Medical Students vs. Nursing Students

[psustudent5]

My classmates were having a debate on job duties. The pre-med students were talking about clinical rotations during medical school. Since they aren't in med school yet, I'm not sure if they actually know what they are talking about. They were saying how it was funny that nursing students (LPN or RN) get to do all the grunt work since that's their job and they don't do anything like that. They probably don't have to give baths but what about catheters, enemas, etc. ? They were also saying that nurses come into contact with so many more hazards than doctors. What? Is that true or are they wrong? I thought med students have to still do grunt work and still come into contact with hazards such as chemicals. They aren't interns, residents, MD's, or licensed. They are just med students.

Basically my question is what do med students actually do that's so much "higher" than nurses? I thought that they had to come into contact with everything since they are getting the higher degree and are basically going to be in charge.

[pedspro]

dear nursing student,

doctors ,student or not,do not do any grunt work anymore.

[aura_of_laura]

In my experience, med students do a lot of learning how to interview and assess patients, and learn how to develop a "clinical picture." They have to learn to think like docs, and then present their findings to their instructor.

(As an example... Because I work for a small, specialized hospital, the students often present their assessments at the beginning of treatment team. we had two med students read off an assessment of a known borderline PD patient, and it was clear that they had bought every word, hook, line, and sinker. When they were done, the room was silent for about ten seconds, and then the entire room groaned and/or broke out laughing... The students sheepishly crumpled up their entire written assessment. Talk about public humiliation!)

Nursing students do the same, but not to the same extent. Because nursing is a more holistic profession, we focus a lot on total care (knowing the whole package). And, the pre-med students are right in that they won't be doing much in the way of dirty work!

[iteachob, MSN, RN]

no catheters...no enemas..

Most docs are not all that good at (peripheral) IV's or injections, either.

[psustudent5]

I know they do not do most of the dirty work but don't they have to learn how to do that stuff too??

[elkpark]

I know they do not do most of the dirty work but don't they have to learn how to do that stuff too??

For the most part, no. They are learning the role and duties of physicians. Most of what you are referring to as "grunt work" is nursing care.

[hburatti85]

My brother is a 3rd year med student and he does everything a "real" dr does. He does have some severly distorted views on nurses and feels they don't do what they are asked. He only did "grunt" work his first year and for a short period time. He even expressed to me that if I was so intelligent why am I not going for my md! (I am a nursing student.) They aren't not taught how to do any basic bedside care.

[DirtyBlackSocks]

With all the complaints about doctors hating nurses, and nurses hating doctors on this board - it almost seems like they need to add a sensitivity training class for nursing and med students to help educate them on what the role of each profession is, haha.

[juliaann]

As a CNA, I once had a 3rd year med student offer to help me clean up a patient who had a BM in his bed, and help change the linens and the gown. And it was a contact isolation patient. He was awesome. I did not ask him to, and he definitely didn't have to, but I had just started getting the patient cleaned up when the med student came in to do an assessment, and he offered to help. He wanted to check on the patient's skin breakdown anyway. :) He was an awesome person, though, and will be an awesome doc. I'm fortunate in that my hospital has wonderful attending physicians who teach the students to be respectful and appreciative of all staff members. And for that reason, I have tons of respect for my docs.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

my brother is a 3rd year med student and he does everything a "real" dr does. he does have some severly distorted views on nurses and feels they don't do what they are asked. he only did "grunt" work his first year and for a short period time. he even expressed to me that if i was so intelligent why am i not going for my md! (i am a nursing student.) they aren't not taught how to do any basic bedside care.

while they may not learn how to clean up poop in school, any md who is unwilling to help clean up poop if asked may find that the nurses indeed don't do what they are asked. even the attendings help if needed. it isn't often necessary, but when it is, they help.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I know a Doc or two who are on the other side of 40 who lament the dwindling hours and lack of "scut" work in training these days. They say that that is the only way they can learn to appreciate/understand/respect what the people they will soon work with do. Much less start learning how to build relationships.

[aura_of_laura]

... any md who is unwilling to help clean up poop if asked may find that the nurses indeed don't do what they are asked.

how is this attitude acceptable among nurses? mds have a job to do - and if they stopped to pitch in with every patient, they'd never get it done. we don't do our jobs only when people ingratiate themselves to us.