[Hopefull2009]

I am wondering, if I just need to quit now and think about changing my career to something else.

Our nursing faculty, had our orientation at the last minute and told us not to worry about things such as a stethoscope, unforms, etc until right before clinicals start...that is what the lab is supposed to be for, right?

LAST WEEK...the instructor walked in, popped in a video, and walked out...never said what the video was for. It was on vital signs, and moved lightening fast...it would have been impossible to copy down details of procedure from that.

Yesterday, we showed up for class, to find out it was cancelled.

Today, we showed up for lab, and we were told we were going to practice vital signs...ok, great! Then the instructor asked us if we had a blood pressure cuff and a stethoscope...NO ONE but two LPN's had theirs. We weren't given a "prep" for lab at all, no discussion, no notes, nothing.

They handed out these kits, and we broke into groups. We are standing in our groups, waiting for instruction, and the instructor goes..."What are you guys waiting around for...you need to start taking each other's vital signs!" An LPN in our group, had to show us how to take a blood pressure and do restraints...THEN an hour later, our instructor came over to us and told us the "NCLEX" method of how a BP is supposed to be appropriately done.

This was NOT the way the video showed at all. The video did not show how a blood pressure was done in any great detail..it was more for sanitation than anything.

I am thinking, if I am having this much trouble with a lab as simple as this...should I just quit?

Should we have been shown how to do something...LIVE, just ONCE? What if we didn't have an LPN in our group? What were we supposed to do? What is going to happen when these labs get harder, if this is how the instruction is being given?

[beckersSN]

it sounds to me like your instructor should be fired... or you should at least tell the head of the program what is going on

[Jolie]

Sorry you have gotten off on a bad foot. But don't take it personally, or as a "sign". Just make good friends with the LPNs in your class, and learn from them.

As disheartening as it seems, your experience is not unique. (Not right, either, but not unique.) My clinical started out with handwashing. Not the topic on the syllabus, and not what we had prepared for. All but 1 student failed the first "skill". 2 years later, we all had "RN" after our names, and were gainfully employed.

I think too many lab instructors forget that the most basic aspects of nursing care are NOT basic for a beginning student, especially if your program does not require CNA certification. (Mine didn't.) I suspect that the quality of education will improve a bit as the topics become more complex. In the meantime, spend every available moment in the lab practicing. The grad students that staffed our lab were wonderful resources and worked tirelessly with us to get us up to speed.

Good luck!

[GottaGetIn]

Oh man, that does sound terrible.

Listen, you can't quit though. You worked way too hard to get in....I think we have to expect a lot of "disasters" to happen....but we will all trudge through them and prevail.

And besides the fact, I would think that mostly everyone would fail that "skill" if the instructor didn't even teach it! I think that would raise some red flags. Who knows? Maybe it's a scare tactic to get the people w/ the less motivation and commitment to quit?

Regardless, don't quit. Stay focused. You are smart and you will graduate!

I haven't started school yet.....I start next week, so I'm sure I'll make a post similar to yours. Make sure you pump me up!

[hikernurse]

The worst part of NS for me were the labs. They either moved too quickly or waaaay too slow. Just do your best and get through--it's worth it in the end .

[Beary-nice]

Originally Posted by Hopefull2009

I am wondering, if I just need to quit now and think about changing my career to something else.

Um, I would say no to that. Wouldn't let this get you down and out.

Our nursing faculty, had our orientation at the last minute and told us not to worry about things such as a stethoscope, unforms, etc until right before clinicals start...that is what the lab is supposed to be for, right?

Sounds like the faculty I had. I learned that don't worry meant worry.
LAST WEEK...the instructor walked in, popped in a video, and walked out...never said what the video was for. It was on vital signs, and moved lightening fast...it would have been impossible to copy down details of procedure from that.
Could you have asked to see the video again? I have a big mouth so I guess I would have asked the instructor for more information or what would they recommend to further prepare myself.
Yesterday, we showed up for class, to find out it was cancelled.
Really nice...again another flashback for me.
Today, we showed up for lab, and we were told we were going to practice vital signs...ok, great! Then the instructor asked us if we had a blood pressure cuff and a stethoscope...NO ONE but two LPN's had theirs. We weren't given a "prep" for lab at all, no discussion, no notes, nothing.

Again, don't worry probably means worry. I would chat with the LPN's to see what they usually cart around to be prepared and how did they know what to bring to class. Evidently some miscommunication there.

They handed out these kits, and we broke into groups. We are standing in our groups, waiting for instruction, and the instructor goes..."What are you guys waiting around for...you need to start taking each other's vital signs!" An LPN in our group, had to show us how to take a blood pressure and do restraints...THEN an hour later, our instructor came over to us and told us the "NCLEX" method of how a BP is supposed to be appropriately done.

I can only assume that you did not need to have the CNA course prior to enrollment. Apparently this instructor wants you to delve in and get hands on. I found hands on opportunities were the ones that stuck with me the best. I love the "after the fact" instruction...again sounds familiar.

