The "right" way, or the "real" way?

[Txnursekristi]

I am the wound care nurse in a LTC facility that frequently has groups of nursing students from 3 local schools come through for clinicals. Each of these nursing students is assigned to spend one day shadowing me, to experience LTC wound care. They are not allowed to do anything, just observe.

When I was in nursing school, a LOT of the nurses I shadowed would say "don't do it like this when state is here", but they were not able to tell me how i SHOULD do it. I know we all take shortcuts from time to time in order to survive, and to give the best care possible. My question is, when being watched by students, do you do things as though a state surveyor is hovering over you, or do you do it the same way you do every other day?

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

As much as possible, I do things in the way that would protect my license. (so if its a shortcut it better qualify as a "right" way to shortcut). Because you never know if a student will say something to their CI, who might say something to management...and personally, I'd like to keep my license :)

[kathy313]

I was an stna/tech before I became a nurse. I had learned some shortcuts over the years. When I started school, I stopped,pretty much all of that. I had also seen some nurses I shadowed or were assigned to do some things that scared me. I knew the kind of nurse I didn't want to be....

When I had to orient someone to the floor or had students with me, I tried to make sure I did everything by the book. I didn't want to be responsible for someone else's bad habits.

We all make adjustments to how we do things, it's needed sometimes, or else we'd spend a lot of time in OT.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

whenever students are involved you ought to be able to cite chapter and verse WHY you practice as you do. If you are following state, federal and professional guidelines there should be no worry. Could it be the school is behind in what constitutes current practice? Keep your references handy.

[ItsTheDude]

when being watched by anybody, do it by the book. cya

[latebloomer74, LPN]

From the student's viewpoint I would really love it if the nurse or clinical instructor would think of themselves as a role model so I can learn to do things the right way. So please. if you have a student do it by the book please:)

[Txnursekristi]

I'm glad to know I'm not alone in doing it the right way. I was a little concerned that the students would think I was being mean and teaching them the "hard" way. I know I appreciated being trained the proper procedure and the justifications for it...maybe part of the problem is that I am an LPN and these are RN students...