I have to be bathed by my classmate???

suzy253, RN · Jun 6, 2004

I never responded to this thread, because at my school we "bathed" each other fully clothed and just kinda going through the motions with a dry washcloth. I did see the value, however, in getting used to handling and moving an adult-sized human being.
I'm probably gonna get flamed for this, but just thinking though ... for rotations which require changing into hospital scrubs - O.R., L&D, etc. ... you'll have the locker room situation. I think the posters who have said "get over it" are referring in general to the physicality of nursing - this is not the place for someone whose perception of personal space doesn't allow physical contact. You're entitled to feel that way of course, but it's going to make clinicals awfully distressing. JMHO.

MLOS...as usual, I agree with you Maybe it's the diploma-educated way of looking at things? :chuckle i.e. don't sweat the small stuff :)

pegRN55 · Jun 6, 2004

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: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

As a nursing instructor for both CNAs and Nursing students it is important that students know what it is like to not have control over some ADLs. It is not a strip show. If your classmates are professional enough, it won't be an issue. Besides, wait until you receive the backrub! You will make it. Just hang in there and do the best you can. PH :balloons:

Bertil · Jun 7, 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.
I was equally embarrassed at the time when i was a student. It was for me a lesson how it would feel to a patient to be washed by a complete stranger.
We were defenitely not forced to wash each other.

RNinProgress · Jun 10, 2004

We were told that we had to be bathed by classmates. As it turned out, there was no intention for us to be naked. They recommended bathing suits or shorts and t-shirts. Not one person wore a bathing suit. Every single one of us wore shorts. It was *so* not a big deal. We were so hyped over it, and it turned out to be a piece of cake. We were very new to each other and all self-conscious, but very respectful of each other.

FsPilotMed1 · Jun 10, 2004

Where I'm going to school (major mid-western university), we bath each other in our first semester clinical. We wear bathing suits. Being a big dude (6'5", 300lbs or so), I've had some students uneasy about being my partner for that particular exercise. I usually crack a few jokes and try to lighten the mood...nothing to be afraid or ashamed of! Though I can certainly understand how that situation could be intimidating to some. Best of luck to all of you in your classes! :)

DW, BSN class of '06!

Farkinott, RN · Jun 10, 2004

Where does it end?

Practise PV exams next?

Testicular examination?

Breast examination?

PR examination?

ECG's with breasts exposed?

Maybe trans lady partsl ultrasounds?

Why not? If we are going to subject our clients to it, surely we need to try it out in public on our student colleagues first!

Surely a professional does not need to endure humiliation amongst their peers to make them realise that the physical and emotional interactions between a client and the nurse are intimate, but professional in nature.

I think we need to stop saying "It's not so bad, it's only the once, for assessment" and instead say " Nick off! I'm not doing it! I have no need to be bathed by another individual either in private or in public, so it's not happening!"

Energizer Bunny · Jun 10, 2004

MoJoeRN,C · Jun 10, 2004

Reading the responses to this thread have been very interesting. I have seen a wide array of responses from "putting your self in the patients shoes" to "not me, and not being exposed to the humiliation" I thought the profession of nursing had to do with giving aid and comfort to the ill. Some responses reflect this. As a nurse, when questions arise about care, I was taught in nursing school to ask the question "Who's needs is this meeting". Are we are trying to meet the needs of the client according to standards of care and the orders of the physician. I see responses that voice not me which reflect more the student needs, actually more of a want than a need in these instances. Nursing is very demanding, sometimes rewarding, and many times the tasks we perform are dirty, smelly, invasive, and intrusive. "It's a mighty thin pancake that has but one side"!! I had to get beyond "me" to professionally care for others. :) :rotfl:

belladelicious · Jun 10, 2004

Ok, this post really isn't a complete joke?

That is absolutely absurd and insane. There is no way in hell I would ever consider doing this.

Why on earth would you as a nurse need to know how a sponge bath feels? Do we not all bathe? That completely crosses the line.

Talk about stupidity. Strip down? Wear a bathing suit? Where the hell are you going to school? That's humiliation, and should never be a prerequisite. Good Lord! You should let your moronic instructors know of their stupidity.

And if you are properly taught how to give a bed bath, on a manaquin, you will be able to do it.

I honestly feel the schools you are attending are complete and utter trash.

FsPilotMed1 · Jun 10, 2004

Bella, at first I was not going to dignify your post with a response, though I would like to point out that if you take a poll, you will likely find that many more schools than you think require students to bath each other. It is not done as a way to humiliate students. It is done so that when you go to the facility and do it 'for real', you are more comfortable with what you are doing since you have practiced it before.

As for the 'complete and utter trash comment', you may want to re-examine that, since you have just bashed some VERY big-name schools...we don't need that kind of talk here.

D

BamaGirlRN · Jun 10, 2004

Ok, this post really isn't a complete joke?
That is absolutely absurd and insane. There is no way in hell I would ever consider doing this.
Why on earth would you as a nurse need to know how a sponge bath feels? Do we not all bathe? That completely crosses the line.
Talk about stupidity. Strip down? Wear a bathing suit? Where the hell are you going to school? That's humiliation, and should never be a prerequisite. Good Lord! You should let your moronic instructors know of their stupidity.
And if you are properly taught how to give a bed bath, on a manaquin, you will be able to do it.
I honestly feel the schools you are attending are complete and utter trash.

Gotta love the ignore feature this board has!!!

When I was in school they *said* we would have to wear bathing suits but we all settled for shorts and a tshirt. We had fun in lab and doing a bath, changing a bed, moving a pt, it all VERY different when it is a real person than some old hard plastic body.

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2004

It is all VERY different when it is a real person than some old hard plastic body.

Thank you - you beat me to it.

I keep hearing different variations of the "humiliation" concept. I'm curious - do you REALLY feel that way? Do you really feel like your patients are being humiliated every time you assist them w/personal care? Really? If so ... curious career choice you've made - being a professional humiliator.

As for the trash comment ... leaving that one alone. It didn't exactly add anything to the discussion.