When to report a classmaste to your clinical instructor.

sweetyjen · Feb 4, 2005

I know this would be a hard decision to make. I think you should do both. Another question though, is there no one supervising over the things you do? I am in my last semester of nursing school also and I know that anytime we do anything that has to do with IV's, meds, or anything invasive at all we are to have an RN or our instructor with us. I think you should tell your instructor if you have any doubts that this person is doing anything that is unsafe and could put someone in danger. I think you should also talk to this person about what you saw and encourage him/her to ask for help if needed. I know it is a tough position to be in though, I encourage you to do what you think is necessary. Set up a private meeting with your instructor and ask that you not be named if you want to remain anonymous. Hope this helps some!!

BETSRN · Feb 4, 2005

I know this would be a hard decision to make. I think you should do both. Another question though, is there no one supervising over the things you do? I am in my last semester of nursing school also and I know that anytime we do anything that has to do with IV's, meds, or anything invasive at all we are to have an RN or our instructor with us. I think you should tell your instructor if you have any doubts that this person is doing anything that is unsafe and could put someone in danger. I think you should also talk to this person about what you saw and encourage him/her to ask for help if needed. I know it is a tough position to be in though, I encourage you to do what you think is necessary. Set up a private meeting with your instructor and ask that you not be named if you want to remain anonymous. Hope this helps some!!

I agree with your concern. You are right on target. Where is your instructor? He/she shoudl be around overseeing all you do to make sure that each student is performing safe practice.

I would definitely go directly to the student first, see how that goes and then decide if you need to go up the chain of command, so to speak. That's the same things we nurses would do. I know you are in a tough spot. Good luck.

actioncat · Feb 4, 2005

Hate to break it to you, but drawing up heparin in an insulin syringe is perfectly acceptable. It is 1 ml.

Just curious, why would you think it is a problem?

The piggyback is of course, a bigger problem. I don't believe she is the first nurse to do such a thing. I know in my new nurse orientation, the instructor spoke of seeing nurses do this (with potassium!). Probably, she needs some more orientation/familiarity with the equipment. Some people take a little longer to digest things, but this doesn't make them a bad nurse.

Speak to the student directly. Give a rationale for your corrections, and I'm sure she'll see the light.

saskrn · Feb 4, 2005

We are in our last semester of nursing school and it has become aparent, in our first week of our new rotation that one of our classmates does/did not know how to do perform some clinical skills. I saw her starting to draw up heparin into an insulin syringe and another one of our classmates saw her connecting an unprimed IV piggy back to the hub closer to the hand than the IV pump.
Both of us caught these things and corrected her in the clinical area. I am troubled however as far what to do next. At first I thought nothing of it, but then I started thinking about the possibility of her being my nurse, or a nurse to a member of my family... yikes.
I see my options as:
Telling my teacher what I saw.
or
Talking with my classmate directly and offering to help her with anything she was unsure how to do and the importance of getting help from an RN if we do not know how to perform a procedure.
Do I have responsibilty to do either, both or should I just let it alone?
thank you!
-markb-

IMO, these are not life or death issues. Talk to her and see what's up. Everyone has a bad day once in a while. For some of us, it's a little more often. :)

purplemania, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2005

pretend you and the other individual are both licensed. What would you do if this occured on the job? Most states require us to "tell" in order to protect the public. You have an obligation to make this known, but there is a right and wrong way to do that. I recommend telling your instructor in a private conference. Then KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. Do not expect the instructor to get back with you later about the topic. Do not talk to classmates about it. Just know that you did the responsible thing.

actioncat · Feb 4, 2005

Sorry, I still think that it is better to talk to the student first. I agree with the poster that these are not life or death issues.

The OP may think "I would worry about having this nurse for one of my family members", but probably the same could be said for her. I do not say this to be mean. I say this simply because they are still nursing students. There is plenty to learn, and there is still plenty of time. Really learning to work on the floor begins when they start their first job. Right now they are just getting a taste of things to come.

I think the original poster will appreciate such an approach when her time comes to be corrected. (And it will come, many times over!)

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 4, 2005

If I were the one making an error, I would HOPE the person seeing it would be adult enough to come and tell me and save me from doing it again. We all make mistakes, some are doozies. My coworkers know I will NOT attack them if they criticize me constructively. Ego has NO place in patient care, in my opinion. When I am wrong, I am wrong. HELP ME FIX IT!!!!!

No different for students, just in case you wonder.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 4, 2005

If I were the one making an error, I would HOPE the person seeing it would be adult enough to come and tell me and save me from doing it again. We all make mistakes, some are doozies. My coworkers know I will NOT attack them if they criticize me constructively. Ego has NO place in patient care, in my opinion. When I am wrong, I am wrong. HELP ME FIX IT!!!!!
No different for students, just in case you wonder.

I agree wholeheartedly.

I also do not understand how this student---or any student for that matter---is even being allowed to do IV skills without an instructor present. When I was in school, we had to have an instructor present whenever we did anything at all to an IV, even saline flushes, and that was up until the very last minute of our very last clinical day. I still think that's the safest practice, as it impressed upon me the seriousness of intravenous therapy. :)

redshiloh · Feb 4, 2005

Actioncat, I'm sure glad you said something...thought I was crazy cause I have used insulin syringes for heparin before.

Is there something I should know here?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 4, 2005

Actioncat, I'm sure glad you said something...thought I was crazy cause I have used insulin syringes for heparin before.
Is there something I should know here?

Technically, insulin syringes are measured in units , not cc's (or fractions thereof)...I've always used TB syringes for heparin, myself.

actioncat · Feb 4, 2005

Technically, insulin syringes are measured in units , not cc's (or fractions thereof)...I've always used TB syringes for heparin, myself.

Yes, but I do believe it is 1 ml. A TB syringe probably is a better choice.

Still, the point remains that this is nothing to get upset about. Certainly it is not worthy of reporting to an instructor.