Who is right and who is wrong?

[LCinTraining]

In clinicallab they were teaching us patient transfers. I work as a CNA at a rehab hospital. We are constantly told "shoulder preservation" and it is so engrained in the process there that if you are caught jeopardizing the shoulders we can be fired. I get to lab to find them telling us we must lift from under the arms. I didn't want to cause waves so I did it their way, but immediately felt the balance shift to an unstable position as my "patient" pretended to lose balance. I don't want to go on record for arguing with the teacher so I kept quiet, but this seems extremely dangerous both to me and to my patient's shoulders.Not sure what to do as I feel what they are telling us is unsafe, but I don't want to be the target student either.

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

Speak up and be prepared to defend your position. One of the things you should be learning in nursing school is how and when to advocate for your patient because you will be held responsible if something happens to them while they are in your care. If you feel something you are doing could potentially endanger your patient, you need to have the guts to say something about it.

[coco.nut]

There is nursing school/NCLEX and there is real life, as instructors say. In NS you learn one way to do something, maybe not even the current standards. However, that is the only correct way when tested.

You could always say "we do this such and such way at work, I feel unsteady when doing it (NS) way. What is the rationale behind using this technique?"

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

You don't even necessarily have to bring your work history or experience into it. You could just mention the fact that when you were performing the skill in lab, your "patient" felt very unstable and you were concerned for your safety and your patient's safety. Then ask if there is a modification or another method that can be used.

[LCinTraining]

You don't even necessarily have to bring your work history or experience into it. You could just mention the fact that when you were performing the skill in lab, your "patient" felt very unstable and you were concerned for your safety and your patient's safety. Then ask if there is a modification or another method that can be used.

I think I like this idea. I'll have to remember that for next time.

And NCLEX, is that really testing on the practicals? Or is that knowledge/thinking base? Are there demonstrations to do with it?