"Male Problems" while nursing female

dawg07 · Sep 21, 2006

Hmm,

I have never actually had this happen to me. I guess I am fortunate. I focus on the procedure and talk with the patients and their family members if present about what is happening to them at that second.

When I have to touch a breast or part of anatomy, I explain in advance that it is necessary for the procedure and apologize for any inconvenience or embarrassment. Acknowledging that it is personal to them possibly helps me maintain my "cool", or is a subconcious distraction on my part.

I'll ask some of my male co-workers if they have ever experienced this and how they handle it.

BTW, I have heard some of the females talk about wearing "armour" bras to prevent showing of tell tale body parts. Maybe they are visual too....

As far as comon sense approachs to dealing with the problem, I think when the they weren't trying to be punny, the suggestions were on track. Loose scrubs, untucked top, powders and appropriate undergarments. Professonal demeanor, and recognition that none of us can control every reaction that our body throws at us, but we can be prepared to try and cope with it.

Best of luck.

olderthandirt · Sep 22, 2006

I am counting down to my MHA......18 days and 29 minutes.or 423 hours and 26 minutes (see how time flies)..........

kenny b · Sep 22, 2006

How do you handle yourself if you have "Enzyte induced engorgement" while working with a female patient?
I had this happen once while working in the ER doing an EKG.
Does this happen to others? Help me out here.
Please don't say I'm not being professional or this isn't the job for me, etc. These things happen, I want to know how to deal with it (at that immediate moment)
Thanks

When I want to prolong things with my wife I try to recall the fibonacci sequence or derive pi out to the n'th digit. I guess you might be too distracted by work to make this happen at the time, but I couldn't resist suggesting it.

By the way, thanks a heap for the heads-up! I'm just now doing my pre-reqs, but it is entirely possible that you've saved a few of us from some embarassing moments by having the courage to raise this question.

Rgds,

Kenny B.

xt1 · Sep 22, 2006

Rule of Aging #2

No one is thinking of you! They are thinking am I going to be done with this in time to pick the kids up from school. Or something similar. like am I going to die? I guess you could always be like " excuse me ma'am, but I must apologize for my member" see how that blows over :)

Pat_Pat RN · Sep 22, 2006

Don't turn the volume knob on your PC because I'm not laughing one bit. BTW, looking forward to receiving my Nurse Pro Pack.

No, I'm serious, I do like those.

jov · Sep 23, 2006

this seems pretty common amongst you guys.
this is not common amongst us females.

Leslie, you are missing the point. The point is physiological arousal can happen in the absence of psychological arousal. Meaning, the guy wasn't trying to cop a feel but the member reacted anyway. Hate to inform you but women's bodies work the same way. Haven't you ever heard of the guilt a victim gets when she realized her body was reacting in the middle of a rape?

You may profess "i am just so relieved that all my treaters are female." All I can say is when I came into ER in hypovolemic shock I could have cared less if my treaters were male or female. Just save my d@*# life.

melpn · Sep 23, 2006

Untuck your shirt?

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2006

Loose scrubs, untucked top, powders and appropriate undergarments. Professonal demeanor, and recognition that none of us can control every reaction that our body throws at us, but we can be prepared to try and cope with it.

That was a very sensible post.

Thank you.

leslie :-D · Sep 23, 2006

Leslie, you are missing the point. The point is physiological arousal can happen in the absence of psychological arousal. Meaning, the guy wasn't trying to cop a feel but the member reacted anyway. Hate to inform you but women's bodies work the same way. Haven't you ever heard of the guilt a victim gets when she realized her body was reacting in the middle of a rape?
You may profess "i am just so relieved that all my treaters are female." All I can say is when I came into ER in hypovolemic shock I could have cared less if my treaters were male or female. Just save my d@*# life.

i'm fully aware of the mechanisms of physiologic arousal and understand that it isn't always synonymous with sexual arousal.

but comparing a rape victim, which is still a hyperarousal state, is not comparing apples to apples.

but to say that we women, possess the same physiologic and/or sexual responses as men? are you speaking quantitatively?

i am just learning through this thread, that erections occur w/o any notable stimulators or rather, r/t nothing "remotely suggestive".

so while i do feel for you guys (:) ), it has been an eye-opener for me.

and yes, because of personal experiences that compel me to seek female treaters, this thread has served to exacerbate my perpetual fears- even knowing it's not a blame game.

i don't believe i ever referenced what i would do in an emergent situation.

any statements i have made, have been gen'l in nature.

leslie

Altra, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2006

This has been educational.

Personally, if I am in need of medical care it doesn't matter to me one bit whether the people treating me are male or female. I care about their listening skills, their clinical competence and hope that we can establish a good rapport. And if I'm unconscious, not even that matters. :rolleyes:

If a male clinician ever has a "private moment" while caring for me, I really don't care -- it's just hormone X producing physiological response Y. I don't wanna know.

olderthandirt · Sep 25, 2006

earle58 said " i am just learning through this thread, that erections occur w/o any notable stimulators or rather, r/t nothing "remotely suggestive".

so while i do feel for you guys (:) ), it has been an eye-opener for me".

I once had a guy shake my hand and he had a full blown erection? What is the common thread, not knowing if or when a reaction might take place. You just do the best you can.

58flyer · Sep 25, 2006

i'm fully aware of the mechanisms of physiologic arousal and understand that it isn't always synonymous with sexual arousal.
but comparing a rape victim, which is still a hyperarousal state, is not comparing apples to apples.
but to say that we women, possess the same physiologic and/or sexual responses as men? are you speaking quantitatively?
i am just learning through this thread, that erections occur w/o any notable stimulators or rather, r/t nothing "remotely suggestive".
so while i do feel for you guys (:) ), it has been an eye-opener for me.
and yes, because of personal experiences that compel me to seek female treaters, this thread has served to exacerbate my perpetual fears- even knowing it's not a blame game.
i don't believe i ever referenced what i would do in an emergent situation.
any statements i have made, have been gen'l in nature.
leslie

Leslie,

It's good to know that you understand the difference between physiologic arousal and sexual arousal. That said, why would all this, as you said, exacerbate your perpetual fears? If a male treater has experienced physiologic arousal, you are probably not going to know it anyway. He is not going to broadcast it to everyone in sight. Most men can hide it reasonably well.

I don't recall if you have ever posted why your personal experiences have led you to fear care by male treaters, and I have not taken the time to root through your past posts. Chances are that someone did something they had no business doing, and I think I can relate to your fears if that's what happened. Since you know that erections are a reality of the male sex, why would anything said here increase your opposition to treatment by male providers?

What would you do in an emergent situation? That can happen to any of us at any time.