[aussiemumj]

I have just finished my second clinical placement where I was repeatedly told - go find a better uni- there was only praise for the work I did and was able to do... so I am wondering - what Uni do you think produces the most competent graduates? and am I wasting my time at a regional university?

[joannep]

Mmm,
Couple of things to ponder:
Does attending your current university suit your current family responsibilities?
Is your current university easy to access or close to home?
If you chose this university because of these reasons, then they are still valid.
Beware of people (& nurses) undermining your education, there are still plenty of hospital trained nurses out there who think that no university graduate is up to scratch.
The amount of clinical experience you will be exposed to during your course must meet the requirements of the nurses' board. So you are unlikely to get more clinical hours at any other university.
The health care sector recognizes that you are a new graduate and your graduate year is designed to allow you to gain experience and transition into the workforce with support.
One way to get more experience in the health care sector while you are studying, is to work as a personal care attendant at a nursing home.
Plenty of nursing students do this and you should not find it difficult to obtain a position, just send your cv and a covering letter to every nursing home near your home.

[Interested Party]

Originally Posted by joannep

Mmm,
Couple of things to ponder:
Does attending your current university suit your current family responsibilities?
Is your current university easy to access or close to home?
If you chose this university because of these reasons, then they are still valid.
Beware of people (& nurses) undermining your education, there are still plenty of hospital trained nurses out there who think that no university graduate is up to scratch.
The amount of clinical experience you will be exposed to during your course must meet the requirements of the nurses' board. So you are unlikely to get more clinical hours at any other university.
The health care sector recognizes that you are a new graduate and your graduate year is designed to allow you to gain experience and transition into the workforce with support.
One way to get more experience in the health care sector while you are studying, is to work as a personal care attendant at a nursing home.
Plenty of nursing students do this and you should not find it difficult to obtain a position, just send your cv and a covering letter to every nursing home near your home.

I agree with Joanne. At the end of the day, you just need to know that through this university you can still get your nursing registration. When you are doing your selection criteria or interviews for a graduate position, they are not going to look at which university you studied at/with. The hospitals just need to know that you have a valid nursing registration. You will then have to convince them that you are right for the job and continue learning.

IP

[aussiemumj]

Thank you for your responses it makes me feel soooo much better ... I did choose the uni for location and the fact that it gets me the qualification I desire. It is just so disconserting when you go out on placement and you are told that your education is inferior to others - it makes me wonder what I am missing out on.

[joannep]

Placements can be tough, you are still learning and gaining in confidence and sometimes staff can expect a higher level from you.
You will reach a level where you feel confident, but sometimes it seems that point is a long way away.
Just think, by the time you reach the end of your second year/beginning of your third year you will know so much more and will be so much more confident.
Don't stress too much, enjoy your course.

[Nickytoto]

I guess I only half agree with the above users.

If they were cranky nurses who are resentful of you just because you're a student and they have to teach you, there is no way you can take that personally. It's not your fault.

However if you didn't know how to do basic skills because your university is too lazy or underfunded to teach you, there you have a problem. I have personally heard of students transferring mid-degree into another B. Nursing course and claiming things were much more in-depth. I've emailed universities about information for their degree, only to be knocked back because the person I had sent my enquiry to was apparently new and wasn't familiar with the course yet. I've heard of university teaching being so lazy they would tell their students to "just google it".

[joannep]

Originally Posted by Nickytoto

However if you didn't know how to do basic skills because your university is too lazy or underfunded to teach you, there you have a problem. I have personally heard of students transferring mid-degree into another B. Nursing course and claiming things were much more in-depth. I've emailed universities about information for their degree, only to be knocked back because the person I had sent my enquiry to was apparently new and wasn't familiar with the course yet. I've heard of university teaching being so lazy they would tell their students to "just google it".

If you were aware of this type of situation, then you really need to report it to the nurses board. There was an organisation in QLD who did EN training and there were complaints about the quality of their program, and the nurses board withdrew their accreditation and they were no longer able to run the course.

[Interested Party]

Hi Nickytoto

Perhaps you can share your experience of 'prac' and how well your university had prepared you. If you have evidence that certain universities are lazy and underfunded, it would be good to forwarn others, don't you think?

IP

[nyapa]

Originally Posted by joannep

If you were aware of this type of situation, then you really need to report it to the nurses board. There was an organisation in QLD who did EN training and there were complaints about the quality of their program, and the nurses board withdrew their accreditation and they were no longer able to run the course.

Well said. As you state joannep, unis are accredited. Their qualifications to teach are recognised by the Nurses Boards of all States.

Interested Party, you will always find someone out in the field saying things about different training institutions, be they positive or negative. They are not experts. And whose to say that if you went to their own university that you may be missing out on something that is offered by your own university?

As you say, it is disconcerting...gossip always is.

Best of luck with your studies. You are halfway through, it is all downhill from now on!
Jay

[joannep]

Hi,
This is the website of the National Review of Nursing Education 2002,

http://www.dest.gov.au/archive/highe...t2/default.htm

Under 3.5 you will find undergraduate clinical experience and you will see all university's listed by state detailing the amount of time they spend in lab hours and clinical hours. There is a difference between universities. Remember, this is old data, from 2002, but I hope it reassures you.
My daughter is studying in Victoria at deakin, which has less hours than monash, but I don't worry that it will impact on her career in the long term.