Pt having a "friend" over for "special nursing care"

Published

You know what I mean. . .a patient having someone of the opposite sex (or the same sex! that's happened too) that they are romantically involved with, spend the night (thankfully in a private room) and performing overt sex acts, to the horror of the poor CNA who has to come in and fix her tele leads, which have obviously come loose from all the activity.

I was horrified to know that not only does my hospital not have a policy against this, but the house supervisor told me I was not allowed to tell them to stop! These are sick people here! I understand people say they have "physical needs," but can we draw a line somewhere?!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
That's actually a good measure of what level typically private behavior is 'appropriate' for a particular person in a particular place. If someone set down a commode in the emergency stairwell, or for that matter a waiting room, bus, etc and proceeded to have a BM, would that really be the same as if a patient had a BM on a commode in the middle of their own hospital room?

I would hope most people would consider those to be two different things.

Please take my reply in the context of the argument about Maslow's and the freedom to meet those needs wherever one wishes to, as long as no one is around to witness it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Question, what does sex look like on a monitor? Artifact for sure, but maybe a little v-tach?

Also, I feel like this is a slippery slope. What happens when the patient develops chest pain? "Sorry sir, i didn't notice the st elevation because I didn't feel comfortable coming in to adjust your leads." Remember people, this is tele we are talking about. If you are on another floor and not sure you can always get a doctors order. Physical activity with wife permitted

Up Vote Up Vote ×
A private room in a hospital is not the same as a private hotel room and with telemetry you darn well better expect a fast visit from your nurse if you go flat lining for no good reason. Isn't that kind of the POINT of telemetry? sheesh!

On a completely different entirely judgmental note: There Their They're… Beliefs believes.. lol. Poor grammar diminishes the impact of an argument imo.

Once again

When one fails to make a valid argument and resorts to personal insults it clearly shows 1. One has no valid point, We need to remember (me included) that not everyone will have the same view 100% of the time. That's ok. Personal insults just shows weak character.

So if he was not suppose to do an activity that makes his heart pound. Why wasn't he educated not to do so? Since you are trying to educate me. Wouldn't you tell the patient prior to signing an admission that he is not allowed to do such?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Maybe the hospital and flight crafts should have designated sex areas for patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
Question, what does sex look like on a monitor? Artifact for sure, but maybe a little v-tach?

Also, I feel like this is a slippery slope. Sounds silly but this whole thing is silly. What happens when the patient develops chest pain? "Sorry sir, i didn't notice the st elevation because I didn't feel comfortable coming in to adjust your leads." Remember people, this is tele we are talking about. If you are on another floor and not sure you can always get a doctors order. Physical activity with wife permitted

There's actually surprisingly little artifact, unlike when a patient goes on a solo mission, which looks more like 'toothbrush' tach.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

liberated847-

As a flight nurse you would feel comfortable looking away from a patient while they pleasured themselves?

How long would you be comfortable not visually monitoring the patient you were transporting?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.
The patient did not ask you to go watch them. They should have there privacy (because it is private room) in there own room. Nurses dont have the right to just go in without knocking. If you believe that you cannot have privacy outside your home then it is your belief but there people who have different beliefs because you are not the only person in the world and they are not here to PLEASE you. And you are here to judge them because of there belief of what privacy in a private room is. Is this really being therapeutic to the client? Is being a Nurse being able to judge what your patient's beliefs?

So I have to put a halt on doing my job because you just HAVE to have sex in a hospital right now at this very moment in time? You're there to be treated, not to get off on voyeuristic fetishes. Trust me.....controlling yourself is an option. Private room =/=home setting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.
liberated847-

As a flight nurse you would feel comfortable looking away from a patient while they pleasured themselves?

How long would you be comfortable not visually monitoring the patient you were transporting?

The problem here is that some here see sex as dirty, yes I'll concede there is a time and a place, my argument is that it is not ALWAYS up to me to decide this for my patients. In my scenario I originally thought of a pt quietly under the covers doing what they want. It is some of the people's colorful mind here who expanded to what amounts to erotic novels lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

This seems to be a control issue for some nurses. I've had patients who are hospitalized for long periods of time and I see nothing inappropriate about them wanting to enjoy some intimacy with their significant other so long as any safety issues have been addressed (which can include the patient accepting the risks involved). I'm here to help the patient achieve an optimal level of health as they define it, not to impose my beliefs or prove what level of control I have by controlling something that nature intentionally made difficult to control.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
So I have to put a halt on doing my job because you just HAVE to have sex in a hospital right now at this very moment in time? You're there to be treated, not to get off on voyeuristic fetishes. Trust me.....controlling yourself is an option. Private room =/=home setting.

What really is the definition of the "JOB"? Preventing the patient from doing what they think they need? Yes it is a choice, but were they presented with an option not to?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Of course the scenario you just described is inappropriate but then again that's not the scenario we were talking about. I'll give you points for creativity, you should write erotic novels LMAO!!!

The question was genuine. Where do you draw the line? As you can probably surmise from the second paragraph in my previous post, I don’t think it’s consistent with a sound nurse-patient relationship to remain in your patient’s close vicinity while they masturbate. I’d excuse myself or if the situation was such that I couldn’t, I’d tell them to stop. I was surprised that you or anyone would want to sit there.

I’m not sure why you in your reply write that “of course the scenario is inappropriate”. I mean I’m relieved that you do think so. The thing is though, that I think that the first part where you just sit there and let it happen is completely inappropriate too. But you obviously think that that one is acceptable. Since I’m not privy to your thoughts, I asked at what point do you think enough is enough?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.

The question was genuine. Where do you draw the line? As you can probably surmise from the second paragraph in my previous post, I don’t think it’s consistent with a sound nurse-patient relationship to remain in your patient’s close vicinity while they masturbate. I’d excuse myself or if the situation was such that I couldn’t, I’d tell them to stop. I was surprised that you or anyone would want to sit there.

I’m not sure why you in your reply write that “of course the scenario is inappropriate”. I mean I’m relieved that you do think so. The thing is though, that I think that the first part where you just sit there and let it happen is completely inappropriate too. But you obviously think that that one is acceptable. Since I’m not privy to your thoughts, I asked at what point do you think enough is enough?

It's hard to debate when you resort to straw man arguments. You are making lots of wrong assumptions about my post. Also what do you mean I "let it happen"? I'll answer your question, in my setting if a pt chooses to discretely under the covers do it's thing, and it's not putting himself or others in danger then I will not interfere or attempt to stop it. If

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion