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Caring for patients of the opposite sex |
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Written by Director of Nursing
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Wednesday, 26 November 2008 15:50 |
These guidelines are intended for:
- male nurses or midwives caring for female patients
- female nurses caring for male patients
- nurses or midwives caring for patients of the same gender orientation as themselves
The guidelines are written for the protection equally of patients and of nursing or midwifery staff.
- Nurses and midwives are expected to carry out the complete range of care for patients, but must exercise their professional judgement for specific tasks and situations.
- It may be appropriate to obtain and record the patient's agreement for very intimate procedures or physical examination. Patients should be informed that they may have a chaperone if they wish. This will usually be another member of the healthcare team or a relative/friend depending on the circumstances.
- If patients request that a specific intimate procedure should be carried out by a member of staff of the same sex, efforts should be made to arrange this. If it is not possible, due to lack of appropriate staff or workload priorities, a chaperone should be provided. (A professional judgement may need to be made in clinical emergencies or urgent situations).
- Any nurse or midwife who feels "uncomfortable", or who considers a task to be inappropriate in the given circumstances, should ask for an appropriate member of the healthcare team to be present or to take over.
- Registered nurses or midwives are responsible for care delegated to unregistered staff, and must give due consideration to the patient, task and circumstances.
- Nurses and midwives should be particularly aware of vulnerable and at risk groups, including
- patients with an altered level of consciousness
- unconscious patients
- confused patients
- patients with communication difficulties
- patients with learning difficulties
- patients with a history of psychiatric disturbance
- children, adolescents and young adults
- patients undergoing intimate procedures, especially if there is contact or potential contact with the genital area or breasts
- patients under the influence of drugs, eg. pethidine in labour, diamorphine in chest pain
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 November 2008 15:51 )
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