So one day I came to work, and settled in , sipped on my red bull, and threw on my gloss, priorities. So my coworker, dayshifter, starts giving me report, the usual, then my last pt. my coworker tell me that my pt has a gross looking tumor on her “private area”. I’m like ok…. interesting… keep going, coworker informs me that they have been keeping it moist and there is a chuck (hospital bed pad) underneath it to hold the moisture. I asked who the oncologist was, coworker say, pt doesn’t have one, so they called the attending made them aware of his “findings” and the attending dr was going to come up soon. I said ok go into the patients room and introduce myself and  ask if I may do my assessment, patient says yes, because I’m very curious as to what this tumor looks like, pull the sheets down and low and behold …… its a prolapsed uterus. My male coworker thought it was a tumor, never seen one before, and he has been watering it.. like a plant. Holding my laughter in, not because of the prolapsed uterus, but because my coworkers tumor theory. I excuse myself and leave the room.

A prolapsed uterus is when the uterus falls.. well gradually slides down the vagina, eventually protruding outside the vagina. It happens for varies reasons, usually the pelvic muscles are to weak, or the ligaments are to stretched out or unable to support the weight of the uterus, so it falls down the vaginal canal. I wont post a picture of one, but like everything else, you can find images on google!

So we walk out the room, and i inform my coworker that it is a prolapsed uterus, my coworker, being a male, says ” Ewwww they do that” hahahahaha… yes, yes they do, I’m sure not on purpose, but it happens. So I call the doctor and make them aware of my findings, he tells me to push it back in, which you can actually fist it back into the vagina depending on the degree of prolapse, interesting! Even though i actually entertained the thought, for a good hot minute, I declined and said I didn’t feel comfortable doing that, so dr made a consult with another dr who would be up later to view the patient. Hopefully tonight, but it will probably be a resident who is on call to discuss treatments and options.

So moral of the story ladies and fellow “Murses” (male nurses), one do a thorough assessment, geez don’t want anyone hearing the tumor word or the big “C” word, nurses never diagnose, that’s a dr’s  job.  Be considerate of patient, i mean geez this lady had tumor running through her mind all day!!!! Murses, it happens don’t freak out, ladies drink water..do your kegels, add some yoga or pilates..maintain a healthy weight, avoid constipation, as much as possible, if you have any vaginal bleeding, or feel weird down there, like pressure in the pelvic area, see a dr. Preventative care   works, but you can’t treat something you don’t know you have!