Are we sacrificing hands on patient care for academics?

[us2uk4u]

HI Everyone,

I am graduating (knock on wood) this May but I feel that I am about to graduate and going out there in the "real nursing world" with nothing. We spend only 5 hours in clinical per week and so far this semester I have yet to administer meds. Our instructor only allows one person to give meds because they have to be given before 10:30 (we arrive on the floor at 9:15).

I asked our instructor why we can't have more clinical and lab hours ( there are 6 hospitals within a 15 mile radius). I really didn't get a straight answer.

Don't get me wrong, our program is top notch. They have a 95%+ pass rate in NCLEX. But I think the program can do more. Since I can't get more hands on experience from class I actually took a job as a Patient Care Tech but it's not the same.

What do you guys think?

[sunnycalifRN]

that sounds like a program problem. I did over 700 hours of 1 on 1 with a nurse preceptor. By the end i took on a full pt load. I think some programs are better than others but i definately felt prepared. I would given your feedback to your program.

Yep, the ADN program I graduated from also had lots of clinical hours (I don't know the exact number). When we hit the floor as a new grad RN, we were at least "safe" to have around patients, though by no means fully functional nurses.

[Fiona59]

I wonder if you're replying to the right thread? No one expressed an expectation that "previous generations of nurses (are) NOT to be able to critically think because they weren't educated to the BScN level"

After reading the full thread, my comment is valid. You have to understand why you are doing something, not just the technique.