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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect medical students to know the basics?

90 replies

JuneWalker · 30/03/2010 14:47

About this time of year for several years I have acted as a "guinea pig" for medical students working on their practical skills.

Its quite an experience (for both parties) when they insert a speculum in a real patient for the first time. In the past although there have been one or two minor issues the nurse who was there 100% of the time always intervened in time.

This year there was 1 nurse for every 2 patients and Mr NHS manageer - IT DOESN'T WORK!!!

Female students have always been fine but some of the men were hopeless. I had a very sensitive part crushed by a thumb, I had one lad (looked about 12) trying to remove the speculum with the blades open and one who didn't seem to know where to put at all.

I did my 15 students but complained at the end. Got totally blanked by the doctor in charge.

Surely when they are doing something like this for the first time there should be 100% supervision???

The only good point was that this year we didn't use the dreaded stirrups and just put our feet on the examination couch. Much better.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 30/03/2010 14:49

you have this done 15 times?

consecutively?

chegirlWILLbeserene · 30/03/2010 14:50

On behalf of womenkind - I thank you.

Bloody hell.

chegirlWILLbeserene · 30/03/2010 14:50

On behalf of womenkind - I thank you.

Bloody hell.

NoahAndTheWhale · 30/03/2010 14:51
LittleMrsHappy · 30/03/2010 14:51

Well in answer to your title and from your thread, Id say NO! Its why they are called students

As they say practice makes perfect!

SirBoobAlot · 30/03/2010 14:52

JuneWalker - I salute you. A far braver woman than I.

15 times?? shudders

GrimmaTheNome · 30/03/2010 14:52

Is this voluntary or do you get paid for it?

Either way, you're a brave woman.

Original poster
JuneWalker · 30/03/2010 14:54

They don't do the actual smear 15 times - in fact not all. It is the process they practice - in, out twirl it all about.

Yes 15 or so over about 3 hours.

Someone has to be first and when it was properly supervised it was OK. Actually apart from anything else I think I should have a chaperone around for my and their sakes. Big boss man didn't!

OP posts:
ShadeofViolet · 30/03/2010 14:57

God - I wont even get my haircut by a student stylist.

You are either very brave and honorable or a bit mad!

rubyslippers · 30/03/2010 14:58

seriously, hats off to you ...

and of course you should have a chaperone if you want one

GrimmaTheNome · 30/03/2010 15:00

Gosh, I'd never thought... presumably they have guinea pigs for checking prostates too.

How on earth did you get into this, er, pastime?

fruitloafrocks · 30/03/2010 15:00

Blimey

SirBoobAlot · 30/03/2010 15:02

snort at "pastime"

foxinsocks · 30/03/2010 15:03

I let student midwives practise taking blood from me as I have see-through skin so big veins like the M25.

Except one of them pumped up my arm too much so when they took the needle out, the blood shot around the room like a cut artery. I nearly passed out .

But letting them practise on your own cervix, respect!

TheCrackFox · 30/03/2010 15:06

JuneWalker - you deserve some kind of medal for services to womankind.

YANBU they should have been properly supervised.

Pikelit · 30/03/2010 15:06

I'm another person who won't have their hair cut by a trainee. The very idea of letting a load of students play "hunt the growler" with my growler leaves my legs firmly.

I'd rather advertise for a toy boy.

Pikelit · 30/03/2010 15:07

..."legs crossed" that should have been!

Shaz10 · 30/03/2010 15:08

"growler" psml

Rockbird · 30/03/2010 15:08
LynetteScavo · 30/03/2010 15:10

My life June...do you get an award...or paid huge amounts of money, or something?

I am in awe of you.

And yes, the students should be supervised.

EllenSue · 30/03/2010 15:10

Message deleted

Mouseface · 30/03/2010 15:16

A student tried to do my last smear as I to feel they all have to start somewhere. Now, as far as I know, my furry front bottom is technically no different to any other but this poor girl struggled to get the aforementioned piece of machinery where it needed to be and in the end, after her tutting lots, the practice sister did it!!

You are either mad or fab or both to go through that 15 times!!

ShadeofViolet · 30/03/2010 15:18

'Furry front bottom'

donkeyderby · 30/03/2010 15:24

It's fantastic that you volunteer for this - without people like you, we would all get speculums taken out fully opened up and bits squashed by thumbs - ouch.

Seriously though, this sounds like it was poorly supervised and yes, surely you should have a chaperone at all times. Sounds like the manager didn't know what he/she was doing as the training session have obviously be run well in the past.

Do write to the organisation - preferably one up from this manager - and complain. You shouldn't have to be put through that when you are doing so much to help. They can't afford to lose willing volunteers like you

Jackstini · 30/03/2010 15:24

Sorry Mouseface but pmsl at furry front bottom!!
June - you are a braver woman than I... the amount of KY they must go through