We have to dress up in our bathing suits to give each other baths

RN and Mommy · Aug 25, 2005

You know I was "floored" when the prof said today(1st class in NS) that for our first skills lab next week, we will be learing how to give bed baths. To to so, and mostly to understand how the patient really feels about being given a bed bath, we have to give bed baths to each other. So we have to bring our swimsuits, towels, toothbrushes(for mouth care), our soap if we wish, or she can provide the soap.
Yes, for real!!

Yep! They made us do that too. My friend took a Health Assessment class and their teacher made them get down to their bras and panties to assess each other. What ever happened to dignity???? I am taking that class this semester, but I have a different teacher. Hopefully she doesn't make us go that far! Maybe they don't think it is such a big deal since I go to an all girls school, but c'mon! I like my privacy!!!! :imbar I guess it teaches you to realize how your patients feel.

leopold · Aug 25, 2005

yeah, we had to do that, we all shaved our legs for the first time, after that it was like, OK, sorry, my legs are hairy today.

elthia · Aug 25, 2005

If that was the case I'm positive the insturctor would understand and excuse the student. I highly doubt there's an instructor out there that would say "Who cares about your religion/history of sexual abuse! Strip down!"

But then that would single the student out. At my nursing school, we had some nosy gossipy people. Maybe they should make it voluntary.

TweetiePieRN · Aug 25, 2005

There will be many things you have to go through during nursing school that you will not like to do. Thats life! It's best to just do what are you required to do and move through the program with the ultimate goal being graduation.

Being in a bathing suit may feel demeaning or embarrassing...but this is what the patients go through (but they really are NAKED!). It is really important as a nurse to have empathy and to truly understand what one is going through.

Every nursing student is in the nursing program VOLUNTARILY. Don't ever forget that. We had a waiting list a mile long and if someone were to get booted out or leave the program early (within the first couple of weeks)...there was always another eager student willing to take the place to get their education.

To Mandikt: Not to come off sounding harsh: but just TRY and tell your instructors what to do this early in the game or give them attitude. They WILL make your 18 months pure hell! They are not required to put up with any smart-a$$ remarks. Nursing school is basically like bootcamp.

Good luck to all of you!! Nursing really is a wonderfully rewarding career. Just hang in there!

Kabin · Aug 25, 2005

Of course each school is different. Our school leaves it up to the student to decide whether to participate in some skills such as IVs. I'm not sure what their policy is on bathing, but I should find out soon enough. They say they won't fail you on the skills either.

Kabin · Aug 25, 2005

... Nursing school is basically like bootcamp.

I must be lucky as my program is nothing like that and I've been to bootcamp. :) Our teachers are very caring and are there to make sure we succeed. I don't doubt it was like that years ago as my clinical instructor described his instructors as drill instructors that would put you down whenever possible. Thank goodness education theory has come along way.

mandikt · Aug 26, 2005

There will be many things you have to go through during nursing school that you will not like to do. Thats life! It's best to just do what are you required to do and move through the program with the ultimate goal being graduation.
Being in a bathing suit may feel demeaning or embarrassing...but this is what the patients go through (but they really are NAKED!). It is really important as a nurse to have empathy and to truly understand what one is going through.
Every nursing student is in the nursing program VOLUNTARILY. Don't ever forget that. We had a waiting list a mile long and if someone were to get booted out or leave the program early (within the first couple of weeks)...there was always another eager student willing to take the place to get their education.
To Mandikt: Not to come off sounding harsh: but just TRY and tell your instructors what to do this early in the game or give them attitude. They WILL make your 18 months pure hell! They are not required to put up with any smart-a$$ remarks. Nursing school is basically like bootcamp.
Good luck to all of you!! Nursing really is a wonderfully rewarding career. Just hang in there!

whoa, now who has attitude, trust me sweetheart I don't tell my instructors what to do or give them attitude so thanks for trying to sound like you know me. but fortunately we don't have to deal with the bath thing since like I said, we did it all on dummies. And I am lucky enough to have very nice teachers who aren't out to try to get us and make our "18 months pure hell". My nursing program is nothing like bootcamp. and i don't think I was the only one who had conflicting comments on this issue.

have a nice day!!

mandikt · Aug 26, 2005

I must be lucky as my program is nothing like that and I've been to bootcamp. :) Our teachers are very caring and are there to make sure we succeed. I don't doubt it was like that years ago as my clinical instructor described his instructors as drill instructors that would put you down whenever possible. Thank goodness education theory has come along way.

I totally agree with you and the bootcamp thing. Like you, my teachers are very caring as well, and are there to help us in succeeding in the program. I guess I can consider myself lucky that I am not in a bootcamp nursing program!!!

Boy, this issue sure is bringing out the best in everybody, don't you agree!!

