[PACNWNURSING]

Just curious as nursing instructors what do find nursing students complain most about or find most challenging. Thanks.

[scribblerpnp]

I would like to read these comments as well. Perhaps a Mod should move this thread to the nursing student forum? Just a thought since most nursing students probably don't haunt the educator sites.

OP, I hope we don't get any flamer comments!

Students, please try to be nice to us educators! I know there are some crummy proffs out there (there are some not-so-great students as well), but be constructive in your criticisms!

[sirI]

I think the OP meant for this to be from the educator's point of view and not the student's point of view, scribblerrn. At least, that's how I read this.....

[scribblerpnp]

Oops! After reading it again, Siri, I think you are right!
I find that nursing students have complained to me about a couple of valid things.

1. Some complain that I have graded something unfairly, though after I talk with them and explain the reasoning for loss of points, they usually understand a little better. And sometimes I was unfair or made a mistake, and that's OK too.

2. Some have complained about how other faculty have treated them. I stay out of this and don't allow them to speak to me about other faculty. I encourage them to go to that faculty and work it out with them (it is what I would want done). But they are right sometimes, and I feel badly for them. Some faculty members are power hungry and lord it over the students. Crummy people are every where, but faculty and students.

3. Some complain that there is too much to learn and not enough time (I agree)!

4. The funniest complaint was a student who said, "Well, when you said I should do such and such, I didn't think you really meant it!"

5. Some student complaints are complaints at all, just a student who wants to vent or who is frustrated and stressed and tired.


I think the most challenging thing for nursing students is developing the ability to critically think and apply the knowledge. They are great at memorizing definitions, S/S, etc, but applying that info is a different matter. So hard for first year nursing students to get this down. It can be a difficult thing to teach as well!

Here is something I would like to add:

Things I Wish Students Would Do or Know:

1. Follow directions, even if you think it is something minor and unimportant

2. Be complete.

3. I'm fine if you want to "argue for points" on that paper, but come prepared and have a good, solid defense.

4. It isn't my fault if you fail, and it isn't because of me that you passed

5. Yes, I really meant it when I said "XXXXXX"

6. If you write a paper for a grade, use good grammar and spelling, and don't say, "I'm going to be a nurse, not an English teacher" when I take off points for poor grammar and spelling.

7. Be prepared for class and for clinical

8. If I think you have half-@**'d an assignment, you've lost my respect

[puggymae]

One big frustration for students is that in clinical there isn't "enough of me" to go around for everybody. Alot of times there is a "line" waiting for me to check medications or do procedures.

Our LPN program gets alot of students who were unsuccessful at the 3 local RN programs. It is a major turn off to me when the students says "That's not how I learned to do it at ________." Or "They did it so much better at ________." My reply? "Obviously you DID NOT learn how to do it at ______ or you would not be here." Or "If you like the way ______ school did it so much why don't you go back there?"
I also dislike when they talk badly about some of the instructors at those schools as many of those teachers are my friends!

[fathernurse2b]

As a nursing student I can tell you what frustrates me. This is the first year of teaching for one of my instructors and I can tell. I study and read all the required work and I finished the semester with a B but everytime I would miss questions it came from her material. The distractors that she used on her test questions would include part of the correct answer. For instance to promote wound healing pick what should be included in the diet a)fish b)eggs c)citrus fruit d) tomatoes. She said the correct answer was citrus fruit. In out reading it said citruis fruit would promote collegen formation which would help a wound heal but her question wasn't worded that way. I think she had unfair questions all semester.

[mysterious_one]

quote=fathernurse;1971498]As a nursing student I can tell you what frustrates me. This is the first year of teaching for one of my instructors and I can tell. I study and read all the required work and I finished the semester with a B but everytime I would miss questions it came from her material. The distractors that she used on her test questions would include part of the correct answer. For instance to promote wound healing pick what should be included in the diet a)fish b)eggs c)citrus fruit d) tomatoes. She said the correct answer was citrus fruit. In out reading it said citruis fruit would promote collegen formation which would help a wound heal but her question wasn't worded that way. I think she had unfair questions all semester.[/quote]
hmmmmmmmm,

[Rain'sWhisper]

As a nursing student, my biggest frustration has been inconsistency in the teaching.

For example, in lecture we are told one thing then when we have precept, the professor tells us that she doesn't agree with what we were told in lecture and that it should be this other way....grrr...

It is very frustrating ...how are we supposed to know what will be on the test (not to mention how will we remember the correct thing to do with a patient)? Before I started the nursing program, I had a 4.0, now I can't get above a B because of the inconsistencies, which do nothing but serve to confuse and frustrate.

I am in the honor society but am in danger of falling below the standard simply because of the teaching inconsistencies----THAT is frustrating.

[Rain'sWhisper]

I want to add to my above post that I understand that things change and that there are different ways of doing things and that in the real world you have to learn and relearn.

However, when you are teaching students and then are going to expect them to choose the one best answer on a test---do not teach them multiple best answers!

Thank you for letting me put in my two cents!

[lovingpecola]

Students in my program (including myself) complain about teaching inconsistencies, travel to clinical placements (sometimes over an hour), not getting a break during two-hour lectures, and yes, some complain about that point or two on the exam, but not many.

Hope that helps,
LP

OH! And we *hate* it when teachers READ power point slides to us (without further discussion)! It gives us an "I could of read it at home" attitude. Powerpoints should be brief, not paragraph form, and only have main points or illustrations! (not meant to benegative, only truthful and helpful)