Unfair Fundamentals Clinical Testing?

Nursing Students Student Assist

Published

I want to ask you a question so I can finally put closer into this school issue. I retook the clinical exam that I was talking to you about and a failed for the second time so I had to withdraw from the course. Although somehow I think that the instructions by the professor was not clear and that's why I failed. The four skills I had to perform were (1) wound dressing (2) tap water enema (3) Intramuscular injection (4) hanging a primary and secondary IV bag. When I got inside the lab, all the instructor said was "these are the three things, all you're supplies are there (she gestured to a table which was against the nurse's station), you have 30 minutes, and you can not ask questions when the exam begins" On the table, there was some supplies, however, not everything was there, and a thin binder that was closed. During previous clinical exams that I took, I was always handed the MAR so I didn't think to look inside the binder. I also did not know what the enema was so I figured that I'll do the first thing I know which was the wound cleaning. I grabbed the dressing care tray and went to the mannequin. Immediately after opening the tray I realized that I did not have the saline, but when I looked at the table, it wasn't there. In the tray there was hydrogen peroxide swabs so I used that thinking that since the saline was not on the table, the swabs must be the alternative thing to use to clean the wound. After, I went back to the table and since I didn't see the primary bag, and I had no idea what the enema looked like, I assumed the enema bag is what I should use because it the only thing that looked similar to the primary bag. I obviously couldn't do it because there are no ports, so I just hung the secondary bag. However, I kept saying that there no primary bag and the instructor did not say anything. After, I proceeded to give the IM injection and there was three vials that were there so I chose the Heparin since the other two vials seemed very small. Later I she told told me that Heparin is given SC, so it may have been the other two, but I'm not sure. Also, I didn't know how much to give since I was not given the MAR so I just gave 3cc. Last, I told her that I don't know what the enema was. Then, I saw the primary bag which was on the side of the nurse's station and the saline which was behind the counter. In my opinion, the instructions were so unclear from the start because all the supplies were not on the table and she implied that "everything I need is there." The sterile gloves were even in the closet which I asked for at the beginning and the mannequin did not even have a wound, she had to put a bandage on it in the middle of the exam. At the start she also kept referring to her sheet which had the three skills, instead of handing me the binder so I didn't think to look inside the binder. Sara thinks that I am 80% wrong because I didn't know my stuff enough to ask for the MAR, prepare my supplies to notice that what was on the table was incomplete, and realize that the enema bag can not be used as a substitute for the primary bag. Do you think it's right for her to fail me, or do you agree with me that the instructions were so miss leading and confusing, almost like a setup so I can fail again? Should the instructor also be responsible? Sorry if that this message is so long, but I wanted you to have write all the facts.

"Student Doctor Network". A very negative place in general, and negative toward nursing in particular.

Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.
"Student Doctor Network". A very negative place in general, and negative toward nursing in particular.

Yeah, they like to rag on nurses a lot, and often will shadow this forum to report back to their peers about how "dumb" nurses are. I stopped looking at stuff there after it was harshing my mellow too much. Given that, just a couple weeks ago, I had to correct a medical student when he told a patient that too much sugar will give them diabetes and he was Offended because he's a MEDICAL STUDENT and he KNOWS... I have met some wonderful, bright medical students, but not all of them are the cream of the crop and I find it's more of these special little birds that hang out on SDN.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
I have met some wonderful, bright medical students, but not all of them are the cream of the crop and I find it's more of these special little birds that hang out on SDN.

:laugh:

If they have enough time to come on here and act like fools (which it sounds like they do plenty of that on their own site....), then they are obviously selling themselves short by not doing something more grand than going to med school.

:laugh:

If they have enough time to come on here and act like fools (which it sounds like they do plenty of that on their own site....), then they are obviously selling themselves short by not doing something more grand than going to med school.

Recently I read several posts by a nurse practitioner who was ragged on at that site and then banned. I determined the first time I visited the site that I would not care to become a member to participate in their forums. There is a frequent air of immaturity around there.

Even as a lowly fellow nursing student I can recognize your errors in this exam. You got an F, my friend...accept it and move on as appropriate.

Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Threads merged, duplicate deleted.

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