Nursing school and cadavers?

[Etak, BSN, RN]

I got my first exposure to a dissected cadaver today in anatomy. Once I was over the initial shock of how gross it was, I was ok. I had to keep reminding myself that this donor signed up for this because the worst part of it was feeling like it was disrespectful to be messing with a human body.

Luckily, today was look and see only and we students didn't personally have to touch anything. It got me thinking though, how much will we be working with cadavers (hands on) if at all, in actual nursing school? In my mind, it seems like something you'd do more in med school than nursing school. I'm mostly just curious about what is to come. How much exposure to cadavers did you all have with prereqs and nursing school?

[amoLucia]

I'm impressed! You had a truly unique opportunity, yes, OPPORTUNITY, for a clinical experience that many nsg or other healthcare students rarely have.

I viewed a partial autopsy once as part of an A&P clinical lab day. I think I gained more perspective about general human anatomy in that class than I had ever had.

And any other cadaver exposure was limited to the 'cat'. We all remember the cat specimen we had to work on in A&P class.

But as to your concern re your possible contact with expired pts, please know, that it will prob mostly be minimal. Just know that students and nurses DO NOT go around cutting up bodies.

Rest assured, your future exposure to expired pts will be limited to some care activities that do NOT include big knife skills

[Etak, BSN, RN]

I'm impressed! You had a truly unique opportunity, yes, OPPORTUNITY, for a clinical experience that many nsg or other healthcare students rarely have.

I viewed a partial autopsy once as part of an A&P clinical lab day. I think I gained more perspective about general human anatomy in that class than I had ever had.

And any other cadaver exposure was limited to the 'cat'. We all remember the cat specimen we had to work on in A&P class.

But as to your concern re your possible contact with expired pts, please know, that it will prob mostly be minimal. Just know that students and nurses DO NOT go around cutting up bodies.

Rest assured, your future exposure to expired pts will be limited to some care activities that do NOT include big knife skills

It was really fascinating! We are working on our muscle unit so that was the main focus but when the professor opened the thoracic cavity it was really amazing to see everything irl.

Generally, I think I'm fairly comfortable with death and have no problem being around the recently deceased. Glad to know there won't be knife skills needed, though!

[amoLucia]

When I saw that autopsy, it made a major immpresion on me.

The huge liver size!!! It is the largest internal organ mass. Makes me think twice about anything liver for consumption, like chicken livers, or beef liver, etc.

But the lung exam --- it revealed some oogy, gooey black chewing gum sticky substance in that woman's lungs. Her HX was she was a cig smoker. So I'm guessing it was some tar or nicotine substance.

To be HONEST, I quit smoking shortly right after!!! I can still visualize the pathologist smearing that sticky stuff in his fingers.

[(David)]

In my prerequisite Human Anatomy course we were fortunate enough to partner with UCSF and have a fresh cadaver. We (students) were happy to remove the epithelial layers and find the fascia and the consistency of it. We finalized by removing enough to view, touch and observe most every muscle in the body (save for the head and genitalia). Our muscle lab exam consisted of 67 pins placed throughout the cadaver (including all in the forearm/hand and upper leg). We located and followed several nerves and tendons to understand the connections, etc. What a privilege we had. You mentioned something you might expect for med school. While that might be true, I hope you realize how special it is to have the opportunity to learn from the real thing. You also mentioned feeling disrespectful. I would instead urge you to realize all of your demeanor with the cadaver determines that. This was a real person, and they donated their body to science. The disrespect would be not utilizing the donated body to learn to the class' full potential. Don't underestimate the profound privilege your class has been given - not all classes get a cadaver. Eventually you will be working on real people, not 3D models of muscles/bones/hearts/organs. You got this!

[Alex_RN, BSN]

My only cadaver in school was in anatomy and not actually part of the RN program. I am not a religious person but on the last day, we had a few moments of quiet meditation (most people prayed) to thank the donor. That was nice.

[mtmkjr, BSN]

We did have some exposure to cadavers in nursing school. I remember being shocked at how old the cadavers were. I think I was able to have a more clinical view because of that. They were very dry for one thing. All the muscle groups had been isolated, veins and arteries had been handled by probably hundreds and hundreds of medical students and others.

The last day, there was one cadaver that was fairly "fresh". That was a little more stomach jolting.

And oh, the cats... I'll never forget the shelves and shelves of black and white cats, with a tabby here and there...

[Serhilda, ADN, RN]

Back in nursing school, I assisted a physician with the dissection of a cadaver. It was a wonderful learning experience that not every nursing program will have, and even if they do, it'll probably only be once. Some nursing programs will pull in nursing students from other campuses just so everyone gets to be part of it though.

[Nurse2bBunny86, ASN, RN]

I've never heard of nursing students using cadavers outside of A&P so I think your safe. :-)