claybob

I don't understand. Although I strongly disagree with it I thought it was very common for a nurse to shave "down there" for Pre Op. Many of the comments I've read here from nurses make it sound like it's the last thing on earth they would ever do. Is that what the aides and assistants have to do? Why would it be so different than Pre Op?

plumrn - when you say you pulled the covers back discreetly did you mean the family couldn't actually see the "problem"?

Knew of one woman who cxl'ed a surgery when she found out that the scrub nurse was a male. If I found out that a female doctor or nurse would be involved I would cancel the surgery too. Also if I was surprised with a female nurse/tech/assistant to do the Pre-Op shaving and scrubbing I would request a male. If they didn't comply I would demand one. If they still refused I would then cancel the surgery.

student4ever (and other nurses) - If you're still out there, considering your last reply was 3 years ago, I apologize for my last comment. I probably took it completely out of context. Being someone who is strongly opposed to having opposite gender attendants (as far as exposed genitals are concerned) I have to admit that you nurses have an extremely difficult job. When first learning that female nurses do EVERYTHING concerning a male patients care I looked into the possibility of getting into nursing to help protect male patients of going through that. While researching I saw the list of duties that you nurses have to do on a daily basis plus frequent emergency cases and I have to admit I almost lost my lunch. There are so many things you all do that I could never do, I just don't have the stomach for it. Although I will do anything possible in the future to have a male nurse help me with all my possible needs (while privates are exposed), I have a much stronger respect for all nurses and what they have to go through every day. I apologize for some things I've said in past comments, you really do deserve our respect. While I'm sure there are many bad nurses out there as in any other profession, I realize that the majority of you really care and I do consider you heroic for all you do. The thought of exposing my genitals to female nurses still gives me the shivers but you probably feel those same shivers upon seeing them but would normally be able to hide that from me. Apart from that I do appreciate the care and compassion that most nurses give to us guys as well as everyone else and I hope that requesting a male attendant (only when genitals are exposed) doesn't make you believe that everything else you do isn't welcomed or appreciated.

they have the pt strapped to a back board, all clothes cut off and hanging off the stretcher, the pt is buck naked, all the jiggly parts are wobbling from the compressions, and they're making that awful agonal resps sound - and I can't quit staring! I don't know what's wrong with me! I don't know if it's that I haven't seen enough naked pts bodies, or if I'm just fascinated/horrified by the myriad of different ways that people look naked, but just looking at them makes me feel violated, but I can't look away!!! I guess I'll get used to it (21 days and I'm starting as a clinical assistant, so I'm sure I'll see plenty) but I just can't seem to wipe the cheesy embarrased grin off my face, keep from blushing and stammering Boy student4ever, I hope I'm never your patient. I sure wouldn't want you staring at my jiggly parts with a cheesy grin on your face when I'm moaning in agony.

madashell - What did you do or say when you saw your girlfriend so carelessly displayed like that? A similar thing happened to me but it was my mother. Can you imagine? I was furious!

I apologize for calling what you guys do abuse. I understand that you are only doing what you think is best for me, and probably nearly everything you do is exactly what should be done. I just hope that whoever may be helping me will have some common sense and not be in so much of a hurry that you won't listen to me. I hope you will explain to me what you need to do to me and why and possibly let me assist you in your examination. I just have a moral issue with my privates being seen and especially touched by females. I realize in matters of possible life and death situations that moral issue should be ignored, but I would hope that my examination could be in a controlled environment and your best efforts be made to try to accomodate my wishes, even if I have to wait longer. Thanks for what you people do. I really do consider you all heroes.

If I were conscious and believed I didn't have an injury that had anything to do with my genitals I would have fought them tooth and nail if they started ripping my clothes off. Are we really forced to allow that abuse? I'm sure there are very few people out there that would consider that abuse, but I would. It should be my choice. I could very likely be hurt much more than I thought I was at the time, but if I asked them to at least slow down a little and talk to me about I would expect them to listen. And yes, my modesty and dignity IS as important to me as my life.

So if we were to refuse certain procedures and they ignore us what do we do? Can we try to push them away or will they just strap our arms to the gurney?