Do I have to take off my clothes?

wildmountainchild · Jul 5, 2006

Uhhhggg! I agree, I would feel very uncomfortable. I believe most nursing schools practice on manicans, CLOTHED classmates, or learn on patients during clinicals.

I do know that during the FNP portion of my program we are expected to administer and recieve pelvic exams by our classmates. I just don't know if I can go through with it. Check with your academic advisor, maybe there is a way you could opt out. What about women who have experienced sexual abuse? It seems there must be a way around this.

Good luck.

TexasPediRN · Jul 5, 2006

I think most of the nurses on here have faced this issue during school.

I too, had to perform bed baths on my classmates. What we did though, is one of us was the "patient" , and wore a bathing suit and shorts as to not expose anything. They the patient laid in bed while another classmate "washed" them. I place wash in quotes since what we really did, was have the teacher explain how to do a bed bath, and have the "patient" and "nurse" interact as if they were doing AM care.

It wasnt bad doing it this way - but taking off your bra and just going down to your underwear? Sorry - no way. I'd see if you can find a way to do it differently, like trying bathing suits.

Princess74 · Jul 5, 2006

Not all schools here require students to undress for bed baths but from what I have heard quite a few do.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jul 5, 2006

When I took Fundamentals last semester we had to give bed baths on each other. We were fully clothed though, we wore something like a tank top and shorts, some girls chose to wear bathings suits and some wore shorts and a sports bra, it was our choice what to wear. We all were really nervous at first but we ended up having a lot of laughs and it was fun.

I do NOT think it is reasonable to have to strip down to your undies and take off your bra are you kidding me?! I don't blame you for being upset. But if you have no choice I would skip class that day!

ak127 · Jul 5, 2006

we are expected to administer and recieve pelvic exams by our classmates. I just don't know if I can go through with it.

UGH. A bed bath is one thing, a PELVIC EXAM?! Are you kidding me? Aint no body pokin around in the private bits. I don't mind being naked or practicing venipuncture or assessment, even bed baths ok, but NOT a pelvic exam.

Yossy · Jul 5, 2006

Thank you for many comments. This is the first time that I send mails to any foreign net-community. I feel very happy to find out that many nursing students all over the world are facing the similar problems. And very much encouraged to do what I think is right.

I think I will have to have a word with the teacher (no she's to narrow minded, extremely "do what I tell you" type), head of the nursing school, or quickly to the principal tomorrow.

ohhh,,,, I also heard the same thing about the pelvic exam in other Japanese Nursing Schools. I think I need talk about it with the principal too.

moongirl · Jul 5, 2006

Is this common in your schools??? Is it?? Don't we have the basic human rights??
I have discussed this with some of the nursing students in other Japanese nursing schools. Some schools do not let students take off their clothes, but most schools are doing the same thing. Can you believe it? I never expected this. I was expecting to use a dole to practice.
What do you think??

NO WAY. No freakin way. We had a manequin that we were taught on, and practiced on! we have male students as well as female- and to make each other undress.. again, I say NO WAY:nono:

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2006

Hi, Yossy!

We had to do this in my nursing program 32 years ago. We were covered with bath blankets and behind curtains that went around the hospital beds in our nursing lab. No one was happy about doing this. I can't remember if there was anyone who was absolutely objecting to it and how the instructors might have handled it. I remember that we were able to chose our partners. If you can chose your partners, chose someone you know and feel comfortable with.

Welcome to allnurses! :welcome:

valifay · Jul 5, 2006

When we did bed baths and such in the CNA program we had to wear shorts or pants that could be pulled up above the knee. Peri care and such was taught on actual patients at our clinicals. We used bath blankets and stuff during our skills test, but still were clothed. It was like a dry run and once you got to clinicals you did the real thing under supervision. We also touched on peri care and such in the class room, but we didn't actually practice the skills until clinicals. Thats absurd they would ask you to bare all for practice! Isn't that what clinicals are for...to learn the skills on an actual patient?

Maverick80 · Jul 5, 2006

First time i did a bed bath was on a real patient!!

We had a video that was a step by step guide. I watched that about 5 or 6 times and i was fine for clinical!! i had no problems!! I would not be taking my clothes off. We had to show a little skin for our head to toe assessments but other then that there was no toplessness going on!!

Yossy · Jul 5, 2006

Thank you again for the comments.

The Nursing and whole Medical situation in Japan is just about 30 years behind the US. I learned it last week, but here I had the chance to reassure of it. I didn't know I was living in an underdeveloped country.