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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