At what point do I complain?

[ohmg]

I'm an ADN nursing student in a community college (of course).

I'm in my last semester.

Here is the breakdown of my education thus far:

Semester 1, geriatrics rotation. Teachers didn't know they were teaching until days before. Given wrong syllabus and then finally got syllabus 2 weeks later... still from 1 year ago.

Semester two. We're in the hospital now. We get to pass meds. We're essentially given our own patients. We have access to the pixis except for narcs. We aren't really shown how to do assessments... we review it briefly in lab and then we have our own patients. We aren't shadowed by a nurse, we don't follow a nurse. Clinical labs are a joke. We're shown something once, and then passed, even if performing the task in a mediocre or poor manner.

Semester three. We can now do IVs, IV meds, IV pumps. Oh, ya... we don't have a pharmacology course in our program. Being consistent, we're shown once how to turn on a pump in lab and then we have our own patients. IVs: we demonstrate how to do an IV on a manaquin arm that has a vein the size of a pencil bulging out with a large hole already in it from the hundreds of previous sticks... pop the iv in once and we're turned loose. Instructors are often not present on the clinical floor working on the Master's degrees homework. Instructors for labs are often disorganized because they usually don't know they are teaching them until hours before.

Semester 4. We're told we would get our clinical assignments in August. Then mid August. Then end of August, then two weeks after that. 50% of the staff had just quit. We often have deadlines that are not met. We complained about this in semester two and were told we need to deal with it, because that's what professional nurses do, is learn to adapt.

My last rotation is in ICU. I somehow lucked out and got a nurse that actually shows me what I'm supposed to be doing. I've learned more in these few days than my entire education to this point. Many other students will not get a nurse like mine and will graduate behind the curve.

Other local colleges require you to demonstrate skills a few times in lab before they pass you. Not mine. Other local colleges actually have a nurse-preceptor for clinicals. Mine technically does, but they usually have their own patients and are off doing that while we practice... um... nursing?.... The clinical instructor is usually off in random rooms, or are studying on their own. They are available should we need them. I can't help but feel that we are students and shouldn't be left to figure it out on our own.

We are NLNAC accredited... not sure how... I'm wondering what I should do. Having a nurse show me basic clinical skills I should have learned a year ago makes me think we're producing unsafe nurses. And many in my class think the same. The program is disorganized, things change on a whim of whoever is in charge. Information is often not known by all the faculty. Staff often finds out late that they are teaching and produce learning material from the previous year, and dated from the previous year. Nothing is stable or solid, we have come to expect random changes. Schizophrenia is the basis for our program.

I would approach the leadership but there is an atmosphere of fear and retaliation. One of the top instructors has outright said she hates conflict and doesn't deal well with it... and has dealt with student that do. People that have spoken up in the past get 'dropped' from the program for various reasons.

People who technically fail a semester are passed on. Students have failed two semesters and are passed on. Apparently 3 is the limit as shown by students who had to drop for failing 1st, 2nd and 3rd semesters. What is the point of having a 75-83 be a C if you're going to pass students who fail.... and why curve it up for students who are actually reading their books and not hoping to get passed on...

What to do...

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

you're hanging IVs on living people as a student? That's SO illegal. refuse to do it!! Well, I think it is anyway, and if you don't know what you're doing, you shouldn't be doing it, even if it's allowed!

[delabeaux, MSN]

Woah. Graduate. Get your RN. Then tackle this... to do so before could mean you'll lose 2 years and not get your RN...

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

it is not illegal for students to hang ivs, or to do anything else that an rn does for that matter, if they have training in the skill and are under the supervision (note, not under the license of) a registered nurse. whoever told you that has no idea what s/he's talking about.

that said, if all the op says is true, i'd be calling the state board of registration in nursing and the accreditation folks and make an anonymous complaint and back it up with faxed documentation that all his/her assertions are factually true.

[aileenve, ASN, RN]

Sounds like you had a problem from the beginning, I would have went to the administration with other nursing students to evaluate their instructors; it is NOT the responsibility of the hospital staff nurses to be your clinical instructors. The clinical nursing instructor is to supervise the students as they are practicing under his/her license.

[Mulan]

you're hanging IVs on living people as a student? That's SO illegal. refuse to do it!! Well, I think it is anyway, and if you don't know what you're doing, you shouldn't be doing it, even if it's allowed!

Is this post for real?

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

Your clinical instructor should be on the floor w/ you. It is not the responsibility of the hospital nurses to train you. Your clinical instructors are being paid to teach you.

[NocturneNrse]

I too, came from a nursing school that I feel didn't provide me with a good education. I have to agree with the OP.. if you're that close to graduation, and fear and retaliation is the name of the game there.. Don't make waves. Get your degree, get your license and if you feel you need to voice your experience of your education, do so AFTER they no longer have you by the you know whats. People can be vindictive, even teachers, so choose your battles wisely. I know it sucks, but unfortunately its reality. Hang in there, you've accomplished a lot thus far, grin n bear it until the end. Then shoot 'em the one finger salute once degree is in hand.

[OhioCCRN, MSN, NP]

you're hanging IVs on living people as a student? That's SO illegal. refuse to do it!! Well, I think it is anyway, and if you don't know what you're doing, you shouldn't be doing it, even if it's allowed!

I hung a lot of IV's on living people while in NS. It was part of the curriculum....

Unless you mean hanging IV's on each other which was not allowed......

[Lynx25, LPN]

Haha- just grin and bear it. It sounds like you might have gone to my nsg school, actually.

When I was taught IV's in the military, it was great fun.... they showed us once on a Mannequin... and then "Ok, Find a partner and grab some needles!" Good times....

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

No pharmacology class?!?!?!?! Seriously?

[caliotter3]

Be thankful you are in a program at all, graduate, get an RN license, and get your first job. You will learn more on the job anyway. And that goes for any nursing program, good or bad. Sometimes a person can't help but get a bad hand, you still have to play it. Good luck at your first job.