Tape Recorders Not Allowed!

dschlatet · Apr 20, 2003

My daughter is in nursing school and is allowed to tape lectures. I think it's really unfair for those who need to hear something 2 or 3 times to grasp the concept.

Did they say what kind of legal reason?

Dorothy

Gator,SN · Apr 20, 2003

Personally, I can't think of a legal reason why you can't tape record lectures. :confused: I guess each school has its own policies. I used my recorded a lot during first year. I would have been lost without it.

Gator

jadednurse · Apr 20, 2003

I'd be interested to hear the rationale for this...let us know what specifically they are trying to avoid by doing this. I would imagine it's not so much the lecturers statements they're wanting to protect as the students'. Keep us posted...

rosemadder · Apr 20, 2003

We were told at our school it is a confidentiality issue as the instructors give many examples of actual patients and the material is not allowed to leave the classroom. I was disappointed also not to be able to record as I drive 40 minutes to school.

jadednurse · Apr 20, 2003

But alas, these instructors should not be using the patients' actual names while presenting case studies anyway...so where is their point?

Dionysus · Apr 20, 2003

Well what would be the difference if one of the students in the class made notes on the 'actual patient' and took that out of the classroom? That's a ridiculous(sp?) excuse to not allow taping. If they really wanted to protect the patient information, the prof/instructor/administration should modify the lesson plan so no identifying information is given (Names, DOB, Treatment dates, Health Care #'s, etc. etc.). Infact in my program, everything in nursing is based on real cases. If I was you, i'd continue to pursue this matter, either make them let you tape, or make them come up with an alternative strategy to enhance your learning. After all, you are paying for your education.

KELLYGIRL · Apr 20, 2003

I would be so furious. Has anyone gone to the Dean? This may not seem like something big, but to some it is an additional learning tool. Any way you could change schools?

justjenn · Apr 20, 2003

Thanks everyone. I am glad I am not the only one who feels this way. As a matter of fact, I am a paralegal, but the attorney I work for is not "bright" in this area.

I will investigate this a little further, but I do not want to cause to

big of a fuss and get myself "black-balled" by the instructors - to be a trouble maker. It will be thin ice I will be tredding.

Keep ya posted.

Jenn

memphispanda, RN · Apr 20, 2003

I think there are numerous reasons for the policy...we have it at my school too. I'm sure it is partially because of the actual cases mentioned, but for other reasons as well. Probably intellectual property or some such thing. I would think you would need permission from the person to be recorded no matter what the school policy is, and if they don't give that permission, you can't record. I also think that people tend to not pay attention as much during class when they know they can listen to the tape later. They also tend to not show up for class because Jane is going to tape it for them.

If you want to listen to notes while you are driving, record yourself reading them at home. Then you are getting even MORE reinforcement of what you need to learn.

Flynurse · Apr 20, 2003

This is an interesting thread. We could all speculate that it is due to HIPPA. (I had to sign a peice of paper at the pharmacy yesterday :confused: ) So in the reality of things we are dealing with the issue of patient confidentiality. This is all fine and well, but it is going, and has interfered with the learning process.

When I was going through nursing school we were allowed to tape lectures. When case studies came up names were deleted, instead calling them Mrs. X or Mr. Y....ha ha ha Details such as these were generalized and very brief.

Example: Mrs. X is a 65 yo female who came in with exacerbation of COPD....etc.

OR: If a intructor were to share a story of their nursing encounters they would leave out the name entirely.

Student Report SHEET: only included first and last initial, age, sex, and Dx...nothing else of importance was included and it never left the hospital....the instructor gathered them at the end of each day.

If HIPPA is to protect ALL patient information in ALL areas the instructors and schools should come up with their own policies and proceedures but excluding the "no tape recording" because if you think about it what is on those notes are the same things that are on the tape...so what would be next??? Preventing students from taking notes?

I agree with everyone here you need to take this up with your peers and with administration. Gather data from other schools if you need to. GOOD LUCK!

fnimat1 · Apr 20, 2003

Wow!!...That's terrible....some people are verbal learners moreso than hands-on. I really need to find out if my school allows tape recorders in the classroom. Again, I'm sorry that you have to go through this....are you a good note taker?

Fatima