I'd like to respond to "Patient Dignity: Code Cover-up" (Insights on Death and Dying, September 2008),* which addressed a nursing student who was concerned because a patient's genitals were exposed during a code. In my years of ICU experience, a patient's gown may be removed for many reasons, such as to check for femoral pulses or to insert a central venous access device into the femoral vein. When we're doing everything we can to save a life, we can't spare the time to work around clothing and bedding.

I'd advise the student to talk with the ED nurse about why the patient wasn't covered, which may give her a better understanding of emergency nursing.

DIANE WILSON, RN

Crown Point, Ind.

^*Individual subscribers can also access these articles free online at http://www.nursing2009.com. [Context Link]