Last week, my clinical instructor and a fellow student got into, well, let's call it a discussion, regarding bathing our assigned patients. In this case, this student's patients was A&0x3 and completely independent. He refused, even after encouragement and rationale for hygiene was given, to bathe or have his linens changed. When the clinical instructor heard this from the student, she said she didn't care and it was a requirement of each day that we bathe our patients and change their linens. She stated that we should not ask, we should demand and state that we WILL be assisting/giving our pt their bath and changing their linens. IF the patient refuses, tell them it is our job and we have to do it and that it WILL be done. I understand the importance of hygiene and comfort and what a lack of can do to a patient's immune system and overall well being, as do my fellow students and we are NOT above assisting our pts. If the patient asks for a bath or says yes to one, we will give it in a heart beat. My question is: Is it a violation of their rights if we "force" them to bathe? Can we be found guilty of any sort of abuse as students if we are following the instruction of our clinical instructor? We are second semester (out of 5) RN students if this makes a difference and we are currently doing our clinicals on an Oncology ward in a hospital. Thanks for your opinions. :-)
