Being President stinks, yo.

[Eirene]

Guys,

I really need to get this off of my chest.

I was elected class president last year. We are 4 months from graduation and we have 61/110 students left in our class. Our program is highly competitive; we are the top program in Ohio for passing the NCLEX out of ADN/BSN programs.

Since being elected, I've been a strong student advocate. Boy, it's gotten me into some hot water-- but I've still spoken up for students who need help.

My son has recently been diagnosed with a pretty serious health issue. He was a preemie at 850 grams-- he's now 6. He has cerebral palsy among some other health issues. We're at Children's at least once a week, which is over an hour away. We were not expecting this issue to arise at all.

I am so tired.

We just had our first test of the quarter. The average rate was 44/60-- failing. Our class is in an uproar. My phone has been ringing off of the hook since the grades were posted on Friday. They want me to go in to talk to the instructors and the DON about the unfair test. The test was HARD-- really hard, but some managed to pass it with high scores. I've found that our nursing program is a self-taught course; the lectures are just bonuses.

Here's my dilemma.

I am so flipping tired. I am tired of fighting. I'm tired of tutoring. I'm being paid to tutor MY classmates. It's like the blind leading the blind. I have no idea what's going to be on the test; I just tutor what I've studied. I come home and I'm absolutely exhausted. I've always lived with the motto to teach what you learn and to give when you get.

I don't want to go to the DON and instructors about this test. I studied and passed it. It's not my problem-- but it is as the student advocate. The instructor took a lot of time in explaining it to us-- more time than she has ever spent on a subject. I thought she did a very nice job.

I can't drop out of the presidency now. We've raised over $3500. for our pinning ceremony. I just don't know how to say no. It's my fault; I've done this for so long that people expect it now. If I back out of tutoring and advocacy, my peers are going to be deeply disappointed in me.

I'm barely keeping my head above water at this point. Thank you for listening.

Always,

Dani

[NooNieNursie]

Guys,

I really need to get this off of my chest.

I was elected class president last year. We are 4 months from graduation and we have 61/110 students left in our class. Our program is highly competitive; we are the top program in Ohio for passing the NCLEX out of ADN/BSN programs.

Since being elected, I've been a strong student advocate. Boy, it's gotten me into some hot water-- but I've still spoken up for students who need help.

My son has recently been diagnosed with a pretty serious health issue. He was a preemie at 850 grams-- he's now 6. He has cerebral palsy among some other health issues. We're at Children's at least once a week, which is over an hour away. We were not expecting this issue to arise at all.

I am so tired.

We just had our first test of the quarter. The average rate was 44/60-- failing. Our class is in an uproar. My phone has been ringing off of the hook since the grades were posted on Friday. They want me to go in to talk to the instructors and the DON about the unfair test. The test was HARD-- really hard, but some managed to pass it with high scores. I've found that our nursing program is a self-taught course; the lectures are just bonuses.

Here's my dilemma.

I am so flipping tired. I am tired of fighting. I'm tired of tutoring. I'm being paid to tutor MY classmates. It's like the blind leading the blind. I have no idea what's going to be on the test; I just tutor what I've studied. I come home and I'm absolutely exhausted. I've always lived with the motto to teach what you learn and to give when you get.

I don't want to go to the DON and instructors about this test. I studied and passed it. It's not my problem-- but it is as the student advocate. The instructor took a lot of time in explaining it to us-- more time than she has ever spent on a subject. I thought she did a very nice job.

I can't drop out of the presidency now. We've raised over $3500. for our pinning ceremony. I just don't know how to say no. It's my fault; I've done this for so long that people expect it now. If I back out of tutoring and advocacy, my peers are going to be deeply disappointed in me.

I'm barely keeping my head above water at this point. Thank you for listening.

Always,

Dani

Dani,

If you feel that the test was fair - that the problem was the students didn't do their job (studying) - then I don't think you should feel any obligation to fight for a revision.

It's your job only to represent the students, it's not your job to support lazy slack asses who want to be spoon fed RNs after their name.

