You're Going to Practice on ME?!?!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I'm looking into Masters Entry programs, and have a friend who is currently receiving her BSN in an accelerated program. Apparently they have to practice injections and IVs on each other! Is this true of all nursing programs? Ack! :uhoh3:

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

We practiced all skills on dummies in the lab, not classmates, and then our patients under strict supervision. It has not hindered my competency in any skill, nor did I harm any patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Mine was the first class that didn't get to practice IVs on each other.

An old school nurse told me she had to practice NG tube insertion on each other. But that was a long while back.

Practicing on fellow students has gone by the wayside, more than like for fear of being sued.

I let students practice on me during their clinicals. I have great veins.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.

We practiced IV's on each other and we had to have 3 successful ones at that. It really was not that bad, I am happy that I was able to practice on a real arm. We also practiced our SQ on each other.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

My instructor last semester is about 179 years old, and when she was in NS, they did EVERYTHING on each other. NG tubes and enemas included. Talk about the bonding experience.:(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.
We just learned all our injections in clinical lab with dummy arms and because of legal reasons are not allowed to practice on fellow students. We are required to purchase a nursing pack which contains all kinds of supplies (sterile of course) and I would love to practice outside of school with classmates but I have no idea what we could use for the injection that would be safe to practice with. Any suggestions?? FYI I would let a classmate give me a few pokes... better to practice on eachother when we are most nervous so that when we actually have to do it in a clinical it will ease the jitters.

We were never allowed to practice without an instructor, and I would never ever let anyone practice on me without an instructor watching. Amazing how many people just don't get the concept of asepsis. I actually had one person touch the angiocath with her ungloved finger then try to stick it in me!

We had to practice IVs on humans since there was no similarity between the dummies and human veins. Don't know if they've improved the dummies over the years. The dummies were good for practicing taping down the IV etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh boy..this is the one thing I have been dreading about nursing school! I absolutley HATE needles, but I do understand why *some* schools allow students to practice on eachother. When I was going through school to be a CVT, I had to learn venipunture, how to place a catheter, give IM and SQ injections, ect. Practicing on a stuffed animal was not the same. And waiting to get into the exam room and give the first distemper vx or pull blood for a HWT without any knowledge of where to poke was out of the question, so we practiced on live animals. So, I kind of understand why some nursing students practice on the each other, but I am very nervous of letting someone that doesn't really know how to place an IV or draw blood poke me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA, RN Student.

I'm tossed on this one. I remember my first hospital admittance when my daughter was born via c-section, I had a brand new RN, I mean she admitted it was her second day on the job. She was trying to start an IV on me and I kid you not, tried like 12 times--I didn't know any better but my mom walked in during the 9th time and was like, "WHAT THE H*** ARE YOU DOING DO MY DAUGHTER???!!" and was about to take over (she's an RN too) and ran to get someone else. The nurse was brought to tears and I felt awful for her. I didn't mind getting poked that much but....funny now that I think about it has been since then that I've acquired a fear of needles. Maybe it is better that practice on actual subjects is done? At the same time, I don't know if I feel that I have the "right" to practice on my classmates...so where do we draw the line? It's a catch 22 if you ask me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg ICU, NICU.

We practice IV's and injections on each other, however, students are not required to stick another student or be stuck. They also have arms available for us to practice on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm tossed on this one. I remember my first hospital admittance when my daughter was born via c-section, I had a brand new RN, I mean she admitted it was her second day on the job. She was trying to start an IV on me and I kid you not, tried like 12 times--I didn't know any better but my mom walked in during the 9th time and was like, "WHAT THE H*** ARE YOU DOING DO MY DAUGHTER???!!" and was about to take over (she's an RN too) and ran to get someone else. The nurse was brought to tears and I felt awful for her. I didn't mind getting poked that much but....funny now that I think about it has been since then that I've acquired a fear of needles. Maybe it is better that practice on actual subjects is done? At the same time, I don't know if I feel that I have the "right" to practice on my classmates...so where do we draw the line? It's a catch 22 if you ask me.

I had the same thing happen to me when I was pregnant with my first child. I was severly dehydrated (which didn't help the poor guy who was trying to stick me). But I had an EMT in training say that he was training and needed the practice and the nurse who was helping him was going to stay and help. He stuck me 3 times no luck, then this older nurse tried to get the vein, she tried another 5 times, then she decided to try my hands. This is part of the reason I hate needles so much. Even at the vet clinic, it is 3 sticks and you are out! If you don't get it that 3rd time, it is time to let someone else give it a try.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I am currently a first-year nursing student. We have done IM injections on each other with normal saline and we had to start and IV catheter in each other - just insert the cath and then remove, not actually run any fluid. We have been told absolutely not to practice these skills outside of class as the instructors cannot supervise us that way to make sure we are doing the procedures correctly. We also had to sign liability waivers. I personally think it is a good thing because I would not want my first subject to be one of my patients. Patients are already going through a lot, at least we as nursing students understand why we are being subjected to each other's "first attempts" - just my outlook on it. :)

Oh - and really, if you are told you have to do this on each other, it's not as bad as it sounds. Normal saline doesn't burn, so the IM injection isn't bad at all and it really is worth the poke of the IV cath for the experience before you start clinicals. Besides, so far the instructors have been very good about telling us if we even look like we're going to do something wrong so the procedure is safe.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
I had the same thing happen to me when I was pregnant with my first child. I was severly dehydrated (which didn't help the poor guy who was trying to stick me). But I had an EMT in training say that he was training and needed the practice and the nurse who was helping him was going to stay and help. He stuck me 3 times no luck, then this older nurse tried to get the vein, she tried another 5 times, then she decided to try my hands. This is part of the reason I hate needles so much. Even at the vet clinic, it is 3 sticks and you are out! If you don't get it that 3rd time, it is time to let someone else give it a try.

Our policy is two sticks and call someone else...if two nurses can't get you, we have an IV team that can be called...never seen them miss. Students and new graduates are going to need training, but there comes a point where you have to do what's best for the patient. 8x's is awful.:kiss

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm at least somewhat relieved in hearing that this isn't an absolute requirement at all schools. Some of you are really brave! I'm obviously such a chicken!! ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment