Required to watch circumcision?

Susan9608 · Jan 17, 2010

Your assumptions that if people thoroughly researched circumcision and how it was done would lead them NOT to circumcise their boys are erroneous.

I'm a nurse; I have been for 8 years. I've worked in general pediatrics, NICU, and currently PICU. I have assisted with more circs than I can count.

I'm currently 37 weeks pregnant with my first child, a boy. My husband and I *thoroughly* discussed the issue of circumcision with each other, our OB, the pediatrician we chose, and the PICU doctors I work with. (Incidentally, everyone from my OB to the pediatrician to my PICU intensivists recommended we circ. our baby.) We watched several videos of different circ. methods, and discussed analgesia/anesthetics for the procedure. It's hard for me to imagine how much more thorough we could have been in researching this issue.

And we have decided to go ahead and circ. our baby.

I certainly hope you aren't this judgemental about too many other areas/issues in nursing ... otherwise, I feel very sorry for your future patients.

mamamerlee, LPN · Jan 17, 2010

Wowee. The topic here was would you have to watch a circ. I think that as a student, you should want to be able to observe as many different things as possible, whatever your medical politics are. It is good to have first-hand experience so you won't feel overwhelmed if you find yourself in a position where certain care is expected of you.

I actually don't think circumcision is a necessary procedure, but I am Jewish, and both of my boys had a typical ritual circ done by a mohel (pronounced MOY-el) on the eighth day, at our home. It is our covenant with God.

And I have taken care of older boys and men who had to have a circ for medical reasons. Not an easy procedure to tolerate in an older male.

But gather your education while you can, take advantage of every opportunity to learn something new. You just never know what tiny bit of info you may need in later years.

allnurses Guide · Jan 17, 2010

Susan9608;I certainly hope you aren't this judgemental about too many other areas/issues in nursing ... otherwise, I feel very sorry for your future patients.

Yeah. A crusader. Behavior that tends to be heavily modified in standard nursing school experiences. On the other hand, having a foundation in current practices and their rationale probably a good thing before starting your own free-standing birthing center or whatever.

iteachob, MSN, RN · Jan 18, 2010

I'm a nursing student and unfortunately will be starting my OB rotation in a couple weeks. I'm against circumcision and I'm wondering if nursing students are "required" to assist or at least witness circ? I'm doing my clinical during 2nd shift so I shouldn't have to worry about refusing to watch due to circs mainly being done in the morning. But I'm just wondering if this is something a nursing student is involved in. Thanks!

I'm an OB nursing professor (I also teach clinical). Viewing and/or assisting with a circumcision is optional for my students. Most of them are very interested, though, and jump at the chance to be involved.

I myself RARELY watch. I do not believe in it myself; my son's are not circumcised.

LovebugLPN · Jan 18, 2010

I had my son circumcised many years before going to nursing school. His father and his father's family were against it. None of them are circumcised and thought it very wrong. I did it anyway. It was done very jagged and he had many adhesions over the years afterwards that lead to bleeding and infections. I was not given the choice as to whether or not I wanted to watch it be done while in school. I saw probably 6 of them and although they were not the most pleasant things in the world they were over with quickly and the babies only cried for a moment. I do believe though that if I had seen my child strapped down to that board I may have grabbed him and ran (I had trouble with watching his shots too). I am not against circumcision and I do believe everyone should be able to make an informed choice. I luckily only have one child because I do not know what I would do if I had to make this choice again. My current husband is all for circumcision and I really can't get all of the images out of my head. I am glad I watched while in school though because now I know exactly what I did.

sharpeimom · Jan 19, 2010

[color=#cc3333]health

circumcision may receive new support

circumcision, long one of the most emotionally charged surgical procedures performed in the united states, has become the focus of yet another intense debate as leading health authorities are about to issue major new evaluations of the potential health benefits of the operation.

(by rob stein, the washington post)

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Jan 20, 2010

I read about the African studies last summer when news of a possible new CDC rec would come out. What bothers me is that we are using studies conducted on citizens of another country to make recs for our own people. Additionally, I would like to know how they controlled for other extraneous factors, such as who these men were sleeping with, how many partners these men had, and whether their partners were included in the study and checked for infections as well. IMO, I dont think you can completely control for that as it would be unethical to tell a person who they can and cannot have sexual relations with, as well as you never can be sure if they are being completely honest about their sexual history. I would also want to know under what premise did they convince these men to get circumcisions and whether these men are aware of all risk associated with sleeping with multiple partners. There is always risk, whether circumcised or not.