It seems like you perceive that all responsibility is on you to get anything done for your class. That's just sad. In my school (much smaller, sure, our graduating class has 35 students total) we work mostly as a group. The only thing our class president does is help us organize our voice. It's not her (or his) job to do ALL THE WORK. When we study, all of us do our part of researching, asking questions, sharing info.

If we flunk a test, which happened last semester... all of us together brainstorm a solution.

I think maybe you need to explain to your class that it is unfair you are being assigned the entirety of responsibility not just for STUDYING for them... TEACHING them... but you're also expected to fight to curve a grade that is truthfully THEIR OWN FAULT? (If you did well, odds are they could have done well too with enough effort)

It really upsets me thinking about it.

Yea, changes need to be a'made. When they're nurses, they're going to need to work as a team anyway, might as well start learning those skills now.

That's the great thing about being in such a small school, it's like being in a big family a little bit and it really does feel like we work together for common goals more or less.

[NooNieNursie]

"I've found that our nursing program is a self-taught course; the lectures are just bonuses."

Interesting that you say this...I wonder how many others feel this way???

I thought we would be getting much more hands on instruction in our program, but that has not been the case at all.

Everyone regularly attends the theory classes, I have never missed one myself. However, I often don't find the information given during these classes to be essential. We are expected to learn everything from other resources, and often not even given the exact subjects of what we need to know, beyond something extremely broad.

I would say our lab portion was the weakest part of the program. An ill equipped lab and no real structure to the course at all. We weren't ever sure what we were supposed to learn or know. We taught ourselves almost all our skills. 'Blind leading the blind' seems about right. Many of us were so green when we started that we weren't even sure what questions to ask!! We seemed to skip all the basic stuff, some class members still can't take a BP properly after 4 terms in the program!!

How many others out there feel like they are in a self-taught program??

Whoa... can't take a B/P after 4 months?

Fortunately I don't feel that way at all. There is a lot of independent study and learning in nursing school but when it comes to skills, there is clear demonstration and examples and places to practice etc etc etc. And, in the actual clinical area, we do get an opportunity to observe if not practice most of these skills. I've done everything I've demo'ed so far EXCEPT work with NG tubes, chest tubes, and I've never given an IM injection other than the deltoid. Everything else I've more or less seen or done.

I've also learned a lot of neat tricks from doctors, nurses and instructors (e.g. to trendelenberg the bed to insert an angiocath... to apply pressure to an angiocath that is against the vein and prone to occluding... to palpate a blood pressure to get a rough estimate if you're having trouble reading it... etc etc etc).

Guess I lucked out.

[AirforceRN, RN]

Sounds like its time to look out for #1 for a little bit. Your nursing school won't crumble to the ground if you pass off some of your responsiblity...your relationship with your family might...

I'm all for helping people but not at the expense of my health and sanity or that of my family. Prioritize quickly before you suffer.

[ORRocksRN]

Whoa... can't take a B/P after 4 months?

Fortunately I don't feel that way at all. There is a lot of independent study and learning in nursing school but when it comes to skills, there is clear demonstration and examples and places to practice etc etc etc. And, in the actual clinical area, we do get an opportunity to observe if not practice most of these skills. I've done everything I've demo'ed so far EXCEPT work with NG tubes, chest tubes, and I've never given an IM injection other than the deltoid. Everything else I've more or less seen or done.

I've also learned a lot of neat tricks from doctors, nurses and instructors (e.g. to trendelenberg the bed to insert an angiocath... to apply pressure to an angiocath that is against the vein and prone to occluding... to palpate a blood pressure to get a rough estimate if you're having trouble reading it... etc etc etc).

Guess I lucked out.

Geez, whered YOU go to school??!! We can't even find our clinical instructors, they rarely come into the patient rooms with us, and one time ours was even caught napping in the lobby while she was supposed to be supervising us. The first time I gave morphine IV to a patient, she was sitting clear across the room chatting with the family about flowers or something, not right next to me, WATCHING and helping me. I was furious.

