NUR 600 Discussion 9.1 Patient Comfort During Genital Exams

Sample Answer

The genitalia should be examined as part of a comprehensive medical examination. During the genital examination, the health care professional gathers and analyses objective data about the patient’s body using many procedures such as inspection or palpation (Bickley, 2021). Bearing in mind that genital exams might be intrusive or uncomfortable for the patient, I will try to put myself in their position and consider their point of view before approaching them. Before starting a genital examination, several things need to be done with each patient.

First and foremost, it is critical to gain the patient’s trust (Kirubarajan et al., 2021). Begin earning the patients’ trust from the initial encounter with them. It is critical to handle the patient calmly and confidently. The patient may use your voice tone or other body language clues to gauge your level of trustworthiness as a healthcare provider. If you don’t project self-assurance to the patient, it will simply make them feel more anxious since they could be concerned that there is something terribly wrong with their body.

To lessen the patient’s fear and help them feel appropriately prepared for what is about to happen, it is imperative to thoroughly explain the genital examination to the patient (O’Laughlin et al., 2021). Be truthful and detailed when describing the procedure of the exam. Also, when speaking with the patient, I will utilize ordinary language to make sure the patient comprehends what I just said and allow them to ask any questions or express any concerns. When a patient is in a medical setting, they frequently feel exposed. It’s crucial to ensure that their modesty and privacy are upheld (Tillman, 2020).

References

• Bickley, L. (2021). Bate’s guide to physical examination and history taking (13th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
• Kirubarajan, A., Li, X., Got, T., Yau, M., & Sobel, M. (2021). Improving Medical Student Comfort and Competence in Performing Gynecological Exams A Systematic Review. Academic Medicine, 96(9), 1353–1365. https //doi.org/10.1097/acm.0000000000004128
• O’Laughlin, D. J., Strelow, B., Fellows, N., Kelsey, E., Peters, S., Stevens, J., & Tweedy, J. (2021). Addressing Anxiety and Fear during the Female Pelvic Examination. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 12, 215013272199219. https //doi.org/10.1177/2150132721992195
• Tillman, S. (2020). Consent in Pelvic Care. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 65(6), 749–758. https //doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13189