Does nursing school teach you anything?

33762FL · Jun 2, 2011

In nursing school, I learned more than I'd learned in my entire previous lifetime! You definitely need to give nursing school more than 2 weeks to start learning what you consider useful information.

Turd Ferguson · Jun 2, 2011

The limit to what you learn is set by yourself.

Give it a little more than two weeks... they're easing you in.

citylights89, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2011

I agree with 33762FL. We have a whopping 7 semesters of nursing school. That first semester I felt like I didn't learn anything either, and I still feel like some of our classes are fluff. Just the facts, please! I have come quite a ways from that first semester, though, and notice the increase in my knowledge. I surely do hope that all this stress, both academically and financially, is worth it in the end.

germanshep · Jun 2, 2011

Nope. Nada. Nothing. Our schools sound very similar! Just add the drama, awful "professors" and a waste of money. I self taught and sought out good clinical advisors. I did learn how not to treat a nursing student and vowed to never treat another nurse, student, human being like I was treated in nursing school. Good luck!

rn/writer, RN · Jun 2, 2011

If your school is underperforming, don't assume that it's because it's a vocational school. Many of those are excellent. They have high NCLEX pass rates and turn out capable students who are ready to hit the ground running when they begin working.

You can look into your school's NCLEX pass rate, but also take a look at the number of students who make it through to graduation.

If an instructor is expecting you to know things there must be assigned reading. Are you doing that? What other classes do you have? Is this your first semester?

To be honest, much of what you learn in nursing school is foundational. How to learn. How to think like a nurse. Anatomy and physiology. Chemical interactions. In clinicals you learn how to approach patients. How to give meds correctly. Some time management.

Yes, there's a lot of material to cover, but, no, you will not arrive at your first job totally prepared for real life in the nursing world. That comes with time and exposure. What you will take away from school (I hope) is an organizational framework that will allow you to process what you are taught on the job. You'll begin to put the pieces together and make connections between lab values and symptoms, meds and side effects, the patient's needs and what you have to offer.

The more self-motivated you are, the better you'll do once you reach that point. Baby nurses are just that--people who are still in the formative stages of developing their practice.

If you are really worried that your school is not up to par, ask around. Talk to people who have graduated and find out what their experiences were and how prepared they felt after taking the program.

I wish you the best.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2011

I know the question sounds a little presumptious but I really think I chose the wrong nursing school. Its a vocational school so I guess that explains it but DAMN it sucks. None of the students really feel like were learning anything useful. Ok so Dorthea Dix was influential in nursing. So how does this help me aid a patient?!? My teachers mostly read of powerpoints and dont really TEACH. The purpose of this question is did you learn what you know from working on the job or did your college actually TEACH you. I dont know anything in pharmacology now and if I ask a question the teacher who is an ARNP. Doesnt like it and assumes that we should all know after what two weks of class?!?!

First of all, learning is active: the school isn't going to shove knowledge down your gullet while you sit there passively: you have to do the work too and sometimes there aren't shortcuts around needing to read the text and understand what the key points are from the powerpoint lecture.

Secondly, you are two weeks in. I hated fundamentals- it seemed all fluffy bunny bed making at times. Once we got past that I loved what I was learning, my clinicals, etc most of the time.

Thirdly, yeah, I think I did learn a lot in school. I still feel like I learned more in the first two weeks of working full time as a nurse than I did in nursing school about what it is actually like to be a nurse, but I draw on my nursing school knowledge (and go back to those powerpoints as needed) for pathophysiology and basic practice all the time.

Is it possible that your program is the pits and you've figured this out early on? Yes. Is it more likely that you're just getting the basic intro stuff and have more substantial learning to come? I think so.

Regarding the teacher who gets annoyed at questions: are you asking things that are covered in the text?

lehcynRN · Jun 2, 2011

Hello snickerdoodle17_1

I just graduated nursing school this past March and I went through a 16mo accelerated nursing program. Throughout nursing school I really felt that I wasn't learning much from lectures but learned way more from my clinical rotations. I just did my best to pass the exams through self teaching, by reading the book and memorizing powerpoints. I basically did all I could to pass my exams w/o really retaining long term memory of much. I did, however, learn way more in clinical! It was my favorite part of nursing school. And anyway, I believe that Nursing is something you need to DO not necessarily learn in school. Even though knowing background foundational information is necessary.. i dont think it's the main part of nursing. I believe the proficiency of a nurse doesn't come solely from nursing school but when we actually start practicing.

Anyway, the most I ever learned in nursing school was towards the end when we were given the final task of an ATI exit exam. This is where I learned the MOST important information for being a nurse. Ie Drug interactions, safety precautions, and most importantly prioritization. All of these things are the kinds of informations you should KNOW to pass NCLEX. And I would sayIi learned all this when nursing school was almost done..

I'm pretty sure i'm selling myself short when I say that i didn't learn anything during nursing school.. but I really felt I learned the bulk of it while studying for the exit exam and for NCLEX.

I say, just stick it through, pass your exams, keep and open mind, and TRY to learn and retain as much as you can. It will all come together in the end.. even though it might not feel like it. GOOD LUCK! :)

CoffeePlease · Jun 2, 2011

I'm a recent grad LVN and here's my take. Nursing school prepares us to be self-sufficient, lifelong learners. We learn some basic facts at school and how to perform certain tasks. More importantly, we learn how to learn from ANYONE. I am quite clear that I will have a very sharp learning curve, should I be lucky enough to actually get a job. I now have a complete library of books (that I am very familiar with) to refer to during the first few days, weeks, months, years of working. I also know that I will be learning from a lot of different personality types while working and I got excellent preparation for that at nursing school. I now know I can probably learn from anyone, while bone tired, and in completely uncomfortable situations. I think this was time and money well spent.

Now, I just really want a job. :-)

cokeforbreakfast · Jun 2, 2011

I remember the first test out...handwashing. I thought it was lame, but later realized in those early weeks they were acclimating me to the process and stress of those dreaded test outs!

There is something to be learned from every experience if you are receptive.

That said, if I were in charge I would do many things differently!

danh3190 · Jun 2, 2011

I thought my 1st semester of nursing school was pretty useless, lots of models of nursing and stuff about early nurses. Micro and A&P were good though. 2nd semester was pretty interesting, basic nursing skills. Then it started getting really interesting. I guess the point is, like the earlier posters said, give it a chance. Plus, study everything hard because you're so new you don't necessarily know what will be useful later. I sure wish I'd paid more attention in my Communications class.

manchmal · Jun 2, 2011

Yes. Nursing school teaches you: to be diligent, to do your homework/research, to work very hard, to learn to sift out good info from the crap, to be resilient and brave, to put up with crappy supervisors, to admire and respect talent, to make good friends, and to put your own problems in perspective.