the patient's head and did not see the field. Luckily, there was a student in the room during exam who was able to testify that there were no such stud.

OP, I understand perfectly well where you are coming from. My husband once had to go to the very top of a large medical center's hyerarchy because the way they were doing certain things was not what I could stand. Unfortunately, in today society doctors got to protect themselves. It is not written on anybody's forehead "I shouldn't and wouldn't lie". It is also not written on yours "I know you guys gotta learn but in reality I am ashamed to death".

If you are in prolonged and well-established patient/physician relationship (in other words, you and your doc trust each other), you can just tell about your discomfort, politely and directly. Ask for a second female in the room so you could be comforted. Some physicians are ok with any friend/family member patient wants near for just such cases. Cancer centers often have "navigators" who help patients go through treatments; most often, "navigators" are nurses with years of experience in oncology and, believe me, they saw it all and then some more and will be happy to speak with you and help you. You DO have options, but you need to speak out and let your care team know of your needs.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Nurses are patients as well. Turns out we have a perspective of wearing different shoes. Why a non-nurse would join a forum not meant for them and post long diatribes like you have done is beyond me. Sorry, I'm a firm believers that non-nursing persons do not belong here.

It wouldn't be the first time that we have gotten gawkers on threads related to how to maintain a patient's modesty during certain invasive procedures. People come out of the woodwork.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Oh I know. I also know they only seem to come out of the woodwork on certain topics.

It wouldn't be the first time that we have gotten gawkers on threads related to how to maintain a patient's modesty during certain invasive procedures. People come out of the woodwork.