How
Nurses Can Refuse To Do Intimate Procedures On Opposite Sex
There are some nurses who have
strong convictions that they should not do intimate procedures
on the opposite sex, but are often sadly looked down on. Medical
Patient Modesty fully supports nurses who don't feel comfortable
doing intimate procedures on the opposite and believes that
nurses should fight for their rights to not do intimate procedures
on the opposite sex. Because doctors are able to refuse to provide
certain services based on their consciences due to religious
or moral reasons, why should it be different for nurses?
It is very difficult to stand
up for your convictions in the nursing profession, but don't
let that prevent you from fighting for your convictions. You
should consider consulting with a lawyer if there is a lot of
resistance or if you are fired or not hired based on your refusal
to do intimate procedures on the opposite sex. The truth is
many nurses don't have a problem with doing intimate procedures
on the opposite sex so it would not be a big deal for one nurse
out of 10 nurses on a certain hospital floor to not do intimate
procedures on patients of the opposite sex. The nurse with the
conviction could do intimate procedures on the same gender patients
and non-intimate procedures on the opposite sex.
Here are some arguments
you may hear from other nurses or supervisors and how you can
respond to them:
1) You cannot
be a nurse if you cannot do intimate procedures on the opposite
sex. That is not true. Remind them that some male family practice
doctors will not do any intimate female examinations such as
pap smears, pelvic exams, rectal exams, and breast exams and
that some female family practice doctors will not do any intimate
male exams. If doctors are able to refuse certain services based
on their convictions, nurses can do the same.
2) You need to
give up the nursing profession if you are unable to do intimate
examinations on patients of the opposite sex. Remind that they
there are many other nurses who do not share your convictions
and that it would not be a big deal for a few nurses to not
do intimate procedures on the opposite sex. You could do intimate
procedures on same gender patients and non-intimate procedures
on the opposite sex.
3) Female nurses
who only want to do intimate procedures on female patients can
only work in Labor & Delivery or women's unit. That is not
true. For example, let's say that a female nurse loves to work
with heart surgery patients, but she feels convicted that she
should not do intimate procedures such as urinary catheterizations
on male patients, she should talk to her supervisor about her
convictions. A good nursing supervisor would work to accommodate
your convictions. Don't give up your desires to work in certain
specialties. Stand up for your rights to not do intimate procedures
on the opposite sex and do not let anyone intimidate you.
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