[Aneroo]

Ummm...what are you going to do if you're ever the patient that needs a bath? It's a great way for you to experience what your patient does. When we did it, we were instructed to wear shorts and a sleeveless shirt. I disagree with stripping to underwear, but I am for bathing each other. We also fed each other, which was a hoot. We had to pretend we were blind, eyes closed while a partner fed us. Again, great way to experience what your patient does. We did fingersticks on ourselves, if we wanted to. Most didn't. The reason schools don't let you do it on each other is due to the HIV/HBV risks. In my EMT class last summer though, we did start IV's on each other, but in nursing school we had manequins. For those of you concerned about your classmates seeing your flab...deal with it! By the end of it, you're like family. I'm halfway through it, and we're already like family. Again, what will you do if you're the patient??? -Andrea

[TweetiePieRN]

Originally Posted by newgrad2004

Thankfully they wont let you practice or make pin cushions out of each other.
HIV/hep A-Z stopped that. :hatparty:

Not so. We practice IV therapy on each other.

[Dixiedi]

Way back when we didn't have to give a bath. But...we did have to do a complete linen change with your partner in complete uniform.
Back then it would not have been an option to strip in school, not even to remove stockings!
Talk about a pain trying to change a bed with someone completely dressed and trying to keep that uniform down!
When we completed the change, our intructor came round to see if it was tight.

After we changed the bed with our partner in it, we had to change it again, empty. This time the instructor came round and expected to bounce a coin on it! If no bounce, make it again.....

[TweetiePieRN]

We had to "bathe" each other also. We could wear tank top and shorts.

The smart thing to do would be to not rock the boat and rebel, but just go with what your instructor says. If you put a target on your head this early in your nursing school career....you are screwed! I have seen other students complain to try and change things that weren't major (like bathing) and all that happened was a negative attitude towards those students and a label of "troublemaker". Nursing school is like boot camp. Just play the game and pass. Don't cause yourself more undue and unnecessary stress. You will get your fair share of stress during clinicals, studying, and taking tests.

We all had to go through this. It really isn't that bad. No peri care is given and just the legs and arms are exposed. Pick your battles wisely.

[Truly_Blessed]

Originally Posted by TweetiePieRN

We had to "bathe" each other also. We could wear tank top and shorts.

The smart thing to do would be to not rock the boat and rebel, but just go with what your instructor says. If you put a target on your head this early in your nursing school career....you are screwed! I have seen other students complain to try and change things that weren't major (like bathing) and all that happened was a negative attitude towards those students and a label of "troublemaker". Nursing school is like boot camp. Just play the game and pass. Don't cause yourself more undue and unnecessary stress. You will get your fair share of stress during clinicals, studying, and taking tests.

We all had to go through this. It really isn't that bad. No peri care is given and just the legs and arms are exposed. Pick your battles wisely.

Very true...it could be worse...by reading some of the replies, my anxiety has gone down a little concerning the sponge baths. Don't care for a male partner, but I think I will take the attitude suggested..."play the game to pass" I surely do not want to be an instructor's target because I chose to make a big stink over something minor. Doesn't seem too bad now

[Aneroo]

Oh! I forgot. Our instructor also put bedpans with water underneath us when were laying on the beds. Made it a whole lot more realistic when getting partner on/off bedpan! -Andrea

[TweetiePieRN]

Originally Posted by Truly_Blessed

Very true...it could be worse...by reading some of the replies, my anxiety has gone down a little concerning the sponge baths. Don't care for a male partner, but I think I will take the attitude suggested..."play the game to pass" I surely do not want to be an instructor's target because I chose to make a big stink over something minor. Doesn't seem too bad now

The "play the game" mentality got me through. Honestly, there was soooooo many things that would pi$$ me off about school, or the teachers...but I would just smile and think about graduation. I am glad that you are able to view it in a different light. Good luck in school. It goes by sooooooooo fast

[suzy253]

Yeah, we had to do this in nursing arts lab. We were told to wear shorts and t-shirts (loose). A lot of us brought shorts in to change into but I didn't have to change cos I had on some loose stretchy pants and my instructor had my lab partner only pull up my pant legs. It really wasn't bad at all. We only did the face, arms, legs, hands, feet and 'made believe' cleaning perineal area. I don't recall anyone in my class having a problem with it cos it really is a great way to see what the real patient will experience in a clinical setting. And yes, we also had to practice putting our partners on bedpans too. All part of the learning process. Don't worry about it.

[FarmgrrlRN]

No bed baths in my program....but during our OB clinicals we changed into scrubs everyday together....saw 9 of my classmates and my instructor in their underwear...so, yeah you pretty much get over it.

[KaroSnowQueen]

Yes, we stripped down to our bras and underpants and put a pt gown and our classmate bathed us. And if they went around the bed to get something they forgot, and left the side rail down, the instructor motioned for us to "fall out of bed" and freak out our partner!!
I weighed much less then than I do now, but I was also eight months pregnant when we did that part, and I felt QUITE awkward.
We also practiced subq injections on one another, that was our final grade for injections, was giving one to our partner and taken into consideration was how the partner felt we did!!!!