Identifying and Addressing Genitalia/Reproductive Issues: Legal Responsibilities for Nurses

Situation Where Nurses Need to Identify and Locate Patient Referral Contacts for Genitalia/Reproductive Issues

Nurses must be able to identify and address issues outside of the nursing scope of practice.  Based on the textbook readings and clinical experience, describe a situation in which the nurse would identify and locate appropriate patient referral contacts for an issue related to the genitalia/reproductive system.  How can you see yourself incorporating your faith in this type of scenario?

POST FROM CLASSMATE:

We as nurses can receive patients who are victims of sexual abuse or sexual trafficking, by properly assessing our patients we could be able to identify some abnormalities and take the proper actions based on what we find. As nurses we should give as much privacy and discretion when assessing the genitalia/ reproductive system of our patients. If the patient is accompanied by someone else, we should ask the person present to step out for this part of the assessment and by doing so we have some time alone with the patient where he or she can talk freely. Some patients will not speak up because of fear when the perpetrator is near by and by taking them out of the examination room the patient may ask for help in that short period of time. “The commonest reason for a delay in presentation to medical services was of fear or embarrassment in 51.80%.” (Ohihoin, n.d.).   If we as nurses have one case like this, we should act as discrete as possible when the perpetrator is present but take the proper actions and ensure the patient is safe. We as professionals have the obligation of reporting any suspicion to the proper authorities.

We could incorporate our faith by providing support to our patient while they are being taken care by us. Once the patient leaves the facility, we can keep providing support to the patient by our prayers. If by any reason the patient does not want to speak up, we should respect their decision. “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1) We do not know what the patient/ victim could be passing through and by not judging them we are respecting the patient’s choice

Topic: Legal responsibilities related to physical assessment

Prompt: Nurses must be able to identify and address issues outside of the nursing scope of practice.  Based on the textbook readings and clinical experience, describe a situation in which the nurse would identify and locate appropriate patient referral contacts for an issue related to the genitalia/reproductive system.  How can you see yourself incorporating your faith in this type of scenario?

POST FROM CLASSMATE:

Referral contacts regarding female or male genitalia and reproductive systems can be a sensitive topic for patients. Patients, whether in-hospital or out-patient, rely on health care providers and it is the duty of the health care professional to seek referrals as needed for the best quality care of the patient. Specifically, regarding the genitalia and reproductive system, if a patient presents with any discharge, bleeding, masses, pain or tenderness, the nurse should notify the doctor to screen the patient for different possible sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). “These rising rates can be considered a public health concern because STIs, when not identified and treated promptly and appropriately, can cause discomfort due to their associated inflammation and tissue damage and can lead to other sequelae, such as chronic pain, infertility, genital tract scarring, dementia, and death” (O’Bryne, 2020).

Social work can also be consulted to provide resources to the patient and gather a better understanding of a patient's social history. Social workers not only provide a better understanding of the patient’s background, but they also provide community resources to help facilitate patient’s recovery beyond the hospital setting. If there is any hesitation from the primary nurse regarding referrals, one should consult with the doctor or charge nurse. As nurses it is our responsibility to care for all people, no matter the disease process, mental or physical. As Christians, we are also called to love one another and care for those in need. Addressing problems early and placing the right consults is providing safe, quality care.