Is it true that????

GottaBeanRN · Dec 7, 2003

It's very possible. I don't think that it would be a "law" but in my program we were supposed to. However, we weren't able to b/c of time constraints. So we gave eachother injections instead!!! Don't worry, once you are in the program you will have a whole new insight. Not that you will like having blood drawn but you will have respect for anothr classmate being able to learn with you. Believe me, I was not excited about having someone inject me but I was able to practice to.

It's not that bad!:roll

SirJohnny · Dec 7, 2003

GottaBeanRN:

- I have not started nursing school (clinicals) yet - so forgive if this is an "obvious" question/answer.

- You say you gave each other (students) shots.

- What did you inject each other with? I mean the liquid that was inside the syringe -- what was it?

- Just curious.

Thanks,

John Coxey

GottaBeanRN · Dec 7, 2003

Oh no,

That wasn't an obvious question. Believe me, I thought it was out of the ordinary too! We injected eachother with saline. (It doesn't do anything to your body) I think a lot of schools do this.

Ortho_RN · Dec 7, 2003

We also gave each other injections of saline...

But we also started IVs on each other...

ladytraviler · Dec 7, 2003

We drew blood, started IV's, gave injections, and any other practical skill that was needed on each other. If you did not agree to be the victim, then you could not torment anyone. I think that this was a fair approach. You have more understanding with your classmates who are learning right along with you.

I did not start any IV's but was the victim quite a lot. I did IV's for ten years in the back of an ambulance as a paramedic so my instructors did not require it of me. I had no problems talking my classmates through it. It was a teaching that I had done for many years and understood how nervous they were. I actually had one sqack when I told her to close her eyes for just a second before sticking. She still does this now.

Think about what you miss when you don't learn in class. It gives you a confidence that can't be faked when in the clinical situation. You know you have done it and knows what it feels like to have it done. You can offer support to your patient and know that you can empithise (?) with them.

Vsummer1 · Dec 7, 2003

The rational given us for doing injections (saline) into each other, and starting IV's on each other prior to doing this on patients was:

then you can honestly tell the patient it is not your first time.

They didn't really expect us to be perfect, just practice. One stick per person isn't gonna teach you all you need to know, but having done that first stick on a willing person in a controlled environment is much less stressfull than doing it on the fly to a patient.

luv2yoga · Dec 7, 2003

I think this is great, I just hope I don't faint the first time. I have read another post that said there is a fake arm in the lab that you can practice on. I plan to poke that thing to death to desensitize myself. I faint when they take my blood-- wish I didn't, it's quite embarressing, just seems like I can't control it. I even was hypnotized to try to get over this (didn't help). I am not squeamish about anything else, including injections or gross bodily fluids. Sure hope I'm not the only one with this problem. But I've decided that if I faint, I'll just rouse myself and do it again until I get through it without fainting. Sounds like a form of torture though, doesn't it? ha.

Meredith

ladytraviler · Dec 7, 2003

It does sound like torture but I admire your sticktoitness. True you don't get perfect at it with one stick but we could stick as many times as we could find willing victims. I got stuck about 12 times in one day. I think that if you can do it, that is the place you will do it. good luck to your future.

allnurses Guide · Dec 7, 2003

I'm wondering when you all went to nursing school because I graduated 5 years ago and we were NOT allowed to give injections or start IV's on each other. Not with all the blood borne diseases. And I'm in California.

I think it was against the law or maybe just the nursing school policy. I'll have to ask.

steph

Ortho_RN · Dec 7, 2003

Originally posted by stevielynn
I'm wondering when you all went to nursing school because I graduated 5 years ago and we were NOT allowed to give injections or start IV's on each other. Not with all the blood borne diseases. And I'm in California.

I think it was against the law or maybe just the nursing school policy. I'll have to ask.

steph

Well.. I graduate in 6 days... So it is still done. I guess it all depends on the State and the school.

icesk8ie · Dec 7, 2003

I AM in California, and we are NOT allowed to stick each other with anything, I believe according to state law, according to my instructors. You are allowed to draw blood if you are in a phlebotomy course, and you are allowed to start IVs if you are taking an IV course. Only if it is the focus in the class. We have injecta-pads for injections and arms for blood draws and IVs. Besides, I really don't trust a few of my classmates, and it would be my luck to get the person who I don't trust to stick me with a needle. No thanks.