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The Use of Chaperones during Sensitive Examinations and Treatments
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AW H O N N P O S I T I O N S T A T E M E N T
The Use of Chaperones during Sensitive Examinations and Treatments
An official position statement of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Approved by the AWHONN Board of Directors, November 2001. Reaffirmed June 2007. Revised and reaffirmed June 2014. AWHONN 2000 L Street, NW, Suite 740, Washington, DC 20036, (800) 673-8499
Position he Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) supports the right of a woman to request and have a chaperone present during sensitive examinations, procedures, or treatments. The decision to use a chaperone should be made by the woman in conjunction with her healthcare provider as part of an individualized plan of care. The chaperone should be an authorized healthcare provider, such as a registered nurse. Family members or friends may also be present at the woman’s request but are not considered substitutes for a chaperone who is a healthcare provider.
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Background Sensitive physical examinations, procedures, and treatments generally involve the inspection, palpation, or internal visualization of the reproductive organs or genitalia. They may be perceived as potentially threatening to a woman’s sense of privacy or modesty or may induce feelings of vulnerability or embarrassment. Factors that may influence a woman’s decision to have a chaperone present or that may be considered in determining the best person for this role include but are not limited to the following:
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erone. Therefore, regardless of the provider’s gender, chaperones should be offered during sensitive examinations (Fiddes, Scott, Fletcher, & Glasier, 2003). Additionally, nurses and other healthcare providers should be aware that a woman’s cultural and religious beliefs may necessitate the presence of a chaperone and/or a healthcare provider of the same gender (Guimond & Salman, 2013).
Role of the Nurse A chaperone can provide support and reassurance about the professional context of the examination (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists [ACOG], 2007). When the chaperone is a nurse, he or she can also act as advocate for the woman and help to explain what will happen during the examination. Finally, the nurse chaperone can assess the woman’s understanding of what is taking place and serve as a comforting presence (Royal College of Nursing, 2006).
REFERENCES American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2007). Sexual
A woman’s request for a chaperone Urgency of the examination or treatment The gender of the healthcare provider Type of examination or treatment performed Cultural or religious beliefs Age of the woman Mental health or cognitive ability of the woman Facility protocol History of sexual assault or dysfunction
misconduct. ACOG committee opinion no. 373. Retrieved from http://www.acog.org/Resources_And_Publications/Committee_ Opinions/Committee_on_Ethics/Sexual_Misconduct Fiddes, P., Scott, A., Fletcher, J., & Glasier, A. (2003). Attitudes towards pelvic examination and chaperones: a questionnaire survey of patients and providers. Contraception, 67(4), 313– 317. Guimond, M.E., & Salman, K. (2013). Modesty matters: cultural sensitivity and cervical cancer prevention in Muslim women in the United States. Nursing for Women’s Health, 17(3), 210–216. doi:10.1111/1751-486X.12034 Royal College of Nursing. (2006). Chaperoning: the role of the nurse and the rights of patients. London, UK: Author. Retrieved
Healthcare providers generally cannot predict a woman’s feelings about the presence of a chap-
http://jognn.awhonn.org
from http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/78513/ 001446.pdf
C 2014 AWHONN, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
677
AW H O N N P O S I T I O N S T A T E M E N T
The Use of Chaperones during Sensitive Examinations and Treatments
An official position statement of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Approved by the AWHONN Board of Directors, November 2001. Reaffirmed June 2007. Revised and reaffirmed June 2014. AWHONN 2000 L Street, NW, Suite 740, Washington, DC 20036, (800) 673-8499
Position he Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) supports the right of a woman to request and have a chaperone present during sensitive examinations, procedures, or treatments. The decision to use a chaperone should be made by the woman in conjunction with her healthcare provider as part of an individualized plan of care. The chaperone should be an authorized healthcare provider, such as a registered nurse. Family members or friends may also be present at the woman’s request but are not considered substitutes for a chaperone who is a healthcare provider.
T
Background Sensitive physical examinations, procedures, and treatments generally involve the inspection, palpation, or internal visualization of the reproductive organs or genitalia. They may be perceived as potentially threatening to a woman’s sense of privacy or modesty or may induce feelings of vulnerability or embarrassment. Factors that may influence a woman’s decision to have a chaperone present or that may be considered in determining the best person for this role include but are not limited to the following:
r r r r r r r r r
erone. Therefore, regardless of the provider’s gender, chaperones should be offered during sensitive examinations (Fiddes, Scott, Fletcher, & Glasier, 2003). Additionally, nurses and other healthcare providers should be aware that a woman’s cultural and religious beliefs may necessitate the presence of a chaperone and/or a healthcare provider of the same gender (Guimond & Salman, 2013).
Role of the Nurse A chaperone can provide support and reassurance about the professional context of the examination (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists [ACOG], 2007). When the chaperone is a nurse, he or she can also act as advocate for the woman and help to explain what will happen during the examination. Finally, the nurse chaperone can assess the woman’s understanding of what is taking place and serve as a comforting presence (Royal College of Nursing, 2006).
REFERENCES American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2007). Sexual
A woman’s request for a chaperone Urgency of the examination or treatment The gender of the healthcare provider Type of examination or treatment performed Cultural or religious beliefs Age of the woman Mental health or cognitive ability of the woman Facility protocol History of sexual assault or dysfunction
misconduct. ACOG committee opinion no. 373. Retrieved from http://www.acog.org/Resources_And_Publications/Committee_ Opinions/Committee_on_Ethics/Sexual_Misconduct Fiddes, P., Scott, A., Fletcher, J., & Glasier, A. (2003). Attitudes towards pelvic examination and chaperones: a questionnaire survey of patients and providers. Contraception, 67(4), 313– 317. Guimond, M.E., & Salman, K. (2013). Modesty matters: cultural sensitivity and cervical cancer prevention in Muslim women in the United States. Nursing for Women’s Health, 17(3), 210–216. doi:10.1111/1751-486X.12034 Royal College of Nursing. (2006). Chaperoning: the role of the nurse and the rights of patients. London, UK: Author. Retrieved
Healthcare providers generally cannot predict a woman’s feelings about the presence of a chap-
http://jognn.awhonn.org
from http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/78513/ 001446.pdf
C 2014 AWHONN, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
677