Blood Sugars?

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Sep 11, 2012

This is an issue you need to discuss with your instructor. I'm also a very private person, so I understand your reluctance to share this information with your classmates.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Sep 11, 2012

I'm in fundamentals and we took vitals on each other. Anytime something came up 'abnormal', everyone made a huge deal out of it and everyone made it a point to mention how great their vitals were. One girl was pressured into telling us that she takes ADHD medication (none of our business).

My point is that you should have the right to not be tested on and to not have you medical info broadcasted to the class.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Sep 11, 2012

When I was in school the only thing we practiced on each other was vital signs. And head to toe assessment, but for things like the genitourinary assessment, we used models.

This is definitely an issue that you need to discuss with your instructor.

allnurses Guide · Sep 11, 2012

This will vary widely by school/program, so talking to your instructor is your best bet.

LCinTraining · Sep 11, 2012

I don't understand this reluctance. You will be learning at the expense of other students, why can they not learn at your expense? You are here to learn. You will practice things on other students and possibly find abnormal values. Is it o.k. for them to give up their privacy for your learning experience? Why can they not have a return favor?

I am a strong believer in the fact that if nurses and doctors are to learn well, people must permit them to practice while under the safety covering of an instructor. If we all pulled the "my body is private" card, we would never have accomplished health care providers.

QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 12, 2012

I only did it once with my clinical group because our instructor wanted us to learn how to use the glucometers properly. But it wasn't something that was taught to us in lab or that we were forced to do as part of an evaluation. There have to be some boundaries, and if you're not comfortable I would speak up.

melissadavon · Sep 12, 2012

Well LCinTraining....let me try to explain how I feel about it to you.

Diabetes and how it is treated is a hot-button topic for me. If I ever get to grad school and have to write a thesis, it is going to involve the BLAME, SHAME and finger-pointing involved in diabetes care, especially in children and the feelings involved in growing up with a chronic disease.

Diabetes is very unlike many chronic diseases in that it is primarily self-controlled. Jim-Bob lost a leg to diabetes? Tisk, tisk, he should have taken better care of himself! The labels applied to patients with diabetes is all about appointing blame. I hate the term "non-compliant diabetic". I don't think it's been applied to me (except maybe in my late teen years when I didn't care), but it is a term that I loath and I would never want applied to myself for diabetes, or to be a non-compliant anything at all! It just sounds horrible.

I am someone who like to be in control of things, I'm type A and I'm fairly controlling. But, with a long history of diabetes (diagnosed the summer I turned 13, over 19 years now), I find that it's nearly impossible to be in tight control 100% of the time. There is a lot of "disease fatigue" involved (yes I made that up lol, I just mean that it's long term and you're TIRED of it). There are times I just want to bury my head in the sand and I only do the bare minimum. And sometimes that what I do (made a little easier thanks to my wonderful Animas insulin pump)...then I turn it around and get back where I should be. But I still feel that I should have perfect blood sugars 100% of the time and if I don't, it's my fault. Who else would I blame it on?? My doc doesn't do any of my adjustments - I know my body better than my doc and I make my adjustments myself, even during pregnancy. I made them when necessary which was often weekly then...my perinatalogist called me Dr. Mel lol.

My BFF is actually pregnant right now and she's had type 2 for 4ish years. We just had a conversation about blame and blood sugars - her OB was making her feel very bad about her blood sugars and she's not even on insulin (which allow much tighter control). What is she supposed to do with a blood sugar of 200 without insulin to lower it? She just has to wait it out.... If it were me, I'd take a 2 unit correction bolus and be done with it, simple.

Regardless, it's my disease, it's my body and I'm not in nursing school to be an example of a good diabetic nor a bad diabetic. I'm already different from virtually all my classmates (32 with a family, career change, RESPONSIBILITIES other than school which is a lot diff than many of my more carefree classmates), I don't especially need this to set me apart as well.

I guess my plan is to not say anything and make sure it's normal. Class starts around 1, and at noon I normally am at the student rec center running 2 miles, then I eat a yogurt & a banana or a protein bar around 12:45. I'm normally fine, but I just worry that it will be right at my 1 hour high point and look bad.... It's hard enough balancing blood sugars and insulin with nursing school and different scheduling than I'm used to, but it makes it even harder trying to make a BS look "perfect" at a specific time :)

allnurses Guide · Sep 12, 2012

There will be times in both undergrad and grad school where you need to be in a compromised position in front of classmates. It's an important part of the learning experience, for both you and the class. As you are sensitive about your Blood sugars, so will others be about surgical scars or blood pressure or weight or abdomen or breasts or dentition etc.

Nurses end up with "no filter".

ER(notso)n00b, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2012

We practiced accucheks on each other, but it was more to see what it felt like to be poked. We then put our own strip into the accuchek reader so we could figure out how to work it, but nobody knew what anyone else's BS was. I get what you're saying. I'm writing my care plan on a "noncompliant" diabetic patient this week and that's one of the issues I am touching on - the social stigma of diabetes. Thank you for explaining your point of view so eloquently.

sailornurse · Sep 12, 2012

Just say you jusy ate before coming to class if its high

LCinTraining · Sep 12, 2012

I can understand the sentiment. However, I also think you have a lot to teach. Many don't understand the difference between type one and type two. I hardly think you are an enigma in your class. Most nursing programs have students of various backgrounds and responsibilities. I'm not going to convince you, but I do think you have something great to offer the learning experience, and nothing to be ashamed of.I've had gestational diabetes, and am considered pre diabetic. I've discussed this with my coworker that is type one. Those who don't have any form of glucose intolerance do not understand the intense cravings involved with th disease. If they did, they would be quiet. There may be a stigma attached to it, but there is one attached to many disorders. Bipolar individuals should just be able to control thir outbursts. The alcoholic is irresponsible, not sick. The woman with post partum depression should be happy her baby is healthy and stop whining. I guess I'm saying there is baggage with all of it, but those who would be judgmental don't deserve your time. Those that would welcome the learning experience...well...you have something to offer to their education.Good luck, whatever you decide to do.