[newgrad2004]

Originally Posted by z's playa

My first reaction to this thread when I saw it was WHAAAT? Then I saw that you got to pick your bathing partner...what do you say exactly.."Ummm...you're cute....wanna bath?"

LoL if you wish. But in my class we had to pick same sex partners. But it isnt a huge deal since no one gets nude. So I can see how some schools wouldnt care either way. Its a good experience and it isnt so bad.

Also you dont usually do it on the first day. So you have a chance to get to know someone better and it isnt so bad, after all you all have to do it. No biggy.

I would fear "bed making" more. It was such a huge issue and so critical.
Had nightmare over being tested on something so stupid. But its all about the hoops baby.

[NurseChick04]

There is no way I would do that. What are they going to do kick you out? That would give a bad rep to that school. We never had to do that and that is just ridiculous. Don't let them scare you into doing something like this that you are not comfortable doing. I would definately read some law books about that one.

[Louisepug]

Hi all,
I actually took a phlebotomy class last semester, in hopes that it would help me in nursing school in the fall. We practiced drawing blood on each other every week! It did not feel good and was a bit scary, but I have to say, I think it will help me now that I've done it on a real live person. As far as bathing goes, we did this in my CNA class. We were clothed but "pretended" to bathe one another. When I actually had to give a real bed bath for the first time to a patient (who was male by the way ) I was terrified! I got through it, and now it's second nature. Funny thing though, and thank God were in nursing school now, because my CNA instructer, who was in nursing school back in the sixties, said that back then they had to give each other enemas!! WOW! Now THAT would be emabarrasing! Louisepug

[newgrad2004]

Phelbotomy is different. They do that. Here in my school we dont (ADN) stick each other. Although all my instructors did when they were in school.


And as far as fighting it, again I wouldnt rock the boat. JMHO

[z's playa]

Originally Posted by newgrad2004

LoL if you wish. But in my class we had to pick same sex partners. But it isnt a huge deal since no one gets nude. So I can see how some schools wouldnt care either way. Its a good experience and it isnt so bad.

Also you dont usually do it on the first day. So you have a chance to get to know someone better and it isnt so bad, after all you all have to do it. No biggy.

I would fear "bed making" more. It was such a huge issue and so critical.
Had nightmare over being tested on something so stupid. But its all about the hoops baby.

I'm sorry..I must be tired..I'm laughing at everything. Imagine the first day of class..."OK class, you're oriented, you're here...everyone..IN THE TUBS!"

Ok..I'm going to bed now

[sandylpn04]

We had to bathe each other. We got to wear shorts and a Tshirt as long as we pulled the sleeves up on it. I would have told them where to stick it if they'd told me to strip to my underwear. It's bad enough being in a class with all these new people you hardly know, I think that's a little uncalled for. Maybe they just have a morbid sense of humor and wanted to scare the dickins out of you. As for being on the "other" end of the hospital care, I was in last summer for 8 days for surgery and those 8 days taught me soooo much on how to treat my pts. when I did get to return to my clinicals. It was a wake up call for sure. I start back this coming Mon. and will graduate in Dec. I learned to pay more attention to my pt. and less attention to the paperwork. Good luck to you.

[purplekath]

I totally understand what you were saying. I remember my orientation day before starting, being told we had to sponge bath AND shower each other. I felt totally freaked out. But after a few months of brushing each other's teeth, feeding each other, taking full histories and doing full ward rotations with our partner in the bed (or vice versa), I truly got used to it.

The thing is, when you're all in the same boat, it's easier to deal with. We have an eight bed ward with 16 nurse/patient pairs. When you are playing patient, you're in there with 7 other patients. And you're being nursed by someone who will be in the same boat next week - so we're all GREAT about draping! We also have the privacy curtains drawn etc. It's actually quite private and modest.

As for the fat issue - TRUST ME when I tell you that no matter how someone looks with their clothes on, we all look hideous under our clothes. We've all got rolls of fat and cellulite and yukky looking bits. And a funny thing happens when you're a nursing student - you stop looking at people as "fat or thin"...but as people who need care. I never would have believed it! lol

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by purplekath

As for the fat issue - TRUST ME when I tell you that no matter how someone looks with their clothes on, we all look hideous under our clothes. We've all got rolls of fat and cellulite and yukky looking bits.

I'll just counter this by pointing out that we're all equally beautiful under our clothes.

[Star Trek Nerd]

Originally Posted by 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.

I have to disagree with this. By this logic, every nurse should experience chemotherapy, defibrillation, catheters, etc and etc. Patients go through a lot of s***. That doesn't mean the nurses should too because we are giving the care. Where is the line drawn?

Why does stripping down to your underwear in class make one a better nurse? I am wondering, but no one has quite answered that yet. We cannot and should not be forced to experience these things to be qualified as nurses.

If it came down to it and I was required to do this in my program, I would walk and find another school that doesn't make you do it. Sorry. I will suffer for my craft but this is too much intimacy. I am very modest and religious, and no one but my husband is going to touch me/bathe me unless I am truly in the hospital and being given real care.

It is a personal choice and should not be required.

[Nurse Ratched]

Originally Posted by NurseChick04

There is no way I would do that. What are they going to do kick you out?

Yep.

I agree that while it does not enhance one's technical skills one whit, it does give you a whole helluva lot of empathy the next time you're bathing a real pt.