I am a lowly nursing student, eager to see the sights, sniff the smells, and live the life of super-caring nurse lady. Well, in clinicals, I had this really nice lady who had to have her wound vac dressing changed. The WOCN came in and got all of her supplies together. She allowed me to assist and for another student and our instructor to look on. Patient had a back wound with MRSA and the wound was open to her spine. Literally, I saw her spine. I saw muscles, ribs, everything. I was asked to open some of the sterile packages to assist, but I felt uncomfortable. I asked WOCN if I needed to wear sterile gloves, etc, but she just said that no, it was a clean procedure. I had major objections, internally, but said nothing as this is the WOCN, and I am a lowly nursing student. I donned gloves and opened packages. She had me remove forceps and scissors(sterile) and give them to her. I did. She was discarding the used sponges in small biohazard bags, but then was putting them...on the floor and on the bed. Blood was getting on everything. However, my patient was so still that she would have easily allowed a sterile drape to be placed. It was so amazing as to how still she was. I went to hold her hand while the sponges were being removed and it was nearly broken(my hand). Smartly, I grabbed a stuffed toy, inserted it, and removed my crumpled claw. It was amazing to witness the inside of the human body in this way, and since I had never seen blood, guts, I was amazed that I didn't get sick. However, I am still bothered by the clean/sterile technique. Should I be? Should it have been sterile? Or am I overstepping my lowly student bounds?
Here's a trick I learned when holding/or someone wants to hold your hand and squeeze: offer 2 fingers .. the index and long finger. Won't hurt if they squeeze and your hand doesn't become "crumpled" ... you can really get hurt with the whole hand thing
I was taught the same by one of my clinical nurses. But she also added to cross the two fingers...suppose to hurt even less.
Nenja
33 Posts
I was taught the same by one of my clinical nurses. But she also added to cross the two fingers...suppose to hurt even less.