Vag Exam - attendance at..

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hello all

i have always assumed (no one ever told me) that my presence with the physician during a vag exam was to assist him but mostly as an advocate for the patient. i was recently told that my presence was really to protect the physician and if they didn't want me there that was the physicians loss and putting himself with no "coverage"

that feels weird to me, i do not currently work with anyone i have any suspicions about them being inappropriate, their is one who insists on covering the patient comp. making only a tunnel for his hand.. i just assume he is trying his best to make the situation as private for her as possible.. however i usually hold up a bit of the sheet to observe as well and i think it annoys him... i have felt this was my "duty" to the patient. i guess i feel like the patient may be reassured by my gestures that all is well and that i am making sure the doc isn't being inappropriate... :nono:

what do you all do? is their a law or rule? is it ok not to be present? if you are present should you visualize what you can see of the exam?

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I always stay in room. I would not leave if doctor asked me to. Highly innapropriate.

I feel I am there for the doctor should he need anything to complete the exam and for the patient if they need anything.

I have had an odd doc or too go in and do the exam without telling me they were going in.

In that case I feel sorry for the patient, and if the doctor gets in trouble I don't care.

I was present one night when a patient accused female NP of being innapropriate with her. Thank God I was there to state it never happened.

Unfortunately you get a lot of strange people with strange agendas in the ER.:nono:

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

Hi, it doesn't make a difference if you have suspicion over any one, we would Always be there as chaperone for the woman. Protects both parties, in this day and age its important to cover all bases in such an intimate examination. Its also being there as a support for the woman undergoing this exam, which may not be very pleasant for her.

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Specializes in I have an interest in Travel and OB/L&D.

I believe you should stay in the room regardless of whether the doctor needs coverage or not. Why would you need to leave? Just stay in there.

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Here, there's no threat of ever having an MD do an SVE without an RN present- how on earth could they get their own gloves and gel, all by themselves? :uhoh3:

In all seriousness, I think it's important to be at the bedside for an SVE- a little reassurance goes a long way. I've learned a diplomatic little trick when working with less-than-gentle MD's. Under the guise of 'guided anticipation' for the patient, I'll tell them that Dr. X will wait until the pt. is ready, then sl-ow-ly check the cervix to minimize discomfort, etc.... sometimes the docs get annoyed, but I don't care. If a pt. knows she can trust me to look out for her when the doc has his hands in her business, she knows she can trust me throughout her delivery- so when we have her in McRoberts' and I say push- she knows I mean, PUSH.

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.
Here, there's no threat of ever having an MD do an SVE without an RN present- how on earth could they get their own gloves and gel, all by themselves? :uhoh3:

:lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2: SO TRUE!!!!:lol2:

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I agree there would be no reason to leave the room if the MD is doing a SVE. But now I'm wondering, what if a pt accused an RN of being inappropraite like the example of the female NP? I don't have another RN in the room when doing SVE. Of course I would never do anything inappropriate, but if a pt wanted to accuse an RN of that there wouldn't be another witness to defend the RN.

Great now I won't be able to sleep tonight.:lol2:

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

I think you're right. From the nursing side..yes it's important just in case to protect him. Even if you don't believe the dr would do anything...ESPECIALLY if you don't think he would. That way if there's a spiteful pt..he's protected.

I remember as a patient when I started getting exams I HATED the nurse standing there. Like she was JUST WATCHING. I asked her to leave..and I was told why she was there.

Since then..I've changed drs...and the nurse assists. It doesn't feel like a privacy violation when the healthcare person is helping instead of just standing there.

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