Does nursing school teach you anything?

Nurses General Nursing

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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?!?!

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.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS! lol

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No, you will not learn much from your instructors or the courses you take in nursing.

Microbiology and Anatomy & Physiology are where you last learned by leaps and bounds (we hope)

After those two courses, you are on your own kiddos!!! Nursing is a something you do alone. You learn it alone and you practice it alone. So, do what I did. I got other resources for what I wanted to learn and learned that. Got a great NCLEX review book and used that instead of my college's required reading and just studied the review book to prep for tests. Otherwise, nothing in college was what I knew I needed to know. So I got that all on my own. Probably will always be that way.

Problem is, that you are paying $$ for that crap!! Pony up! nursing edu!

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Specializes in ICU.

I agree with the statement: "It teaches you how to learn." I admit, I blew off many of the nursing theory classes, they didn't help squat with the NCLEX exam, but the clinicals were tuff and prepared me well for getting hired in the CVICU (cardio-vascular ICU) right after graduation which was Hell, but I made it!

Hang in there, it will be worth it in the end.

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Roger that on the Power Point silliness. Hey! How about the instructors require that the Power Points be read at home, and they throw some actual clinical application of that material into the classroom. I mean, my children could drone on with the Power Points. So why would you have to be an RN to teach nursing school ... unless you bring your experience into it. Let's apply that stuff with guidance in some case studies in class. Am I asking too much?

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school is tough...i think all and any schools are going to have their "problems" in our eyes. I am a fairly new graduate and I had high expectations. You may feel inadequate for a while or like you don't know much. But I realize I have learned a LOT, but experience is priceless. For me, I realize I have to try to put my lack of confidence aside and make the most of a situation and what i have in front of me. I read, and read and read in school. Then clinicals I was apprehensive my first clinical but embraced the experience after that. Ask tons of questions while your in school. Now I am a recent graduate and still admire all those with experience and can't wait to have that experience. You will learn more and more every day of your nursing career. The learning never stops!!!:yeah:

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no, you will not learn much from your instructors or the courses you take in nursing.

microbiology and anatomy & physiology are where you last learned by leaps and bounds (we hope)

after those two courses, you are on your own kiddos!!! nursing is a something you do alone. you learn it alone and you practice it alone. so, do what i did. i got other resources for what i wanted to learn and learned that. got a great nclex review book and used that instead of my college's required reading and just studied the review book to prep for tests. otherwise, nothing in college was what i knew i needed to know. so i got that all on my own. probably will always be that way.

problem is, that you are paying $$ for that crap!! pony up! nursing edu!

you can only speak to your own experience. that was not my experience at all.

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Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.
No, you will not learn much from your instructors or the courses you take in nursing.

Microbiology and Anatomy & Physiology are where you last learned by leaps and bounds (we hope)

After those two courses, you are on your own kiddos!!! Nursing is a something you do alone. You learn it alone and you practice it alone.

WOW... you cannot possibly be serious with these statements...it would be pretty scary to think nurses learn alone and practice alone. I am truly sorry for your bad experience in nursing school.

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Nursing school prepares you to start learning as an RN.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

I attended nursing school pre-power point, but do remember some of the lectures being snoozers. But on the other hand, wait until clinicals :) Hopefully you also have a "lab" (don't remember exactly what they called in at my school) where you will learn to do all those things we take for granted like the aforementioned handwashing. I remember we used to get a packet or two of "tasks" that we needed to have done by X date or clinical.

Two weeks is kind of a short time to judge the quality of your program. Hopefully you will find you are getting into more challenging subjects soon.

(Add-thought I read that you were in your second week, but now don't see the quote - sorry if that is the wrong info. Still think you should give it at least until your first clinicals - thats where I learned the most)

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Well, the world of resources for education are available to us all. I would highly rec that you all go your own way to learning. Get the best resources so you can learn. Take a flip through on what your college wants you to buy, if you don't prefer it don't buy it. Diabetes is Diabetes, folks, but if you want to really understand it, nursing text is too wordy/simplified - always go back and use your A&P material and a good medical resource not a nursing resource. That way you will know what the heck you are doing. Skills are easily available online. It's up to you to practice them. Set up your own little practice area at home. Sure the college has dummies, but alas, they are not real human beings, so it doesn't matter. Just practice at home. Show up because you have to to get the degree, etc. But you are your own best instructor. I'll tell you this, you will not be "shown how" if/when you get your first nursing job. Like I say, you will need to teach yourself and practice nursing by yourself. Sure someone will give you a quick rundown, but nobody is going to hold your hand. Best to go to school understanding this, and you will do so much better!

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I was dissatisfied with my BSN program, but I realized it was necessary for being allowed to apply for a license. I learned more on the job in the first four months of employment, than I ever learned in school.

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Roger that on the Power Point silliness. Hey! How about the instructors require that the Power Points be read at home, and they throw some actual clinical application of that material into the classroom. I mean, my children could drone on with the Power Points. So why would you have to be an RN to teach nursing school ... unless you bring your experience into it. Let's apply that stuff with guidance in some case studies in class. Am I asking too much?

Back 'in the day' (graduated in 92) we had group work to critically think through problems and case studies. instructors gave real-life examples to assist us with answering questions.

Some of this seemed tedious but prepared us to work through situations when were in clinicals and when done with college.

not all good nurses should teach and not all nurses with MSN, Phd like to teach (some like the research and as part of their contract need to teach a set number of courses)

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