Designated "muscle" on clinicals

[oklamedic2011]

Hello fellow nursing students :-)

I just had a complaint I wanted to verbalize and see if anyone else has had the same issue. I find it aggravating that during EVERY clinical I have been on, no matter what I am currently doing, the floor nurses or my fellow classmates (who are all females) decide that it is my designated job at clinical sites to move pt's, assist pt's to the restroom or move them up in bed etc because I am "strong" and it is easier for me. Yes I am 6ft2 280 lbs and an ex football lineman, but I feel the whole "you are a man and stronger" excuse gets used a little too much and at some points it does interrupt some learning opportunities I have had. I am just curious if anyone else has had this happen, and how you handled it? Being raised in the south, my first response is to always help a woman if asked, but it seems to be causing me some issues.

thank you

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

Pretty simple if you ask me. If you are not busy, help if they ask. If you are busy doing something or have something upcoming that you need to attend to, tell them. It's called teamwork. A pull up in bed or a patient transfer can wait if it's not an emergent situation. But yes, as some had mentioned, it will continue to into actual practice. I have no program helping others and I have no problem denying the help because there have been times when I could not help.

[PM2RN2016]

I agree that assisting your teammate with a lift is important but I emphasise "Help" do not do it yourself, and make sure to use it as a teaching lesson for your "weaker" teammates. Use of body mechanics, adjusting the bed, using tools (sheets, slide boards, hydraulic lifts, etc).

Ultimately this should not affect you during clinicals, and as a nurse student you should be able to speak for yourself and verbalize that your a team player but not there for "heavy lifting"...

[IamAPotato]

just do it or learn to say no. what a cry baby