Pubic hair

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2006

I routinely shave my female patients' legs and underarms if needed (I work in a Trauma/Neuro/Medical/Surgical ICU and many of our patients are there for several weeks, if not months). I have also been known to paint toenails if time allows (I work nights and there are some slow moments) if the patient was someone who kept up on stuff like that. I don't mind and it puts a smile on many of my patients who are in their 30's and 40's that have been unable to shave their legs since admit. A husband of a recent patient told me I was the first nurse who thought to shave his wife's legs and he told me that it meant the world to his wife since she never went more than 2 days without doing those things.
But pubic hair? Hmmm....I don't think I would be all that comfortable doing that. Is there anyone else who could do it for her? A boyfriend or husband, perhaps? = )
Melanie = )

I would do that, too. I know it would make ME feel better if someone did it for me. You already usually can't take a real bath or shower, so I can imagine how ICKY you'd feel if you couldn't shave your underarms for two weeks! Ick! My legs wouldn't really bother me TOO much, but underarms would.

But pubic hair? No way!

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2006

I agree that this is a very personal and unusual request.
But as for NaKat, for me the pt´s dignity is one of the most important things in nursing.
For many young women shaving pubic hair -and even more shaving legs or armipts- is part of their normal personal hygiene.
I think you can not keep pt´s dignity if you always stick strictly to your job description.
A solution could be the offer to arrange a the visit of a professional cosmetician, if the pt will not be discharged.

Yes, but isn't it a bit insulting to the nurse to SHAVE ANOTHER WOMAN'S PUBIC HAIR??? That seems degrading to me.

dragonfly3 · Jun 7, 2006

This is GROSS and I personnaly would not do this. I agreed with everyone else tell her to go to a salon. I would not care if this is her daily grooming rituals (GROSS).

michelleicu · Jun 7, 2006

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![

michelleicu · Jun 7, 2006

that was funny but gross.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2006

what????? roflmao.....:roll:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::roll:roll Well i would tell her she is gonna have to wait in line because you have 7 or 8 in front of her waiting for the same thing......I dont even see where you would have time even discussing a issue like this when nurses are so busy.....Id probably call her family and say....send your best crotch trimmer.....lol lol... ive heard it all now....

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!

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Jun 7, 2006

Normally, I would say do it yourself...but if she looked like she had Don King in a leglock...I would do it.

hehe, jane

i know how miserable i would feel if i was unable to take care of these delicate matters...i might consider if the situation was way out of control

USArmy2RN · Jun 8, 2006

I am halfway through nursing school and have worked in LTC/Convalescent care for 3 years. Most of my clients are quadriplegics, from spinal cord injury and disease processes MS, ALS etc... The bottom line is most of them are young and can not use their arms to high level of functioning. Though I am a male and most femlaes try to get female aides, I could easily see female clients requesting such hygiene care. Though I may feel uncomfortable for fear of razor nicks and burns I would likely do it for clients male or female. I would prefer to use an electric razor or a bought razor instead of the house ones which frankly scare me. The suggestion of asking ones family to perform this is appalling to me since most client's choose to keep as functional an outward apppearance to family as possible, plus think of their discomfort with family who may not have experienced care as personal as the average nurse and aide perform everyday. I would simply check with my charge nurse before hand, fit it in appropriately to my time schedule and have another aide/ nurse assist to cover any appearance of impropriety. If I was an incontinent female or male unable to use my hands to perform self care: if I thought it would increase my hygiene and could be performed safely and tactfully I would likely ask for it...if I could get beyond my own embarrassment......I always try to keep in mind that when what is required is done, people who cannot use their hands have many more things that they would do themselves if they could and my job presently to be their funtional hands and to date no client has every taken advantage of this in ways that some people writing in this thread fear.

meintheUSA · Jun 8, 2006

This is a FIRST.... At first I thought it might be a joke, but other nurses assure me it is not.....

First I would run it by my supervisor...Then if I did accept to do the duty, I would make sure I had another person with me for legal rights....

I had an alzheimer client once that would use an electric razor and forget to stop and would shave his eyebrows off because to him "they look funny there"........

Good luck in your decision to do or not to do......

dysmnesia1 · Jun 8, 2006

My thought is, if your a patient in any type of nursing facility, pubic shaving is the least of your problems.

LadyFable · Jun 8, 2006

I recently had the family of an elderly patient ask me to shave her pubic hair to help prevent infection or uti. The patient was 86 yrs old, non responsive and probably didn't care if she was clean shaven or not. I told the family I was not able to honor their request because shaving their mother would put her at greater risk for infection if I were to cut or nick her accidently. I nipped that request in the bud (no pun intended) really quickly.

91C_ARMYLPN · Jun 8, 2006

Sorry! Just like that song by MC Hammer, " Can't touch this..." And, I won't touch it. On the serious note, I have always taken care of my patient's hygiene without blinking an eye, be it male or female. But, I do draw the line at pubic trimming. Unless medically necessary as mentioned in another post.