Most of our demos were simple explanations (words not demos) or we had to figure it out ourselves from a book. If we were shown anything, it was in a lightening flash and with poor equipment. Clinical nurses work so fast we can't follow, although some have been great.

Our skills have been hard to come by. Wish we had had more structured teaching in that area.

[mcknis]

Danibanani

Do you hear what these people are saying? Kinda the same thing I have been talking to you about. We got 4 mos left and thats it. Its about time you take some you time.

See ya later and enjoy studies this weekend,

Scott (One of your other smurfs)

[nurz2be]

Dani,

Let me start off by saying I am sorry about the circumstances you are facing as a family. I have seen pics on your site of your little guy and he is as cute as can be.

Now, to you. I was appointed class president 6 months ago. I have been in more hot water than I could have ever imagined. Last week I stepped down. I was spending more time in the nursing directors, deans, school president's offices than I was doing what I needed to do for me. I am ALL about helping, but I am also about me. The students stopped speaking for themselves and the assistance turned into insistence. I put my foot down. My sanity, my grades, my sanity, far outweigh whether someone in my class took the time they needed to prep for an exam and ended up failing only to come ask me to ask the instructors if she could retake the exam?!

At some point, enough is enough. Assistance is one thing, expectation is quite another. I am sure the students know of the plight with your son and should be MORE understanding about your situation. If you don't take care of you....you can't care for that little one the way you feel good about.

If you in your heart of hearts can't step down, start a delegation process. Appoint 2-5 students to start picking up the slack.

Take care of yourself and that little man.

Blessings to you and your family

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

To the OP:

On my first day of class last semester, my husband was diagnosed with stage IIIB colon cancer. Between surgery, chemotherapy, and doctor visits, I quickly learned to throw away anything that did not directly assist with my education or my family's well-being. PSNA, the weekend job, and tutoring were set aside. My heart goes out to you and your family. It takes a strong person to do what we are doing.......and it can be done. It is NOT selfish to put your family first. If you don't take care of yourself....who will take care of your precious child? For example, I treated myself to a massage last week d/t all of the stress I was under. Your classmates should be helping you, not the other way around. You've paid your dues. Take care of yourself and I will keep you in my prayers. Listen, if you even need to talk, just PM me.

KOT

[Eirene, ASN, RN]

I wanted to thank each and every one of you for your replies. I've been reading this thread off and on all week and it has really helped.

I've resolved a major issue-- I've stepped down from "tutoring" my peers. It was a paid position at $7.50 an hour. I am going to be doing what I should have been doing a long time ago-- studying with them instead. It feels so much better. I'm still going to tutor the first year students before each test, but that is completely doable and much less pressure. I spoke with the person in charge of tutoring about possibly hiring an RN to come in and tutor some people in our class who are struggling-- however, they told me they couldn't pay more than the $7.50; there's not a nurse out there who would tutor for that kind of money.

My clinical instructor took me aside this past week and had a talk with me. She said that she saw great leadership potential in me; however I needed to learn how to pick and choose my battles. That really made me feel good. And she is absolutely right.

My fellow smurf Scott, thank you for always being there and for being one of my number one supporters. You are a true friend. I can't wait to work beside you one day as an RN.

Thank you to everyone who replied. It really did open my eyes. :redpinkhe

Dani

[Eirene, ASN, RN]

On my first day of class last semester my husband was diagnosed with stage IIIB colon cancer. Between surgery, chemotherapy, and doctor visits.[/quote']

KOT,

WOW. You do have a lot on your plate! How is your hubby now? I need a success story. :)

Always,

Dani

[APBT mom, LPN, RN]

I'm glad that you took some of the unneeded stress out of you life. I hope everthing works out for you.

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

KOT,

WOW. You do have a lot on your plate! How is your hubby now? I need a success story. :)

Always,

Dani

Thanks for asking. He only has three chemo sessions left. Although they are no fun at all, he now has no evidence of disease! The next few years will be very telling. I stay as positive as I can and take it a day at a time.

Take care,

Kim