My CNA instructor told me that if I want to go to nursing school, I need to prepare to be a guinea pig. Meaning, students practice their skills (NG tubes, Foley cath, needle stuff...) on each other. Is she for real? I know we need to learn these things, and that we will eventually do them on real people, but frankly the thought of some student (who is probably a nervous wreck) putting an NG tube (which sounds just awful) in me is enough to make me reconsider going to nursing school. I'm not a squeamish person-I can handle blood, guts, puke, poop, etc... but this is really worrying me. I've had a bad experience, personally, with a catheter and really wonder if I want to subject my body to this stuff just to get a degree. Maybe I should consider going to PT school (or something non-invasive)? Can anyone give me the scoop on this? Thanks. If it makes any difference, I'm considering an Accelerated BSN program.
The only thing we did on fellow students was a head to toe assessment, and vital signs. we practiced accuchecks on ourselves. we have hte mannequins to practice all the other fun stuff on
the worst we had to do was have our lungs lisend to and abd. exams, and i once had to wear a tang top to get a bed bath (i mean arm washed). Oh and I had to be in abed and let them transfer me using one of the lifts
My CNA instructor told me that if I want to go to nursing school, I need to prepare to be a guinea pig. Meaning, students practice their skills (NG tubes, Foley cath, needle stuff...) on each other. Is she for real? I know we need to learn these things, and that we will eventually do them on real people, but frankly the thought of some student (who is probably a nervous wreck) putting an NG tube (which sounds just awful) in me is enough to make me reconsider going to nursing school. I'm not a squeamish person-I can handle blood, guts, puke, poop, etc... but this is really worrying me. I've had a bad experience, personally, with a catheter and really wonder if I want to subject my body to this stuff just to get a degree. Maybe I should consider going to PT school (or something non-invasive)? Can anyone give me the scoop on this? Thanks. If it makes any difference, I'm considering an accelerated BSN program.
Would not have minded doing the bedbaths in my classes.....We had some really cute guys in our class!!!!!
But to answer your question....no, we did not have to do anything to each other! She might just be trying to freak you out and that is not very nice!
20 years ago, when I went through LPN school, this was the case. But, I finished RN school last year, and we did not practice on each other. One of the instructors told us that it is a violation of rights and ethics to do so.
We didn't do any of that stuff on each other, not even drawing blood or IVs. We had dummies for everything. No way in hades I'd ever let someone do an NG or foley on me just for practice. That would make me a *real* dummy. hehe
You won't be practicing any of those things on each other. The first time you do them will be on a dummy and the second time will be on a patient. Your instructor probably told you this because that is what they used to do. My instructor at my ASN program told me that they used to practice bed baths on each other! Gross huh? I can't imagine. Don't let that scare you away! I guarantee no one is going to put an NG tube down your throat!!!
You won't be practicing any of those things on each other. The first time you do them will be on a dummy and the second time will be on a patient. Your instructor probably told you this because that is what they used to do. My instructor at my ASN program told me that they used to practice bed baths on each other! Gross huh? I can't imagine. Don't let that scare you away! I guarantee no one is going to put an NG tube down your throat!!!
yeah-my instructor was probably in nursing school around 20 years ago, so I guess things have changed (thankfully!). I was seriously freaked!
My CNA instructor told me that if I want to go to nursing school, I need to prepare to be a guinea pig. Meaning, students practice their skills (NG tubes, Foley cath, needle stuff...) on each other. Is she for real? I know we need to learn these things, and that we will eventually do them on real people, but frankly the thought of some student (who is probably a nervous wreck) putting an NG tube (which sounds just awful) in me is enough to make me reconsider going to nursing school. I'm not a squeamish person-I can handle blood, guts, puke, poop, etc... but this is really worrying me. I've had a bad experience, personally, with a catheter and really wonder if I want to subject my body to this stuff just to get a degree. Maybe I should consider going to PT school (or something non-invasive)? Can anyone give me the scoop on this? Thanks. If it makes any difference, I'm considering an accelerated BSN program.
Yes, we bathed each other, catheterized each other, and ran with scissors! And after that we all participate in a drunken game of insert that IV. :chuckle
No, just kidding. Our college's Liability Insurance does not cover any student practicing any skill that requires the insertion or removal of a tube, cannula, or other device into a vein, artery, or orifice.....especially if said student is naked!
We did practice bathing patients but we all wore shorts and t-shirts and we also practiced doing a full patient assessment. I am still slightly traumatized by having to locate my friend's femoral pulse and lift her (rather large) breast to listen to her apical pulse, but hey we are now really good friends.
hehe
HappyNurse2005, RN
1,640 Posts
The only thing we did on fellow students was a head to toe assessment, and vital signs. we practiced accuchecks on ourselves. we have hte mannequins to practice all the other fun stuff on