Perineal anxiety

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I don't mind giving bed baths, wound care, dressing,etc at all.. But when it comes to male perineal care, I hestitate. And I dont mean just washing around the member, its the pulling back of the foreskin and cleaning I can't allways do.:imbar Any one know to overcome this anxiety?

caliber

It's a body part. Simple flesh. It needs to be cleansed.

of course i agree.

i'm just sitting here, sipping on my coffee, and wondering, why this has to be explained to other nurses.

sad, yes?

leslie

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gloves were a waste of time? I don't understand what you mean... sorry.

We had a whole slew of CNAs AND nurses who thought putting on, and or changing gloves between pts. was a waste of time.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.

It's a body part. Simple flesh. It needs to be cleansed.

Right on.

To purposefully ignore it could result in infection. This is called "malpractice." You might never get called on it, but it is.

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Specializes in ER.
We had a whole slew of CNAs AND nurses who thought putting on, and or changing gloves between pts. was a waste of time.

:eek::eek::eek::no: WOW.

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I'd MUCH rather clean smegma out from under an uncircumsized member than to dig stool out of a lady parts for hours. It's amazing to me how liquid stool seems to flow directly into the ovaries from the labia. Sometimes I wonder if we need one of those pulse irrigation devices to get it all out. Basically, it's a body part, just wash it and get over it. It's no more nasty than gross toe nails or leg ulcers or funky pits.

Randy:uhoh3:

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Specializes in ER.
I'd MUCH rather clean smegma out from under an uncircumsized member than to dig stool out of a lady parts for hours. It's amazing to me how liquid stool seems to flow directly into the ovaries from the labia. Sometimes I wonder if we need one of those pulse irrigation devices to get it all out. Basically, it's a body part, just wash it and get over it. It's no more nasty than gross toe nails or leg ulcers or funky pits.

Randy:uhoh3:

NO...... stool in lady parts.....that's worse than toe nails and funky pits, for sure :barf01:

OMG... this could be another thread.... what's the grossest thing you've ever seen....

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
NO...... stool in lady parts.....that's worse than toe nails and funky pits, for sure :barf01:

OMG... this could be another thread.... what's the grossest thing you've ever seen....

Already have one: What Is Your Most Gross, Yucky, Disgusting Nursing Horror Story?;)

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Specializes in Neuro, Cardiology, ICU, Med/Surg.

I agree with others who pointed out that whenever possible, I suggest patients do their own peri care. Those who are unable to are usually not too upset with me when I do male or female. I let them know what I'm going to do and why it's important, and then just do it.

Earlier this week, I had a male patient who had liquid diarrhea in a diaper that flooded up around the top of his member. Not a fun clean-up job at all. Also had to take care of the stool caked onto a female patient's labia and and foley. While I can't say that it was fun, I have a more zen-like approach to doing this type of care. It's way more humiliating/embarrassing for the patient than it is for me and that if a person can't take care of this basic need, what could be nobler than to be willing to do it for him or her?

I also find that talking to the patient while doing it about something else, like their jobs or former careers, families and places where they live, or whatever helps them to feel more like I see them as a person than a mess to clean.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Hemodialysis.

when going down there on a man or woman i always had "assistance"... in addition, a buddy and i would do our pt's baths together... always take a friend when giving a cath, rectal med or whatever to "help turn"... and so on. it's always good to have a witness there.:smokin:

DG:typing

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whenever i had to do it....i'd either have someone doing it with me. or i'd just talk to the pt about whatever was on tv. sort of distract not only yourself, but distract them as well. the more relaxed they are, the more relaxed you are.

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Specializes in Inpatient Rehabilitation.

Just curious, were you a CNA before you became a nurse?

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which one are you askin about?

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