Giving Patient Dignity
By @acelawrites
@acelawrites (19273)
Philippines
August 20, 2018 4:52pm CST
While at the hospital, I felt shy seeing a relative with his sensitive body part exposed while the nurses are changing his diaper. He was in deep sleep, but not comatose. So I had to close my eyes not to see it, and to give the patient "some dignity."
I remembered my mother who said she did not want to "lose" some dignity with her whole body exposed while the nurses are giving her bath or changing her diaper. She wants to be "covered." So I always do it when changing her diaper or changing her clothes. She passed away so many years ago.
After that scenario with the relative, I felt sorry I had not requested everyone in the room to go out first while the nurses are cleaning him. I knew my sister who sat beside me also did not look, but I could not tell if the others did.
I wish I would not experience such if ever I am hospitalized or even had that instance at home. (Fingers crossed!)
10 people like this
7 responses
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
22 Aug 18
@acelawrites They always do here. When my husband had surgery and the nurse came to change the medication she asked me to leave for some minutes.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
22 Aug 18
@LadyDuck That's nice; the patient, even old people should have some privacy.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
21 Aug 18
I agree with you, they should have it in mind; they should ask the people there to leave for a while.
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
21 Aug 18
For nurses, they do this kind of work every day, maybe they think it's normal.But for us, we can't accept this kind of thing easily. They should give the patient some privacy space.
2 people like this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
21 Aug 18
It is true, nurses should always keep it in mind; that the patient want some dignity by not being exposed helplessly.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
21 Aug 18
It could be the best wish of a sick person; to be given some dignity.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
20 Aug 18
I understand your concern and no one would want to be in that situation. I wouldn't mind if just nurses were there but the other relatives should have excused themselves until the nurses were done.
2 people like this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
21 Aug 18
It should be done, but I failed to tell them to first go out of the room until the nurses were done!
1 person likes this
@theBlock (2657)
• United States
21 Aug 18
@acelawrites
I understand--I'm a caregiver, so I've been there.
2 people like this
@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
21 Aug 18
Yes, you know it; and caregivers like you should think about it; that the patient could not even speak to say, "hey am shy, just cover me!"
1 person likes this
