I have to be bathed by my classmate???

a_clay · Jun 3, 2004

:imbar Ok call me old fashioned but I am kind of concerned. I had my nursing orientation today, and I was informed that as part of one of my practical nursing classes I will have to be sponge bathed by one of my classmates and in turn need to sponge bathe a classmate. Ok fine. No worries. HOWEVER, the next breath was, you will have to strip down to your underwear only and your classmate will drape you and sponge bathe you and vice versa. I understand that as a nurse I will give sponge baths to patients and I have no problem with that. But one of my classmates that I am going to spend hours and hours with for the next 2 years bathing me is a whole other story! True, like the instructor said it lets you know first hand how the patient will feel while you are abthing them, so you will want to treat them with dignity but being an overweight gal I am uncomfortable with this because I will have to look at these classmates for the next 2 years. Did anyone else ever do this as part of their curriculum? I don't mean to freak out but I never heard of this. They can stick me with all the needles they want for practice, but bathe the mannequins...lol

WHEW!!! I just saw that you are from Paducah, KY. I am originally from Murray, KY. I ALMOST went to your school for nursing but then decided to move to Dallas, TX. I sure am glad I did!!! It seems like there should be some kind of rule or something that would make this out of the question. I would definately find out about that. That sounds horrible. Good luck to you though!

bungy · Jun 3, 2004

Yeah, we did it too - bathing suits or shorts/top. I found it enlightening - my partner was an experienced EN (um...LPN?) who I knew quite well and trusted, but even then I felt vulnerable. I think it is important that you understand a little of how the patient feels. But stripping to your undies? No way!!

:imbar :chair:

gomedina · Jun 3, 2004

Well, we did the same in school but it's mostly with the same gender - and being a guy, it's not easy to be bathed by another dude (if you know what i mean) :rotfl:

Anyway, most of the class appreciate it since we're all going to be nurses anyway so no malice done. We're scheduled to do parentheral application (IM, Intradermal and subcutaneous) this Monday with one another. Let me tell you, nothing beats the real thing!

I just figured it's all better than doing pereneal flushing! :imbar

TeenyBabyRN · Jun 3, 2004

i have read these posts in total shock and amazement. we did not sponge bathe each other at all

we did not do it in our shorts

we did not do it in a fort

we did not eat green eggs and ham...

and we absolutely did not give each other im injections ( :eek: :eek: :eek: omg - i can't even believe that one!). i guess we were "pampered" in my program. lucky for me too, i would have found another major fast!

by the way, all the patients i performed procedures on for the first time lived to tell about it

z's playa · Jun 3, 2004

i have read these posts in total shock and amazement. we did not sponge bathe each other at all
we did not do it in our shorts
we did not do it in a fort
we did not eat green eggs and ham...
and we absolutely did not give each other im injections ( omg - i can't even believe that one!). i guess we were "pampered" in my program. lucky for me too, i would have found another major fast!
by the way, all the patients i performed procedures on for the first time lived to tell about it

did you read about the pap smears in the np program? :rotfl:

Farkinott, RN · Jun 3, 2004

The Uni tried that crap when I studied there. As a whole we just said no!

No further correspondence was entered into.

Remember, academics (eg. course proscribers) live in another world sometimes!

Nurse-o-Matic · Jun 3, 2004

There I lay exposed and vulnerable in my shorts and tanktop. . .I can feel the 40 pairs of eyes of my classmates and instructor as they snicker watching, waiting. . . I shudder as I watch my partner, evil grin masking her face, dunk the sponge into a pan and draw up water. I close my eyes tightly, grimacing painfully as the warm cloth is harshly scrubbed against my tender flesh. Again and again she tortures me with this treatment, laughing hysterically everytime she encounters a glimpse of my copious cellulite. My only solice occurs when she directly peers at my bulging fat rolls and is forced to pause momentarily to vomit into the pail she has placed at the side of the bed. . .Later I overhear my instructor and the other students recounting details regarding how horrific it was to view the procedure. A few are even crying softly and being consoled by other students. I hear they are now planning a post traumatic stress meeting. . .

Silicone · Jun 3, 2004

Thanks Nurse-o-Matic,

can't remember the last time I laughed so hard!

Samantha

carcha · Jun 3, 2004

I really feel uncomfortable with this one. Although on the surface it appears harmless I would like to know what research your tutors have come up with to support this practice. Do you really need to have a sponge bath yourself to know what the patient feels like. I have been a nurse for many years and dident need to be a practice dummy to treat the patient with respect and dignity. Lets face it your practice with fellow students is not going to imitate reality, after all I'm sure your all fit healthy young adults unlike patients who are physically or emotionally unfit. I dont like this hands on thing at all. Will you have to pass a catheter on each other to know how that feels too. Do you see where I am coming from. I just feel its a breach of your rights to subject yourselves to this unnecessary intrusion of your body. I would say no.

studentnurse74, LPN, LVN · Jun 3, 2004

In my CNA class, we gave baths in shorts and tank tops. It wasn't a big deal at all. We also fed each other, with the one being fed blindfolded. That was weird.

Truly_Blessed · Jun 3, 2004

There I lay exposed and vulnerable in my shorts and tanktop. . .I can feel the 40 pairs of eyes of my classmates and instructor as they snicker watching, waiting. . . I shudder as I watch my partner, evil grin masking her face, dunk the sponge into a pan and draw up water. I close my eyes tightly, grimacing painfully as the warm cloth is harshly scrubbed against my tender flesh. Again and again she tortures me with this treatment, laughing hysterically everytime she encounters a glimpse of my copious cellulite. My only solice occurs when she directly peers at my bulging fat rolls and is forced to pause momentarily to vomit into the pail she has placed at the side of the bed. . .Later I overhear my instructor and the other students recounting details regarding how horrific it was to view the procedure. A few are even crying softly and being consoled by other students. I hear they are now planning a post traumatic stress meeting. . .

:rotfl: LMAO. You are too funny.:rotfl:

1guy2pups · Jun 3, 2004

Get over it already. You will hop in the neighbors pool buck naked and call it skinny dipping, but won't bare an inch of skin in class?

Be respectful and expect your partner to be as well.