This was NOT the way the video showed at all. The video did not show how a blood pressure was done in any great detail..it was more for sanitation than anything.
So, I would still keep those sanitation principles in mind. You will find that many details will add up to the whole picture. Crazy but true.
I am thinking, if I am having this much trouble with a lab as simple as this...should I just quit?
Please again, do not give up. If blood pressures are tough, continue to practice and find out everything you can about it.

Should we have been shown how to do something...LIVE, just ONCE? What if we didn't have an LPN in our group? What were we supposed to do? What is going to happen when these labs get harder, if this is how the instruction is being given?

I personally would ask the instructor about this. There are ways to get your questions answered. Find out from the instructor how to better prepare and what are the expectations. Sometimes you have to find out by trial and error what instructors want.

Is there more to the story? What I am saying is from my school experience, we had several "new" instructors who really didn't know what they were doing much less how to teach it so everyone could understand. My director of the program also flew by the seat of her pants on most days. It took me a year to realize I was in the land of disorganization, and to get what I wanted out of my education, I had to speak up and dig in. Good luck to you...you can do this.

[Hopefull2009]

Thanks for the answers from everyone, and I'll provide more detail.

You are correct...our college did not have a CNA requirement prior to entering the program nor even "highly recommended" it. If I had to do over, I would have taken the courses, not to get licensed, but just to have a preview.

All of the instructors that we have are seasoned instructors and have been at our college for a number of years. Our program is more than 30 years old, and runs on a staff of 4 MSN-level instructors and a Director.

They gave us a very detailed syllabus on the first day of class and I went through it to make sure that I did not miss anything that I should have been on top of...the vital signs were in a totally different chapter than what we were told to read for today.

I have just started this program and one of my instructors will be not only my clinical instructor but she is also my advisor. I do not want to get on her bad side..so I just kept mum today and learned from the LPN's.

If I practice hard this weekend, I do not foresee a problem doing well on our practical exam next week. They are giving us liberal lab time up to 9:00 each night...all we have to do is inform them during the day and they will let security know via e-mail.

My main concern, is when we start getting to things like IV's, foley's, injections....is a video flipped on going to cut it for instruction? Can you really learn like this?

What I expected....we went over the video last week and then she dismissed us...I expected our instructor to come in today, briefly touch on the video, give us pointers, maybe do a live demonstration, and then break out into groups.

<sigh> Oh lord, I just didn't expect this at all!

[deefromlv]

Wow, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I had my first day of school today. It was a clinical day and lab. It rocked. My advisor is also my clinical instructor. We spent the first half of the day being oriented to the hospital and introduced to the med surg unit staff, and the second half in lab. Our instructor made it really clear that all skills would be done in the lab first, with hands on practice and then the following clinical day we will practice those same skills. Plus she insists that the first time we do anything at the hospital she must be right there to observe/assist us. I feel really great about this program and all the instructors seem really encouraging. We start shadowing RNs on the med surg next week. I think once you get over this initial hump and when you have a good idea of the instructor expectations you'll be more comfortable. Hang in there!

Dee

[CT Pixie]

Don't you dare quit. Don't you dare take that fiasco of a lab as a "sign" that you shouldn't go into nursing!! Get that thought right out of your head.

To put in a video and leave you there and then give you no visual and verbal LIVE instruction on how to do it is ludicrous. Perhaps, you can befriend someone who knows how to take vitals and show you so you can understand it.

Luckily for us we were shown videos, lectured, and shown how to do the skills (videos for only some of the things) and then we were able to "practice" the skill being taught.

I;m sorry it was a rough time for you and your classmates. Chin up..you will master it.

[Hopefull2009]

Originally Posted by CT Pixie

Don't you dare quit. Don't you dare take that fiasco of a lab as a "sign" that you shouldn't go into nursing!! Get that thought right out of your head.

To put in a video and leave you there and then give you no visual and verbal LIVE instruction on how to do it is ludicrous. Perhaps, you can befriend someone who knows how to take vitals and show you so you can understand it.

Luckily for us we were shown videos, lectured, and shown how to do the skills (videos for only some of the things) and then we were able to "practice" the skill being taught.

I;m sorry it was a rough time for you and your classmates. Chin up..you will master it.

I wish I was near you I would give you a huge hug!

The only thing that I can figure out, is when we cover a "unit" for lab, I just need to go on my own through the book and find any instructions on it and teach myself the verbals. I bought a digital recorder as soon as we got out of class today, so I can record the voice part of the videos...I really couldn't afford it, but bought it anyway.

I also ended up paying way more for a Stethescope than I should have...I could have got one online for about 35% less than any of the uniform shops have them for, but I need one tomorrow at minimum, but had no choice but to pony up an expense I was hoping to put off until next month.

Is there any way that I might be able to talk to my instructor about this without upsetting her? I was thinking about saying something along the lines that the lab caught me a little off guard and I didn't want to feel like that again...and if she had any suggestions on how I "missed" something...just trying to understand their teaching philosophy (ANYTHING to make it sound good)...or should I just keep my mouth shut and see how the first test goes?

We took a practice test today...and I got everything right except I got the blood pressure steps out of order (b/c we had been practicing it for an hour, the WRONG way)...but I found the steps in my book, so I'm hoping to have that down by the end of the week.

Thanks again!