Program Director doesn't care about the students

[Ms Kylee]

I'm 6 months in to my 24 month LPN program. It is part time. From the beginning, my class has had issues with the Program Director. My class President presents the class issues (wrong final given for Nutrition class, half of 3 tests containing stuff we were never lectured on, students having trouble with Anatomy, etc.) In every instance, the answer is "Read the book, too bad, yes, we made a mistake, but the final sccores will stand, we're not giving a retest. Read the book... " Endless loop.

These are legitimate concerns that are getting blown off. The general consensus of the class is that since we're part time, the Director doesn't care about us except for the money we bring into the school. Personally, I'd love to see this one get walking papers, but everyone else believes this person is so absolutely wonderful, so the chances of reprimand are very slim. Any suggestions? The board won't even grant us time at their meeting to discuss this. :angryfire

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Gee, silly me... I thought the whole point of going to Nursing School was to learn how to become a Nurse. I guess I was wrong.

The aim of nursing school is to get you to pass NCLEX, and to ensure that you're minimally competent (not maximally competent). If you pass NCLEX, the state in which you reside deems you minimally competent enough to practice nursing, so your school will have done its job in that respect. I never had the expectation that my school would teach me all I needed to know about nursing. That comes with time and experience, because no nursing program in the world can cram years of experience into a 2 year program.

The harsh reality is that nursing schools do not yield nurses; rather, the on-the-job training is where you'll learn how to become a nurse.

In addition, the program director is under no obligation to care about the students. Students are easily replaceable, and the director is fully aware of this fact.

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

Gee, silly me... I thought the whole point of going to Nursing School was to learn how to become a Nurse. I guess I was wrong.

No, as I said, the point is for you to pass NCLEX and to be able to learn how to be a nurse on the job, SAFELY.

You cannot learn to have the skill and expertise a nurse has in 2 years...it's just not possible.

ETA: I'd also like to point out that doctors are not expected to practice as soon as they exit school-- they go to school four years and then into a residency for many more years of training.

Nurses are no different in their educational needs except we don't get the traditional residency like doctors do. Most of us are just thrown out onto the floor. There are a lot of hospitals that DO offer an internship for nurses (RN's) and that's a really good thing, but LPN's usually work in nursing homes and they ARE thrown out way to early a lot of times.

This is really unfortunate, but a reality and either way you are still going to learn you job on the floor as opposed to in school.

I do hope you do well in school despite the trouble they are giving you.

[mysterious_one, ASN, RN]

No, as I said, the point is for you to pass NCLEX and to be able to learn how to be a nurse on the job, SAFELY.

You cannot learn to have the skill and expertise a nurse has in 2 years...it's just not possible.

ETA: I'd also like to point out that doctors are not expected to practice as soon as they exit school-- they go to school four years and then into a residency for many more years of training.

Nurses are no different in their educational needs except we don't get the traditional residency like doctors do. Most of us are just thrown out onto the floor. There are a lot of hospitals that DO offer an internship for nurses (RN's) and that's a really good thing, but LPN's usually work in nursing homes and they ARE thrown out way to early a lot of times.

This is really unfortunate, but a reality and either way you are still going to learn you job on the floor as opposed to in school.

I do hope you do well in school despite the trouble they are giving you.

I agree, I am in my 3rd semester of an RN program and have realized that the school is just focused on you passing the NCLEX, and that I have to teach myself a lot of the material. Our school makes it clear for each test we have to know what's in the syllabus, if they talked about in class or not, if it is in one particular book or not. So from the start I asked previous students, came here or whatever, to see, where I can find additional info? Then I bought many supplemental study guides and an NCLEX study book and got to work. Also if you want to maintain a 4.0 , 2 hours of studying per day seems just not very much.

Just my opinion, sorry

[ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN]

sounds alot like most programs, just out of curiosity, 24 mos seems like a long time for an LPN program, most around here are 11-12 mos, our ADN program is only 23 months

[Jules A, MSN]

sounds alot like most programs, just out of curiosity, 24 mos seems like a long time for an LPN program, most around here are 11-12 mos, our ADN program is only 23 months

I thought the same thing but then she said she was going part time.

What kind of book do you have that doesn't include diabetes information? I found that they aren't about hand holding. Any and all material seems to be fair game for exams. The ones that make it just suck it up and do whatever they ask no matter how ridiculous or unfair it seems. Since others have lived through it, I will also no matter how painful it might be, lol.