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Discussion

Question about pediatric physicals

I am a new RN working in a pediatricians office and i have noticed that the pediatricians here require all of our patients to discloth for all checkups and physicals and we give them gowns to put on to cover up. For our adolescent patients our Dr's also require our female patients to take there bra's off so they could do a breast exam on them. My questions are is it really required to have a child and adolescent discloth for physicals or can the Dr's do there physicals with the patient clothed? Is it also necessary to do a breast exam on a adolescent female during a routine physical? I don't know if i should say something to the Dr's about that or am i overracting about it. I love working with kids and at the office i am working at

Featured Replies

  • Experts

I would certainly think it would be strange to provide a physical to anyone fully clothes.

What strikes you as odd?

  • Author

I don't find it odd that the patients have to undress i know that is a nescescity so the dr's could do a physical what i do find strange is asking an adolescent female to undress and to also take her bra off so the dr could do a breast exam as part of there checkup. Is it really necesary for a dr to do a breast exam on an adolescent female during a routine physical?? I know how uncomfortable the patient could be with taking her bra off or am i really overracting to the whole thing???

You think adolescent females cannot get lumps in breasts???

  • Experts

You are over reacting to the whole thing. I have a teen daughter and yes the pedi performs a breast exam. She has breasts she needs them examined. I teach her how to self examine as well. Once teens have breasts they need to be examined like every other female breasts. what makes you find that odd? How can one have a physical fully clothed?

I am confused by your apprehension. Do you have your physical fully clothed? I see by previous posts you have had this apprehension for 3 years..... what is so concerning to you?

Aug 24, '10 by twahls65

Thank you everybody for your responses, I am still looking for more advice on talking with the main Pediatrician on how he does physicals with toddlers and adolescents. I am the only male nurse in my practice with 2 other female nurses. I feel kinda weird and uncomfortable telling the parents or the patients that they have to undress their child to their underpants/bra for the childs physical. We do give the child a gown to put on but alot of them are still apprehensive on undressing but they end up doing it. For female patients i do tell them that the Dr. would be doing a breast exam on the older alolescents and they have to take their bra off. For the older male patients i do let them know that the Dr. would be doing a testicular exam thats why they have to undress. I still feel weird telling them these things. how do i get over my embarrassment with talking to pediatric patients. I am looking for more stories on how other pediatric offices do toddler/adolsecent physicals in their office. I am defenetly going to talk to the main pediatrician on my feelings on how things are being run in the office. I do really like my job and the people around me we are a good team i just dont want to ruin it by opening my mouth and saying something.

https://allnurses.com/pediatric-nursing/question-about-pediatric-278682-page3.html#post4496515

  • Author

I know its possible for them to get lumps but i didnt know if it was appropriate for a pediatrician to check there breasts during a routine physical.

They do physicals clothed for the most part where I work and no breast exams either.

Am I missing something or have you been asking the same question for the past 5 years?

  • Experts

I think that you have received great advice - discussing this further is futile as we certainly haven't changed your mind. Personally, I find it odd that you keep at this subject. Move on.

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