ER nurse watching wife undress

I apologize if a similar thread exists because I checked and couldn't find something similar enough. My wife had to go to the ER due to a pregnancy complication (everything turned out fine). The nurse came in to her room and told her she had to undress and put on a gown. Instead of leaving she watched my wife undress while she held the gown like someone helping put on a coat. My wife had to then walk over to her after she removed her clothes and the nurse helped her put it on. My wife is healthy and does not have any mobility issues and she was only a few weeks along so she did not have any concerns for her size. I suspected she may be looking for bruising or some indication that maybe I had hurt her (I was in the room with her) but I have never seen it before or after this incident. Any thoughts?

I am sure that it was just the nurse trying to be helpful with your pregnant wife. Sometimes it's hard to undress whether due to anxiety or discomfort so a nurse may help, and it was an ER so things are always done quickly there! I have had to undress and then be handed a gown as well so it can be embarssing.

I don't think it's too terribly unusual for a nurse in an ER to help someone into a gown. I know certainly the times I've had to go to the ER over the years, I'd say about half the time, I really did in fact need the help. Also was the nurse concerned that your wife might fall or something? If you need to be at the ER, quite often the last concern of anyone at that point is modesty.

Over the years I have been to the ER many times and every time that I can remember A nurse has either helped me to put a gown on or at least offered, If someone else was there with me the nurse would still offer but usually leave, There is one time I do remember when I( was there for a seizure and the nurse did stay and help my wife undress me, I was kinda groggy so I asked my wife if I remembered properly she said yes this nurse was memorable because she had to be in her sixties but she was dressed like a nineteenth century nurse! bib,cap and all. We will never forget that visit to the ER!

It's frequent that people who go to the ER need help - duh. Helping someone disrobe is efficient and reduces liability.

Last time I was in the ER (for a finger injury), I had to adamantly refuse a wheelchair to get to a bathroom. Silly, as I had driven myself there and walked in.

Nurses commonly help patients undress in the ER. Be thankful that she didn't arrive unconscious or in severe distress. We frequently cut the clothes off in those cases. It saves lives too.

Sbollman1 I don't think that the Nurse was "looking for bruising or some indication that maybe you had hurt her". Normally with any sort of pregnancy complications a woman may have pain, discomfort or have spotting or bleeding. So I suspect the nurse was only being helpful as liquidsky stated

Nurses commonly help patients undress in the ER. Be thankful that she didn't arrive unconscious or in severe distress. We frequently cut the clothes off in those cases. It saves lives too.

In fact during my A&E experience we frequently assisted patients to undress and redress at times. I can say from personal experience if the nurse was concerned that you were abusing your wife, you would have been asked to leave or she would have used other means to ascertain the truth.

Yes, as everyone else has said, it is common for nurses in the ER to assist patients undress, especially pregnant women who may have a harder time undressing. It sounds like the nurse was just trying to assist.

And we are talking about the ER. And the presumption is that this IS an emergency. They are there to attend to your issue right now.

In the doctor's office, you may take your sweet time undressing.

What I don't understand is why the husband wasn't assisting his wife, instead of finding fault.

I do have mobility issues. Nurses help me all the time. The ones that know me, let my friend help me.

My friend is very disabled. Sometimes she needs help. If we go to the e.r. (and we do a lot), a lot of times they let me help her, but sometimes the nurse does it. I think she is pretty used to it by now, but it's still embarrassing for her.