Dilemma with Physical Assessment Lab

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Moxxie

Moxxie

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So maybe this will go with the physical assessment thread...

Today was my first day back. We didn't do much except talk about syllabi, etc. (I did learn what the angle of repose is, though). One of my professors was discussing our upcoming Upper & Lower Airway Assessment lab (in two weeks) and said, "Women, be sure to wear a sports bra or something to make things more comfortable. Everyone will be taking off their shirts." 😱

I hate to be the one to complain about a class (I'm usually fine with nearly anything in lab), but it's just way outside my comfort zone to take off my shirt in a room with 28 others. I'm overweight (could lose about 40 lbs), but even if I was trim and toned I don't think that I would want to do this.

I've thought about wearing a bra tank top - so that the fabric would be thin but I still wouldn't be showing as much skin. Have any of you guys or gals had to do this, and if so, what did you do?
 
Inappropriate.
 
If this is something you are not comfortable doing, I don't see how they can legally force you to take your shirt off. Even when swimming I don't wear a bathing suit without a t-shirt over the top. No way would I take my shirt off...sports bra or no sports bra.
 
I wouldn't take mine off either. Nor would I allow anyone in my class to physically examine me. I didn't go to med school or to physical therapy school, after all.
 
I imagine a workout type top would be fine. I can't imagine the instructor would get too worked up about that.

I haven't heard any stories about us having to disrobe but I know my med school friends had to practice prostate exams and whatnot on each other. I'd rather walk around topless anyday.
 
we had the same requirement at my school. The girls are seperated from the boys...its not that big of a deal. The class is usually done in private
 
Personally I wouldn't feel comfortable even if it was a same-sex, private class. Maybe I just have body issues, but I have way too many stretch marks from pregnancy (this is why I wear a one piece and not a bikini 🙂). TMI, I know. I'ld probably just wear a tankini top or something like other posters have said and suck it up.
 
It's not just women who might be made uncomfortable. For instance, I'm a male and I have a pretty gross keloid scar on my chest that I'm not too fond of showing off.
 
Be glad you aren't a PAC student that has to do a same sex pelvic exam during week 1 and an opposite sex pelvic exam on week 2.

It's common for healthcare students to use classmates as their guinea pigs. You do it for physical assessment, immunizations, and whatever else needs to happen. You could consider acting professional while seeing "patients" shirtless to be pertinent training. I saw lots of bras and torsos when giving flu shots. There are always people who wear sleeves that can't be rolled up, or who just take their shirt off randomly when you have your head turned.
 
Moxxie said:
So maybe this will go with the physical assessment thread...

Today was my first day back. We didn't do much except talk about syllabi, etc. (I did learn what the angle of repose is, though). One of my professors was discussing our upcoming Upper & Lower Airway Assessment lab (in two weeks) and said, "Women, be sure to wear a sports bra or something to make things more comfortable. Everyone will be taking off their shirts." 😱

I hate to be the one to complain about a class (I'm usually fine with nearly anything in lab), but it's just way outside my comfort zone to take off my shirt in a room with 28 others. I'm overweight (could lose about 40 lbs), but even if I was trim and toned I don't think that I would want to do this.

I've thought about wearing a bra tank top - so that the fabric would be thin but I still wouldn't be showing as much skin. Have any of you guys or gals had to do this, and if so, what did you do?
Click to expand...


Hey Moxxie~

We had to go through a similar thing...only instead of 28 people, it was the whole class...all 180 of us in one big room...2 to an examination table. 😱

But like you said, regardless of your physique, I think everyone felt uncomfortable. Guys had to be shirtless, and girls in a sports bra.

Maybe what you can do is, bring a zippered hoodie with you and wear it over your bra. That way, you'll feel mostly covered...and you can unzip and show only what's necessary for the particular exercise 😉

Our professor tried to break the ice by asking for a volunteer patient to come up...of course the guy with the 6-pack abs was happy to oblige. 🙄
 
At my school, they did not make us take off our tops. They let us do it with our shirts on, but with the understanding that you can hear it better if you take off the shirt.
 
go with an extra large hoodie. That way the examiner can place the stethoscope under the hoddie (DONT GET ANY IDEAS PEOPLE) and hand have enough room to move their hands and you don;t have to show anything. If that is not good enough, speak to your instructor directly.
 
Lately, I have been exercising night and day for this same sort of issue- and I'm a pretty lean dude...

But, I'm sure that your school will do its best to make it a very professional setting. But if you have any concerns, you may wish to speak to a professor who you are comfortable talking to and get a better idea of what the session would be like- rather than an ice-cold memo that says, 'no shirts'.

On that note, I'm off to jog!
 
no-see-um said:
Lately, I have been exercising night and day for this same sort of issue- and I'm a pretty lean dude...

But, I'm sure that your school will do its best to make it a very professional setting. But if you have any concerns, you may wish to speak to a professor who you are comfortable talking to and get a better idea of what the session would be like- rather than an ice-cold memo that says, 'no shirts'.

On that note, I'm off to jog!
Click to expand...


A post like this is worthless without pictures. 😀
 
All4MyDaughter said:
awwwwww, are you blushing?
Don't report me for sexual harassment! 😉
Click to expand...

I had a good jog today. I'm ALMOST ready for physical assessment lab (n photos). :laugh:👍 i don't need any classmates diagnosin' me with htn! I gotta live up to my signature.

😉
 
no-see-um said:
I had a good jog today. I'm ALMOST ready for physical assessment lab (n photos). :laugh:👍 i don't need any classmates diagnosin' me with htn! I gotta live up to my signature.

😉
Click to expand...

You can post some photos here, purely for medical/evaluation purposes, of course. 😀😎
 
Which class contains this Upper & Lower Airway Assessment lab? I'm quite worried about it now...maybe I should start dieting to prepare for this lab. Did you inquire about whether a low tank top is okay?
 
Why do you people go nuts with diet and exercise if someone might catch a glimpse of you without 3 layers of clothes on but normally are content to do nothing?

Be fit all the time, then you don't worry about this stuff.
 
Requiem said:
Why do you people go nuts with diet and exercise if someone might catch a glimpse of you without 3 layers of clothes on but normally are content to do nothing?

Be fit all the time, then you don't worry about this stuff.
Click to expand...

You're the type of person, male or female, that I don't want to take my shirt off in front of, even if I was a fitness model. Do you analyze everyone and tell them to get into shape?

I mean you're right that I should be working out for my health, but that wasn't the point of this thread. Thanks for crapping on it.
 
honestly, especially in a group of just girls, I don't care what you look like. hell, I don't care what most of the boys look like.

seriously, we're all in the same boat. we eat crap while we study and we don't workout enough. most of my class has kids. hopefully you end up with somebody like me as your lab partner who isn't going to spend anytime looking at you other than finding landmarks.

because unless you're my boyfriend, I don't give a damn what you think of my body.
 
Moxxie said:
You're the type of person, male or female, that I don't want to take my shirt off in front of, even if I was a fitness model. Do you analyze everyone and tell them to get into shape?

I mean you're right that I should be working out for my health, but that wasn't the point of this thread. Thanks for crapping on it.
Click to expand...
I think the sentiment was more like 'if it matters that much why cram" than "everyone ought to be fit".

Your classmates should be professional about the experience and do everything they can to make you feel comfortable, just as any healthcare provider would. Are you worried that they won't be?
 
Hey Banana, remember lifting our shirts to play "insulin" shots in the belly?

Course, no one passed out during that lab . . .
 
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