What am I supposed to do with the drape?

Legit question on medical professionals' expectations.

I'm in for a physical, nurse takes my vitals and then says: "Okay Mr D, I need you to get completely undressed, including socks and underwear. Here's a drape to cover yourself. The doctor will be in shortly. "

The drape, by the way, is basically a bed sheet.

So, what am I supposed to do? Do I sit on the exam table with the drape in my lap? Do I wrap it around my waist like a towel at the sauna? Do I lie down on the exam table and pull it up like a bed sheet?

It may seem inconsequential, but it adds yet another layer of anxiety to an already stressful event

Advice or guidance?

I believe you're supposed to "drape" it across your lap/ groin once you are seated on the exam table. It should cover your genitals and sides of your butt. It gives you some modesty and yet easy access to your fun bits too. Don't wrap it around you or sit on it in any way as your doctor will need to adjust and/ or remove it as your exam progresses.

Just as @BenDover said, I would just drape it across your lap as you're sitting on the exam table. I would not try to wrap it completely around you.

In my opinion, a drape only serves one purpose: To keep random people in the hallway from seeing your privates. It's not to prevent the doctor (or nurse) from seeing you since it's basically their job to do so! So I keep it across my lap until my doctor enters the exam room. Once she's in the room and the door is safely closed again, I usually remove the drape and sit on the exam table without it -- completely nude at that point. My doctor has never commented about this or had a problem with it.

Legit question on medical professionals' expectations.

I'm in for a physical, nurse takes my vitals and then says: "Okay Mr D, I need you to get completely undressed, including socks and underwear. Here's a drape to cover yourself. The doctor will be in shortly. "

The drape, by the way, is basically a bed sheet.

So, what am I supposed to do? Do I sit on the exam table with the drape in my lap? Do I wrap it around my waist like a towel at the sauna? Do I lie down on the exam table and pull it up like a bed sheet?

It may seem inconsequential, but it adds yet another layer of anxiety to an already stressful event

Advice or guidance?

Do you mean a drape or a gown?

I know you said drape, but many people here are ambiguous and do NOT say exactly what they mean.

If it is a gown, you are supposed to put it on.

If it is a drape you are generally supposed to sit on the table and place the drape across your lap.

WOMEN would be given a gown, not just a drape because their breasts should be covered.

You are suppose to the gown on then sit on the exam table and cover your lap with the drape. I can be a clown while at the doctor's I wrapped them.around me as a towel. I have also used them as a blanket. That just me I crack my doctor's up.

Why in hell would they give you a gown or drape if the point is to have you naked for the exam?

My previous doc never gave me either. He just said OK take 'em off and I sat there naked while he did a thorough exam. My new govmint approved doctor doesn't do that anyway. She just listens in a couple places over my clothing and says: next.

Thanks folks - per the question below, I was asking specifically about the bed sheet sized drape (gown is easy = put it on and tie it in the back where I can). I have been given a drape about the size of a small bath towel before, but was told specifically to leave my underwear on just place the drape across my lap for when the nurse practitioner opened the door.

Last time I was given those instructions (in the original post) I wrapped it around my waist. The doc examined me from the waist up then had me stand and remove the drape and completed the exam (with me standing, then laying back down on the exam table, and finally sitting).

I have an appointment upcoming with a new doctor to address some chronic pain in one of my testicles and I'm stressing out about it - and while this is a minor (but awkward) thing it's been one of many things occupying my thoughts.

Thanks again

The last time this happened to me I dropped the drape on the floor and when I picked it up, it tore. It went from being a drape to feeling like 2 squares of paper towel in my lap. Good thing the doctor just took it off when he got there.