No Peds courses in nursing program...vent!

[student456]

Hi,

im going into my third year of nursing school (out of 4 yrs) and i love it but heres the dilemna...

my nursing program doent really have a specific class for peds or mental health that 'everyone' has to take for the first 3 yrs. In the last semester of year 4, there is a one semester mental health class and a one semester "family health" course (we have to pick one class out of a list to take...these are just two options) (it focuses on the entire family not just peds though) but basically if its full you cant get in and are screwed! Im going into year 3 and the most weve learned about peds/OB is one small chapter in our nursing assessment (first year) on pregnancy. it was very basic and we have not taken any other classes an OB or labour and delivery or peds yet. Also, my program is sortof annoying in the fact that year 3 is ALL community and we dont get to choose the specialty that we want to do. most nursing students in year 3 are placed in high schools or elementary teaching nutrition, gym or sex ed basically. its not the place id want to go! so many people complain that by the time we enter year 4, we havent even taken a bp or pulse in over 1.5 yrs. in community clinical you dont use your stetho or any "hospital nursing skills" at all...its alot of therapuetic relationship stuff...i know community is important but i feel that we sortof get cheated in the end since by 4th year ill probably forget everythign ive learned in clinical

Another problem is in 4th year for our final clinical. ive heard nursing students complain that they really want to graduate and be a peds nurse and they are stuck in ortho for their final clincal spot. we dont have much choice at all in where we get placed for clinical, so if i want to do peds or labour and delivery after i graduate, i wont feel prepared.

does anyone else have the same experience with their nursing School?

* I would like to move to the US after i graduate. Would all of this put me at a disadvantage for taking the NCLEX? Is there a ton of peds questions on the exam? Also, other nursing students at diff universities/colleges are shocked when i tell them this...for example, a second year nursing student at another university in my town told me they took an ENTIRE semester long course on peds and labour and delivery and another course on mental health (and that everyone in the program was required to take them). ARGH

thanks for listening to my vent hehe :)

[student456]

our first year clinical was a total of 25 hrs in a ltc setting, second year was one med surg, my other semester was on a stroke setting (mostly did ADL's tho), year 3 is entirely community and year 4 is consolidation year...im just hoping i get placed somewhere i like!

[NurseNature]

We had a full semester in mental health, OB, and peds and from what I've heard that is the way it is across the board. I am in the ADN-RN program and had MH, OB and Adult 2 last semester (considered sophmore semester).

[GingerSue]

in my current program there is a course on Child Health.

Do you need the title of a textbook?

(James, S,, Ashwill, J., & Droske, S - Nursing care of children: Principles and practice)

[student456]

thanks for the title...im thinking eventually ill have to buy a book like that to prepare myself for the nclex. i guess nursing is diff in the states compared to canada...jealous! :)

[tutored]

I'm finishing an ADN course at the end of this year...we had a full semester with peds/L&D/Maternity, and half of another semester on mental health, including rounds at a psych ward.

[Clipping]

the nclex is roughly 65-70% Med-Surg (according to them not me....) so I would not be too worried. I would not go through the trouble of wading through an entire text book. Get a good review book and if there is something that is totally unfamiliar to you google the topic and read up.

[sheilagh]

You may want to check with whatever state you plan on applying thru to see if your program has the required peds hours you need to be eligible to write the NCLEX. I say this because their was a nurse I worked with a few years ago from Vancouver that was an RN in Canada, but they would only allow her an LPN license in florida because they said she lacked the necessary peds clinical hours. She had to take just the Peds clinical thru the local community college to be eligible to write the NCLEX.

Good luck !

[puggymae]

What you are describing is not uncommon. Our program does not have a dedicated pediatric course or clinical. OB is taught in the classroom but the "clinical" consists of lab only. Our affilated colleges do like wise.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

The school is obligated to require certain courses as outlined by the state's higher education board. If you have a question, you might contact that board to find out what is REQUIRED and what is optional for accreditation of nursing schools in your state.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

An up-to-now very well respected BSN program in my area has eliminated clinical rotations in "specialty" areas - no OB, peds, psych or critical care. They do have some coursework in theory in these areas. The clinical time previously spent in these rotations is now devoted to days spent with various community-based agencies.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

MLOS, don't know how that BSN program getting around PA regs:

21.81. General curriculum requirements.

(e) The curriculum shall provide concurrent theory and clinical experience in the care of men, women and children in age groups and with the health problems characteristic of each group. Experiences shall be provided which include preventive aspects of nursing care during acute and chronic illness and rehabilitative care. Opportunities shall be provided for the student to participate in case findings, health teaching and health counseling for patients and their families. Evening and night assignments are considered part of the curriculum only in terms of the objectives to be achieved and if faculty supervision is provided.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter21/chap21toc.html#21.81.

Please discuss your concerns with your instructors to see if you can plan courses needed for the state you are interested in working in. Some RN's have had to have additional time in OB/PEDS/Psych after graduation to meet US requirements.