Underwear and patients

[twinkerrs]

I work on an acute pediatric inpatient mental health unit. Today we had an issue with a patient being denied access to his underwear. His underwear are womens "boy shorts" underwear. My boss and the patient advocate said no. I think this is just wrong. We have had female patients who wore mens boxers as underwear. And his underwear follow the no thong rule, so I thought we should give them to him. What do you guys think and how can I make them understand why he should be allowed to have them.?

[littlemammanurse, BSN, RN]

If its not hurting him, why deny what he wants?I would let him wear it, no harm to him or the other patients.Its just underwear for goodness sakes.

[twinkerrs]

I have gotten loud and am probably going to get louder. Thank you guys for your opinions. I am going to bring up the transgender/ crossdressing issue to see if there is a protocol in place. In a way it doesn't matter they wear our units clothes, which are all the same whether boy or girl. They get to wear their own underwear and pajamas. So crossdressing would not effect my unit, but it would effect the adult unit where they wear their own clothes.

[kesr]

I would be asking for an explaination! It does sound like a power play, but at least hear the administration's side, and it better be good!

[sevensonnets]

I'd get loud too if they took away my underwear! They go UNDER his clothes---it's not like he's going to advertise them on his head!!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Humm........sounds like it is not the patient that has issueswith underware and talk about being on a power trip! There really should not be an issue with the underware unless there was a psych component in wearing them....a part of diagnosis or admission.

I think their refusal is overboard and possibly can be viewed abusive......cruel and excessive. Remind those in charge need to be reminded that patient have rights even in mental health facilities.

Remind them that maybe, just maybe, the underware in question are just more comfortable than tighty whities...........plain and simple

[flyingchange]

I'm embarrassed for the state of health care if the patient advocate doesn't advocate for the patient.

I don't care if they're frilly, polka dotted, lacy, denim, or if he chooses not to wear underwear at all. Since when do we dictate what our patients may wear?

Ridiculous.

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

Not allowing him to have his own underwear unless he gets loud about it? It almost seems like patient advocate is provoking him. I'm thinking that if he did get loud about something as seemingly trivial as underwear, there would be more consequences for him than just getting his underwear back.

Please keep us updated! I really would like to hear the patient advocate's reasoning behind this.

[Batman25]

Are his parents involved in his care? They could raise hell about this as it is a dignity issue. You need to get yourself calm and then go ask some questions. Don't be accusatory and first find out why they are doing this. I don't see there being a good reason so you can then counter with it being a dignity and modesty issue, he's entitled to his underwear, threatening him isn't the answer nor is provoking him which it seems they are trying to do. Is their a social services team where you work? Get them involved if need be. And don't be afraid to go up the chain of command here and DOCUMENT DOCUMENT DOCUMENT. You are his advocate here.

[leslie :-D]

this infuriates me.

adolescent psych is filled with enough implications.

how destructive, to further disparage a vulnerable teen's personal feelings.

admittedly, i am thinking back to the yr my dtr was in psych hospitals...sev'l times in one yr.

ea and every time, there was little to NOTHING therapeutic about these settings.

it was all dictatorial and about taking prescribed meds.

bottom line, it was all a tragic joke.

op, i am relieved to hear that you will further advocate for your pt.

until he finds his voice, this is what we nurses should be doing.

let us know how it works out.

jerks.

leslie

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

It infuriates me, too! I wonder if this is possibly an issue with the patient advocate's personal feelings about homosexuality and/or transgender.

[kesr]

Are his parents involved in his care? They could raise hell about this as it is a dignity issue

OR is this his parents idea?

[sleepysnr]

It is the patients choice whether he wears femine undies or masculine. As long as he is wearing underwear, then it shouldnt be a problem.