question about clinicals in nursing schools...

HappyNurse2005, RN · Jan 27, 2005

The only thing we did on fellow students was a head to toe assessment, and vital signs. we practiced accuchecks on ourselves. we have hte mannequins to practice all the other fun stuff on

Still Riding · Jan 27, 2005

the worst we had to do was have our lungs lisend to and abd. exams, and i once had to wear a tang top to get a bed bath (i mean arm washed). Oh and I had to be in abed and let them transfer me using one of the lifts

not too bad, SR

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2005

We practiced bed baths on each other in bathing suits. I think it helped to have a real human to practice on.

That's it. The year before they practiced IVs on each other. But stopped it then.

Good luck. We all made it through and you will too!

BEANURSE · Jan 27, 2005

My CNA instructor told me that if I want to go to nursing school, I need to prepare to be a guinea pig. Meaning, students practice their skills (NG tubes, Foley cath, needle stuff...) on each other. Is she for real? I know we need to learn these things, and that we will eventually do them on real people, but frankly the thought of some student (who is probably a nervous wreck) putting an NG tube (which sounds just awful) in me is enough to make me reconsider going to nursing school. I'm not a squeamish person-I can handle blood, guts, puke, poop, etc... but this is really worrying me. I've had a bad experience, personally, with a catheter and really wonder if I want to subject my body to this stuff just to get a degree. Maybe I should consider going to PT school (or something non-invasive)? Can anyone give me the scoop on this? Thanks. If it makes any difference, I'm considering an accelerated BSN program.

Would not have minded doing the bedbaths in my classes.....We had some really cute guys in our class!!!!! :lol2:

But to answer your question....no, we did not have to do anything to each other! She might just be trying to freak you out and that is not very nice!

tmiller027 · Jan 28, 2005

I'm in RN school now. We were told the NLN prohibits students performing invasive procedures on each other. So now we just use manicans.

unknown99, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2005

20 years ago, when I went through LPN school, this was the case. But, I finished RN school last year, and we did not practice on each other. One of the instructors told us that it is a violation of rights and ethics to do so.

actioncat · Jan 28, 2005

We didn't do any of that stuff on each other, not even drawing blood or IVs. We had dummies for everything. No way in hades I'd ever let someone do an NG or foley on me just for practice. That would make me a *real* dummy. hehe

Ummm.. what about the patients?

ThisNurseLovesJesus · Jan 28, 2005

You won't be practicing any of those things on each other. The first time you do them will be on a dummy and the second time will be on a patient. Your instructor probably told you this because that is what they used to do. My instructor at my ASN program told me that they used to practice bed baths on each other! Gross huh? I can't imagine. Don't let that scare you away! I guarantee no one is going to put an NG tube down your throat!!!

maxcat · Jan 28, 2005

You won't be practicing any of those things on each other. The first time you do them will be on a dummy and the second time will be on a patient. Your instructor probably told you this because that is what they used to do. My instructor at my ASN program told me that they used to practice bed baths on each other! Gross huh? I can't imagine. Don't let that scare you away! I guarantee no one is going to put an NG tube down your throat!!!

yeah-my instructor was probably in nursing school around 20 years ago, so I guess things have changed (thankfully!). I was seriously freaked!

HyperRNRachel · Jan 28, 2005

My CNA instructor told me that if I want to go to nursing school, I need to prepare to be a guinea pig. Meaning, students practice their skills (NG tubes, Foley cath, needle stuff...) on each other. Is she for real? I know we need to learn these things, and that we will eventually do them on real people, but frankly the thought of some student (who is probably a nervous wreck) putting an NG tube (which sounds just awful) in me is enough to make me reconsider going to nursing school. I'm not a squeamish person-I can handle blood, guts, puke, poop, etc... but this is really worrying me. I've had a bad experience, personally, with a catheter and really wonder if I want to subject my body to this stuff just to get a degree. Maybe I should consider going to PT school (or something non-invasive)? Can anyone give me the scoop on this? Thanks. If it makes any difference, I'm considering an accelerated BSN program.

Yes, we bathed each other, catheterized each other, and ran with scissors! And after that we all participate in a drunken game of insert that IV. :chuckle

No, just kidding. Our college's Liability Insurance does not cover any student practicing any skill that requires the insertion or removal of a tube, cannula, or other device into a vein, artery, or orifice.....especially if said student is naked!

We did practice bathing patients but we all wore shorts and t-shirts and we also practiced doing a full patient assessment. I am still slightly traumatized by having to locate my friend's femoral pulse and lift her (rather large) breast to listen to her apical pulse, but hey we are now really good friends.