To wonder why you would say 'No' to student doctors/nurses helping/observing your care?

[Whatsnextforus4]

DD has been quite poorly in hospital with bronchiolitis. She's on the mend now and We can go home today.
Since we've been in hospital the care has been fantastic were so so appreciative of the nhs.
We've been asked alot if junior doctors and student nurses can help and observe our daughters care and obviously have said yes. 4 doctors checked her over for discharge today and while it took longer it was 4 sets of ears and eyes ensuring all was ok all overseen by a qualified doctor.
DH got talking to a nurse and she said alot of people do refuse to let them in.
AIBU to wonder why anyone would decline as those are our future doctors and nurses and they will never learn if they can't see and do ALL of the illnesses and problems that they will have to deal with. You can only learn so much from a book.

When I had sepsis I agreed to be ‘the body’ for the medical students exam, because it was so unusual. I was more than happy to help as the Consultant’s quick diagnosis saved my life so being poked and prodded by 20 student doctors seemed a small price to pay.

At the GP I have no issue with this but I suffer from ptsd which is very much triggered by hospital environments and the thought of more than just the necessary people in there would cause me to have massive panic attacks. Although the people looking after me would be aware of this and very much doubt they would ask. Before the incident that led to ptsd it wouldn’t have bothered me

I've had 3 children. During my last labour I had a qualified midwife and a student. I had planned to have s homebirth but that went out of the window when my waters went and nothing followed. I was so upset to have to go to hospital to be put on a drip as it was so far away from what I wanted. The student midwife wad absolutely amazing with me. Simply amazing. I told her afterwards that any woman who has her present during their labour in The future would be very lucky. I'm so greatful.

I've also always allowed students in any appointment that's asked of me or my children. We've seen doctors, nurses, consultants etc. They've all been great.

There was a student nurse present when I gave birth to my son. It was his first birth and he was right at the business end. 😂

Depends on the situation. Most of the time I’m not bothered by a student or two. However I would object to lots all having a go at things. I got asked if I was ok for students to witness and assist with my internal exam and I said I didn’t mind them all watching but I was only willing to let one have a go at it because I had no inclination to go through it multiple times.

I had about five students watch me deliver my son which didn’t bother me really and again for most things I don’t mind them watching or having a try. The one thing I wouldn’t like a student doing is taking my blood or finding a vein etc. When I was in labour the student tried four times before the midwife/nurse/doctor took over and they also took three tries. I only ever go to the bloods clinic to have the nurses that do it all day every day to take my blood because my veins are terrible. They are deep and they like to collapse when you find them. This wasn’t the students fault nor the doctors but it is incredibly painful for me especially after that time as I had bruises larger than my fist on both arms and hands and found it painful to even hold my own baby.

But yeah besides that then crack on trainees and students I hope you learn everything you need to!

I went for my 6 week post natal check and there was a male student doctor. I was asked if he could look over where I’d had my stitches. He also then watched the GP carry it a smear test while she was down there! Think I was last caring after second baby. I’d had a student doctors help stitch me up after the second birth too - no where near as good as the stitches first time round by the Thai doctor!! During both sets of delivery god knows how many people appeared in the room at one point.
And also, when my eldest was a baby our local surestart hosted some student GP sessions to help teach them how to handle babies. It was very interesting and was over about 6 weeks whilst they tried out listening to chests, looking on ears, palpating tummies etc. We got gift vouchers for doing this. We even got invited to be pretend patients for the student doctor exams. My daughter’s real life reflux and milk allergy were quite the storyline it seemed.

I remember agreeing to it when I was in labour with DS1 and at one point looking up and seeing 12 eager faces in a viewing gallery 😂😂 xx

I turned down additional people although a midwife from a neighbouring room came in asking for an extension lead!!
My reasoning was less about them and more about me. When giving birth you feel vulnerable - the pain overrides everything, I might poop etc the list goes on.

