Practice on each other?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2014

Just curious about something. I've seen pictures of nursing students practicing injections (and other things) on each other. Does your school do that? I think it's a bit odd...like it would be too much of a liability.

How is it a liability? Everyone in the program is an adult and agrees to participate.

We practiced injections on each other but not IVs. We gave each other IM Normal Saline. When we all needed TDAP boosters because of a pertussis outbreak at our pediatric clinical site, we gave them to each other too.

Also, I went to school long AFTER the AIDS epidemic began, 2002-2007 and we still gave each other injections. I'm not sure why AIDS would put an end to student nurses practicing on each other. You assume all blood is infected when practicing universal precautions so would take the same precautions with your fellow student who is HIV negative as you would with a patient who is HIV positive.

RainMom · Nov 22, 2014

We weren't allowed to practice IVs or injections on each other either d/t stated liability. However, found out when my sister attended the MA program at the same CC, they were allowed to practice blood draws & injections on each other. I'm guessing her instructor just disregarded the "liability".

studentnursemon86 · Nov 22, 2014

I remember when I took a phlebotomy class we practiced on each other. 8 years later in an ADN program, we are practicing injections on oranges and IV starts on fake arms.

Everline · Nov 22, 2014

We were not allowed to practice on each other with the exception of vital signs. People did it. But not on school property.

grandpaj · Nov 22, 2014

My nursing class practiced iv starts on one another as well as our skills lab instructor. I've heard that the program has since done away with practicing on students however, as have all the other local nursing programs.

achtey · Nov 23, 2014

I don't know about nursing classes yet but as for my AEMT class, we practiced most things on each other. IV starts, IM, Sub Q, inter nasal....most things. It definitely helps because like stated before, I don't think it's fair that our first attempt on a real person is someone who is sick/hurt/scared...start it on people that know it's coming and are willing to accept it. A real arm is night/day different then the fake dummy arms.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Nov 23, 2014

We had to have a successful IV start on a classmate. We gave IM injections to each other. We did SubQ and ID as well. We did exams ( minus genital and breasts ). It was only a few years ago too. Nothing to shake up your nerves like dropping an 18 in your instructor!

ComeTogether, LPN · Nov 23, 2014

I did this in school for Medical Assisting about 10 years ago. We gave each other saline injections and PPDs, drew blood on each other, as well as EKG's and finger sticks.