I really need feedback about curicculum content from Maryland/D.C. University Systems

alem-tsahai · Dec 20, 2002

I sure hope you're not talking about the school I attend, UMAB. That would be tragic if you dropped out (I say this because I see you are from the B'more area).

In case you're not- I just finished my first semester here. I took 6 classes this semester and two of them were hard science courses (pharm and patho). Pharm was so-so (but not touchy feely at all, a couple of pharmacists teach the course) but Patho was DIFFICULT! You would have definately been scientifically stimulated in that class. And although I cursed those professors day in and out throughout the semester, I have to hand it to them. They were awesome; they loved their subject and really wanted us to understand the concepts they were teaching us.

But you probably don't want to go here just because of one class.

The other classes, the core nursing classes were okay (and yes, we did have to learn the art of bedmaking at the beginning). We did have two b.s. classes, but oh well. Anyway, I personally like the school. I will admit I'm biased (I just finished my last final so I'm feeling pretty giddy) but I feel like I learned alot in terms of skills, science and touchy-feely stuff. Equally, that is!

Hopefully though, this isn't the school you are dropping out of. Good luck whatever you decide to do. Have you checked out GW's PA program?

Peace,

Peeps Mcarthur · Dec 20, 2002

alem-tsahai,

UMAB happends to be one of the schools that I will check out, but I,m trying to keep from being in a program that's more liberal arts than it is science. I don't want to mention the school on the open forum. I want to talk about a paticular instructor's lack of scientific basis for almost anything as an example of the kind of program I want to avoid. This instructor was fair in her grading, and gave a supreme effort to help me so I respect that. I will repay her for her kindness by not blabbing on an open forum. All I will say on the open forum is that most of her pre and post conferrence involved psychosocial, therpeutic touch thought process and she was obsessed with the "healing power of spirituality", although she was never pushy about any of it. Bless her heart, she was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I came from a community college program that taught almost nothing but psychosocial, health-illness continuum(all psychosocial), transcultural, life-span development, psych.....................in other words, "touchy-feely" subjects. As for the science, as we will call it, it was an afterthought. It was rarely used in the examinations, and it was definitely not lectured or compiled by anyone that had a science degree.

If you think of more you want to tell me about your clinicals or didactic, fire away.

Peeps Mcarthur · Dec 20, 2002

I did check out George Washinton in D.C. for PA prerequisites. I don't think I'll be able to afford it($12,000 a semester?)but it seems like a good program with a rep.

Peeps Mcarthur · Dec 20, 2002

I'm just bumping this topic back to the top of the forum to have everyone give another look-see before I give up on it.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Dec 20, 2002

I really think that nursing is all too often not based enough on the science...nursing may not be for you, but I'll bet PA school would be right up your alley. Or pharmacy maybe, I'll have to think on it.

Peeps Mcarthur · Dec 20, 2002

Canoehead,

I looked into the various biology degrees that are around here for content related to PA prerequisites. I found one that fits the masters programs very well. Since there is no such thing as a pre-PA degree, it was very difficult to find a program that fits and has some great elective options like a marine biology class, and a concentration in anatomy and physiology.

I find that even the nursing programs that have an upper-level chemistry as a prerequisite fail to describe thier courses in the syllabus as anything more than psychosocial context.

What the heck, if you're going to make people take statistics and organic chem, why waste it on nursing diagnosis?

No more psychology required

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Dec 21, 2002

Dat damn statistics...was the bane of my existence, but very helpful when reading research studies, so I do use it. Organic chemistry is another matter, I didn't understand it at the time, just memorized, and never use it now.

IMO another biology class with human dissection would have been very helpful.

Part of the problem with nursing is that we are all functioning on very different levels. Once you get 10 years of experience you understand and know a lot more clinically than as a new grad. The decision making and knowledge required for every nurse is tailored to new grad level, where say an ICU nurse for 10 years isn't doing the psychosocial thing the way an addictions counsellor is. You sound more like an ICU/ER person to me. You might enjoy the job but would have a hard time putting up with the BS. Every job has BS, but it's easier to tolerate if it's based on science rather than feelings.