I love teaching and seeing the "ahha" moment.  As a nursing educator, we do realize that many procedures can be performed in a different way. A brand new student may only see black and white, no gray area.  As a student progresses in the program, they begin to see the whole picture AND the gray areas. A staff nurse at a clinical site may not perform a sterile dressing change the way it was taught in school.  Guess what?  This may be okay, as long as sterile technique is not broken.  So nursing students, be careful and do not offend the staff nurse with "that is not the way we learned to do it in school".  We do attempt to teach the procedure a specific way in school so you may understand the technique, concept, and rationale.   In reality, there may be eight different ways to perform a procedure, but remember... as long you do not compromise the patient, have practiced safely, and finish with the same ending, all is well!

Don't forget to be kind and SMILE!  You may be the only bit of sunshine the patient sees today!