Comments on: Patient Privacy Concept Lost on Physicians http://nursinginfluence.com/patient-privacy-concept-lost-on-physicians/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=patient-privacy-concept-lost-on-physicians Topics That Influence Nurses & The Influence Nurses Have On The Community Tue, 08 May 2012 06:21:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: JeffTheRN http://nursinginfluence.com/patient-privacy-concept-lost-on-physicians/#comment-220 JeffTheRN Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:32:23 +0000 http://nursinginfluence.com/?p=165#comment-220 Whatever happened to "knocking". There was a recent article I read somewhere (sorry, do not remember) but one of the points that sticks out clearly in my mind was the patients loss of dignity while in the ICU; for that matter, in the hospital I believe. One of the things it said to help preserve the patients privacy and dignity was as simple as knocking prior to entering. That applies to nurses, docs and ancillary staff as well. It is SUCH a small thing, takes no extra time and helps the patient feel like he/she still has some control while in the hospital. I know; some people knock, are told "just a minute please" and STILL come in anyways. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Whatever happened to “knocking”. There was a recent article I read somewhere (sorry, do not remember) but one of the points that sticks out clearly in my mind was the patients loss of dignity while in the ICU; for that matter, in the hospital I believe.

One of the things it said to help preserve the patients privacy and dignity was as simple as knocking prior to entering. That applies to nurses, docs and ancillary staff as well. It is SUCH a small thing, takes no extra time and helps the patient feel like he/she still has some control while in the hospital. I know; some people knock, are told “just a minute please” and STILL come in anyways. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.

]]> By: Cassie VDH http://nursinginfluence.com/patient-privacy-concept-lost-on-physicians/#comment-71 Cassie VDH Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:36:08 +0000 http://nursinginfluence.com/?p=165#comment-71 I find that physicians often don't respect toileting needs of the patient especially. They come in to discuss procedures (which will eventually require the pt to sign a consent form) while the patient is positioned with the urinal in bed, or is on a commode, or a bedpan. I've also had physicians walk in while I was washing a patient and start discussing their care. While I understand that the physician will be seeing the patient's body anyways, it doesn't put the pt in a place where they can feel somewhat dignified in the hospital environment, and it definitely doesn't help them to think about what's being discussed with a clear mind since they're busy being embarrassed about their toileting needs or the fact that they're unnecessarily exposed. I find that physicians often don’t respect toileting needs of the patient especially. They come in to discuss procedures (which will eventually require the pt to sign a consent form) while the patient is positioned with the urinal in bed, or is on a commode, or a bedpan. I’ve also had physicians walk in while I was washing a patient and start discussing their care. While I understand that the physician will be seeing the patient’s body anyways, it doesn’t put the pt in a place where they can feel somewhat dignified in the hospital environment, and it definitely doesn’t help them to think about what’s being discussed with a clear mind since they’re busy being embarrassed about their toileting needs or the fact that they’re unnecessarily exposed.

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