Questions about potentially awkward male-female interactions during lab/clinicals

[Jedi of Zen]

Alright, I have two questions - and these may seem rather frivolous to some people - but they are both simply honest concerns.

I recently read in another post elsewhere on this site that, at this particular person's school, students will have to bathe each other as part of learning how to give a spong bath. Have any of the second+ year students (or current RNs) out there experienced this at your school? From a strictly pragmatic point of view, I can see how that would be a perfectly reasonable way to learn/practice doing it, just as with any other skill or procedure. But I can also see how it might get a little awkward, esp if any young/giddy males and female students are paired off - and esp considering how thorough my textbook clearly indicates that a sponge bath actually is. example - I never realized that nurses actually scrub patients' genitals during a bathe. I mean, it makes perfect sense in the interest of hygiene and safety, but I guess I just always faintly assumed that sponge baths were simply more limited in scope. Obviously though, you have to learn since you're going to be doing this on people - male and female alike. And of course I understand that the patient remains well draped except for the part being bathed; however, my question, basically, is - have you done this at your school? And have you, as a guy, ever encountered any problems or issues over it?

The second main question is about another procedure - breast exams (ie, for females and males alike, since both are addressed in my book). Again, not to be frivolous about it; it's just an honest question - do students do this on each other in school? I'm guessing that patients might be encouraged/taught to self-examine, but I'm sure too that at times either a nurse and/or doctor simply need to examine as well, just to confirm this or that. Like the bath, it's not the sort of thing that I personally feel uncomfortable or necessarily weird about, one way or the other. But at the same time, the last thing in the world I would want to do is make a female student or patient uncomfortable simply by my very presence as a male. And if that means having a female coworker do it instead, hypothetically speaking, I'm sure I would be perfectly fine with that as a nurse. But I'm assuming that it's something that would need to be learned regardless - so my question again is - have any guys out there had any problems or weirdness with this?

Input from students and RNs alike is welcome.

Thanks!

[NeuroNP]

We handled baths in CNA school and we did give them to each other. However, we were fully clothed (t shirts and shorts) and it was really just the face, arms and legs. Perineal care ("scrubbing the genitals") was done on a maniquin. I believe breast exams are also done on maniquins.

[Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN]

Curiously, I've thought about this too recently.

I don't know about breast exams or bathing (I did find it kind of funny when you said, "I never realized that nurses actually scrub patients' genitals during a bathe" )

I haven't started my program yet, but one of the second-year students told me that since inserting a Foley is easier to do on a man than on a woman, I should expect to be helping with that particular demonstration....

Which is fine with me...just as long as they don't take any pictures.

[Sapper41]

along the same lines. What about listening to the heart at the PMI??

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Breast exams and such are not practiced in nursing school, on each other nor on patients. Advanced practioner school yes, undergrad no.

Practicing bed baths it's boys with boys and girls with girls with bathing suits/shorts, etc. on and the pericare is deferred, perhaps verbally reported, but deferred.

Nursing school is PG-13 in the lab.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

along the same lines. What about listening to the heart at the PMI??

You have to listen through the persons blouse/shirt/gown in lab. Or again boys with boys and girls with girls.

Probably best in the clinical section to check this skill off on a male.

[JT RN]

At my school we practiced bathing fully clothed, and it was more going through the motions than actually manipulating limbs and wiping/washing.

Breast exams, I don't remember having to do any on my colleagues.

[paganoid]

Curiously, I've thought about this too recently.

I haven't started my program yet, but one of the second-year students told me that since inserting a Foley is easier to do on a man than on a woman, I should expect to be helping with that particular demonstration....

I specifically asked about this at orientation and the instructor assured me that all students would insert their first Foley on live patients during rotations. Practice would be performed on female mannequins in the skills lab.

Being one of only a few males in the class, I am tremendously relieved not to have to undergo serial catheterization by my classmates!

[Gauge]

I start my first semester next week, but I work with someone who is one year ahead of me in school. They bathe each other with clothes on, but he did say they do breast exams on each other. I guess I'll find out for sure within the next year or so.

[ewattsjt]

male with male and female with female. if only one male in the class, they are usually paired with the instructor for this part. just as with the medical profession, the schools have to be mindful of potential lawsuits especially one that would involve "sexual content." although it is a real life simulation it is also still school. most schools would have a difficult time explaining why they had a male student touch a female student’s breast, etc…

[psychonaut]

Breast exams and such are not practiced in nursing school, on each other nor on patients. Advanced practioner school yes, undergrad no.

We did breast exams on each other in 1st semester assessment lab, boys-boys and girls-girls. Also had a plastic model with nodules to give us a feel for them.

[somberhue]

We handled baths in CNA school and we did give them to each other. However, we were fully clothed (t shirts and shorts) and it was really just the face, arms and legs. Perineal care ("scrubbing the genitals") was done on a maniquin. I believe breast exams are also done on maniquins.

same in our school!!!