I'm glad to see someone with my views. :)

ktstone · Aug 26, 2005

The average age of a nurse is approx 45 yerars old (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0843/is_6_28/ai_94590420) Why is that, do you suppose? Well, most folks entering nursing are female and in their early twenties. They are still dealing with determining who they are and are very open to relationships---even if they happen to be married (yes I am an old-man). So, it seems by the statistics that, the VAST MAJORITY OF CURRENT STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR NURSING DEGREE and QUIT (Sorry for the caps) for one reason or another...usually this is due to: marriage, nursing is not what they expected, Drs scream at them, lousy hours, stinky BMs, following a loser, exessive charting, and disrespect--Oh yes, and having babies). Please understand, I am not trying to be negative. This is a fact of life. You have to have elephant skin to be a nurse and take everything you hear with a 100 lb of salt and always look after the patient regardless of the heat comming from the rez etc.... Do what is right for the patient in all cases. Sorry, soap box.

So, imagine that I might say, "Persoanl care is very important!" When the average student (~20 yrs) finds out that he/she has to bath another person they scream--usually...but I will tell you that care MEANS A MILLION TO THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE ADMITTED!!!!! Besides the medical reasons you learned all about....they need and long for the personal care that only YOU will give them! You are who they depend on...family will not know what to do and will stay by the beside! For crying out loud GROW UP! Opps, I am sorry...that will take about 10 years or more--unless you end up in an accident and can't move your arms.....but that is ok, you understand taht is gross and you can live with that, right?

Damn..this discussion pevs me. Get over it, quit, adjust, get out of the way..oh, and substandard care is the equiv. of torture. If you don't believe me then step on the wards and see it for yourself.

tmp1936 · Aug 26, 2005

I totally agree with you and the bootcamp thing. Like you, my teachers are very caring as well, and are there to help us in succeeding in the program. I guess I can consider myself lucky that I am not in a bootcamp nursing program!!!
Boy, this issue sure is bringing out the best in everybody, don't you agree!!
I'm glad to see someone with my views. :)

Listen, I just finished my first semester good old 101, and I have to tell you, I went into this course with absolutly no experience in the health field, even taking BP's was foreign to me, I found the more questions I asked the more students and instructors were willing to help. I came out of the class with the highest recommendations from my instructor because I showed that I wanted to be there, she even admitted to me that in the first two weeks she didn't think I was going to make it through the course, just relax and make sure you are prepared for everything, sometimes the extra work sucks, but it makes all the difference when you are at your clinical site dealing with patients. My second day in acute care my patient coded after having surgery, I participated and aided in recusitating the patient, and believe me when that moment happens you will realize that all the hard work, required or not required pays off.

Someday-C.R.N.A. · Aug 26, 2005

[sarcasm] so...........at some point, all of the females in my cna class will be in their underwear??..........and i'll have to get/give a bed bath??..............

i'm not seeing the problem with this..........................

............maybe i'll take the class twice, just to make sure i get it right. [/sarcasm]

really, i don't see the need for this. why can't students use mannequins to practice?? forcing students to 'strip down' seems very wrong to me. i guess i'll have to wait and see what my school 'makes' me do.............but fair is fair - my shirt comes off, so does everybody elses! (i don't like taking my shirt off in public for some reason)

didn't anyone have a boy/girl issue? i could see problems with a mixed gender class. boys in one room, girls in another?....that doesn't seem right. (i'm seriously wondering here).

GrnHonu99, RN · Aug 26, 2005

[sarcasm] so...........at some point, all of the females in my cna class will be in their underwear??..........and i'll have to get/give a bed bath??..............
i'm not seeing the problem with this..........................
............maybe i'll take the class twice, just to make sure i get it right. [/sarcasm]
really, i don't see the need for this. why can't students use mannequins to practice?? forcing students to 'strip down' seems very wrong to me. i guess i'll have to wait and see what my school 'makes' me do.............but fair is fair - my shirt comes off, so does everybody elses! (i don't like taking my shirt off in public for some reason)
didn't anyone have a boy/girl issue? i could see problems with a mixed gender class. boys in one room, girls in another?....that doesn't seem right. (i'm seriously wondering here).

we spent like a day on bed bath in class, we just used the dummies. when we did our practical exams for health assessment we had to strip down to our bras and underwear but then we put on a gown. we had to bring a partner of our choice...it could be your husband , boyfriend/girlfriend or whatever. then they had our skills lab set up for the exams. it was like being at the dr. i sat on the bed with the curtain drawn and (my partner was my best girlfriend in my class so i didnt mind she saw me in my bra) our instructor watched, we swapped and i examined her. my class is so small that i felt comfortable in front of my female instructors...i would have though been very uncomfortable if it was my male instructor. if i had had him and had a problem with it, all i would have to do is tell them though!