Enough nurses or not?

Guys settled down and remember the Terms of Service if the site.

I have experienced both good and bad students since I started my training in the 80's from both how it used to be when nursing schools existed to when universities took over. It will happen just a shame that universities do not ask their mentors and hospitals trained staff for constructive feed back that doesn't attack individual students but look at ways that need improvements

Skylark from reading this thread it seems clear your opinion is fixed that UK nursing is 2nd rate.

Your report of having to study to take the nclex due to new information, was this because it wasn't covered by direct instruction/assesment at the time or you didn't think to use your own initaive to guide your own learning.

Current students could the lack of comptence displayed be due to students not getting apprioate support instruction from mentors. Or from students being used as a pair of hands on very busy wards?.

UKBA approval for sponsorship is taking a very long time.....

"rechecks the temp with a second thermometer and documents findings. Obtains blood cultures while at the same time siting an IV access device, in anticipation of receiving orders for IV fluids and anti-pyretics. Explains to the patients the need to also obtain sputum, stool, and urine specimens. Considers isolating the patients if symptoms justify this. Contacts the doctor to inform and also request prescriptions. Commences a fluid balance chart, and documents all actions."

Right I know I should probably leave well alone but feel the need to add my two pennorth. Skylark i'm old school but unlike you're anticipated response if my pt spiked a temp, in addition to re-checking the temp, I would do a full set of obs, prescribe the anti-pyretic myself, site two cannula's if obs indicated sepsis whilst taking blood for a baseline set, venous gas, and lactate, set up a request for chest xray, whip off a quick ECG and ask a Doc to review. Simple standard stuff.

I understand and sympathise with your comments on the failings in UK nurse training but feel your generalisations undermine the points you are making. My personal views are that the first year post-qualifying is the time that UK nurses learn most and feel that my role as a mentor is to fill the many gaps that new nurses have. I am proud to be a UK nurse.

Whilst I would do full obs(vs), get a cannula and bloods , we can't get get blood cultures without consultant approval.

, so get the pt medically reviewed.

Get others fluid for culture urine, sputum wounds etc . Get an antipyretic into the patient,

Lighten bedding, get a fan in the room.

Ecg espicly if pt tachy or Brady.

'My personal views are that the first year post-qualifying is the time that UK nurses learn most and feel that my role as a mentor is to fill the many gaps that new nurses have. I am proud to be a UK nurse'

A very wise Sister once said that newly qualified nurses were like budding flowers. Nurtured and cared for, they would blossom.

My view is that student nurses probably don't get enough meaningful clinical time. We get them on placement in the third year and there can be problems with their knowledge base.

As a mentor I see it as my job to encourage, guide and teach in a supportive way, not to castigate or blame. They are what we make them. If I have problems with a student then we action plan, involve the uni and generally work with the student.

Now I'm not saying it's perfect because it isn't, but we try to make the best of what we have.

a significant part of the problem is where mentors do not ensure that students actually undertake the activities they are required to do to meet their practice placement outcomes.