Do I HAVE to let student midwives practise their butchery on my arm?

[bohemianbint]

Am 30 weeks on Sunday and had check up yesterday, which involved having blood taken (as they all do!) Anyway, a trainee midwife sat in on the appointment and took the blood. Just before she put it in, the main midwife said "make sure you don't press on the needle as the ladies find that quite painful"...and whaddya know. Am left with (without a word of exaggeration) a 5" blue green bruise.

Do I have to let them learn on me? I suppose it would be bad form to say, "actually, would you mind not", but everytime a student comes near me I end up looking like an extra from Trainspotting.

Does this happen to anyone else?

you don't have to, no.

i wouldn't.

i bruise like HELL unless the person is really good.

the last midwife i had was brilliant at it, as good as an anaesthetist.

i have her name, i can tell ya.

No, you don't have to.

I wish I'd have known that yesterday... She looked really nervous and unsure of herself but I thought, ya know, everyone has to learn sometime. Well bollocks to that for next time!

You don't have to, no. But I always let students practise on me because I was once a student myself. It took me ages to learn how to take blood.

also if they want to practice the senior midwife should inject your arm with a local anaesthetic first.

i had a junior doctor trying to put a cannula in my hand once and after the third time he stabbed me and blood was squirting everywher i insisted on an anaestetic.

after the surgery, my hand was bruised for an entire fortnight.

I wouldn't mind but looks like she missed the actual vein by miles. And without the feedback, how will she realise much more practise is needed (just not on me?!)

Jesus expat, that sounds horrendous!

the problem is that sometimes the vein can move when you put the needle in. She should have held the vein in place first.

You can always say no to students, you are under no legal obligation to let them touch you.

i've been pricked enough to know now that my left arm has shit veins.

i always offer up my right arm and hand for them to do their business.

the other ones who are fab at it tend to be oncology nurses. i guess practice makes perfect.

oncology nurses and aneasthetists tend to be the best.

DD2 (she is 11) has also decided to insist on a phlebotomist, having recently experienced a variety of efforts. GP practice nurses can be good as they do it a lot.

I had one when i was pg with ds, thinking back now it was very wrong of the midwife. I am petrified of needles and was sat 34 weeks pg in the sweltring heat crying i am that scared and she offered my arm to the student nurse who ripped my arm with the needle.

It stung like hell bruised halfway down my arm and i still have a scar now

the butcherers!!!

If she can do that to my arm, I'll be a bit petrified if she turns up when I go into labour...

Oh, yeah, hatrick.

This chap had blood all over his scrubs and when I yelped the anaesthetist came and sorted me out in seconds.

Then she chewed the junior out and told him, as there was no need for such a mess, he'd better clean it up because she didn't want to see it again.

I also had a junior try to inject me with anaesthetic for an epidural and he missed and hit a vessel instead - I could feel blood spurting out.

Surgeon walked in and casually remarked, 'Why so bloody? Isn't that my job?'

you can decline. they need to get your prior consent. if they look kak handed run

bah, they didn't ask for my consent!

they are meant to tell you their status (student)and seek permission. good practice and all that

You are perfectly entitled to refuse.They should ask if you mind.

I've always thought Doctors were worse at taking blood than nurses or MWs

No!