Of course YABU! I have severe mental health issues and when I’m in hospital or being seen by my GP the last thing I want is a room full of students. It’s bad enough talking to one person when you’re going through a mental health crisis. Fine if it’s for something as basic as a bronchiolitis discharge but anything involving mental health or intimate examinations YABVVVU. Ridiculous thread!

The only time I've ever requested no medical students was when I was pregnant with DD1, specifically because DH (also a medical student at the time) had several friends rotating through obstetrics and I had no intention of them seeing me from that angle. I was fine with student midwives etc (in fact I've never been asked, they've just been introduced as a student) and have never otherwise refused a student. I know from DH how hard it can be to get the necessary things signed off.

My illness effects my energy levels and talking to people drains me very quickly so I would have to decline as the less people to talk to/engage with the better for me.

This has reminded me that when I had my LLETZ procedure for stage 0 cervical cancer in 2004, I recall them asking if I minded having junior doctors present - there were about 3-4 of them I think, all around my age (mid-twenties).

I do remember feeling pretty vulnerable but that was due to the exposure but not the presence of others, nor was I embarrassed about my nudity. I'd like to think that I will also be happy to be part of a learning opportunity, but can fully appreciate why people wouldn't necessarily want more people than needed during a time when that person is exposed, literally and figuratively.

I said no when I was crowning with no pain relief because I wanted that baby out 😂
But otherwise, I’ve always said yes.

Also, no one gives a flying fig about who’s in the room when they give birth. I’ve got two kids and during the labour of both, a whole football team could have been in there and I wouldn’t have cared. However, not everyone seeking medical help goes in to have a baby!

depends what it was for. checking a broken arm - no issues. when the dr walked into the labour suite with FOUR students, ready to show them my cervix - no.

I don't mind having students present at routine GP/nurse appointments and never minded having student midwives. I wont have them near me in hospital though, I've had a lot of operations and a lot of complications after some of them meaning longish stays in hospital and quite frankly I have had more than enough of being poked/prodded/peered at as if I'm some new and interesting species of bug to last me a lifetime. My poor dad was nearly sick watching a student doctor trying repeatedly and unsuccessfully to get blood from me and I was left covered in holes and black and blue all over. Never again! I hate being in hospital and feeling like I'm at the mercy of strangers, I don't want 10 of them piling into my tiny cubicle every day and talking to each other over the top of me as if I'm not there, I don't give a shit how unusual or interesting my particular issue is they can go prod some other poor fucker.

I had a student doctor giving me an epidural - he just couldn't do it - he just kept stabbing away - or five times in total and it HURT. Eventually a more experienced doctor took over and did it first time. I really wish I had refused as it very traumatic

The only time I’ve ever refused student care is when I was being stitched up after my episiotomy, I wanted the best and most experienced stitcher on the ward 😂

Miyah and mummyretired that is so shocking.

I think I have always said yes to students. But I think anyone has a right to say no, for any reason to being observed or examined in the presence of student doctors etc.

I have always consented but fully understand why, under certain circumstances, some (including myself) might refuse.

InDubiousBattle I could have written exactly this myself!! Same situation in every sense of it!!

Some people do care who is present when they have a baby, for all kinds of reasons.

Most of the time I wouldn't mind, however I was left quite traumatised when as a 20 year old I had 4 young male students observing my anoscopy. Now, middle aged and 3 dc later I probably wouldn't care, but at the time I felt quite humiliated by the experience.

Nemo, why on Earth don't these students practice on one another before being turned loose to use patients are human guinea pigs? That to me smacks of the arrogance of the medical profession that extends to so many areas? I always say NO to students trying to get blood or insert IVs on me for the same reason as many, I have scars up my left arm from someone who really had no business being inflicted on an unsuspecting populace until I had to firmly told her to get her supervisor. I was fuming! Patients are not experiments. I think these students should demonstrate competency in some procedures on one another before they are allowed to practice on patients. Bet that would vastly improve their performance as well.

I had my daughter 9 weeks ago and had a trainee nurse, midwife and surgeon. I didn't really mind, I guess it's because I had more to worry about and might be because I'm a teacher. I totally understand why some wouldn't especially if you're very unwell or nervous.