Practice during nursing school?

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I read some of the posts regarding practicing foleys, IVs, etc. on family members and such. So my question is, do nursing students get the supplies to practice at home? I am just curious. Thanks!

When I was in my senior year we had a clinical in the ER where we did all IV's and other treatments that came in. However, everyone wanted to get experience beofre having to do it in front of an instructor on a real person, so we all sort of snuck a catheter from the hospital during our other clinical rotations and either practised on each other or our Significant others. I know, I know, it was wrong, not just the fact that we stole but also the fact that we did it w/o discussing it with our professors. I also had an opportunity to practice on a coworker who was an RN during my summer externship.

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I heard from a nurse at the hospital I work at that they practiced doing NG's on each other in class. That's insane...I must say though that out of all the things I've watched nurses do as a CNA...NG's are what scare me the most.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I find all of your replies so fascinating. Thanks for the info. I am really looking forward to this August. I would love to read more stories, if you have them. Thanks again!

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I only practiced IV starts on my hubby who is a paramedic and actually teaches IV skills. So we had equipment from his classes and he taught me. Once in a blue moon one of the other student nurses would come and learn too...but they would have to go through my hubbys lessons before they could actually poke!

That was a huge benifit for me! I also had a family member that had a foley at one time for a while, and had extra supplies. I just didn't want to go there...I got pleanty of practice in clinicals when I made it known that I wanted that practice :).

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

We were given all supplies (it was included with our tuition). I would not however, EVER recommend practicing on friends or family members. Escpecially foleys!! You can cause real trauma if not done correctely. My husband let me practice on him, but I would just "go through the motions" it helped me practice staying within the sterile field etc. NEVER would I have practiced an invasive procedure on anyone! It is different if you are IN school and doing it in clinical. You have your instructor there to help you and guide you and assist to make sure nothing goes wrong. Good Luck!!

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