Why do nurses shave patients?

 

Because they have a job to do.

And a surgical site has to be prepared prior to the surgery itself — meaning that it has to be “cleared and cleaned” before any incision will be made.

Cleaning means that the site has to be washed up, and then disinfected after it has been cleared. Clearing means that all obstructions have to be removed. And these include hairs, and so they have to be removed. You do not want your surgeon be cutting in a hairy region of your body in which (1) the surgeon’s view is messed up, and (2) the hairs could cause all kinds of Aftermath mayhem (such as entering the wound and inciting infection).

My girlfriend is a urologist, and she often clears and cleans the surgical sites herself before she actually starts cutting. This game can be pretty rough though, as down there hairy sites can come with all kinds of surprises such as poop balls (yes indeed), and smelly cats.

All dignity of the patient is maintained throughout the shaving though, despite unforeseen circumstances (such as the poop balls or weirdly-formed genitals and the like), because these guys and gals are professionals, and in the end, time and again —

They get the job done.

(You’re welcome.)