Advice about addressing issues?

[LexieJordie13]

Hello Everyone!

I am a first year second semester ADN student and am the class representative/class president for my class. I am facing some issues dealing with other students and instructors, and was wondering if I can have some advice on how to address these issues without offending anyone, or putting a big target on my head haha.

I have had the majority of the students telling me either verbally or email on how disappointed they are in our school's RN program. They feel that they are disappointed because lack of organization, which in turn is making students very stressed. As someone with severe panic disorder, I feel the same, but feel like we can just deal with it (since I have received a bachelor's degree before in another field, so I've been in college for awhile!) Some students are even going to the president about this. The reason why students feel that it is disorganized is because either we do not always get lectured on the assigned chapters for a test, powerpoint lecture notes are never posted on time, teachers email us in the middle of the night yet expect us to have read them and be prepared, etc. The latest incidence is that the teachers changed the course content, but did not let us know that she changed the date of a test to earlier than planned until 2 days before the test was given...let's just say there was a huge curve for that.

I have spoken with the faculty already about changing their course contents (we had snow days) and to not send emails to students past 10:00pm unless it's an emergency. I also have asked on behalf of the class that teachers post their lecture power points they want us to bring to class by 9:00pm the night before lecture. None of this has happened, except 3 of the 4 teachers have posted their course contents. They claim that it is due to snow days we have had that they are behind.

As the class representative I am supposed to voice concerns, but I have trouble alleviating the situation. Many students are looking into transferring to other schools, quitting, etc. The moral is very low at this point and students (including myself) are very stressed. Any opinion is welcome. Thanks so much for your comments! :)

[Crazed]

As a student leader at my school the best piece of advice I can give you is this - it's not your job to fix it. Trust me, that department knows there is an issue and it's up to the administrator in charge to implement changes.

You can encourage students to express how they feel to the administrator of your program, or to the dean of academics but nursing school is big money for community colleges and the change is difficult to get implemented if it's just you bringing the concerns.

I've never been bothered by late night emails because everything comes to my phone. I've always figured that as nurses we adapt to change constantly and nursing school just starts that process. :)