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

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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.

Maybe I'm mean, but if you're well enough to have sex, you're well enough to go home.

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.

[quote=Lev

Who are we to hold people's behavior in a private hospital room to our standard? As long as what they are doing is not illegal and private I stand by my previous comment. I do not get easily offended or uncomfortable. It's like telling homosexuals to keep it in private and avoid PDA. I would never ask that from a straight couple, why should I ask that of any group?

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
It's not a dirty thing... In your own house.. Do what you want to do..

But don't make other people uncomfortable because of your lifestyle.

I think MOST people's "lifestyles" include sex.

Depending on why they're in the hospital, I don't know that it's totally out of line that they might be fooling around.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I just had an image of a nurse walking by a pt room with a sock or a tie on the door handle. LOL

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I just had an image of a nurse walking by a pt room with a sock or a tie on the door handle. LOL

That really made LOL!!

Wonder what color sock they would use, and would the hospital "charge" for the sock?

MissyRN

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Maybe I'm mean, but if you're well enough to have sex, you're well enough to go home.

Absolutely.....unless you are working in a long term care facility? (In which case I think it is fine.) I can't figure out how a patient in an acute care facility could be well enough to want sex?

I heard a Dr. joke once that he knew his female patients were ready to go home when they had PMS....positive makeup sign...(they would be wearing lipstick, etc..) I know it is a horrible sexist joke, but still the idea is the same.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Is it really necessary to get your freak on in a hospital? A case could be made for some circumstances/situations but as a whole it is not appropriate.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

In LTC IMO it's perfectly reasonable to put up a "do not disturb" sign on the doorknob. It is their home. What people do in the privacy of their home is not my business.

But the hospital is a public place. They are there for medical and nursing treatment. It's the workplace of many who may not want to see live Media while on the job--possibly even 16-17 yr old minors. (My first employer was a LTC + rural hospital in one building; many of the CNAs and dietary workers were under 18.) Yes I know that a LTC facility could be my employer, but again that is also their home which carries more weight. The hospital isn't.

Maybe that makes me a prude, but it's my $0.02.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
That really made LOL!!

Wonder what color sock they would use, and would the hospital "charge" for the sock?

MissyRN

It would be color-coded and grippy. You know, surgical, fall risk, etc.

might be interesting what the color coding would be for something like this...

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Specializes in hospice.

I vote for shocking pink.

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Specializes in ER.

FYI, Stone Age humans all did the wild thing any old place.

In a civilized society, there is such a notion as etiquette. Certain bodily functions are considered private, out of consideration of the feelings of others.

Oh, I forgot, that makes me a puritanical, uptight prude, because I don't don't want to see people doing it at work, in the park, on the bus.

I obviously need therapy ... ;)

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Specializes in hospice.

Dang it, now y'all have got me thinking about that In Living Color skit where the woman just had a baby and her boyfriend wants to get it on. She yells at him, "Right now it would be like dropping a pencil down a mine shaft!" Always makes me giggle.

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