Students from a patient's point of view. Sort of.

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I'm just trying to get some opinions from a few other people. I am nursing student in my 3rd semester. I am also a patient at my doctor's office. It seems like every single time I visit my doctor, there is a student. Sometimes they are medical students, sometimes nursing students, sometimes EMT students, whatever. My doctor also teaches at a medical school so I can understand this.

Nearly every time I have an appointment, a student is always brought in. Most of the time I haven't been asked for permission to have the student come into the examination room. On my last visit, there was a student with the intake nurse and then when I was in with the doctor, they brought in another student. The student who was in the exam room seemed very unfriendly and stood in the corner with a pinched expression on her face. I felt very uncomfortable during this visit due to this girl standing there staring at me with an unfriendly look on her face.

I have some major medical problems that my doctor and I are trying to get a handle on. I am very private when it comes to my medical issues and I don't like to discuss them even with my friends so when a student is in the room, I feel like I'm not as open with the doctor as I should be. But, because I am a student as well, I feel bad saying no to a student but I think that at my next visit, I am going to request that there be no more students during my appointments.

I just feel bad about doing it. Should I?

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

"I feel like I'm not as open with the doctor as I should be"

This statement says it all. If you are sacrificing full disclosure with your doctor due to the presence of a student, obviously it could end up adversely affecting your outcome. Just because you are a student doesn't mean you have to welcome other students with open arms into your personal life.

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Specializes in Private Practice- wellness center.

Boog's said it all. When I had my c-section, I told my Dr. I didn't mind Med Students observing. When he asked them if they wanted to do any stitches, I spoke up! We have that right as patients. :D

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

As a student I always asked the pt if it was ok for me to be there, or the doctor did. if you are uncomfortable it is your right to ask for them to leave.

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They have never asked ahead of time. The student is always right there. I've wanted to say no every single time and next time, I'm just going to have to say no.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

In my opinion and past experiences I have always let students in with me. I feel like its my duty since I am also a student. On the other hand I do think it's rude not asking and getting your okay ahead of time, thats something I have never experienced. My experiences were also always at the hospital, I think it would get rather annoying if I had to deal with students at every doctor's appointment.

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I think that if you are uncomfortable you should speak up, even if you have allowed students before. If he questions you why, I think you should tell him exactly what you told us.

This is what I posted on another thread:

Towards the end of my first labor and delivery, my OB informed me that there were some nursing students from the local community college that were at the hospital. He asked me if I would let the class come in and witness me give birth to my child. I was mortified and declined. I had enough strangers looking at my privates and had been exposed enough. I didn't want to add a whole class of people as well. Since my husband grew up in the town and has tons of family here there would be a pretty good possibility that someone in that class would know me, or definitely my husband. That would have been too embarrassing:eek: I then wondered how many students did my OB have present for his prostate exams.

During my fourth (I have 5 children) labor and delivery I was informed at the beginning that a student from the same community college would be assisting throughout the L/D. She was introduced and helped throughout the process. I was a little leery of having a student there at first, but I was soon very comfortable because this was just one person participating rather than a whole class gawking at my privates while they are expelling blood, amnio fluids, and a possible bowel movement! And she was very nice and professional.

During a very painful and intense contraction it hurt me so bad that I couldn't speak. Unfortunately I also had an unexpected bowel movement right there in the bed during this particular contraction. The only thing I was allowed at this point was the bedpan, not sure why. Anyway, during this particular contraction I would not have been able to ask for it anyway. The nurse who did not allow me to get up made the worst faces, and all the other nurses walked around with sour-looking faces and looked at me out of the corner of their eyes. I was completely humiliated. I felt like crying. I had been allowed to get up before, even while being induced, which wasn't happening this time around.

The only person that acting completely professional during this "code brown" was the student nurse. She smiled, she was sweet, she assured me that it was no big deal, couldn't be helped, and often happens during contractions. I still laid there, reduced to being cleaned like a baby, trying not to cry and apologizing profusely. It still bothers me to this day, even though I know it shouldn't. It happened again while I was pushing and the OB acted like he was so disgusted "Eh," he says, "someone needs to clean this up." I guess he was new at his job (he's been an OB for like 10 years) and expected that gumballs would come out of the a$$ of a woman pushing a baby out while being told "push like you are having a bowel movement."

So basically the student nurse was the most professional acting person during my labor, IMO. She was more professional acting than the OBGYN. I really appreciated her that day.

I hope this helps.

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I've been an EMT student, paramedic student at which time I rotated through more departments than I will as a nursing student, and now I'm a nurse student.

I'd have no problems denying a student access to me. It depends on what it was though. If I needed stitches I wouldn't mind. If I needed a prostate check then get the **** out.

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Specializes in IMCU.

You bring up an excellent point. Just because a hospital/clinic etc. is a "place of learning" does not excuse them from asking your permission. A couple of our instructors ask patients in advance before we are assigned and some don't. Those who do not use the argument/excuse that they are informed on admission that this is a learning hospital and sign the forms agreeing to allow students participate in their care.

I think patients should be asked in advance and BEFORE the student(s) are standing in the room. It goes better for the patient and the student if this happens. I don't care what they have signed for admission.

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You have every right to request - demand - that no more students be allowed in the room during exams. As students, we were informed that patients sign papers every time they're admitted (hospital of course, not sure about the clinic or office) that has a clause saying they will allow a student to care for them - which is why we don't have to ask them if we can care for them. However, they can refuse student care at any time and there's nothing we can do about it. We just don't have to ask them if we can care for them. As a student, this makes me uncomfortable at times, especially when I can tell the patient doesn't want a student. The instructor argues with them and gets them to agree, which makes it even more uncomfortable.

That being said - don't feel bad! It's your body. I've refused students as well - because I've had some that were awful - one when I was in the hospital who gave me the wrong med and argued about it - it could have killed me. And I've seen how awful some of the students in my class are. Maybe when I am an actual nurse, it won't be so bad because I'll know what to look for and how to deal with them - but right now, no way. Especially if it's something private - like when my daughter was born or during a pelvic exam. Sorry, but I don't even like my doc seeing me that way, definitely not someone I've never met. I wouldn't mind if I was there for strep throat or the flu, but anything remotely private is a no-go.

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What about seeing a new doctor?

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I don't have a problem with one or two students, but when my son was having significant health problems he was mis-diagnosed with a brain tumor. The peds neuro surgeon took me to a different room so as to tell me privately, but then had over a dozen med students trailing along to watch how you tell a widow (to cancer) her 14 year old son has cancer. yeah. right.

During the "interview", when I calmly asked questions and tried to see what we would be doing next, he stopped and said "you know, you aren't reacting like we would expect you to". Gee thanks doc. Did you READ his chart first? We've been trying to figure out the source of his problems for 8 years!! and somehow you didn't know his dad had just died a few years ago of cancer? Just what are you teaching those students of yours?

BTW: my son is nearly 21, doing beautifully, and DOES NOT AND NEVER HAD a brain tumor. :anbd:

OP: your being a student does not mean you have to tolerate students in your room, especially if it stops you talking to your doc about what you need to. Nope. Your personal life and your professional life can, should and ought to remain separate. :hug:

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