Discouraged with my program

[JillFRN]

I am into month two and I feel so discouraged with the program I am in. Since the orientation all I have heard were negative about this program. The pass rate is pretty bad currently and has been for the past two years (70's). I feel like this school is beyond disorganized. My professor likes to give us online homework which is due Tuesday. I am in college and I feel like if you aren't going to do the reading that is your problem, you will lose out in the end. My other issue is, she likes to post it whenever she wants, Saturday night, Sunday morning which is not fair to anyone who has things to do. I feel like sometimes we are required to possibly do things beyond our scope of practice and they throw us to the wolves by not explaining a word. This week I am reading about doing speculum examinations. I have never had an RN do one. I don't mind knowing what they are and such but I just wonder if it is beyond the scope of an RN like half the other things we do. I wonder if maybe I should transfer or is this even an option. Do many schools take nursing credits or would I have to start over? I don't know if I am whining but it is difficult when I hear so much whining around me. Sorry I needed to vent, thanks for listening!

[driving85]

What credits will transfer is, unfortunately, up to wherever you want to transfer. If you're thinking about it, ask the school you're considering to do an informal credit audit to see what you'll be able to take with you. In my program, I was able to bring all of my science and social science (i.e.: Human Growth and Development) classes with me from the community college. That being said, if you feel that you're not being well prepared for NCLEX, I would definitely lose a few credits in a transfer to a more successful program. I did, and am so glad that I did.

I can understand needing to understand speculum examinations in order to assist an MD, but they're definitely out of the scope of practice for an RN, at least in my state. The only skill that we learned that nurses don't really perform frequently is eye and ear examination with the opthalmoscope and otoscope. After that, I can say everything I learned in school, I'm able to practice.

If you're not happy with the way that your current class is being run, I would suggest talking to the teacher. If she's not able/not willing to help you, then definitely talk to your dean of students, or, if you're in a bigger program, the head of the nursing program. They should be able to provide some input on what is an acceptable amount of time to allow students to complete an assignment.

I hope this helps, and I hope you're able to resolve your problems, or at the very least, make a decision that's right for you and your education. Good luck!

[EscapeTheDungeon]

I would look into another school, if you feel your current school is a disappointment. I am slightly disappointed with my school too.

Ask around. Find out which schools have excellent, well organized programs.

[txnursingqt]

Wow I thought that nurses did have to know how to do speculum examinations. I learn something new everyday.

[Leda]

Sorry to hear that you are dissastisfied with you nursing program. At two months into any nursing program it is common to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about your choice. The fact that your program has a history of low NCLEX pass rates adds to your uncertainty, as you have indicated in your post.

I would suggest that you consider having your questions answered by your nursing program in one of two ways. The first approach would be for you to make an appointment with your nursing professor to discuss your concerns. Be prepared to offer reasonable solutions to your professor. For example, because there is a large amount of studying involved and you must budget your time accordingly it would be helpful to have the professor post the homework assignments one week in advance. During this meeting you can also inquire about the rationale for including in your curriculum areas that you have assessed as being beyond the scope of practice for an entry level RN. It may well be that the expectation is for the student to appreciate the role of the RN in these procedures as part of providing for safe patient care. In other words, you aren't being educated to perform these procedures independently, but rather you need to know how the procedure should be done to support the patient physically and psychologically througout the procedure and to make certain that any associated tests are processed in a way that ensures accuracy.

The second approach to having your concerns addressed would be through student representation on the nursing faculty curriculum committee. All programs have a mechanism for student participation in nursing faculty curriculum and governance. Present your concerns to your student representatives for discussion and resolution.

You should be aware that any nursing program that falls below the state board of nursing's benchmark NCLEX pass rate must address curriculum problems contributing to the low pass rate. This means that it is more than likely that your nursing program has a solid plan for correcting curriculum problems to signifcanlty improve the pass rate (the homework may or may not be part of this plan). You should bring this concern (the low pass rate and what is being done to correct it) to your nursing professor or the nursing faculty via student representatives.

Unfortunately, as you will find by reading through the posts on this forum there is no perfect nursing program. You will need to take an honest and realistic appraisal of your goals and determine if indeed this nursing program is a fit for you. This is a very big decision and you should take the time to talk to students, faculty, and graduates of the nursing program you are in to get as much information is necessary before you make the decision.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

In some states, RNs working in public health can and do perform routine gyn exams, including the speculum part of the exam. It varies, depending on the states' nurse practice acts.

[Jules A, MSN]

Nursing school is stressful and can be disorganized and unfair! It would be rare than any of your actual nursing classes transfer and I don't know about your area but around here getting into a program can be very difficult. Personally I'd just suck it up. The NCLEX is largely a solo sport, imo so I would practice with a study guide as you go through school so that you know you are prepared.

[Beary-nice]

I am into month two and I feel so discouraged with the program I am in.

I am sorry to hear that.

Since the orientation all I have heard were negative about this program. The pass rate is pretty bad currently and has been for the past two years (70's).

Is this fact or hearsay and from whom? Other students? The school's stats?

I feel like this school is beyond disorganized. My professor likes to give us online homework which is due Tuesday. I am in college and I feel like if you aren't going to do the reading that is your problem, you will lose out in the end.

True that...reading is a necessity, boring as heck, but a necessity.

My other issue is, she likes to post it whenever she wants, Saturday night, Sunday morning which is not fair to anyone who has things to do.

What does your syllabus say as far as what are the expectations of the student and the instructor? If there is no clear cut expectations, I would arrange a meeting with the instructor and discuss this. But, I will tell you this, be prepared for your free time to be very little. I have been through this more than once, I was expected to eat, sleep and breathe nursing school.

I feel like sometimes we are required to possibly do things beyond our scope of practice and they throw us to the wolves by not explaining a word.

So can you ask questions when you don't understand or enlist the assistance of someone who does understand? Do you know what is in your scope of practice?

This week I am reading about doing speculum examinations. I have never had an RN do one. I don't mind knowing what they are and such but I just wonder if it is beyond the scope of an RN like half the other things we do.

So, you are reading about them. You are going to read alot of things that you may or may never have to do. I remember reading about spec exams as a PN student...ever had to do one...nope...but better know what one is, how to prep and support the pt, what items are needed for the exam....very important. I am a RN now, still have not done one, but NP's in my state do.

I wonder if maybe I should transfer or is this even an option.

Think carefully and choose wisely. There are going to be things that are great about some schools and stink at the same time. You are pretty early in the game for getting out. Ask questions and find out what is going on. Do you have an advisor? One that you can trust and talk to? If you have done everything that you can...and I mean EVERYTHING with no resolve, then I would recommend moving on.

Do many schools take nursing credits or would I have to start over?

Depends on the school. Some do, some don't. I would clearly research this before making a move. You may find that your situation though seeming quite horrible right now, may not be that bad.

I don't know if I am whining but it is difficult when I hear so much whining around me.

It is very hard not to be negative when in its company. So you can let it suck you in or not. You are in control of this.

Sorry I needed to vent, thanks for listening!

Do not apologize for venting. I hope I didn't sound mean, but my goal is that you think of all of the angles before jumping into something else. That something else may not be any better. Some of the things you explained about the instructor, the negativity and the being very worried about scope of practice is nothing I haven't heard or felt before myself. Nursing school is ROUGH and HARD, bless those who find it a piece of cake...more power to them. You will notice that you will need to give blood, sweat and tears, and if this is truely what you want, mark my words, the rewards will be bittersweet. Good luck to you!