YOU as a Pt-what would you allow a student nurse to do?

BelgianRN · Apr 21, 2012

In nursing school we did all procedures on each other except for placement of foleys. But we did have these fake genitals that we had to wear in our underwear to place foleys and I think it's good experience to have.

But real patients are still different. And even in seasoned RNs there are some that have great technical skills and some that I would feel very uncomfortable if they were to place a foley. I keep thinking "it's a member it's made to endure some pulling and tugging without breaking..."

In Belgium it's not even common to tell people if you are a student nurse or not. If a student nurse is allowed to do a procedure unsupervised as supervising RN I'll know for sure they know it back and forth.

I recently did an internship at the ER of my own hospital as part of a special course in ER nursing. I've been working in the ICU of this hospital for 7 years and floated to the ER many times already. So it was fun being the "student nurse" there. I kept joking about it with the ER RN's. But this one woman overheard us talking and when I come in to do the IV she goes "uhm are you a student here?". So I tell her I am but I've worked for years already starting IVs so not a newbie. She tells me she is more comfortable with a "real" nurse starting her IV and not some "student". And as she is saying this she is really spitting the words. So I tell her it's no problem I'll get someone to start the IV that is a "real" nurse. Turns out the only one available to do her IV is this new nurse that is horrible at IV's. The poor woman was crying out when I was passing her room thinking "karma is a *****".

So this "real" nurse leaves the room with a red head stating the woman almost smacked her and she didn't get the IV. So I go back in the room tell the patient it is either me starting the IV or wait for a long while for the meds she needs until we can free up another nurse that are working a code. And I explain to her I'm not trying to convince her to let me do it because quite frankly it's not my sepsis we are trying to treat. But I'm there for her best interest. She allows mee to do the IV. Got the IV on the first stick and she was a lot nicer when her foley needed to be placed.

That's why I hate working in titles and I don't have a problem having any student do my assessment or procedures. But I've found out over the years if I show up at my hospital with a medical issue I get preferential treatment even though I tell them it's not needed. I don't need to see the professor of emergency medicine for my stubbed toe and I don't need the fellow of dermatology for my freaky skin rash that the med student normally checks out first. But we do the same if they ever end up in the ICU.

wish_me_luck, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2012

dumb question...OP, what's the difference in venipuncture done by a student and an IV not done by student? Both you are getting poked in the vein...not being a smart tail side, just wanted to know.

RNMom2010 · Apr 21, 2012

I would allow just about anything as long as they were being thoroughly supervised for any invasive procedures. I have no fear of needles so I am a great practice pin cushion. I did not want nursing students at all when I was having my son. Leave my labor and new baby to the seasoned nurses thanks!

wish_me_luck, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2012

Okay, for my answer, I would let them do pretty much anything on me (I am just recently out of school myself). You have to do stuff to learn. Now, that being said I have had people who were in the field awhile and still could not get stuff (like venipuncture and I have WONDERFUL veins. They blame me and say my vein rolls...their bad, they forgot to anchor it).

I have had procedures done before and let medical students observe and gotten hair trims by hairdresser students (a little off topic) but my point is this, they are students and the only way they will get better and learn stuff is to practice.

Lynx25, LPN · Apr 21, 2012

Haha, it really depends on my first assessment of the SN... if you are standing around like a lost little lamb, then you aren't coming near me.

I went to the hospital once when I developed massive bruises and edema all over my lower extremities. ER docs were stumped- then the Dermatologist stopped by, was delighted to point out that I was allergic to birthcontrol pills and had had an odd reaction, and wanted to know if he could bring a student in to see.

Sure! Why not, it's a teaching hospital, right?

In less than 2 minutes I had a room crammed of what appeared to be an entire herd of interns poking and squinting at my shins. Seriously, there were like 40 of them.

Awkward, to say the least. At least let me put pants on, jeeze.

Merlyn · Apr 21, 2012

I was a patient in a VA hospital in Feb for a cardiac bypass. I alluded the students to do anything they wanted

I let them fix my chest tube, change my bandages 5 or7 times, my heart was assessed 5 times that day. The only thing I told them was the address of this web site. The instructor was happy, the student were happy and I was happy. I've hadn't had that many pretty girls fuss over me since before I was married.

wooh, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2012

gotten hair trims by hairdresser students

I'd totally let a nursing student practice on me before I'd let a hairdressing student come near my hair with shears. :)

Bradydown · Apr 21, 2012

I havent been a nurse very long, but I have let students start IVs and give meds to me. I have felt comfortable for the most part. I love to teach students, so if they seem nervous I always try to ease some of their nerves by explaining that I have been there, and if they need any help along the way I would be happy to help. I have good lookin veins, many many a nurse have told me they could stick me from ten feet away, but in actuality even though they look nice and plump, they collapse more often then not. All the student nurses have gotten the stick in 1-2 tries. Its the ones that are most confident that usually take more attempts. Actually, I think their confidence at sticking me scares my veins into hiding.

wish_me_luck, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2012

wooh, haha. I needed bangs trimmed bad and places were charging like 16 dollars for them and hair schools charged like 2 dollars. It was to save money and to let them practice. It was a good trim, just needed to snip like one area a little when I came home. But, overall it wasn't bad. Nothing grossly sticking out.

You won't learn anything unless you do it.

Oh, and I have had a dental hygienist student clean my teeth before. BEST cleaning I have ever received. That was because they are graded on it.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2012

I would allow them to give IM and SC meds, but if it's their first time, then I want their instructor there. Same goes for IV starts, NG tubes, and other invasive procedures. The only exception is foley insertion. I won't let students do it unless I am unconscious.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Apr 21, 2012

I was gonna say I would allow everything but using needles, then I remembered that I allowed a phleb student to draw my blood once. So, I'm a no limits kind of gal when it comes to students. They would probably be more nervous than an RN, but they would also be textbook at the skill. Not such a bad tradeoff...

MomRN0913 · Apr 21, 2012

Anything really. It is under the guidance of their instructor. I never had a student nurse, but I had a new grad when I had my baby. They thought I was sleeping, and her preceptor was telling her outside the door what to do.....

She came in and did a full head to toe assesment. It was the second day post C-section, I think my fundus was assesed once after delivering. The nurses barely touched me. But she did a full head to toe. And I let her, she was learning.