Is it true?!?! Say it aint so...

mtnmom · Feb 23, 2006

in my BSN health assessment course we and our partner did breast exams on each other as a part of the regular physical exam. Anyone who felt really uncomfortable with it was allowed to opt out (as of course did the lone male student in my group), but I really dont think anyone else did. We were allowed to wear sports bras if we wanted.

It really wasnt that bad ... in the spirit of learning. None of my classmates and I suffered any major trauma.

Now that I am in an FNP prog I will probably have to learn to do a pelvic exam somehow, but not sure how.

I can say that having had two kids I have absolutely no modesty anymore when it comes to stuff like that. I can see where younger girls would really squirm though. Just focus on being a professional and on the learning aspect of it.

After all, we do need to know this stuff!

lovingpecola · Feb 24, 2006

mtnmom, that's funny you should mention having kids...someone else told me the same thing! said after kids nothing's personal anymore! lol well, i still can't imagine but i will suck it up if i have to i guess....i liked the idea of the paid obgyn assistants!

:rolleyes: lp

krob0729 · Feb 24, 2006

nursing students practice their paps/breast exams/ect on eachother??!!
i was just reading the blog of a student midwife and she was talking about this...omgosh i had no idea...for all of you current students out there (especially midwives and women's health - who do the more intimate type things like checking cervix), shed some light on this...
omgosh. i can't even imagine...
lp

all i can say is ewwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!! :eek: lol

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 24, 2006

nursing students practice their paps/breast exams/ect on eachother??!!
i was just reading the blog of a student midwife and she was talking about this...omgosh i had no idea...for all of you current students out there (especially midwives and women's health - who do the more intimate type things like checking cervix), shed some light on this...
omgosh. i can't even imagine...
lp

i've been through lpn school and rn program and never did anything like this. we started iv's on each other. i can't even imagine doing this in a midwifery school. just something wrong about it. i would have to say "sorry i object". there's a time and a place and for me it's the ob's office!

Meerkat · Feb 24, 2006

We just gave each other IM injections. We left huge purple sunsets on each other's butt cheeks.

However, in microbiology class, we DID have an instructor who had us swab our butts and grow the bacteria in a petri. Not fun.

Spacklehead, MSN, NP · Feb 24, 2006

In my program (midwifery), we had women who were trained, paid GYN teaching assistants who came in to our advanced assessment class and allowed us to examine them. The advantage to this is that they knew what we were supposed to be doing and could give us feedback as we did the exams on them. It was a great learning experience. We didn't do any personal exams (breast, pelvic, etc) exams on each other. Although as I was pregnant when I took the course, I did let the other students practice Leopold's on me.
Becki

This is what our school does for our NP programs.

Gennaver, MSN · Feb 24, 2006

We had to do breast exams but not pelvic exams. The teacher stood by and watched- it was disgusting. We wrote to the dean to complain about that and several other things- the teacher was removed from teaching that class.

Hi,

Everyone has varying levels of comfort. For my group our breast exams were not problem at all. The prof did give us the option of having the male student use the prostethic type ones but, my group and I agreed that it would be foolish and invited the two men in our clinicals to come and do our breast exams.

The reality is, one of the guys was loosing his best female friend to breast cancer and it would be absurd to close the curtain and shut him out, also, if they are going to educate their patient's on breast exams, they may want to give a clinical description.

However, we are not NP students, only direct entry MSN.

Gen

p.s. Two school that I know of use models/actors as patients for pelvic exams and from what I gather, they are so well instructed in it that they could give US a lesson or two. :)

elizabells, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2006

In pre-licensure, we don't do any naughty touching. Most of us let our partners do breast exams, but we didn't have to. For BOTH FNP and CNM, the students practice pelvics on each other. Including the boys. Unless you're pregnant.

bruinlaura · Feb 25, 2006

Med schools hire models like some of the schools mentioned on this thread. They are actually trained to help the examiner (I don't know whether they are doing it right). I just don't understand why all nursing schools don't adopt this method. It seems more effective and more professional.

I also think that there is no way a school can force you to let a classmate give you a pelvic. What about the women who have been sexually assaulted? What about women who have an STI that they don't want shared with their classmates? What about women who are virgins? Health information is protected everywhere else (thank you HIPPA). Does a school have the right force you to share it with your peers? I personally think this practice is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

(Sorry about the soapbox but I was mortified when I heard my school did this)

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2006

I also think that there is no way a school can force you to let a classmate give you a pelvic. What about the women who have been sexually assaulted? What about women who have an STI that they don't want shared with their classmates? What about women who are virgins? Health information is protected everywhere else (thank you HIPPA). Does a school have the right force you to share it with your peers? I personally think this practice is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
(Sorry about the soapbox but I was mortified when I heard my school did this)

I agree! If I was in a program that forced me to recieve a pelvic from a classmate, I'd hire a lawyer. It's differnet if you're willing...but if not...it's very innappropriate! And I understand about having to know what it's like to be on the other end of that speculum...but I think a note from one's OB/GYN stating that you've had NUMEROUS Pap smears over the years should suffice.

Trauma Columnist · Feb 25, 2006

I think this practicing "anything" on a fellow student is ridiculous. Sorry...but I've been through LPN, RN, MSN and now an advanced practice nurse and this is too gross to be believed. Yes, I've had children, but I medically needed those exams. There is no way in the world I would ever agree or perform ANY exam on a fellow student. That's what SIM Man is for!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Feb 25, 2006

I think this practicing "anything" on a fellow student is ridiculous. Sorry...but I've been through LPN, RN, MSN and now an advanced practice nurse and this is too gross to be believed. Yes, I've had children, but I medically needed those exams. There is no way in the world I would ever agree or perform ANY exam on a fellow student. That's what SIM Man is for!

I totally agree!! I'm glad I've never had to be in a situation with students practicing on one another and I would never attend a school that required it (kind of defeats the purpose of informed consent when you are FORCED).