So yesterday in clinical an opportunity came up to do a foley and the nurse asked me to do it. Now this was the first foley I or anyone in my clinical group gave gotten to try.
The patient graciously let us all participate. I set up with my assistant. Tried to get it in no luck. My assistant tried no luck. My INSTRUCTOR tried no luck. So we got the head nurse to put it in.
No that didn't bother me. it was my first time. What bothered me was my classmates were taking s about me and when I caught them they switched into spanish. Later when we were waiting in the elevator I pointed out that english is supposed to be the primary language in patient care areas unless the patient needs it to be otherwise. They didn't get it and immediately said "Weren't talking about you" now I understand spanish but since I can't really speak it I never tell anyone .
We what really got my goat was in report one student said "What I learned today was you can be an A student and not be any good at skills" I never give anyone a hard time about the fact they are barely passing so I thought that was a little bit nasty since I never seen her do anything. She can't even take a blood pressure.
I got another chance the next day to do a foley btw and got it first shot without having the large studio audience. They still haven't tried their hand since we don't get many foley opportunities.
And they can be as technically perfect as they want skills wise but a 60% is not going to earn them a pass to the next term.
Good job!!! We have 2 weeks of clinicals left (2nd of 3 terms), and I still haven't placed a foley on a real person. I have, however, witnessed several difficult insertions. The first was on a moderately obese woman in long term care; both the student and the instructor placed the catheter in the lady parts, despite adequate light and space. Another was on a very thin woman with severe contractures; we couldn't spread her legs more than about 3 inches and the student was really nervous. On the second try, though, she was much more relaxed. Kind of like 'what's the worst that could happen? oh wait--it already did!' The 450-lb woman with BLE cellulitis--that was truly educational. 2 students on each leg, one student holding a flashlight, one nurse spreading the labia, and another nurse placing the catheter (1 try, she was awesome!). We're STILL talking about that one, every time someone mentions foley placement. I hope I get the opportunity to do a foley myself before med-surg clinicals are over; if not I hope my eventual preceptor is really patient!
teeniebert, LPN
563 Posts
Good job!!! We have 2 weeks of clinicals left (2nd of 3 terms), and I still haven't placed a foley on a real person. I have, however, witnessed several difficult insertions. The first was on a moderately obese woman in long term care; both the student and the instructor placed the catheter in the lady parts, despite adequate light and space. Another was on a very thin woman with severe contractures; we couldn't spread her legs more than about 3 inches and the student was really nervous. On the second try, though, she was much more relaxed. Kind of like 'what's the worst that could happen? oh wait--it already did!' The 450-lb woman with BLE cellulitis--that was truly educational. 2 students on each leg, one student holding a flashlight, one nurse spreading the labia, and another nurse placing the catheter (1 try, she was awesome!). We're STILL talking about that one, every time someone mentions foley placement. I hope I get the opportunity to do a foley myself before med-surg clinicals are over; if not I hope my eventual preceptor is really patient!