I work in a occupational type setting. Recently, I had a patient confide in me about a medical condition that involved a sexually transmitted disease. Of course, I have to provide complete confidentiality. I have many patients coming and asking about STDs except this time.... I am very good friends with the employee's spouse.
I know that I can't say anything to the friend, but I would just like to know if anyone has been in this type of situation.
How many of you have been put in this situation? Any supportive comments or suggestions?
Do what you have to do by law - reporting it to the local health department, or whatnot. Also, keep the confidentiality (as you know that you need to). Say NOTHING to your friend (the wife). I once took care of an Uncle of a family member. No one knows that I ever did, and they can never know.
BUT!!! If your friend ever confides in you that she has an "itching or a burning" feeling (you know what I mean), just tell her that it sounds suspiciously like an STD or some other type of lady partsl problem that needs to be seen by her GYN sooner rather than later.
I work in a beef processing plant and I provide nursing care for employees who are injured on the job. We also triage employees presenting with personal illnesses, and provide education for employees with questions about any questions they may have (That is among the many, many things us OHN nurses do)
Many people come and ask us nurses about sexual health. So, I wasnt suprised whenever this particular patient came asking questions. The employee (patient) came and told me he/she was diagnosed with an STD and was given a script for both himself/herself and spouse. Treatment was already given to him/her by health office. The employee was told by another sexual partner that they had tested positive for STD. That is why he/she went into the Public health office be treated.
Basically, the employee came asked me what exactly the medication was and could it be prescribed for any other medical condition. I think this person was planning on telling the spouse some bullcrap story about why the medication was prescribed. I educated the employee about the importance of treatment for all sexual partners. I could have vomited. The most horrible thing about this is this employee is not aware that I'm close to the spouse...
I hope the employee comes back so I can see what happend... I dont know if my friend will confide in me if the spouse did tell him/her about the STD and the medication. The bottle has his/her name on it.....
I worked in a family practice clinic and saw a patient who thought she was pregnant. She urinated in a cup and I ran a pregnancy test which was positive.
I went back to the room to tell her the news and there sat my best friends husband holding this beaming womans hand.
I acted like I had never seen him before in my life, congratulated them on their upcoming baby, and RAN from the room ASAP.
It eventually came out when his girlfriend was close to term, but I never told my friend. (Although seeing them out as a couple made me want to smack him upside his head!)
CIRQL8
295 Posts
Do what you have to do by law - reporting it to the local health department, or whatnot. Also, keep the confidentiality (as you know that you need to). Say NOTHING to your friend (the wife). I once took care of an Uncle of a family member. No one knows that I ever did, and they can never know.
BUT!!! If your friend ever confides in you that she has an "itching or a burning" feeling (you know what I mean), just tell her that it sounds suspiciously like an STD or some other type of lady partsl problem that needs to be seen by her GYN sooner rather than later.
What else can you do?