housecarl79

Modest or over-sensitive ? A friend Charlie is upset at what he considers a lack of patient respect and dignity at a large local hospital. In for a urological procedure lying on the exam table, a male technician abruptly pushed his gown - nothing on underneath- right up to his shoulders in preparation, the tech said, for the doctor arriving. There were several female staff in the room- the hospital insists on no gender discrimination- and Charlie had been chatting to some of them earlier. He was mortified that they were all now seeing him bare from the shoulders down. To increase the upset, the doctor did not show on time and Chas lay there with his gown up for some time as everyone stood around waiting . One of the women he had chatted to came up and started to talk to him again. Charlie told her how embarrassed he was that she was seeing him with his private parts exposed, and so were her colleagues. Oh, she said, don't mind, we see that all the time. ! The doctor did arrive and the procedure went well but Charlie thinks he should complain about the staff attitudes. I agree they ignored completely his modesty needs. I wonder though if he is being over-sensitive. He did know that the procedure must involve some exposure and presumably that there would be some women on the staff. And why didn't he ask to be covered up. If he does complain, it should be about the male tech who prepped him far too soon, and left him undraped. That's my opinion.

Oh dear, another one who thinks her need to yap with other "workers" is more important than giving the patients maximum chance to rest and recover. First duty of nurse is to care for his/her patients I hope; try socializing when you're not working please.

Sorry earlier poster doesn't like the "too posh to wash" label for degreed nurses. But there's no doubt that the increasing use of HCAs reinforces the idea that nurses are there to deal with the more technical side of patient care; and the HCAs can handle the"nuts & bolts". I know some nurses don't mind getting down & dirty but there's just as many think they didn't do all that studying to have to clean up mess.

Trust management are under continuous pressure- to meet targets, reduce costs. Xerox machine here faulty but not allowed to get new cartridge until end of financial quarter ! Lot of emphasis on using healthcare assistants wherever possible to supplement ( really means reduce) qualified nurses who are more expensive. Entry qualifications for HCAs are not high- reading, writing, no criminal convictions. Despite this, agency nurse use is high but they are here today, gone tomorrow. Wouldn't want to be a ward sister !

Main reason in my experience for a colleague running to management is that the complainer is scared to confront you personally, so runs to management. Which he/she thinks will put some black on you anyway. Pray that you have a good manager who will send the complainer to you with instruction to sort the complaint between you before taking it to him/her. If this doesn't happen, request that it is noted that the complainer has not tried to resolve the problem but has instead run straight to management. If he/she does this often and it is noted, the pattern will emerge and reduce his/her credibility.