"Don't you find this degrading?"

[shhhh]

I had a well-spoken, educated woman as my patient. She had this pretentious vibe to her, but I found her to be polite. That is, until I explained that cath care needed to be done and the rationale behind having to do it.As I'm performing the cath care, she said, "Don't you find this degrading? I would never do this!" I was offended, of course. It's not like I'm a stripper or something, I'm taking care of people here. How can that truly be degrading to me? And I think I was mostly annoyed, too, because I offered to give her what she needed to do the cath care herself, but she declined. If you're not happy about someone else washing you, you'd do whatever to ensure you could to wash yourself, right? In this instance, I said, "Well, Im used to doing this sort of thing. It's important that you don't get a UTI" because I didn't know what else to say. If/when someone has said something similar to you, what did you say to them? And... What did you REALLY want to say instead? :)

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"No, I do not find it degrading".

"I find patient care to be rewarding and fulfilling"

in other words... lie through your teeth to put Ms. Uppity in her place.

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

Sometimes the best way to get a point across is to not say anything at all.

[33762FL]

I would have shrugged and just casually said "no, not at all. I love being a nurse" which is the 100% truth.

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

She was probably projecting her own discomfort with the situation. Patients often apologize for needing things that are otherwise considered private or off limits. I think you handled it properly, and don't really see her as uppity. I am sure she was not trying to put you in your place by this. Since we can no longer see your years of experience without leaving the page, I can only guess that you might be relatively new in nursing? No matter, you will hear things like this from patients as you continue on. And some of the things you will hear won't be as nice as this.

[Hygiene Queen]

How about...

"I have no problem with having to do this. However, I have a huge problem with not doing this and you getting a massive infection. That's not degrading, that's giving a s***!"

Okay... maybe I wouldn't quite word my last sentence that way, but I have made similar statements.

[FlyingScot, RN]

I kinda like "It's not like I'm a stripper or something."

[czyja, MSN, RN]

She was probably projecting her own discomfort with the situation. Patients often apologize for needing things that are otherwise considered private or off limits.

Yes, she was probably taught that her peri area was "dirty." This is sad IMO.When patients, friends, or strangers ask me if I find dealing with blood/vomitus/urine/feces/sputum I tell them the truth - that it is a privilege to help people.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

She was probably embarrassed, although 'degrading' is a poor choice of word.

[AWanderingMinstral]

What's wrong with being a stripper?

i had a well-spoken, educated woman as my patient. She had this pretentious vibe to her, but i found her to be polite. That is, until i explained that cath care needed to be done and the rationale behind having to do it.as i'm performing the cath care, she said, "don't you find this degrading? I would never do this!" i was offended, of course. It's not like i'm a stripper or something, i'm taking care of people here. How can that truly be degrading to me? And i think i was mostly annoyed, too, because i offered to give her what she needed to do the cath care herself, but she declined. If you're not happy about someone else washing you, you'd do whatever to ensure you could to wash yourself, right? In this instance, i said, "well, im used to doing this sort of thing. It's important that you don't get a uti" because i didn't know what else to say. If/when someone has said something similar to you, what did you say to them? And... What did you really want to say instead? :)

[mrr5745]

Only when I have to do this for people who could do it for themselves but prefer to have "the help" do it instead.

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

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