Sexual Harrassment?

SharonH, RN · Jul 6, 2006

The other day I was taking care of a male patient that absolutely made me
sick to my stomach. Everytime I walked into his room he would whip out his member and just leave himself exposed. At first I threw the sheet over it but he would pull the sheet off. The next time I went in the room he was fondling it and when I left the room it was almost doing jumping jacks. How do you handle a patient like this. I told his physiciain he needed a psych eval. because what if he does this kind of thing to little children..the doc said we would just be wasting tax payers dollars and I should just confront him and tell him this kind of action is not tolerable. I am rather on the timid side and have a difficult time with confrontations. Is there any other suggestions?

I like the doc's suggestion. Why not just tell the jerk to cut it out? Next step, take it to your supervisors. If he continues, there are grounds to put him out. Don't take crap, that just makes him bolder for the next time.

loquacity · Jul 6, 2006

perhaps there is a co-worker willing to do this for you. someone else might be willing to go speak harshly with the patient. Make sure they are bold & let him be aware of he consequences he faces. Good Luck with this awkward situation.

No matter what you do...this situation cannot be allowed to continue. (I'd be willing to give him a verbal smack if you were too shy too, and i was around)

GL

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

I like the doc's suggestion. Why not just tell the jerk to cut it out? Next step, take it to your supervisors. If he continues, there are grounds to put him out. Don't take crap, that just makes him bolder for the next time.

Agree - don't take crap. If it were me ... if a loud "KNOCK IT OFF" didn't work, the next time I went into the room I'd be accompanied by P, my favorite security guy, who is one of the largest human beings I've ever seen in person. Perhaps he'd be less interested in showing off his anatomy to P. :cool:

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 6, 2006

Accidently spill his ice water in his lap.

firstaiddave907 · Jul 6, 2006

or i would find a male nurse if there is one and let him take care of that pacient . I would tell him to cut it out . I like the idea that MLOS had. That is another good idea canoehead.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

How revolting, we should not have to put up with that. If he did that in any other situation he would be arrested. Do you think he had a mental problem?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

You ask him if there is anything wrong with his member that he needs the MD to examine while he is here. (Hopefully it is a male MD, in this case). Since it seems to be chafing him so.

Barring medical issues, explain that he needs to keep it covered, unless it is in the bathroom, with the door closed and in use. Barring that, you cantell him that you will get a psych in to discuss his "obvious" problems. Or security/legal to discuss further action.

Some guys will snicker or say something sleazy, thus use the shrink/legal/security.

Most will act like it happened by "accident", whereupon I use the "some people get so comfortable at home and forget when they are in the hospital, that certain niceties are required" speech. That there often children/elderly/chaplains in the halls that might see. Then provide pants or a cover gown.

When you blush and stammer and pretend to ignore the issue, you feed into the behavior, and it inevitably worsens. Like bullies, it only encourages them.

TazziRN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

The longer you go without saying anything, the more he wins. He needs to be told that this is not tolerable behavior and that he needs to stop. You can ask him point blank: "Do you do this because you enjoy making people uncomfortable?"

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

I had a demented elderly pt that rather liked to be in the nude, and after having to see that so many times...I finally said "we keep our ponys in the barn sir" and put a towel over it. Yeah he would take it back off...but usually not before I was done.

Then I had a male nurse that was taking over for the next shift. We got together and continued to say that phrase and finally he stopped.

Please do not let him do this, it cycles and others have to deal with it (including non nursing personal). Get together with your charge nurse and perhaps administration and the other nurses on your floor and come up with an idea together! Heck when this happened to me I told my charge nurse after trying myself, and it really helped!!!

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

I had a demented elderly pt that rather liked to be in the nude, and after having to see that so many times...I finally said "we keep our ponys in the barn sir" and put a towel over it.

Triage, I love it! I'm gonna remember that one!!

:rotfl:

But seriously, usually I just say something like, "That's inappropriate. You need to keep covered" in my best no-nonsense voice.

Worked for the patient with the brand-new boobs that she and her weird bf kept showing off to the entire unit, too.

Ann RN · Jul 6, 2006

Accidently spill his ice water in his lap.

:yeahthat:

Ann