In short, I am extremely skeptical of these studies and am curious to see what 'recs' the AAP and CDC come out with. But as it stands right now, we still wont be circumcising any future son of ours.

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Jan 20, 2010

[color=#cc3333]health
circumcision may receive new support
circumcision, long one of the most emotionally charged surgical procedures performed in the united states, has become the focus of yet another intense debate as leading health authorities are about to issue major new evaluations of the potential health benefits of the operation.
(by rob stein, the washington post)

i don't know why they come out with these articles. it's been thought of for awhile the circ'ing helps prevent against stds and utis and whatnot....they make it seem like these findings are something new, lol. however....these studies don't paint the big picture, only what they want people to hear. the aids study was done in africa first of all, where rape, infidelity and education is lacking. if you have sex with multiple partners or without condoms, then yes you have a good chance of getting an std....foreskin or not! hmmm...it's kind of weird that america still routinely circs and has the highest rate of circ in the world and a severely high std rate. so why hasn't their circ'ed member help those americans that have aids? i feel bad for those parents that aren't teaching their kids about safe sex because they think since their son is circ'ed then he's protected. sorry...but condoms are the safest (and painless) way to protect against stds. utis....i didn't see in this article that baby girls have more chance of getting a uti then an intact baby boy. if she gets a uti, there's antibiotics and good news for the boys, they can get them too. another thing i didn't see in the article regarding utis is that the rate is the same after the first 6-12 months between a circ'ed boy and intact boy. penile cancer is more rare then male breast cancer...so i won't touch that one. what i think is funny is the original reason why circ'ing was "invented" in this country in the late 1800s...to cure masturbation, lol. new ideas have been made up along the way and unfortunately i'm sure these won't be the last. i just wish articles and even our nursing books would give the other side. there's absolutely nothing in my nursing book (or my maternity orientation packet i recieved today) about the care of an intact member, or the functions of the foreskin and why it's a normal part of the male anatomy. it has a brief sentence saying that the foreskin is usually removed at birth in a procedure called a circ. it's sad....it's automatically assumed that these foreskin are to be removed at birth and sold to the makers of anti-wrinkle cream companies. more education is needed about this topic before things change further and boys are protected just like girls are to having a whole body. :yawn: anyway....please if you have anymore to say to me, pm because i won't come back to this thread, nice only please. thanks!

allnurses Guide · Jan 20, 2010

Gee, CrunchyMama- sorry people questioning your unique viewpoint, inflammatory language and patronizing tone are boring you. Perhaps you should offer people the privelege of scheduling an appointment to PM you. With an attitude like yours, you turn people off that might otherwise be open to your viewpoint.

BTW, what do you mean by "the US has a severely high STD rate", and what do you mean by circs being invented in the late 1800s? You don't sound very scholarly or professional with vague anecdotal statements like that. lol lol and lol

greenykilt · Jan 23, 2010

Ever seen a non circ member get infected? or seen what an unclean one looks like, or try to convince a small boy how to clean it properly? to each their own. With this kind of prejudices and feeling "sorry " for parents (how do you know how they actually PARENT just because of their circ choice?

anyway- I shudder to think about what your are passing judgements on in regards to breastfeeding, cloth diapering and etc mom type wars.

As a former child advocate and protectice services agent, I suggest you really reevaluate who you are feeling SORRY for and being this judgemental over parental choices. You are niave in the reality of this harsh world, you have no idea what countless children endure with bad parenting, drug and sexual abuse under your very nose. now THAT is who you should feel SORRY for

greenykilt · Jan 23, 2010

I also think its BS that your claming your bowing out of the discussion - its because you cant stand the heat. I am sure your reading all the replies

CIRQL8 · Jan 23, 2010

I work in the OR and the circs we do there are done under anesthesia, so not really comparable to you in OB. But as a urology surgery nurse, as rare as penile cancer is, there is NO documented cases of penile cancer in a circumcised male. Also agree with the cleanliness thing. The smudge in the foreskin can be terrible and also will increase chance of infection with catheterization. By definition, a UTI / bladder infection in a male is a complicated infection. All this from the urology residents and attendings, or from articles, not only from me.

Also, some do it mainly for religious purposes. Who are we to judge that?