Sexual Harrassment?

Published

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?

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Then I tried a different approach. I stood just outside the doorway (making sure I was on camera and nowhere near her), stared at her body and said: "What is it that you want me to see? I hope you are getting something out of this because I'm not." She thought this was great for about a minute and continued/intensified her activity... but then as I continued to stare (no expression, just cold obervation), she became uncomfortable and embarrassed.

She covered herself up and yelled: "Quit staring at me!!!". I said: "Then get dressed and quit doing this", and closed her door. She came out dressed, avoided me the rest of the time she was there, and did not flash anyone else for the rest of her stay.

Sounds like a very effective way to handle it. Has this worked on other pts. as well?

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Sounds like a very effective way to handle it. Has this worked on other pts. as well?

Most of the time a stern reprimand makes them stop... also, usually what they are doing is not as extreme as what this one did. It's usually just more of a "lift the shirt up and flash" kind of thing. Usually once they see that it doesn't get the diesired reaction, they stop.

But I really think this would work for women because as everyone knows, an act like this isn't about sex, it's about power/intimidation. It's not that he wants you to see him masturbate, it's that he wants you to be shocked/horrified/embarrased by it.

If you demonstrate that you are neither shocked, horrified, embarrased, or impressed by what you are seeing, you take the thrill right out of it.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Most of the time a stern reprimand makes them stop... also, usually what they are doing is not as extreme as what this one did. It's usually just more of a "lift the shirt up and flash" kind of thing. Usually once they see that it doesn't get the diesired reaction, they stop.

But I really think this would work for women because as everyone knows, an act like this isn't about sex, it's about power/intimidation. It's not that he wants you to see him masturbate, it's that he wants you to be shocked/horrified/embarrased by it.

If you demonstrate that you are neither shocked, horrified, embarrased, or impressed by what you are seeing, you take the thrill right out of it.

I realized anything of this sort was a power issue, when the NH residents that did it would look you square in the eye while they did it.

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I realized anything of this sort was a power issue, when the NH residents that did it would look you square in the eye while they did it.

Exactly.

For any female nurse having a hard time mustering up the courage to do this, just remember, as a nurse you are way more used to seeing these things than this guy is used to showing off his.

This is a situation you are in control of. You have the power, not some pervert who is trying to intimidate you.

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