'We’ve Got You Covered': Protecting Patient Modesty at Shriners Children’s Boston

Sometimes, the simplest act can have a meaningful impact on patient outcomes.

At Shriners Children’s Boston, as part of ongoing efforts to improve patient care and satisfaction, clinical staff considered the question: “How can we be more mindful of our patients’ religious, cultural and personal modesty and privacy preferences during exams and procedures?” This led to the We’ve Got You Covered initiative, a commitment to healthcare providers throughout the hospital to protect patient dignity in every encounter.

The project was led by Shriners Children’s Boston perioperative nurse Maureen “Mo” Hanley, BSN, RN, CNOR, CBRN, who was a patient at another hospital years ago. Mo felt embarrassed and disrespected when medical staff failed to keep her covered after she sustained serious injuries in a car accident. “My clothes were cut off so they could assess me, but after that, no one seemed to care that I was completely exposed. No one did anything to protect my privacy.”

It is not uncommon for healthcare professionals to become desensitized to privacy needs in a fast-paced environment. Mo noted that when asked, staff may reply, “I see it all the time,” or, “It’s during surgery, the patient is asleep and won’t know.” Her We’ve Got You Covered project encourages staff at Shriners Children’s Boston to be more mindful of patients' feelings and beliefs about modesty.

As an operating room nurse, Mo recognizes that many surgeries require exposing sensitive body parts. However, her philosophy of providing maximum coverage for as long as possible keeps patient dignity at the forefront. “Patients are vulnerable while under general anesthesia – unable to cover themselves – so I take my role as their advocate very seriously,” said Mo. She explained that there are many ways to limit what is visible – such as sterile towels, blankets, disposable underwear and even disposable hijabs – which demonstrate cultural competence and help reduce patient anxiety about body image and exposure.