Two newbie questions

Published

I plan on entering nursing school when I retire from the Air Force in about a year. I have been checking this board for the past couple months, and when I saw a male nurse forum I had to stop lurking and say hi.

hi.

Now, here are my two burning questions that I have been carrying around since I first decided to become a nurse.:

1. First question is kind of funny. A guy I work with told me that nursing students practice on each other. Injections would be bad, but I can take it. Bed Baths would be like that nightmare I used to have in high school where I show up in my underwear and everyone laughs. I don't have to get naked in front of the other students do I?

2. Second question is not so funny. I know a male doctor sometimes has to have a female nurse in the room with him when he sees a naked female patient. Does a male nurse need a female escort to see a female patient? If so, then that's a real pain in the *** for the female coworkers. If not, then that's an invitation to a lawsuit sooner or later, isn't it?

Thanks,

pelsmith

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At least at my school, we don't practice on each other. We use dummy's, then it's off to the races! I think the "practice on fellow students" think went out when HIV, etc. came in....

In all my clinicals, I have only had one pt. that didn't want a male nurse, student, tech or anything. And she wasn't assigned to me, I just wanted to watch a precedure I'd never seen....

I don't think the gender thing matters to 99% of the pts. If you're sick and hurty, you just want TLC, no matter where it comes from.

Only once have I asked a female to do my duties because of gender conflicts, and that was a bedbath (complete) on a 80yo nun. And I'm not even Catholic! I still took care of everything else, and she seemed happy I was there. BTW- I asked a female tech to do it, and I offered to do 2 pts of hers for the trade. I fess'd up to my instructor, and she laughed at me and told me I got the raw end of that deal.... The pt didn't ask for a female, it was I who wasn't comfortable....

I'm sure you'll be fine. Welcome!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We didn't have to get naked in the classroom, we did it cause we wanted to. *kidding*

You won't have anyproblems with your female pts. I've heard frequently that some prefer men. If you handle yourself in a professional manner you will be fine.

-Russell

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

We practiced vital signs and some portion of assessments on each other, blood pressure, temps, listening to lung sounds, heart sounds, etc. We also practiced body mechanics: how to make an occupied bed, pull someone up in bed etc. fully clothed. We also had to practice bed baths in our bathing suits on each other---guys with guys, girls with girls. It helped build a little confidence prior to having to do it on a patient. No nudity whatsoever, ever. Everyone's in the same boat so no one laughs at each other.

Whenever I do real intimate care like a bed bath, or inserting a foley catheter I make it my policy to have a female aid around if possible, especially if the female is very young, alert and oriented.

Good luck in whatever you do!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Almost thirty years ago when I was in nursing school, one of my instructors, who was a Nun, told me, "Charlie, if you being a man bothers her, she isn't sick enough."

That being said, you still have to practice "defensive nursing". Be professional, act Professional,think PROFESSIONAL. If you need to do something like a catheterization or a disempaction on an alert female patient try really hard to find a female aid to assist you. If you have any sense that the patient is uncomfortable ask if she is ok with you doing the proceedure. If she is not you may have to explain that she can refuse any treatment but that you are the person assigned for her care and an alternate staff is not available. Keep your sensitvity on high. I have had a pt come out into the hall to have her vital signs done, just because I thought she was nervous.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU-MICU,Radiology,ER.

We didnt have to undress in front of other nursing student with the exception of one time where we removed our shirts (blouses) for ausceltation, heart tones etc. There were only two men in my class and I always had to use him. One very attractive and well endowed girl liked me and sometimes I got to use her (there is a God).

For bed baths, peri care etc we had dummies with detachable genitals. The girls would rip off the velcro attached member with a loud "riiipp" then walk around playing with them. I doubt us guys could have gotten away with doing the same things to the detachable lady partss.

We also practiced IVs on each other.

Now let me get this right, youre AF and are afraid to walk around nakie in front of other people? You AF guys must have it too good cuz in the green machine all you get is swinging you know what in billets. Privacy is just about the last thing on my mind. Food and ammo however is-

11

BTW, dont worry about the male RN working on the female pt thing, just use common sense. There is another thread here somehwere that deals with that specifically.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, PACU, OR.

We used manaquins for NG's, IV's, sq's, IM's, everything. D/T the publicity HIV/AIDS gets (even though hepatitis has always been around and is way worse), most schools won't risk the legal liability of letting students perform invasive procedures on each other.

:-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I plan on entering nursing school when I retire from the Air Force in about a year. I have been checking this board for the past couple months, and when I saw a male nurse forum I had to stop lurking and say hi.

hi.

Now, here are my two burning questions that I have been carrying around since I first decided to become a nurse.:

1. First question is kind of funny. A guy I work with told me that nursing students practice on each other. Injections would be bad, but I can take it. Bed Baths would be like that nightmare I used to have in high school where I show up in my underwear and everyone laughs. I don't have to get naked in front of the other students do I?

2. Second question is not so funny. I know a male doctor sometimes has to have a female nurse in the room with him when he sees a naked female patient. Does a male nurse need a female escort to see a female patient? If so, then that's a real pain in the *** for the female coworkers. If not, then that's an invitation to a lawsuit sooner or later, isn't it?

Thanks,

pelsmith

Hi

I'm actually in the same position as you except I'm retiring from the Navy. Dont get too wigged out about the whole shot thing. In the Navy while I was in my last operational job one of the requirements was that each and every operator (I'm a special warfare guy) had to be trained in IV therapy. At first it's not pretty. You give a bag to a guy and he turns around and gives one to you. Karma is your incentive to do it right. Still and all you come home that week looking like a poorly trained junkie. At the end of two weeks your making sticks in the back of a pick-up truck going down a road at night with a flashlight in your teeth (major hazard- drooling on your freshly cleaned site.). You get good with it.

Jim

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital, PDN, rehab, corrections.

You probably have your reasons for leaving, but it's worth mentioning- an RN in the military ranks as an officer, and gets paid accordingly. I have two friends who served as RN's, one in the AF, and one in the army. Both said that they loved it.

In nursing school we practiced range of motion, transferring, and bed bathing on each-other, (fully-clothed and without water). I did an EKG on my lab partner, (who is now my wife :rolleyes: ) in school. We all practiced drawing up and injecting saline into each-other in one lab, however, I never did an IV until I began working.

There's a good thread on the male-female issue in the men's forum.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You probably have your reasons for leaving, but it's worth mentioning- an RN in the military ranks as an officer, and gets paid accordingly. I have two friends who served as RN's, one in the AF, and one in the army. Both said that they loved it.

In nursing school we practiced range of motion, transferring, and bed bathing on each-other, (fully-clothed and without water). I did an EKG on my lab partner, (who is now my wife :rolleyes: ) in school. We all practiced drawing up and injecting saline into each-other in one lab, however, I never did an IV until I began working.

There's a good thread on the male-female issue in the men's forum.

I think that the biggest reason that I'm leaving is that I've been doing this for a shade over 20 years. In my job combat med was the side line not the main focus. I was pretty much a trigger puller. I'm just really "over it". I've got a 6 year old daughter that has missed out on a lot of dad time, and frankly just ready to do somthing a little more positive.

Jim

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think that the biggest reason that I'm leaving is that I've been doing this for a shade over 20 years. In my job combat med was the side line not the main focus. I was pretty much a trigger puller. I'm just really "over it". I've got a 6 year old daughter that has missed out on a lot of dad time, and frankly just ready to do somthing a little more positive.

Jim

Well good luck, and thank you for your service to this great country.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital, PDN, rehab, corrections.
Well good luck, and thank you for your service to this great country.

Ditto.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion