A friend of mine said that the private school she's planning on taking her CNA training classes requires that the students perform peri-care on each other, according to someone who told her this about that particular school. She also said that when she reacted in a shocked manner, this person added that it is now "mandatory" for future CNAs during their training, and that it is done so that both the males and females become comfortable with it before doing clinicals in LTCs or hospitals.
Suffice it to say, I told her that that didn't sound right to me, based on things I've read and researched on the all nurses site. I told her from what I've read, it appears that peri-care is performed first on mannequins in classes, and then on some residents during the clinicals. I mentioned that I did read that students do vitals on each other like BP, pulse, respiration, etc. within the classroom, but that is about the extent of it.
I'm going to be starting my NA classes in September through an Adult Ed program, and if this is required between the students, I will not continue this program. If I were incapacitated or unable to do this to myself while in a hospital or LTC, then that is another story! But I cannot imagine doing this in a classroom setting with other students!! Something just doesn't seem right with what my friend shared. I told her that I think it isn't true, but if this private school does require this, I told her that I think it would be best to search elsewhere for CNA training.
Have any of you who are current CNAs been required to do this during your training, or have you ever heard of such a thing??
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Most of the CNA and nursing programs I'm aware of have students practice peri care on each other while wearing shorts and a tank top or a modest swimsuit. No actual exposure of privates. They are basically going through the motions without unnecessary intimacy. I would hope the program you're looking into has a similar set-up.
Let us know what you find out.
I've never heard of that. So a female student has to allow a male student to "go through the motions" of peri-care? Doesn't sound right. I've heard of students giving bed baths to each other wearing shorts and a tank top, though. If the skin is covered, what's the difference between that and a mannequin?
There was a thread not too long ago about how "back in the day" students had to catheterize each other. Not in any day I've ever seen!!
No way! No respectable school would risk sexual harrassment allegations when they have mannequins.
FuzzyWuzzy- Can't you just hear the dialouge of a CNA Media!! "Time for your bed bath" "Well I've also had a BM..." "Oh you know I love the dirty talk" LOL.
Um, I don't think so! Not unless it's on the set of a CNA-themed Mediao (although I wouldn't be surprised if such a genre existed)!
I was just waking up and sipping a cup of coffee, and chucked up some of it after reading your comment! I laughed so hard I woke up my husband! The Neverland Ranch one also had me giggling before I got to your comment! I'm glad to read these responses which make me realize, all the more, that this type of thing would never be required at a legitimate, respectable training school.
Thanks for giving me a good laugh this morning! :chuckle
I've never heard of that. So a female student has to allow a male student to "go through the motions" of peri-care? Doesn't sound right. I've heard of students giving bed baths to each other wearing shorts and a tank top, though. If the skin is covered, what's the difference between that and a mannequin?
There was a thread not too long ago about how "back in the day" students had to catheterize each other. Not in any day I've ever seen!!
I was actually wondering about the "going through the motions" myself, even with a clothing barrier. I'm so relieved to hear that students do not have to catheterize each other either!
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I was actually wondering about the "going through the motions" myself, even with a clothing barrier. I'm so relieved to hear that students do not have to catheterize each other either!
There should be a special category of "urban legends" for this stuff!!
Near the beginning of nursing school we were informed we'd be required to team up with a partner to give each other bed baths for a skills check off. We were told that by doing this we would learn how it felt for our future patients and that it would promote a respect for their privacy.
During this announcement I'm thinking fully naked bed baths with one student and one instructor to witness the nakedness. I spent the time until this was due to take place dreading it and debating with other students as to how exactly this would go down. Nearer to the time it took place we were told we could wear our undergarments.
So on lab day I wore a sports-bra, my regular underwear, and a pair of my husband's boxers that I borrowed for the occasion.
In the end it turned out to be pretty much get in the bed and hide under the covers. Then your partner does the most simplified bed bath ever by temporarily uncovering one tiny section of your body at a time and dabbing at it with a dry washcloth, no private areas involved.
Our "lesson" was all about how freaked out we were going to be all exposed. They wanted us to remember the feeling before we proceed to let some nude/semi-nude patient be exposed more than necessary.
The way it was told to us is not the way it turned out at all so perhaps what they are planning on doing is not exactly as it sounds. But yeah...peri-care that doesn't sound like something you'd ever volunteer for. I'd say they've lost their minds if they actually expect the average person to expose that area of their bodies to a classmate much less let them wash it.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Near the beginning of nursing school we were informed we'd be required to team up with a partner to give each other bed baths for a skills check off. We were told that by doing this we would learn how it felt for our future patients and that it would promote a respect for their privacy.
During this announcement I'm thinking fully naked bed baths with one student and one instructor to witness the nakedness. I spent the time until this was due to take place dreading it and debating with other students as to how exactly this would go down. Nearer to the time it took place we were told we could wear our undergarments.
So on lab day I wore a sports-bra, my regular underwear, and a pair of my husband's boxers that I borrowed for the occasion.
In the end it turned out to be pretty much get in the bed and hide under the covers. Then your partner does the most simplified bed bath ever by temporarily uncovering one tiny section of your body at a time and dabbing at it with a dry washcloth, no private areas involved.
Our "lesson" was all about how freaked out we were going to be all exposed. They wanted us to remember the feeling before we proceed to let some nude/semi-nude patient be exposed more than necessary.
The way it was told to us is not the way it turned out at all so perhaps what they are planning on doing is not exactly as it sounds. But yeah...peri-care that doesn't sound like something you'd ever volunteer for. I'd say they've lost their minds if they actually expect the average person to expose that area of their bodies to a classmate much less let them wash it.
While I was reading this I was thinking to myself, "jeez, why didn't they just tell you guys up front that exposure would be very minimal so you all wouldn't be so anxious about what it was?" People worrying, having serious body image issues, etc could have all been avoided. You're saying they did it intentionally to teach you a lesson? I don't see how inflicting psychological harm on people is necessary to teach you to respect a patient's privacy. Oh well, don't want to hijack the thread. That just seems really cruel. Yeah, cruel.
I was actually wondering about the "going through the motions" myself, even with a clothing barrier. I'm so relieved to hear that students do not have to catheterize each other either!
This week in my class we were going back over inserting and placement of indwelling caths on female mannequins for review. well female is subjective as our mannequins look very male but have interchangeable parts for the peri area which just adds to the surrealism of cathing a "man" with a lady parts. The students wanted to know why we did not have the male parts to practice with and we were told another class was using them. Being the only male in class it didn't take long before several (jokingly) comments were made about me stepping up for the cause.:rotfl:
I just chuckled and explained I was a good sport as much as anyone..and I could survive the first few but the thought of being cathed 28 times in a 2 hour period didn't really fit my definition of taking one for the team.
I work at a nursing that train students to be CNAs and then allow state to come in and test the students and we do not do pericare one each other. Only is performed on the manicans. We did not do anything that required us to take off our clothing.
I spent the time until this was due to take place dreading it and debating with other students as to how exactly this would go down. Nearer to the time it took place we were told we could wear our undergarments.
NurseNotRatched, ADN, BSN, CNA
93 Posts
What the??? That information doesn't sound correct...