Pubic hair

[nurseJLoo]

My female patient wants me to shave her pubic hair, she cant do it herself she only has limited movement of one arm . Should I do it? (I would rather not) any advice? Update-this is a LTC Vent patient who is not going home. Believe it or not this isn't the first patient that asked me to do this I had another patient with ALS ask me to trim hers with an electric razor because she said the hair gets caught in her underwear and pulls. I had got "pulled" to her unit and she asked me to do it -had her own electric razor-so me like a fool assuming the nurses were doing it for her went ahead and did it then i found out that only a few people would do it for her. What do I look like? the personal pube trimmer? also she was a real pain in the butt about how it was trimmed, I dont want to relive that nightmare!

[scarta105]

Get real!!! shaving pubic hair is no different than shaving chest hair, anal hair, axillary hair, or scotal hair. Any nurse that works in OB or GYN or Surgery is called on to shave pubic and labial hair often. It comes with your diploma.

"If you are uncomfortable taking TOTAL care of this dependent, NOT GOING HOME, patient, then, as you would with any other procedure that makes you uncomfortable or poses a liability risk, ask another nurse to assist with you and verify the patient wishes."

BRAVO! I couldn't have said it any better! Not only can it make the patient more comfortable, but it can also make cleaning their bottoms quicker and easier, especially if they are incontinent and unable to do their own hygiene care. I want my patients to know that they can depend on me and be able to trust me for whatever care they need. I want them to walk away from the hospital thinking, "Wow, that was the BEST nurse I've ever had!"

[leslie :-D]

i'll admit, i've changed my mind.

my knee-jerk reaction was "no way"...."gross"..."wth?"

but after reading some perspectives, there could be validity in one's request to have their pubic hair shaved.

but i would have to consider it a valid reason.

i guess this old dog still has some new tricks to learn.

leslie

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

There's a difference between trimmed and shaved though. Trimming with scissors, i could probably do, but no razors or trimmers. I'd still rather have soemone else do it that does it for a living.

[Lavslady]

I'm from the "old school"... been in Nursing for over 38 years...back in the old days, I worked labor and delivery...I've shaved hundreds of pubic areas...it was routine for all L&D patients, and it WAS in the Nurse's job description back then...no big deal. And I was shaved for all 3 of my own deliveries...it sure itches when it starts to grow back in!

And there was a time I worked with Spinal Cord injuries...I've shaved lots of ladies' legs and arm-pits, as part of their bath routine.

It's amazing to me how times have changed, and having been out of the delivery room for so many years, I was surprised when my daughters WEREN'T shaved for delivery!

[ednurse17, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

I MIGHT consider trimming some excess with scissors but I doubt I'd shave it. Theres too much risk of infection if you accidently nicked the patient. Same for trimming toenails. Leave it to the professionals.

[nurse2beeinthefuture]

Im only a nurse in training, however I did have a surgical procedure in which parts of my perineal area was shaved. Yes I did feel uncomfortable about this being done. Yes I think I would attempt to shave a pts perineal, face, legs etc. Because it was so uncomfortable for me I usually know the pt really wants if done for comfort measures. As nurses I believe we are obligated to comply with our pts comfort needs. As one of the other posters said that its more invasive to insert a catheter, hey someone could get off on this procedure too, so whats the difference.

[sanctuary, BSN, MSN, RN]

Inserting a cath is medically necessary, not usually done as a vanity issue. I would do it easily if necessary for a surgety. Otherwise, no. We are not body slaves.

[kjnorris]

I am sorry all but shaving that sensitive of an area i wouldnt feel comfortable with. Trimming yes though. i would have to explain there was going to be some one else present as to protect my profesional integrity.

[mlnrs1]

I'm surprised by the prudishness on here! No offense, but... wow.

I'm male and doubt she'd want a male to do it, but I would get an experienced female CNA to do it, just trim it with an electric trimmer. It will make the lady happy and comfortable and would take all of about a minute.

Bottom line:

a) the patient would feel better if she had it done.

b) she cannot do it herself.

Nobody would be shy about inserting a cath or lady partsl suppository, or shaving her to prep for surgery.

[mlnrs1]

Inserting a cath is medically necessary, not usually done as a vanity issue. I would do it easily if necessary for a surgety. Otherwise, no. We are not body slaves.

It's not a vanity issue - it's a comfort issue. Anyone who... h.hmmm... trims... gets used to it that way and when it gets too long it gets tangled up, it gets pulled when you dress and undress, and it (eeeeeeew, but true) sweats more. It gets uncomfortable and irritating.

It's like a guy used to wearing a beard is comfortable with it... but if a guy has always shaved and grows a beard for the first time, there is a long period where it is itchy, uncomfortable, and hot.

Comfort issues are everything to LTC residents. Remember, this isn't just a temporary stay they have to endure like at a hospital. This is their home, it's their life, and sometimes YOU and your compassion are all they have.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

We don't shave patients in our OR..In many places, they are getting away from shaving the surgical site because it causes more problems in the long run.(due to nicks in the skin, small ones you can't see) We only clip the body hair at the most and even then, not very often.

I would not be comfortable doing pubic hair maintainance for a patient. To me, it still falls under a cosmetic issue. What's next, offering brazilian waxes and body piercing?

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I'm surprised by the prudishness on here! No offense, but... wow.

I'm male and doubt she'd want a male to do it, but I would get an experienced female CNA to do it, just trim it with an electric trimmer. It will make the lady happy and comfortable and would take all of about a minute.

Bottom line:

a) the patient would feel better if she had it done.

b) she cannot do it herself.

Nobody would be shy about inserting a cath or lady partsl suppository, or shaving her to prep for surgery.

Oh, and I'm not a prude. I'm also not a pushover either and nurses have enough to do without working the pube patrol! We have to draw the line somewhere...