In my clinicals I sometimes get patients who are too heavy for me to do morning care all by myself. I can do just about everything except for the fact that I need someone on the other side of bed to help me turn the patient. I've had patients who unable to move at all and it's impossible for me to turn them and keep them turned while I finish my care.
My nursing classmates are more than happy to help each other, as am I in situations like this. However, our instructor doesn't like it. I was told that we should be more independent.
Yeah, your instructor is stupid. My CI is absolutely fine with students getting help from each other. There's only so much that you can do alone, especially with heavy patients.
the instructor is trying to prepare you for the many work places that will be unstaffed and/or have co-worker that aren't very helpful, that's just the reality of the health care biz.
is it ok to ask for help, sure. if you get help, don't get use to it.
the instructor is trying to prepare you for the many work places that will be unstaffed and/or have co-worker that aren't very helpful, that's just the reality of the health care biz.
is it ok to ask for help, sure. if you get help, don't get use to it.
Complete bollocks. If you do get to a place that's understaffed and/or has coworkers who won't help you...RUN...FAST...IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION! That place is definitely not somewhere you want to start out as a nurse, sure you may learn independence, but at what cost to your physical and mental well-being? After all, there's a reason they're understaffed.
In my opinion it's a sign of weakness not to ask for help. On my floor, no one is ever too busy to help with a boost or turning a patient.
Tell your clinical instructor that you are looking after both your pt and yourself by getting help.
Just thinking maybe she wants you to ask your allocated nurse or a CA for help instead of taking your classmates away from their pts.
Total rubbish I know but when I am teaching students I would rather that they came and asked me as their allocated nurse than their classmate as they have their own pts.
But it is your back DON'T risk it! Slide sheets and hoists can only help you so much on your own. Sometimes you need 2 or 4 people to help!
I'm a nursing student too. If my instructor gave me grief for getting help to move a pt that I wasn't comfortable moving alone, I would probably ask her to demonstrate for me the proper technique for moving this patient alone that would provide not only safety for the patient but for myself as well.
If she actually ATTEMPTED to move the pt alone, she'd probably realize very quickly the error of her attitude. It's a very good chance tho, that once she actually gets to the bedside, she'll change her tune without trying to move the pt.
It is NOT bad to ask for help when you know you need help with a patient. It IS bad to hurt yourself or the patient. Hospitals frown on that sort of thing. So do JCAHO and OSHA for that matter.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Sounds like your instructor is very "old school". In the real world we help each other with these patients. Don't hurt you back because your instructor is ignorant.
Sigh. . . yet another myth from the mythical Land of Old School.
the instructor is trying to prepare you for the many work places that will be unstaffed and/or have co-worker that aren't very helpful, that's just the reality of the health care biz.
is it ok to ask for help, sure. if you get help, don't get use to it.
I don't think that rationale is behind it at all. And if it was, she should have her butt immediately canned. The instructor's job is not to teach someone how to most effectively perform a dangerous task, but to educate to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place. You seem to be saying that safe care is sort of like extra gravy that you are lucky to have. Having enough help to safely turn or transfer a patient is every bit as important for the patient as it is for the nurse.
The UK and a couple of other countries I can't recall at the moment have "Lift LAWS". Wish we had those here. It's really disheartening to see so many people commenting that ruining your health is just part of the whole nursing thing, and tacitly accept it.
Has anyone mentioned, OP, that your instructor is a pinhead?
Asking for, and giving help is always encouraged in good workplaces. Even back in the old school days (we're cranky, but we'll help if you bring cookies). Don't listen to that fool.
In my clinicals I sometimes get patients who are too heavy for me to do morning care all by myself. I can do just about everything except for the fact that I need someone on the other side of bed to help me turn the patient. I've had patients who unable to move at all and it's impossible for me to turn them and keep them turned while I finish my care.
My nursing classmates are more than happy to help each other, as am I in situations like this. However, our instructor doesn't like it. I was told that we should be more independent.
Opinions?
You NEED to ask for help...your back won't thank you otherwise. Your instructor has a misplaced sense of what "independence" means. Please whack her on the head for me..here's a newspaper(Dorothy).
PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN
2,211 Posts
It is wrong only if you are the sacrificial type and don't really like your own back or body.
Otherwise, you are sacrificing not only your health, but your potential future.
Don't be a martyr.
Ask for help.
P.S. Please tell your instructor we think she is a pinhead.