I work in a medium sized hospital and I have worked there for about 15 years. For the most part, most of the staff knows or know of each other. Of course, we tend to see each other outside of the hospital in social settings.
Fortunately, my family has never been in the hospital. However, my husband needs to have surgery...nothing life threatening or major. During the routine procedure overview, it was mentioned he may need either a foley or need to be straight cathed every so often for the first day or 2 due to the pain meds and anesthesia. On the way out, my husband asked if I would be the once doing it. I told him maybe, maybe not. He asked if I really cared if any of my co-workers "got" to see him naked. I answered with the standard nursing comment of seen one, seen 'em all and nurses don't see anything special in seeing just another member. My rather sensitive hubby was a bit hurt by that flippant comment. Personally, I work primarily in the nursery and pediatrics with occasional pulls to the floor, so I am kind of out of touch with a subject like this.
I guess the question is this: how do most nurses feel about co-workers, possibly at least casual friends, potentially doing intimate procedures such as caths, bed-baths, or any other case where they have the opportunity (hubby's word) to see them nude? Thinking about it, I am not sure I would really be that comfortable with it, but as a nurse I know it is no big deal. Just wondering how other nurses might feel about it. Afterall, this isn't just any other patient.
