Nervous About Clinicals...

NursesRock!! · Jul 6, 2008

After you get in there and actually do a few procedures, your nerves will subside. As far as cathing a female patient, all I can say is hope for one who's not AAO x 4. LOL Just kidding, the patient will have to know you are a male and you a student. If she knows that then she probably be pretty receptive. Good luck!!! Oh, my first cath on a female was a 16 y.o. cocaine abuser in preterm labor at 31 weeks pregnant with twins!!! She was less than cooperable, but the procedure was done.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jul 6, 2008

The professional, detached approach usually works best. For you it will be a bit of a challenge the first few times until you can recognize the urethra on the first look. (The anatomy of the mannequin in the skills lab isn't going to look very much like a real person.) Then it'll be much easier. Try not to look too embarrassed, and make sure you make good use of the drapes that come in the cath tray and the patient's bedding. By narrowing down the area of focus to a small clinical one, the patient will feel much less "on display". It might be helpful to practice everything a few (dozen) times in the skills lab so that you can set up, drape, landmark and complete without too many fumbles.

patwil73 · Jul 6, 2008

I just got accepted into the nursing program in my hometown. After more than one year of prework, I finally got in!
I'm really excited, but still kind of nervous. I'm a father of four, so I don't think that the 'messes' I'll have to clean up will bother me too much. I'm just kind of nervous at this point... I've done nothing but sales jobs for the last 7 years.
What can I expect from clinicals in broad terms? Also, I'm a male and I am a little nervous about doing catheters (surprisngly, way more nervous than cleaning up a BM)... what's the right approach if I find myself having to catherize a female patient?

First off congratulations on getting in and welcome to a brave new world. Second, just imagine nursing as a type of sales job - you need to "sell" the patient on the fact you know what you are doing (however, soft sell, soft sell).

Clinicals can vary wildly. However, typically you will have 1-2 patients to care for. You will need to be well versed in their medications (including all side effects and symptoms to look for), their diagnosis and plan of care. Most times at the start you will have your instructor with you when giving meds or performing catheritizations (this can lead to long delays if there are a few students).

You will most likely have to do vitals and assess your patient. Maybe give a bath or feed them. Sometimes take them to special procedures. And always, always know what is going on with them.

As for female catheritizations - first knowing the anatomy is very helpful. I have heard it described as a "winking eye". Second, make sure you have a good grip with your non-sterile hand (fumbling is bound to make you more nervous, so get a good grip and hold until the catheter is in). Finally, if the patient breathes correctly it relaxes them and makes insertion easier. Telling the patient "breathe in, now breathe out" a few times to help them relax has a curious affect of helping you to relax also (you might find yourself breathing along with your directions).

The first person I ever put a catheter in was the 16 y.o. former student (I had been an English teacher). Imagine my surprise after "Hello, my name is Pat and i am going to be your nurse today" I was greeted with "Mr. Williams, what are you doing here? Giggle, giggle".

Hope this helps,

Pat

laxxrickLPN · Jul 6, 2008

Thanks for your support and the congratulations! Glad to see there are so many men in nursing; I'm definitely seeing more and more male nurses in my everyday life.

I love the fact that I'm still interacting with people like in my sales job, but it will be in a more meaningful way. Glad to see there's so much support here!

P.S. When my friends say nursing is a female job, and that I'll have to clean up bowel, give baths, do caths, etc. I just respond, "What's wrong? Not man enough?"

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2008

laxrick- Love that answer! Certainly it takes a fair amount of manliness to be able to do some of what we do. Keep it mind, as a student you will have your instructor in the room with you when you are cathing someone....also, you should ALWAYS have a female in the room with you when you are cathing someone...helps to protect you against sexual charges...

I find that few patients actually request a different nurse because they are uncomfortable with having a male. And I bring a different perspective to their cases(the little old ladies like having 2 men waiting on them!). sometimes, the difficult cranky WWI vet just wants someone to listen to him and you can relate better based on your interests....

Also, I find that when a patient is getting riled you can fix them up just by being there and being a firm guide! Many patients have found themselves behaving better since the "man" visited them and told them to quit harassing the girls! GL and welcome to the wonderful strange world we call nursing....

Braving the sea of estrogen with just one Y chromosome!

paacollins · Jul 26, 2008

P.S. When my friends say nursing is a female job, and that I'll have to clean up bowel, give baths, do caths, etc. I just respond, "What's wrong? Not man enough?"

That kind of mentality irks the flip out of me. Why in the world does anyone think that cleaning up BM, giving baths, caths, etc are female only jobs? That's like saying "only men can work on cars or take out the trash."

When I had my two daughters, the OB/GYN practice I went to had 6 to 8 physicians, all of them men except for one woman. I preferred the majority of the men over the woman because they had better bedside manners.

It all depends on a particular person's personality not their gender.

Congrats on your decision to become a nurse. I just graduated in May and some of my best classmates were the males. They all did great in clinicals, even the OB ones.