The right to use...

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

.I don't really like the idea of cleaning the devices after use, but what the heck if it makes people happy...

Honey, if she can use it, she can clean it. :stone

[markjrn]

Honey, if she can use it, she can clean it. :stone

I'll second that!

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

Try Good Vibrations. It's based out of San Francisco, very female positive, not sleazy at all, big selection. They even have non-latex toys for the allergic.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

I, too, just want to applaud your empathy and compassion and "all encompassing" concern for your patients.

Truly. Kudos to you. :balloons:

[leslie :-D]

Honey, if she can use it, she can clean it. :stone

i disagree.

i don't know if she's even ambulatory but even if she was, the woman is dying.

i think it is our duty to honor any reasonable requests.

and as a hospice nurse, i would just automatically run it under hot water for her.

to me that's comparable to saying, if she can eat it,then she can clean her own dishes.

sorry angie o.....but we're at opposite ends this time.

leslie

[SharonH, RN]

I, too, just want to applaud your empathy and compassion and "all encompassing" concern for your patients.

Truly. Kudos to you. :balloons:

Ditto to that.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

to me that's comparable to saying, if she can eat it,then she can clean her own dishes.

No it isn't, Leslie. I've had many patients who could wash themselves just fine though it'd be ridiculous to insist they do their dishes. If this patient can wash her hands, if she can provide her own pericare, she can wash her device, too.

Maybe I should put it a different way: If she cannot clean it herself, how on earth is she going to use it?

The fact that she even wants to use one is proving more than just her sexuality, and I think it'd be wrong to try to take that last vestige of control away from her by washing the device for her. As the OP said, she's feeling robbed of her womanhood, and I don't believe she should be robbed of her means of sexuality too. Washing and caring for her device promotes privacy, independence and autonomy, in other words. So it's not cruel to let her take care of it as much as she possibly can.

And please remember, she never asked for any help in the first place. She has only made her wishes regarding her sexual life clear--she wants to handle it herself (no pun intended), and that's normal and healthy.

I mean, go ahead and disagree if you want. I have all the respect in the world for your opinions, Leslie. I just thought I'd clarify what I was thinking in my last post.

Interesting question though, isn't it?

[leslie :-D]

No it isn't, Leslie. I've had many patients who could wash themselves just fine though it'd be ridiculous to insist they do their dishes. If this patient can wash her hands, if she can provide her own pericare, she can wash her device, too.

Maybe I should put it a different way: If she cannot clean it herself, how on earth is she going to use it?

The fact that she even wants to use one is proving more than just her sexuality, and I think it'd be wrong to try to take that last vestige of control away from her by washing the device for her. As the OP said, she's feeling robbed of her womanhood, and I don't believe she should be robbed of her means of sexuality too. Washing and caring for her device promotes privacy, independence and autonomy, in other words. So it's not cruel to let her take care of it as much as she possibly can.

And please remember, she never asked for any help in the first place. She has only made her wishes regarding her sexual life clear--she wants to handle it herself (no pun intended), and that's normal and healthy.

I mean, go ahead and disagree if you want. I have all the respect in the world for your opinions, Leslie. I just thought I'd clarify what I was thinking in my last post.

Interesting question though, isn't it?

it's a difficult situation to assess because we don't know how incapacitated she is. IF she wants to clean the device herself, then of course she should be able to. but to read "if she can use it then she can clean it" sounded like both activities were comparable in physical exertion. in the former, she merely has to lay in bed; in the latter that would require alot more exertion. but again, if it's something she wants to do, then she should, but w/supervision if she's weak, unsteady, high risk for falling.

again, we do not know enough. but when we teach/encourage our pts to do their own adl's, we do so in preparation of discharge. this lady isn't going anywhere and i would never encourage self-care in a hospice environment unless they wanted to do so, or wanted to be left alone.

and i respect your opinions immensely too. :icon_hug:

leslie

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

I was thinking more along the lines of giving her a washbasin, if she's unable to get OOB, actually.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

I was thinking more along the lines of giving her a washbasin, if she's unable to get OOB, actually.

I think most sex educators recommend a more thorough cleaning than can be acheived in a washbasin. I used to work in HIV ed and we told people to put them in the dishwasher, but that was to prevent transmission of STDs. Presumably this woman would be using it alone, but it might still be good to find out how to clean it so she doesn't give herself a yeast or bacterial infection.