YOU as a Pt-what would you allow a student nurse to do?

[KellNY, RN]

I had mentioned in another thread that I wouldn't allow a student nurse to attempt insertion of a foley on me (unless I'd been anesthetized prior).

So that got me thinking....

What would I and what wouldn't I allow a student nurse to do for me?

Here's my personal thoughts

I WOULD allow:

Vitals

Venipuncture

PO meds dispensed and IVPB meds to be hung (and main fluid bag changed/hung)

*SC or IM meds administered

EKG

SLIV/HLIV flush

D/C IV or SL/HL IV

Foley emptying and flushing (if RN with SN for flush)

Unchecked assessments for lung sounds, bowel sounds, DTRs etc (as in, SN can do it, as long as RN there to assess and verify)

I WOULD NOT allow:

Catheterization

IV insertion

*SC or IM meds administered

IVP meds

NG tube insertion

*I listed SC and IM under both categories. If SN had experience giving injections, well, then shoot away. But if not, sorry. I've seen way too many students get scared or try to be nice, etc, and push the needle in so slowly, push the med too fast into the tissue, not feel comfortable with location and hit a bone, etc.

I know I'm leaving lots of stuff out--haven't slept in over 36hrs, so brain ain't what she could be right now, yk?

What about you all? Where are you willing to aid the learning process and where do you draw the line(for you personally-not your kids/family)?

***We're assuming these are not emergency situations. ie, I'd let a student venipuncture me, but not if it were for STAT Mag levels because they think I have MagTox, or T&S because I'm bleeding, etc.

Can't wait to see your answers.

[TazziRN, RN]

Wow......good question.....I'd have to think about this one

Not just student nurses....interns too. I once had a renal arteriogram done prior to donation at a teaching hospital, and the intern must have taken a good three minutes to decide if he could get a 22g in the hosepipe I have in my AC. I came REALLY close to telling him, "If you have to think about it any longer, go find a nurse."

[Thedreamer]

As a student nurse myself I can really relate to this. I have two views on this topic. The view of: If the student is like me. OR the view of: If the student is like some of the girls in my class.

I am confident and make darn well sure I know what I am doing, what I am giving, everything about what I will be doing on the patient ect. I practice many hours at home on some of the skills we do in clinical to make sure when the time comes, I can do for my patient what I would want done for me. Likewise some of the girls in my class are... to say this nicely, they float.. I dont know how they brush thier hair in the morning.

All that being said, a student has to learn somehow. If the student looks confident, is kind, and generally sounds like they are 100% into it, I would let them do whatever they needed. After all, they need to learn somehow.

However, if the student had clearly never done what needed to be done before, or did not seem know what they were doing.. You can bet your grandma that the RN/LPN would be doing it.

[ElizabethJRN]

We all need to start somewhere, and when I was a student nurse I was very appreciative of the people who let me "practice" on them. I find it a little bit hypocritical that as students we wanted people to let us practice/work on them, but now that we are nurses we wouldn't allow students or interns to work on us.

I have let student nurses/friends practice venipuncture on me, and I have also let interns in on my annual pap exam. Gotta learn somehow.

[Thedreamer]

P.s. I would 100% quiz them prior to doing an injection, foley, anything of that sort before I let them touch me. If they could tell me about it in great detail, then they have studied, know what they are trying to do, and should get the ability to perform said action.

[maryloufu]

On my last Csection- I was a new nurse (less than 2 months) and I was willing to have a student to the usual IV insertion vitals- whatever- Of course there were no students because it was August. HOWEVER when I got to the OR it turned out that my CRNA was a student- that was so scary for me. I am afraid of being paralyzed and whether or not that is a possibility I am not sure. I did let him do it- he was a nice guy- been an ICU nurse for 10 years and had done many procedures. The CRNA that was precepting him was sitting over in the corner reading a paper while the student was working on me. I know this because my sister was like "Who's the guy reading the newspaper?" This was my second section- and I felt more tugging and freaked out a lot more= but I think this was because I had seen several in nursing school and I was more aware of risks etc. In fact after they delivered the baby I asked for some versed- but I apparently did not get any because I remember everything after that.

I did let the student I am precepting this semester start an IV on me.

[TazziRN, RN]

Eh?? You had to ask for Versed?? I didn't want any, didn't know I was going to get any, got it and was told about it as the CRNA was pushing it!

[PANurseRN1]

Pretty much anything, although if the student clearly demonstrated lousy technique I would stop him/her right there. I've endured some pretty painful IV starts from newbies; just tried to grin and bear it because we all had to have our first time at bat, no?

[maryloufu]

I was awake the whole time- I think I got Valium or something a lot milder. I did say to the student CRNA- 'I think I had more drugs last time.' Maybe I was pegged as a drug seeker.

[TazziRN, RN]

I was awake for mine until the baby was out. Next thing I knew I was in la-la land.

[Pumpkin1621]

I have always let students do anything they want. I have never been hurt by a student, and I would only stop one if I felt pain. But I would also stop a nurse or doctor if I was in pain.

Now, I haven't been to nursing school yet. I bet when I see the type of students in my class my mentality will change lol!

[Pumpkin1621]

I had an MDA do my epi when I was in labor. He walked in and my mom said, "Aren't you a little young to be a Dr." I was so embarrassed, but she was just looking out for me. He was a new grad, about 25. I was so scared that I waited until the last minute to get the epi. He was really great too, b/c I was jumping everytime he touched me and I was crying so hard. I have had 3 paralyzed family members so I was just sooo scared. He did a perfect job. I have heard all of these horror stories about back pain after the epi. I haven't had any. I was in such relief after I got it that I felt like a fool for not getting it earlier haha.